As seen on my blog: 
 This was one of those times. You know the ones. When you're about 10 pages in, and you realize that in order to fully grasp the content, maybe you should have read some of the other books in the series. 
 Depraved Heart 
 is the 23rd book in the Kay Scarpetta series, and I could definitely tell. This wasn't to say that it was written poorly, I was just missing 22 books worth of character building, bonding, and relating. I felt detached from Kay, from her niece Lucy, and while the menacing aura surrounding Carrie Gretchen seeped successfully into my brain, I still felt like I was the odd man out. 
 Narratives that begin with a death seem to go one of two ways for me. It either gets intriguingly more interesting, forensically complex, and increasingly suspenseful, OR, my eyes are glazed over by the 4th chapter from lack of progress. 
 Depraved Heart 
 was, unfortunately, a contender in the second category, with a storyline that dragged on, and repetitive questions that took chapters upon chapters to be answered. 
 For me, the forensic detail was the saving grace for this novel. While Cornwell's characters took their time with the emotional drama, I was kept engaged by the consistently fascinating world of crime scene investigating, and Kay Scarpetta's role in breaking down the gory evidence. After reading other reviews for 
 Depraved Heart 
 , I've gathered that Cornwell's previous books showcased even more of Scarpetta's scientific deduction, and skill, and less of the familial complications. 
 Kay Scarpetta seems to have accumulated an almost cult-like following, so it's a shame that I feel like I was simply band-wagoning for this one. I would really like to revisit this review once I've had a chance to catch up. And if you're in my boat with this novel, I highly recommend doing the same! 
 Recommended for Fans of: Forensic Crime Investigating, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Mystery, Michael Connelly, Janet Evanovich, Kathy Reichs.