Dust by Patricia Cornwell

My latest is another from the Kay Scarpetta series.  This one takes place just after the Sandyhook massacre and Kay has just returned to Boston after working in assisting with the autopsies of the children.  She is spent, exhausted and sick but alas, another seemingly impossible murder lands on her doorstep.  Compound all that with the fact that the murder is pointing towards another serial kill, and her work is cut out for her and her team.

I have to say - I do love Patricia Cornwell but I'm wondering if she isn't getting to rote, too quick in producing her novels.  She certainly is thorough in her knowledge but is it reasonable that the events that take place, do so in a matter of hours?  I'm not so sure that's realistic...even for a work of fiction.  That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and would continue to recommend the series to anyone who likes a who-done-it. 

Master of the Delta by Thomas H. Cook

My latest read is from an author I've never read...although from the number of best selling novels he's written, I'm surprised I've never come across him until now. 

The premise of Master of the Delta: Jack Branch grew up in the Plantation section of a small Mississippi town. In 1954, he returns to his hometown at 24, to teach high school literature at his alma mater.  While conducting a class on evil throughout history, Jack discovers that one of his students is the son of the "Coed Killer" a notorious and local killer whose crime occurred a dozen years back. Jack feels drawn to this boy and feels compelled to mentor and encourage Eddie's discovery and truth of his fathers crime.  Jacks decision to do this ends up having deadly consequences and more than one persons truth is revealed.

This was quite a page-turner.  I have to say, I didn't know what to expect while reading and was forever on the edge of my seat.  Cook has a way of writing that gives amazing detail and life to his descriptions of nature, the south and his characters.  I really, really liked this book and look forward to reading another by Thomas H. Cook.  Read it - you won't be disappointed.

Deception by Jonathan Kellerman

Deception - an Alex Delaware mystery - is actually a latest listen.  I like listening to the Jonathan Kellerman novels because the guy who reads them is really good.

Plot:  Milo Sturgis, our rough and tough LAPD detective is looking for the person or persons who killed Elise Freeman, a teacher and tutor at the exclusive Windsor Prep Academy in Brentwood.  She's been found dead in her Studio City apartment in a bathtub full of dry ice. Interestingly, Elise left a DVD accusing three fellow teachers at the academy of repeated sexual harassment.  In an effort to understand the mind of the killer, Milo seeks out the help of friend and psychologist Alex Delaware. What turns up is a boyfriend with con artist tendencies, students whom Elise had inappropriate relationships with, teachers whom Elise had inappropriate relationships with, and administrators anxious to keep all those secrets hidden.

I liked this book but was a bit disappointed that it was so full of the mystery/crime to be solved and had no personal back stories of Milo or Alex.  One of the reasons I like to read books with recurring characters is because the characters become well-known to me and I like how things continue to develop with them as each book is written.  There was essentially NO story with Alex's longtime love Robin nor Milo's relationship with his partner.  That was a bit disappointing.  The mystery itself was interesting because the resolution is something that has of late, been in the news.  Coincidence?  I don't know but it was a good whodunit that kept me listening.