Scarpetta's investigations are hampered by Marcus's ineptness and the disarray of her former lab. David Renshaw of "The Guardian" describes Meyer as "a perfect combination of ineptness and amorality". Much of the opposition were mired with technical ineptness, ideological confusion, and political baggage. Other funny situations arise out of Chaz's paranoia and ineptness as a killer. His ineptness as a sleuth provided some fine comic moments. The charges were dismissed by Judge J. H. Lucas because of Smith's judicial ineptness. Her ineptness in the field has her assigned to the evidence locker. Owen's ineptness at the plate didn't matter though.