The case begins with New York City on high alert for a most bizarre serial killer - a strange kind of thief who stalks his victims for the purpose of extracting a vial of blood, earning him the tabloid nickname the Vampire. As the attacks become more and more vicious and escalate to torture and then to murder, Jake and Manny begin too suspect there is a connection between the killer's seemingly random victims. But what is the link between the Vampire and a case Manny's been working for a kid, whose high school prank-gone-wrong has earned him the moniker the Preppy Terrorist and an FBI electronic bracelet ?
Jake's careful forensic examinations, Manny's courtroom tenaciousness, and an unusual clue suggesting that a high-ranking politician has risen from the grave take the pair from the bowels of the morgue to the world of international intrigue.
At the heart of this story is a tragic tale of corruption interlaced with cover-ups, conspiracies, death squads, and dictators who committed crimes that to this day go unpunished.
-
New York has a new killer on the loose who ether induces his random victims unconsciousness. At first he left them unharmed, drawing just a vial of blood from them but lately his attacks have become more vicious and he's left his victims tortured and dead.
Deputy chief medical examiner Jake Rosen seems to be drawn to case, eager to find the connection between the victims.
Manny Manfreda is a civil rights lawyer. Her newest case involves a teenager who's taken into custody after a makeshift bomb exploded under a mail box and wounded a passing by federal judge. With Jakes brother Sam's help Manny tries to uncover why only her client was taken into custody but not the boys who were with him.
When the boy later vanishes, witnesses Sam's just talked to are found dead and a strange connection between the Vampire and the bombing is found, it soon becomes clear that someone wanted Jake and Manny on the cases for a reason.
-
I'd like to give this novel the name of the biggest disappointment of the year. I just can't find anything positive in this suspense novel.
I'd expected so much more and got what most would consider a cozy novel, lacking the forensic science for the most part. Not that it isn't mentioned but wouldn't you expect from a forensic expert at least some interesting details ? Fact is, the forensic pathologist in this novel doesn't really do much of the work and when he does, you learn about it in a short sentence.
The characters are just sad, not even funny. There is not much development during the novel and I didn't really care for them at all. Nor did I think the protagonists were very clever but mere average investigators.
Skeleton Justice is the second (Remains Silent being the first) installment in a series I won't follow up with. It really must be nice to have friends like Cornwell, Rule and Reichs in the business. They'll recommend you, probably without having read what you've written.
Rating:
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Knopf (June 16, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400044324
ISBN-13: 978-1400044320
No comments:
Post a Comment