Black Notice

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

''America''s most chilling writer of crime fiction'' The Times

An intriguing Dr Kay Scarpetta novel which will take Kay an ocean''s breadth away from home. The case begins when a cargo ship arriving at Richmond, Virginia''s Deep Water Terminal from Belgium is discovered to be transporting a locked, sealed container holding the decomposed remains of a stowaway. The post mortem performed by the Chief Medical Examiner, Kay Scarpetta, initially reveals neither a cause of death nor an identification. But the victim''s personal effects and an odd tattoo take Scarpetta on a hunt for information that leads to Interpol''s headquarters in Lyon, where she receives critical instructions: go to the Paris morgue to receive secret evidence and then return to Virginia to carry out a mission. It is a mission that could ruin her career.

In a story which crosses international borders, Black Notice puts Dr Kay Scarpetta directly in harm''s way and places her and those she holds dear at mortal risk.

Praise for the groundbreaking series:

''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