Since it's a novel, it might tell a complex story. 'Depraved heart' gives a sense of something sinister. Maybe the story is set in a particular environment, like a city full of secrets. Scarpetta could be a strong - willed protagonist who is constantly challenged by the presence of this 'depraved heart'. The novel might also explore moral and ethical questions as Scarpetta navigates through the events related to this concept.
Morality is a common theme. In such novels, the characters with a depraved heart often challenge the norms of society's moral code. They might engage in actions that are considered unethical, like lying, stealing, or even worse, murder. This makes readers question what is right and wrong.
Some Gothic novels also often touch on the concept of a depraved heart. For instance, 'Dracula'. The vampire Dracula has a depraved nature in terms of his thirst for blood and his disregard for human life, and the novel explores how the characters deal with this source of evil which has a depraved heart.
The well - known author Patricia Cornwell is behind the 'a scarpetta novel'. She has created this series with the character Kay Scarpetta. Cornwell is famous for her crime and mystery writing, and these novels are some of her most popular works.
I'm not sure specifically as there are many novels in this series. But generally, it might involve crime and mystery elements as Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta novels often do.
In my opinion, 'Postmortem' is one of the best Scarpetta novels. It introduced Dr. Kay Scarpetta in a very engaging way. The mystery and the forensic details really draw you in. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the character of Scarpetta is well - developed from the start, making it a great start to the series.
I don't have the exact title of the latest Scarpetta novel at hand. You could search online, look at literary news, or ask at your local library to get the latest info.