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|summary=Detailed forensics are called on when the death of a young American in Rome appears to have similarities with killings in South Carolina. Meanwhile , Kay Scarpetta's tightly knit team of allies and helpers seems to be falling apart.

|amazonukcover=<amazonuk>0316724238</amazonuk>|amazonusaznuk=0316724238|aznus=<amazonus>0399153934</amazonus>

Scarpetta is not so much 'back' in the latest novel from by Patricia Cornwell, as is seen to 'have moved on'. On the basis of Book of the Dead, I'm prepared to say it's time that Cornwell lets her do so.

Following her last outing in 2005's [[''Predator]]'',Scarpetta has moved South and out of official investigative work. Now ensconced in Charleston, South Carolina - a historic beach town with a strange sense of community - where she has set up as a private forensic pathologist. She's brought along her long-term support-team: lab-technician-cum-investigator, ex-cop Pete Marino, secretary Rose, and the lead-in to all sorts of unscrupulous computer wizardry via niece Lucy. Long-term lover Benton is still working the official line up in Florida.

But only a touch. Very quickly we are back in Charleston dealing with a host of other problems. A weirdo funeral director, strained relationships with the neighbours, bodies beginning to pile up on the doorstep are just the beginning. Most of what's going on is actually the personal stuff: Scarpetta/Benton being the focus. The aging ageing Rose has problems of her own... and Marino is on the point of disintegration. He is back in contact with the vindictive celebrity psychologist Dr. Self (from ''Predator''), and indulging in a self-destructive relationship with a hateful, but rich & beautiful, local girl.

The criminal element of the book is as well-researched and tightly plotted as ever. Unfortunately, much of ''Book of the Dead'' wanders around the interplay of relationships between the investigators. The result is a serious lack of focus. Two stories are being played out which happen to be concurrent, but don't really interrelate, with the result that it's hard to know which bits you should be caring about. A weakness increased by the fact that crime & and forensics is Cornwell's stock in trade, personal stuff is very much by-catch. She'd do well to steer clear of the latter.

The lack of focus matters particularly in a Scarpetta novel, because the first -person narrative of the earlier works was partly what made them so compelling. In ''Book of the Dead'', we're transported across multiple viewpoints: Scarpetta's of course, but also the killer's, Dr Self's, Marino's, his girlfriend's - plus all the third-person external narrative - all of which dilutes the tension and adds to a sense of confusion.

From anyone else, it might have warranted a full 4-stars, but for Cornwell , it's below-par - 3.5 at best.

With the risk of Cornwell losing her pole position, it might be time to check out some of the rising stars. Not a bad place to start would be [[The Chemistry of Death]] by Simon Beckettor [[Blood Born by Kathryn Fox]].