2002

Possibly better than a 2, but I think maybe I'm getting burned out on Cornwell. Also, though I was current years ago, I have fallen way behind and am also a little "out of order."

Basically, I like the characters and I like that I know about the characters. But I'm tired of hearing about the former (dead) characters (Benton, Grethen, Gault, etc.) and the running threads. I rather have the current group of heroes (Kay, Lucy, and Marino) solving crimes that are unrelated to previous books. ( )

Do not like this book very well. The middle part contains too much interrogation. It is getting to the point that the only character I consistently like is Pete Marino. ( )

Kay Scarpetta, medical examiner, and Marino team up to prove her innnovence after Jean Baptiste (from Black Notice) trumps up charges against her. Eventually Scarpetta is fired/resigns. ( )

GREAT! GREAT! GREAT! ( )

What the hell is going on--the downhill slide of this character's development is really showing. ( )

Tone of language: Grimly psychological
Characters: Deeply emotionally wounded
Plot twists: Puzzling links between
seemingly unrelated murders
Pace: Slow, painstaking analysis of crimes
Values: The importance of relationships
founded on trust
Background research: Forensics
Sexuality: Female murder victims engaged in
consensual intercourse first
Ending: Family comes first
Offensive to any group: Unattractive people
Target audience: Women

Flaw: The author doesn't explain how the mastermind of a known crime family could fool the authorities and become a high-ranking international police agent. ( )

For me, this is where Cornwall's characters became downright unlikable -- the start of the spiral downward for the series. ( )

I enjoy Patricia Cornwell's stories. They are well drawn out and accurate in their forensic details. Cornwell's MC, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, is a character who is likeable while still demonstrating her human weaknesses. This novel picks up where the last (Black Notice) left off...and it doesn't disappoint. Fast paced, it kept my interest...and answered questions the author left hanging in
Black Notice. ( )

Feels like Cornwell is trying to finish up old plot points and start new ones, I got bogged down and didn't enjoy this "transitional" book ( )

The weakest of the Scarpetta series and the last novel of Cornwell's that I bought. This follows on directly from Black Notice and features the reappearance of the werewolf killer of that novel. No sparkle to this one whatsoever; the great shame being that the characters do deserve so much more, thanks to lacklustre plotting no-one really cares if Scarpetta plans to set up a private consultancy with annoying uber genious neice Lucy and loveable cop Pete Marino. ( )