The first Dr Kay Scarpetta Mystery, which won five international awardswhen it was first published. A serial killer is on the loose in Richmond,Virginia. Three women have died, brutalised and strangled in their ownbedroom. There is no pattern: the killer appears to strike at random - butalways early on Saturday mornings.So when Dr Kay Scarpetta, chief medicalofficer, is awakened at 2.33 am, she knows the news is bad: there is afourth victim. And she fears now for those that will follow unless she candig up new forensic evidence to aid the police.But not everyone is pleasedto see a woman in this powerful job. Someone may even want to ruin hercareer and reputation ...