In SHARP FORCE, the 29th installment in the legendary Patricia Cornwell’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta series, a serial killer has no qualms about ruining the holidays.

Scarpetta is working on the recently deceased body of a man found after several days in a nearby lake, where he had apparently died while fishing on the pier. Since it is Christmas Eve, she plans to visit the family on her way home to share details. Meanwhile, her frequent police partner, Pete Marino, informs her that he is being called to a crime that appears to be the work of the Phantom Slasher. Journalist Dana Diletti claims that a hologram ghost entered her house, one of the stunts for which the Phantom Slasher has become known.

"I have been there since the start of this brilliant series, which never disappoints.... SHARP FORCE delivers plenty of thrills and chills, marking another memorable read in this long-running saga."

The FBI is also involved, which means that Scarpetta’s niece, Lucy, is on the case, as is Scarpetta’s husband, Secret Service forensic psychologist Benton Wesley. Both the North Carolina governor and the independent committee that consistently bugs Scarpetta and her team are engaged in solving these crimes quickly, especially considering the time of year. Christmas Day arrives with yet another Phantom Slasher attack, and this time there are multiple victims, including the severely injured nephew of the leading Democratic candidate for the next presidential election.

All of this is preceded by an apparent cold case of an unidentified body found on Mercy Island near the psychiatric facility that Scarpetta knows very well. When it appears that it might be the work of the Phantom Slasher, the situation gets really dicey and the pressure ramps up.

Scarpetta teams up with Benton in lieu of the trip to Europe they were supposed to take, and they find roadblocks to their investigation nearly everywhere. One of the most overt is a police officer who seems to be going out of his way to stall their progress. When they are able to tie the fisherman’s death to the Slasher case, a much bigger conspiracy begins to take shape.

One of the most unique aspects of SHARP FORCE is the use of AI and alternate electronic technology. In fact, this novel is so saturated with it that it becomes a bit distracting. Everything from specialized drones to smart robot dogs, and an AI chatbot that looks like Lucy’s late partner, permeates the book and completely changes the outcome of the investigations. What a difference from the first Scarpetta novel, POSTMORTEM, where only forensic science was utilized.

I have been there since the start of this brilliant series, which never disappoints. Each time I begin a new entry, it feels like returning home to extended family with whom you are extremely comfortable. We have watched these characters change and grow before our eyes. I even have a Scarpetta cookbook at home, as fine food and comfort eating are always a part of these books. SHARP FORCE delivers plenty of thrills and chills, marking another memorable read in this long-running saga.