"Cause of Death" by Patricia Cornwell

It happened in the USA, in Virginia, during the last days of 1995 and the first month of 1996. It started when, instead of cooking lasagna for New Year Eve Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the chief medical examiner of Virginia, had to dive into the cold water of the Elizabeth river just so she could personally examine an apparent drowning victim - and, immediately after that, personally, do the post-mortem.She'd known the victim. Ted Eddings, the reporter, was just 32, and less unpleasant to Dr. Scarpetta than most of his colleagues. She'd even permitted him to interview her and her staff a few times... now he lay on a table, stiff and cold, and she had to take samples of his skin and hair.Little did she know about what was to begin. Bullying from a police officer, fears for the only (and adored) niece, a sinister book found in the victim's home - then a sudden death of her assistant (was she the intended victim), a terrorist attack on a Power Plant threatening to turn her State into a ra
dioactive desert, an unexpected flight to London and back - and finally, going in person into the midst of the terrorists' den: such was the start of the new year for Dr. Scarpetta.The book has its fair share of mystery, but it's far more about action than about thorough and skillful brain work. So, it's not quite my type of a detective novel, but I liked the book all the same. As a matter of fact, I read it about four or five years ago, but forgot all about it - not just the plot, but even the fact of having read it. So I've re-read it all over again to review it, and the forgotten episodes were slowly coming back as I proceeded through the pages.The book reads very well: the author's style is easy and even cheerful, despite the grim events she talks about. She uses an occasional obscenity, but I'm not the one cringe when I see those - after all, we live in the 21st century. I like the characters she's drawn: Dr. Kay Scarpetta is just an amazing human being, at once a docto
r, a diver and a lawyer, not afraid to show the strength of her character to anyone - not even afraid of death. Her friend Captain Marino is no less admirable, that huge person with something of a bear in him, a devoted friend and unexpectedly efficient at his job, though not as smart as Dr. Kay (she's basically the Poirot of the company, though it's hinted that her niece Lucy has a much higher IQ). Lucy is young and decidedly difficult... and lesbian. The book speaks a lot about being tolerant to alternative lifestyles - not a problem to me, but obviously a problem to many people Lucy encounters, her mother first and foremost, which, of course, makes her even more difficult. She has to be on the defensive most of the time - but not with her aunt who had rased her and understands her.The book mentions a lot of technical details about computers, virtual reality equipment, ships, submarines and everything else... for instance, the author is not satisfied with saying "computer"
- she has to be more specific and say a 486 computer. If I'm not much confused, 486 machines were already considered somewhat obsolete in 1996, even in Russia, though still in use. Apparently, nether Ted Eddings, the reporter, nor Dr. Kay's morgue could afford to upgrade their hardware often.Would I recommend the book? Yes, definitely, if you'd like something entertaining and solidly written, but not too profound. Will I read it again? I don't know. I might. Or I might not.Time will tell.

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