The twentieth book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell.

America's most chilling writer of crime fiction The Times

A woman has vanished while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada. Somehow, the only evidence has made its way to the inbox of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, over two thousand miles away in Boston. She has no idea why.

But as events unfold with alarming speed, Scarpetta begins to suspect the paleontologist's disappearance is connected to a series of crimes much closer to home: a gruesome murder, inexplicable tortures, and trace evidence from the last living creatures of the dinosaur age.

When she turns to those around her, Scarpetta finds that the danger and suspicion have penetrated even her closest circles. Her niece Lucy speaks in riddles. Her lead investigator Pete Marino and FBI husband Benton Wesley have secrets of their own. Feeling alone and betrayed, Scarpetta is tempted by someone from her past as she tracks a killer both cunning and cruel.

The next book in the Scarpetta series is Dust. And the brand-new instalment, Identity Unknown, is available now!

DISCOVER THE SERIES THAT SHAPED THE WORLD OF CRIME FICTION

One of the best crime writers writing today Guardian

Devilishly clever Sunday Times

The top gun in this field Daily Telegraph

Forget the pretenders. Cornwell reigns Mirror

The Agatha Christie of the DNA age Express