2026 Book Review #4: Unknown Identity

 

This is book 28 in the Kay Scarpetta series by my favorite mystery author.  I have read every single Scarpetta book in order.  This one was fantastic!

STORY SUMMARY

Dr. Scarpetta, chief medical examiner of Alexandria, Virginia, has been summoned to the creepy, old and now abandoned, Oz theme park. She has to help retrieve a body that was left there.....it literally fell out of the sky....and she's devastated to learn that it is Sal Giordano, a man she loved a life time ago but with whom she is still friends.  When she was young and teaching in Rome one summer in the early days of her career, she had a love affair with the acclaimed astrophysicist,  and although they parted ways romantically, they have had a lifelong friendship. 

The murder scene is truly bizarre. There is a crop circle of flower petals all around the body and Sal's skin is a weird deep red. Scarpetta's genius niece Lucy, believes he was dropped from an unidentified flying craft.  Scarpetta knows that when she performs autopsies, they can reveal secrets of the dead person.  But she is shocked to find that her friend seems to have deliberately left her a clue.  

All of the investigators involved, including members of the Secret Service, are town between suspicions of otherworldly forces, and even of Giordano himself. But Kay Scarpetta detects an explanation that is much closer to home...and in her mind...it is far more evil. 

Just before she has to go retrieve Sal's body, she has completed the autopsy of a little 7 year old girl, Luna Briley, whose parents, who happen to actually be the owners of Oz theme park, claim was shot by her own hand with a pistol.  The autopsy reveals that she has been a victim of years of abuse.....and yes, she was shot.....but not by her own hand playing with a pistol.  What are the Briley's trying to cover up? And is Luna's death related to Giordano's?? 

MY THOUGHTS

This book was even better than #27 and I really enjoyed the twist in that one....and now here we are at 28 with 27 kind of creeping into this latest chapter in Kay Scarpetta's life. It's been 5 months since the previous book and the author does a great job in getting the reader invested in yet another weird death. 

Characters from the past show up again in this story and the author has a knack for keeping it fresh. 

I loved the action and the science behind the plot.  I learned some really interesting things about computer technology as well as issues relating to NASA.  Some readers might feel that it bogs down the story but the author does a great job of moving things forward and nothing feels stilted in this plot. 

The ending is poignant and yet we know.....we know......that one character is most likely going to return before Dr Scarpetta finally retires.  I love that. 

I'm already looking forward to reading the latest one in the series, #29 Sharp Force.   Of course there's quite a waiting list at the library for it as it was just released in early October. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10. 

Sunday Stealin'

from about a mile to the summit
on Vanderwhacker Mt in the central Adirondacks
looking at NY's 2nd highest mt: Algonquin in the High Peaks

latte with almond milk 

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

This week's questions come Kwizgiver, who was invited to play by a blogging buddy named Paula. Now you're invited to play along, too.  To link up, head over here. 

The Old School Blogging Meme

I am passionate about ...

1) mountains (and hiking up them/in them) especially our Adirondacks

2) good coffee

3) advocating for children with special needs &/or abused children

4) good books and not allowing books to be banned including the Bible/Scriptures

5) my family and keeping our close relationship strong 
 

I'd like to learn ...

1) how to swim better

2)  to speak French better

3) more about social policy 

4) more about abnormal psychology

5) how to watercolor well. 

Things I say a lot ...

1) "You're kidding"

2) "Are you insane?" 

3) "dinner's ready" 

4) "I need you to______" ( to hubby)

5) "a hot latte with almond milk and 1 pump of maple please"

Places I'd like to travel to ...

1) Alaska/Banff National Park (yes, we'd combine them)

2) Ireland/Scotland 

3) Sweden/Norway/Finland

4) Switzerland/Provence (yes, I could combine those trips...already been to Paris) 

5) Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island

HAPPY SUNDAY!

End of January Faves

 

Here it is the end of January and a bitter cold one but hey!  The Capital Region of NY got some significant snowfall last weekend and we are happy as we need the moisture and it's nice to have a real winter. Now if the temps could just get up past 25 degrees F, I could go and snowshoe!  But way too cold for me for that activity.  

Since it's Friday, I'm here to share FIVE of my FAVE blessings from the week. Susanne continues to host this important meme and I'm thankful she does as it gets me into  the habit of finding blessings in the every day.   Head here to learn more. 

now streaming on Netflix 

based on the book by Leo Tolstoy 
the original from 1948

• MOVIE NIGHTS:  Since we were snowed in from Sunday to Monday and Saturday night was also a stay home day due to the frigid temps, I watched the entire Season 1 of Finding Her Edge in about 3 days (it's excellent and I highly recommend).  It's a good, clean, family friendly mini-series.  And on Saturday evening, we had a "Date night" in the family room.  Because we still have a good blu-ray player, Dave pulled out some old DVDs we hadn't yet watched.  We collect  movies and musicals from the 1930s-1960s and this one about AnnA Karenina was a version we had never seen.  I much prefer Doctor Zhivago to this story but it was pretty good.  Vivien Leigh of course was the big draw back then. I'm thankful for cozy nights in with my husband watching some good quality flicks. 

• CUTE CANDLE: I found this cute candle for my kitchen corner shelves at this place. It was only $5! When you light it, the snowman appears and the stars seem to sparkle/dance in the light. The scent is a bit too "perfume-y" for me so I can't have it lit more than an hour but it's so pretty in the evening when I'm cooking dinner. I'm thankful for inexpensive winter decor.  I don't have much, but I thought this was a cute addition to the kitchen. 

Tuesday morning after 1.5 days of falling snow!

• SUN ON SNOW:  We are finally having a real winter here in eastern New York State! YAY!  To me, if it's gonna be cold, I want snow and sunshine. God delivered both this week. We had more sunny days than grey and my heart was thankful. And for those of you who sent me texts or emails asking how much we received: we measured 14 inches on the deck. Light and fluffy so Dave's small snowblower was able to do the job plus we did the first 7 inches on Sunday evening.  I pushed the snow off part of the deck so I could get to the bird seed that's housed in a metal can during the winter months on the deck. I'm thankful for a real winter with snow for the water tables and for the beautiful sunshine. I'm also thankful I'm retired and don't have to go out at 7:15 AM to drive to the classroom. 😃

image courtesy of unsplash

• PRAYER POWER:  there is power in prayer and meditation. I don't know if you're a Believer but I am convinced that my week would have been emotionally draining if it wasn't for the power of prayer. One young member of my hiking group had to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery (her husband has given permission for me to share) due to her first ever mammo revealing cancer. (family history so she had to have one younger than the norm). Her surgery went well on Tuesday (5 hours) and she is now home and recovering well so far.  Another friend who is close to my age, my very dear friend C lost her oldest son to suicide on Sunday. My heart breaks for her and her husband and the other young adult children.  It is a tragic loss but A and K, the young couple, reported that they felt everyone's prayers and although I haven't heard yet from C I know that our body of believing friends are praying for them to have strength to get through the next few weeks which will be so difficult with all kinds of emotions. I have another college friend(Paul) who lost his oldest son to suicide and he said I had his permission to share his contact info with my friend C in case she and her hubby want to talk. Paul speaks to colleges around the Rochester area about suicide and the mixed emotions that come with it. I'm so very thankful for being able to get some peace through prayer. 

 

almond milk latte

• BREAKFAST DATE:  Yesterday morning, my cousin Trisha and I had a breakfast date per her request.  She wanted to run some things by me on a personal level and I was happy to listen.  Folks, all I can share is:  Marriage is hard work.  After she shared her heart and concerns, we also talked about the various things we have been doing in regards to the small groups we both lead (she attends a different  church from me) and what our young adult children are up to.  It was great to get together with her and introduce her to my fave coffee/breakfast place. I had an avocado on an everything bagel and it was delicious, along with my latte. Now that I'm retired, I head here once a week. I'm thankful my cousin lives close enough to me that we can get together a few times a year. I'm also thankful for the great coffee and food at Mocha Lisa's. I love supporting local businesses over chain stores. 

That wraps up my fave blessings for the past week.  

Heartache for Another

 

One of my favorite authors and poets wrote a poem about death. 

My heart aches this week for my dear friend C.  She and her husband were informed on Sunday that their oldest son committed suicide.  I found out about 2 hours after they did. It's shocking. 

I have no words of comfort to offer. I can only offer prayer for strength that they get through the next couple of weeks. 

There will be shock, guilt, anger, deep sadness, possibly depression, and then hopefully hope, cherished memories, comfort in God's arms, and some day.....one day.......peace. 

There's no reason to ask why. We just don't know. 

But God in His sovereignty knows. He sees. He weeps. He comforts. 

I pray my dear friends can receive the peace that passes understanding. Because this is certainly a heavy trial. 

If you think of it, please offer up prayers for my dear friend C and her husband. and the remaining young adult children. 

Thank you.