Dr. Kay Scarpetta's biggest fear is that, after all the violence that she has seen in her career, it would be a disease, a silent killer, that would end her life. In this mystery, the reader saw a new side of her and a possible change in her life. After seven prior books featuring this strong, main character, Cornwell is continuing to provide fresh and exciting stories with characters that continue to grow. Here Scarpetta was scared, cried and lost her temper as she dealt with an invisible killer. Her relationship got stronger and more clearer with Benton Wesley as she got closure on an old love. As Scarpetta investigated what she first thought was an other act of serial murder, Cornwell took us through some abrupt twists and turns that made this a well-crafted mystery.