Love a Kay Scarpetta novel set around the festive season and I think there has been more than one ! As expected this is right up to the mark and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now I've read almost every Scarpetta book, about 85% of them. This isn't my favourite of them but it's better than some that went a wee bit off brand (I'm looking at you space Scarpetta!) It was still a good story but I really had to leave sense and sensibility behind! But with Sharp Force we are back in more familiar territory. The story feels much more like OG Scarpetta. There are familiar characters and some new political appointments that I just love to hate. However, I'm still not a fan of Dorothy at all, even though she's redeemed herself here and there, her behaviour through this story was just so childish I wanted to strangle her. I'd also like to see Marino retire, I really think we need new blood in there as the investigator. I love the relationship between Kay and Benton, even though it didn't exactly start from the ideal place. I love the relationship Kay has with Lucy and I feel so badly for Lucy who is still so lost in her grief. I do enjoy the way that the author weaves in elements of real life into the series (such as COVID in previous books). The horrific AI, Janet, really needs to get taken down and stuffed in a Faraday box somewhere! She's learning too much about the negative emotions of those around her. This story takes place over a very short period of time during the Christmas Holidays and I felt that things maybe were paced a bit too fast. I think the story would have felt a tad more believable if it was slowed down and took place over a slightly longer time period. A pretty good story overall, just a couple of quirks and characters that I think it's time to retire. I am, however, really looking forward to the TV show to see how close to the books they keep the adaptations. My review was created from an ARC copy that I received via NetGalley and I have submitted this review on a voluntary basis

As someone who’s dipped into the Scarpetta series before, I found Sharp Force a respectable return, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Cornwell’s earlier work. The forensic detail is, as ever, well done—precise without being overwhelming—and there’s an underlying tension that builds nicely as the story unfolds. The opening is a bit slow, and there are moments where the pace wavers, particularly with the heavy focus on internal dialogue and technical explanation. That said, once the plot begins to gather steam, there’s plenty to keep you turning the pages. Scarpetta remains a strong lead—measured, intuitive, and very much in command of her world. Some of the secondary characters could have used more depth, but the central mystery is layered and satisfying by the end. It’s probably not the best starting point for newcomers, but for fans of the series or those who enjoy their thrillers with a cerebral edge, this is a solid addition to Cornwell’s long-running saga. Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy

Sharp Force is a crime thriller that follows Dr Kay Scarpetta and her investigations into the Slasher killer. This was ok. The pacing seemed a bit haphazard though and I didn’t really warn to the characters. The family dynamic was a bit odd and I disliked the ending. The futuristic elements were interesting though, I wish they’d been explored a bit more. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Company for my advanced copy.