This story is action packed, well researched and emotionally charged - as are all of J.F. Penn's novels. I enjoyed the prologue peek into the murderer's mindset. It is a jump start into the tale, a foretelling of the horror just around the corner.

This new story series contains a strong heroin, Jamie Brooke, who has a definitive unique personality. Jamie is a wonderful character, very human, with complex desires. The author did a great job getting into the head of the mother in pain, the dedicated detective, as well as the woman with needs. The other characters also have a great deal of depth to them and are very believable. I especially recognized the intense research the author did in regards to the body art community, handling her writing with respectful observance and acceptance. The novel has many original twists to a detective themed story line.

I totally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great adventure, with mysterious people, and anyone who has an open mind to new ideas, and likes a nibble of horror. This is a great read.

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The book of a lawyer and heiress is found within the Royal College of Surgeons. Detective Sergeant Jamie Brooke is assigned to investigate and when she discovers a figurine on the body she is directed towards Blake Daniel, a psychic to help her solve the case. How depraved can human behaviour go, read and find out.
Strangely, an interesting read with characters I suspect will grow on me in further books ( )

I think JF Penn has really found her stride with this series. A definite page turner, great description made the setting and scenarios come to life. I could hear and feel the squelching of preserved fleshy specimens during the final scenes. Glad to know I am not the only one who finds plastination fascinating. I tried to talk about it at a family dinner a few weeks ago before I bought this book and received horrified looks, especially when I got Google up on my phone.

I would recommend this book to those who like the dark side of thrillers, or a touch of horror with their crime. I will read more of this series. ( )

Ho dovuto mettere i dati del libro in inglese visto che qui su anobii sono così arretrati da non accettare il codice ASIN di anobii. In realtà il libro è in italiano e si chiama "Profanazione". Lo consiglio vivamente a tutti gli amanti del vero horror.Attenzione perchè non è per tutti, le scene e l'atmosfera sono da vero horror anche un po' splatter. ( )

This book contains triggers.
Not much in this book that doesn't ring as true possible reality. Ask most nurses. Or cops. Whether it is the suffering of a parent facing a child's inevitable prolonged death, or the things that people do to their own bodies, or the questionable things that some categorize as art. Is the insanity of the villain any worse than that of Dahmer? Are the delusions of pharmaceutical and genetic engineering companies any less true in reality than in this work of fiction ? I have viewed the Plastination exhibits, and they have extensive documentation of permission from the individuals and/or their families to use the bodies in question. And any empathetic person can relate to the PTSD of the historian burdened with psychometry as well as a personal history of parental religious abuse. The publisher's summary will give the hints needed regarding the plot, and no spoilers desired. The plot moves along well, and the imagery is too good. Excellent character development.
This book was a gift.
Rosalind is a great choice for narrator and gives an excellent performance and adds much to the value of this novel. ( )