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Chaos: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta, 24) Hardcover – November 15, 2016

by Patricia Cornwell (Author)

22,423 ratings

Book 24 of 29: Kay Scarpetta

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell returns with another scintillating thriller in her high-stakes series starring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

On a hot late summer evening in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr. Kay Scarpetta and her investigative partner Pete Marino respond to a call about a dead bicyclist near the Kennedy School of Government. It appears that a young woman has been attacked with almost super human force.

Even before Scarpetta’s headquarters, the Cambridge Forensic Center, has been officially notified about the case, Marino and Scarpetta’s FBI agent husband Benton Wesley receive suspicious calls, allegedly from someone at Interpol. But it makes no sense. Why would the elite international police agency know about the case or be interested? With breathtaking speed it becomes apparently that an onslaught of interference and harassment might be the work of an anonymous cyberbully named Tailend Charlie, who has been sending cryptic communications to Scarpetta for over a week.

Stunningly, even her brilliant tech savvy niece Lucy can’t trace whoever it is or how this person could have access to intimate information few outside the family would have. When a second death hundreds of miles south, shocking Scarpetta to her core, it becomes apparent she and those close her are confronted with something far bigger and more dangerous than they’d ever imagined. Then analysis of a mysterious residue recovered from a wound is identified as a material that doesn’t exist on earth.

In this latest in the bestselling series featuring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell shows us once again why she is the world’s number one bestselling crime writer, mistress of the shocking turns, delicious thrills, and state-of-the-art forensic details that all fans of suspense have come to love.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Chaos: “Thrilling…. Readers new to Cornwell will find themselves involved from the very first page, as will the veterans. Chaos is one book you should not miss.” — Bookreporter.com

“Lots of cutting-edge forensic detail and some revelatory character moments.” — Publishers Weekly on Chaos

“Patricia Cornwell has created characters with real emotions and life experiences, and she provides them with more than enough danger to make things interesting. Dr. Scarpetta has become a good friend.” — MysteryPlayground.net on Chaos

“[An] absorbing thriller.” — Blackfive.net on Chaos

“There is a quiet intensity to Ms. Cornwell’s writing that compels you to read, then the eeriness sets in. . . . With CHAOS, once again Patricia Cornwell mesmerizes with her astounding scientific knowledge, her keen ear for dialogue and the human psyche, all woven together flawlessly.” — FreshFiction.com on Chaos

“While Scarpetta’s character has flaws, she is still a powerful female protagonist and she offers the reader an amazing calculating approach to investigation. I am always amazed at the passion that she has for her position. . . . A fast engaging read.” — Dad of Divas Reviews on Chaos

From the Back Cover

On a hot late summer evening in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr. Kay Scarpetta and her investigative partner, Pete Marino, respond to a call about a dead bicyclist near the Kennedy School of Government. It appears that a young woman has been attacked with almost superhuman force.

Even before Scarpetta’s headquarters, the Cambridge Forensic Center, has been officially notified about the case, Marino and Scarpetta’s FBI agent husband, Benton Wesley, receive suspicious calls, allegedly from someone at Interpol. But it makes no sense. Why would the elite international police agency know about the case and even be interested? With breathtaking speed it becomes apparent that an onslaught of interference and harassment might be the work of an anonymous cyberbully named Tailend Charlie, who has been sending cryptic communications to Scarpetta for over a week.

Stunningly, even her brilliant tech-savvy niece, Lucy, can’t trace who it is or how this person could have access to intimate information few outside their family would have. When a second death hundreds of miles south shocks Scarpetta to her core, she and those close to her are confronted with something far bigger and more dangerous than they’d ever imagined. Then analysis of a mysterious residue recovered from a wound is identified as a material that doesn’t exist on earth.

In this latest installment in the bestselling series featuring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell shows us once again why she is the world’s number one bestselling crime writer, mistress of the shocking turns, delicious thrills, and state-of-the-art forensic details that all fans of suspense have come to love.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow; First Edition (November 15, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062436686
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062436689
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.46 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #379,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #662 in Medical Thrillers (Books)
- #12,516 in Women Sleuths (Books)
- #22,593 in Suspense Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
22,423 ratings

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Patricia Cornwell

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In 1990, Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Growing into an international phenomenon, the Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.

Today, Cornwell’s novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper’s identity, cookbooks, a children’s book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and two other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano and Andy Brazil. While writing Quantum, Cornwell spent two years researching space, technology, and robotics at Captain Calli Chase’s home base, NASA’s Langley Research Center, and studied cutting-edge law enforcement and security techniques with the Secret Service, the US Air Force, NASA Protective Services, Scotland Yard, and Interpol.

Cornwell was born in Miami. She grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston and Los Angeles.

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Customers say

Customers find the book keeps them interested throughout and enjoy reading about Kay Scarpetta. The plot receives mixed reactions - while the storyline is intriguing, some find it hard to follow, and the pacing is slow with the end moving too fast. Character development and style also receive mixed reviews, with some loving the characters while others find them not well defined, and some appreciating the elegant writing while others find it drawn out. The book's emotional content draws mixed reactions, with some finding it incisive with emotion while others describe it as psychological confusion, and customers consider it a waste of time with too much filler content.

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Interest Readability Plot quality Character development Emotional content Style Pacing Time wasted

81 customers mention "Interest"81 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thoroughly engaging, keeping them interested throughout and delivering great adventure, with one customer noting how it makes readers realize the possibilities of the future.

"...Usually, the science and technology is fascinating, and the plots mesh well together...." Read more

"...Her subordinates’ collaboration is a smile-provoking story. She holds the reins of her working space...." Read more

"...The details of the science was elaborate and interesting...." Read more

"...is indeed intriguing and she certainly has a vast knowledge of forensics and medicine...." Read more

1,038 customers mention "Readability"691 positive347 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book, with some finding it a spectacular and enjoyable read, while others complain about repetitive descriptions of irrelevant details.

"Patricia Cornwall is one of my favorite authors! This book didn't disappoint. Her cast of characters is always awesome...." Read more

"...While I favor the first person narrative which aptly describes the character's innermost thoughts and uncovers some of her deepest fears and..." Read more

"...As for the triangle of Kay, Lucy and Dorothy, this storyline is also now boring. Do you see how much of my review was about relationships?..." Read more

"...and not exciting until I hit the 90% mark then it was a quick exciting read for 10%." Read more

580 customers mention "Plot quality"342 positive238 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot of the book, with some finding it intriguing and full of twists and turns, while others mention that the storylines are hard to follow and start off rather slow.

"...Forensics is fascinating to me. With all the technology, I don't know how anyone gets away with a crime...." Read more

"I found this book to be a very slow read. It was dull and not exciting until I hit the 90% mark then it was a quick exciting read for 10%." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns!" Read more

"...Usually, the science and technology is fascinating, and the plots mesh well together...." Read more

159 customers mention "Character development"88 positive71 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some loving them and appreciating the carefully developed villains, while others find them not as well defined or interesting.

"...This book didn't disappoint. Her cast of characters is always awesome. Kay Scarpetta always figures it out" Read more

"...They hide information, feelings. There really are so few likable characters in Cornwell's books, except the victims and most of Kay's loyal staff,..." Read more

"...While I favor the first person narrative which aptly describes the character's innermost thoughts and uncovers some of her deepest fears and..." Read more

"...There are a few other obnoxious characters, which seem to have been added just to give Scarpetta someone new to complain about...." Read more

38 customers mention "Emotional content"15 positive23 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's emotional content, with some finding it incisive and intense, while others describe it as depressing and filled with psychological confusion.

"...The characters in this series are flawed, have issues, and are fundamentally human. They are interesting, and wonderful to me." Read more

"...The murders were very interesting and cleverly original. The ending was typically awesome Cornwell." Read more

"...It felt depressing...." Read more

"...Everyone of them is miserable, depressed, worried , paranoid and continually unhappy. This has been Cornwell's pattern for a very long time...." Read more

38 customers mention "Style"12 positive26 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's style, with some finding it elegant and unique, while others describe it as very drawn out.

"...The plot is both really rushed and extremely drawn out - I think the majority of the book takes place over a few hours - and those were not action..." Read more

"...Also found that the descriptions were far too long and flowery. Sigh, I'll think twice before reading another Scarpetta novel." Read more

"...Cornwell's excellent writing is still there - bright, shiny, elegant, intelligent. Yet something has shifted...." Read more

"...I felt the book was drawn out and did not need to be as long as it was...." Read more

364 customers mention "Pacing"97 positive267 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book unsatisfactory, describing it as slow and hurried, with several noting that the end moves too quickly.

"...so that all action takes place within a very narrow time frame, usually over an approximate 24 hour time period. Yikes!..." Read more

"I found this book to be a very slow read. It was dull and not exciting until I hit the 90% mark then it was a quick exciting read for 10%." Read more

"...Those were enjoyable and riveting. This book,however, is a sad example of her talent as a storyteller...." Read more

"...It’s now tired and I find myself skipping pages...." Read more

58 customers mention "Time wasted"0 positive58 negative

Customers find the book to be a waste of time with excessive filler content.

"...Her later books seem to be about Kay and family. Hackneyed. Lots of landscape and weather descriptions. Definitely won't get the rest." Read more

"...This one has a slower start and in the beginning, seems a little ordinary until the end. Then you understand the lead up...." Read more

"...I was disappointed this year. Blah, blah, blah on and on about how badly she's treated by her family and friends and how she's always battling her..." Read more

"...Boring, unimaginative, weak plot, another woe is me I'm being pursued angle...." Read more

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L. Donnelly
Great book
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025
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Patricia Cornwall is one of my favorite authors! This book didn't disappoint. Her cast of characters is always awesome. Kay Scarpetta always figures it out

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floota
All work and no play makes Kay a dull girl...
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2016
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Yes, authors are entitled to change their writing style as they and their characters evolve! While I favor the first person narrative which aptly describes the character's innermost thoughts and uncovers some of her deepest fears and emotions, the author has compressed themost recent Scarpetta books ( the last 3, maybe?) so that all action takes place within a very narrow time frame, usually over an approximate 24 hour time period. Yikes! What is missing here is any sort of down time for the characters. There's a lack of personal and lighter interactions that so enriched the characters interactions, breathed life into them and gave them personality in Cornwell's earlier novels. This #24 in the series is all about work, work, work, and solving high intensity, high tech crime. As a longtime fan ( who has read ALL of the series, in order, several times!) I continue to admire the author's ability to capture the locale with exact precision. Having just returned from another visit to Cambridge, I'd just walked most of the areas where this books action took place, and it all felt eerily familiar. But I so missed the personal interactions and down time scenes that marked some of Cornwell's earlier books in this series. The result is that the supporting characters, especially Lucy, Marino, and Benson, felt very plastic in this book. How regrettable! I hope that the author will add a bit more of the "down time" scenes that so enriched her earlier books to #25!

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LR in Missouri
Patricia Cornwell is a Great Writer
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
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I have read many of her books and like the Kay Scarpetta series the best. Forensics is fascinating to me. With all the technology, I don't know how anyone gets away with a crime. But, reading this book, you will see that at times, they know who did the crime, but all the resources of the government can't catch them. This is a must-read.

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Geri Brotherton
disappointed
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
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I found this book to be a very slow read. It was dull and not exciting until I hit the 90% mark then it was a quick exciting read for 10%.

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Mikio Miyaki
electrocution crime with forefront science technology
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2016
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Patricia Cornwell’s story construction ability has increasingly come into maturity. An outline of the “Chaos” is quite simple. A corpse is found inside Kennedy Park, Kay Scarpetta does an inspection of the scene with Pete Marino. Through an investigation at the CFC, she senses the existence of a long standing enemy, Carrie Gretchen, who might have drawn a ground design of a crime. The process she finds mysterious sudden electrical-type of deaths occurring almost at the same time hundreds of miles apart being connected is thrilling. Cornwell weaves various chaotic fractions into a formidably homicidal electrocution crime story. Weird mails from Tailend Charlie, anonymous 911 calls, Dorothy’s sudden visit, a meddlesome investigator Barclay, crime scene tampering sisters, Briggs’ death, and so on…all things happen in one day. Under the unbearable heat waves, she is tossed about by her guardian angels like familiar sub characters. Her ambivalent feeling toward her family and Pete Marino makes the story development more dramatic. Cornwell picks up the forefront science technology for the story. Who else can think of a homicidal weapon using a drone. She shows a vast knowledge of science when she alludes a possibility of someone making a small powerful bomb out of nano-thermite using a ‘panguite,’ which is recently discovered in meteorites. Readers feel great satisfaction when Scarpetta outwits FBI investigators to grab a hegemony in a forensic investigation. Her subordinates’ collaboration is a smile-provoking story. She holds the reins of her working space.

Carrie Grethen is finally defeated by Scarpetta. Carrie’s advanced technology is fallen to a simple analog device, a fishing rod. However, Carrie does not gone out thoroughly. Cornwell predicts when she’s sufficiently recovered she’ll be held in isolation at the local state psychiatric hospital, in a maximum security forensic unit for the criminally insane. Soon she’ll find her accomplices and starts laying the groundwork for another crime. Cornwell buries another chaotic factor at the end of this book. Desi, now raised by Lucy and Janet, isn’t a genuine son of Natalie, a sister of Janet. Deci, in fact, is a son between Temple Gault, used as a sperm donor, and Carrie Grethen, disguised as a surrogate mother. How entangled relations and stories is she conceiving for the next episodes. Can’t take our eyes off from the further development.

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Yoko
Love it
Reviewed in Japan on October 28, 2019
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I've read every Scarpetta series. Love them all!

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Catherine Vanner
A very good read
Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2021
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As usual, Cornwell crafts an excellent read. I did find the odd spot slow going, but it always picked up. Fine character building and Scarpetta is always herself.

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lielena
perrfetto
Reviewed in Italy on April 23, 2018
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Il libro è perfetto quasi senza segni di usura ed è arrivato presto, Ottimo per mantenere in allenamento il proprio inglese.

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Sumanta BANERJEE
Breathtaking !
Reviewed in France on November 15, 2019
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From the first page onwards I was transported in to the world of Scarpetta. The twists in the plot are breathtaking.

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Blsn
Magnífico
Reviewed in Spain on December 8, 2016
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Soy muy fan de los libros de la série de la Dra. Scarpetta y este libro no me ha defraudado. Es simplemente brillante y me ha gustado muchísimo.

Patricia Cornwell es la reina de la ciencia forense y se nota en todos los detalles.

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Chaos: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta, 24) Hardcover – November 15, 2016

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Twenty-fourth Book in The Scarpetta Series

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

4.0 out of 5 stars All work and no play makes Kay a dull girl...

5.0 out of 5 stars Patricia Cornwell is a Great Writer

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointed

5.0 out of 5 stars electrocution crime with forefront science technology

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good read

5.0 out of 5 stars perrfetto

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking !

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnífico

Great book

All work and no play makes Kay a dull girl...

Patricia Cornwell is a Great Writer

disappointed

electrocution crime with forefront science technology

Love it

A very good read

perrfetto

Breathtaking !

Magnífico