Patricia Cornwell, "Isle of Dogs"

I am an avid Patricia Cornwell fan, have read every Scarpetta novel and absolutely loved first two Andy Brazil novels, but what the heck? I have been trying to read this book for over two months and have had to make myself sit down and read just the first half. I am only half way through the book and am wondering what happened to Virginia West? The only reason I am going to finish the book is to see if her absence is explained. I hope that when I get to the end of the book, I won't feel like I have just wasted two days of my life.