Title:	Identity Unknown
	Author:	Patricia Cornwell
	Published:	October 8, 2024, Grand Central Publishing
	No. of Pages:	400
	Cover Price:	$21.00 Hardcover, $14.99 Kindle

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Anyone who follows the Kay Scarpetta Series by bestselling author Patricia Cornwell will want to immediately pick up the 18th novel in the popular series, Identity Unknown. Kay is doing an autopsy on the young child of a billionaire who supposedly shot herself accidentally and brings out her suspicions of child abuse when she is called to an abandoned theme park when the body of one of her old friends, Sal Giordano, an award winning scientist, has been found. Things are very suspicious, and Kay’s niece, Lucy is involved and thinks his body was dumped from an alien spacecraft. The usual characters, including Pete Marino and Kay’s husband Benton, are involved in the investigation of this top secret case. Luckily, Kay keeps a straight head in her investigation.

It is so nice to read about favorite characters who have evolved through years of excellent Kay Scarpetta novels, with Kay and supporting characters evolving like our friends in real life. Kay and Benton are still happily married, and Marino is now married to Kay’s selfish sister (Lucy’s mother). The characters are so real, readers who have followed the series will feel like they are reading about their best friends. Cornwell is an accomplished writer and has been able to develop her characters like almost no other author. She is also a fabulous storyteller, winding her tales with unexpected twists and turns, and an unexpected dénouement. Cornwell is a master storyteller and builds suspense like no other.

It is suggested that readers start with the early novels to fully enjoy Kay Scarpetta, Benton, Moreno, and Lucy at their best, but this novel does give enough background that it is readable on its own. As always, Patricia Cornwell novels are excellent and this one is no exception. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.