Patricia Cornwell Books

I have followed Kay Scarpetta and crew since her first book. sadly she and her family and friends have turned into a study in anger and the reader is left to uncomfortably listen to the whole group fall apart while the villian dejour creates unspeakable horrow to be captured at the end in a non event.

A sad end to a once great series.

I have read a number of other Patricia Cornwell books from her Dr. Kay Scarpetta series. While they have all varied in quality, they usually range from good to excellent. That is why this book was a complete shock, as it is one of the worst books that I have read in a long time.

This book is not a Dr. Kay Scarpetta series book. Instead, it is a police procedural that focuses on three individuals: Charlotte's stalwart Police Chief Judy Hammer, her drop dead gorgeous Deputy Chief Virginia West, and Andy Brazil, an intrepid, young news reporter. Unfortunately, while the premise may have been inspired, the book fails in its execution, with characters that never quite work, relationships that are far fetched or never quite gel, a plot that lacks focus and fails to capture the reader's imagination, as well as an excess of mediocre writing in need of serious editing.

Readers beware. This book was DOA. Do not spend one cent on this turkey. If you feel the urge for turkey, wait for Thanksgiving. Then, give thanks that you have not wasted your money on this book.

I have read a number of other Patricia Cornwell books, from her Dr. Kay Scarpetta series. While they have all varied in quality, they usually range from good to excellent. That is why this book was a complete shock, as it is one of the worst books that I have read in a long time.

This book is not a Dr. Kay Scarpetta series book. Instead, it is a police procedural that focuses on three individuals: Charlotte's stalwart Police Chief Judy Hammer, her drop dead gorgeous Deputy Chief Virginia West, and Andy Brazil, an intrepid, young news reporter. Unfortunately, while the premise may have been inspired, the book fails in its execution, with characters that never quite work, relationships that are far fetched or never quite gel, a plot that lacks focus and fails to capture the reader's imagination, as well as an excess of mediocre writing in need of serious editing.

This audio book also suffers from a painful reading by noted actor Chris Sarandon, whose performance on this audio book is almost embarrassing. Narrated in a precise, almost prissy manner, his performance lacks a certain grit that is almost demanded by a police procedural. Moreover, his segues into the different characters are done in a way that grate upon the ear. Chris, a word to the wise...don't quit your day job.

Readers beware. This book was dead on arrival. Do not spend one cent on this turkey. If you feel the urge for turkey, wait for Thanksgiving. Be thankful that you have not wasted your money on this book.

I have read a number of other Patricia Cornwell books, from her Dr. Kay Scarpetta series. While they have all varied in quality, they usually range from good to excellent. That is why this book was a complete shock, as it is one of the worst books that I have read in a long time.

This book is not a Dr. Kay Scarpetta series book. Instead, it is a police procedural that focuses on three individuals: Charlotte's stalwart Police Chief Judy Hammer, her drop dead gorgeous Deputy Chief Virginia West, and Andy Brazil, an intrepid, young news reporter. Unfortunately, while the premise may have been inspired, the book fails in its execution, with characters that never quite work, relationships that are far fetched or never quite gel, a plot that lacks focus and fails to capture the reader's imagination, as well as an excess of mediocre writing in need of serious editing.

Readers beware. This book was dead on arrival. Do not spend one cent on this turkey. If you feel the urge for turkey, wait for Thanksgiving. Be thankful that you have not wasted your money on this book.

I am a devout Patricia Cornwell fan. I have read every one of her Kay Scarpetta series books, and enjoyed each and every one of them. When I saw that she had also written a series of three books, about the men and women in blue, I was eager to read them. The first one, Hornets Nest wasn't too bad but it wasn't up to her usual standards. The second one Southern Cross was even worse, But the last one, Isle of Dogs, was definitely one of the worst books I have ever read. I am absolutely amazed that this was a Patricia Cornwell novel. If it had been the very first book of hers that I had ever read, it would have also been the last. The plot, the bizarre characters, the backwards language, it was nothing but a mix-mash of confusing drivel. It was a total waste of time to read, and I found myself continually asking, "what was she thinking?"

Id say the story might be good but up to now I havent been able to listen to it because.
1 We all know Post Mortem was her first book but the way the stories have been put on this cd Body of eveidence is first.
2 There is no Gap between to say this is now playing the next story.
it says on the cd it starts on a certain number but Id say its not very well advised. I still havent found the beginning of the story and Ive tried 3 times.
I think Im going to have to buy them again seperatly.
Wasting money is not my favourite occupation.

I'm not familiar with the other works by this author and maybe that's one of the reasons I found this book so confusing, but the fact remains that, even as an avid reader of courtroom/legal novels, I found it hard to keep track of all the characters and subplots that seems to be introduced randomly. The author starts by making you believe that the focus of the story is the relantionsip between the female chief medical examiner and the genetical freak who has killed a number of women and tried to do the same to the doctor. But from that point on dozens of relantionships are introduced with very little or no explanation at all. Maybe the details are in other books but I beleive that one should be able to read any book and be presented with at least the basic facts about all the characters. Another weak spot is the ending. After dragging the narrative through many pages of excruciatingly detailed descriptions of places, furniture and even cars, the author brings it all to an abrupt end in four or five short pages. It seemed to me that even the author herself couldn'd wait to get rid of the book. One last comment: please, enough of female lawyers/detectives/policewomen and other law enforcement people who are unmarried and have a nephew as their only significant family member. This must be the fourth or fifth book I read (none of them by this author) that relies on this situation. Wifes and mothers can make good characters too !