I was a fan of Patricia Cornwell and was delighted as I saw her writing improving, the endings at first were just a summary. Later she kept up the pitch of excitment through the last pages of the book. I wasn't delighted with Hammer taking the place of Scarpeta but I was willing to see. When we bought this book my husband read it first and put it in the trash pile. I thought that was a little severe and tried to read it. I got four chapters into the book and it went back into the trash pile. I am no longer a fan and will never waste my money buying another of her books.