I waited with bated breath for each new title. Well, things have changed, her books have become steadily worse from about the last 4 onward. Each time I open a new one I think, 'this has got to be better.' Instead, they get more murky and so hard to follow that if I wasn't absolutly looking for some redeaming quality, I would toss the book (which, by the way, I don't do). I am thouroughly discusted by the characters development in this latest disaster. Who is Marino? Certainly not the Pete I knew. What about Lucy? Lets get some clarity here!!! The relationship between Kay and Benton is also not explained very well. I'm sorry but one of Patricia Cornwell's biggest fans is about to say goodbye. Try one of Cornwell's older novels-or try-Quest-by-Giorgio Kostantinos--either way they will be more satisfing than this.