Originally, Cornwell was a creative and innovative author. Her original Scarpetta novel was fantastic and it was about solving the murder. Slowly, it became about Scarpetta (now more brooding and self-involved) saving the world. After you save the world, what's left? Why to work in the private sector surrounded by amazingly difunctional friends and family and then to become more self-involved!

Cornwell's last book ("The Scarpetta Factor") was a redemption. And then we have this book. The writing is fine, the story interesting, but Scarpetta is full of self-doubt and this leaves her maudlin. Everyone is keeping secrets from her and that is NOT who Kay Scarpetta has grown into being. It seemed... forced. "Port Mortuary" was an okay read if disjointed and oftentimes vague. Cornwell's earlier Scarpetta books are by far better, but this isn't the worst of the lot either.