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Predator (novel)
Encyclopedia
Predator is a crime fiction
novel by Patricia Cornwell
.
series by author Patricia Cornwell
.
, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, takes charge of a case that stretches from steamy Florida to snowbound Massachusetts, one as unnerving as any she has ever faced. The teasing psychological clues lead Scarpetta and her team—Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and Lucy Farinelli—to suspect that they are hunting someone with a cunning and malevolent mind whose secrets have kept them in the shadows, until now.
The narrative style seen in previous books is also seen in Predator, with more than one character narrating. This change in narrative style from the first-person narration of Kay herself is one first seen in Blow Fly
. This device not only allows for more characters and their perspectives to come to the fore, but also marks a significant transformation in the way that the novels represent the criminal. Whereas previously the criminal’s mind was never made available to the reader—thus intensifying their “otherness”—the later novels allow space to explore their point of view and uncover their motivations.
and Boston, Massachusetts.
A stolen Treo
compromises the Institute's security and vexes Lucy considerably.
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
novel by Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell is a contemporary American crime writer. She is widely known for writing a popular series of novels featuring the heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner.-Early life:...
.
Plot introduction
Predator is the fourteenth book of the Dr. Kay ScarpettaKay Scarpetta
Kay Scarpetta is a fictional character and protagonist in a series of crime novels written by Patricia Cornwell. The character is based on former Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Marcella Fierro, MD. The series is noted for the use of recent forensic technology in Scarpetta's investigations.-...
series by author Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell is a contemporary American crime writer. She is widely known for writing a popular series of novels featuring the heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner.-Early life:...
.
Explanation of the novel's title
"PREDATOR" is an acronym for the Prefrontal Determinants of Aggressive-Type Overt Responsivity, a secret neuropsychological project to determine whether dangerous murderers have different brain patterns or functions from "ordinary" people.Plot summary
Dr. Kay ScarpettaKay Scarpetta
Kay Scarpetta is a fictional character and protagonist in a series of crime novels written by Patricia Cornwell. The character is based on former Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Marcella Fierro, MD. The series is noted for the use of recent forensic technology in Scarpetta's investigations.-...
, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, takes charge of a case that stretches from steamy Florida to snowbound Massachusetts, one as unnerving as any she has ever faced. The teasing psychological clues lead Scarpetta and her team—Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and Lucy Farinelli—to suspect that they are hunting someone with a cunning and malevolent mind whose secrets have kept them in the shadows, until now.
Characters in "Predator"
- Kay ScarpettaKay ScarpettaKay Scarpetta is a fictional character and protagonist in a series of crime novels written by Patricia Cornwell. The character is based on former Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Marcella Fierro, MD. The series is noted for the use of recent forensic technology in Scarpetta's investigations.-...
- Former Chief Medical Examiner - Benton Wesley - Profiler
- Lucy Farinelli - Kay's niece
- Pete Marino - Detective
- Rose - Kay's secretary
Literary significance & criticism
Cornwell was considered courageous by some reviewers for setting the characters of this novel at a major crossroads. All are on edge about their personal lives, relationships, and especially their long dependence upon and affection for each other. Mutual trusts have been eroded over previous books and the group lacks the cohesion it had earlier in the series.The narrative style seen in previous books is also seen in Predator, with more than one character narrating. This change in narrative style from the first-person narration of Kay herself is one first seen in Blow Fly
Blow Fly (novel)
-Plot introduction:Blow Fly is the twelfth book of the Dr. Kay Scarpetta series by author Patricia Cornwell.-Plot summary:After her resignation as Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner and the horrifying events which threatened her life in The Last Precinct, Kay Scarpetta has abandoned her elegant home...
. This device not only allows for more characters and their perspectives to come to the fore, but also marks a significant transformation in the way that the novels represent the criminal. Whereas previously the criminal’s mind was never made available to the reader—thus intensifying their “otherness”—the later novels allow space to explore their point of view and uncover their motivations.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography, and current science and technology
Set in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Boston, Massachusetts.
A stolen Treo
Treo
The Palm Treo is a line of smartphones originally developed by Handspring, which was bought by Palm, Inc. They are now manufactured and maintained by Palm, Inc. Treos have a number of integrated features such as the ability to check the calendar while talking on the phone, dial directly from a...
compromises the Institute's security and vexes Lucy considerably.