This book progressed pretty slowly for the first half or so, then just as I was beginning to get really frustrated, it picked up. No spoilers here, but the end had 2 specific moments where I literally sat there reading with my mouth hanging open in shock! Very good book, but I wish Ms. Cornwell would stop draaaaagging out the first halves of her books- this has happened the last couple of Scarpetta books and it's getting to be a mite irritating.