5 comments about Cause of Death.

1. I agree with many of the other reviews - it showed promise in the beginning. I read the first 2/3's of the book in a day. I enjoyed the initial action and mystery. By the end, however, the book had fizzled to the point that I hard to force myself to finish it. Dr. Scarpetta is a thoroughly unbelievable character - she's an "expert" on everything from medicine to firearms to scuba diving to nuclear power plants! I'm a big Clive Cussler fan, and my wife bought this for me because of the scuba diver on the cover. Don't let that fool you - the diving aspect is a very minor part to the book (although it was one of the more exciting, at least for me). Bottom line- I wouldn't waste my time with this one again.



2. Excellent book. Also read and enjoyed "Book Of The Dead" and Cause Of Death. All 3 are excellent books from an excellent writer. Have almost read the entire Scarpetta series.



3. Loved this book, patricia cornwell seems to always be able to bring something new to the table.



4. I was just looking at the reviews for this book and couldn't believe I had read the same book that the previous reviewers have read. Perhaps it is because I have been reading all of the books of the series in order, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and their relationships continue to evolve, as do their relationships with each other. This book, as well as the previous ones are solid police and forensic procedurals. Some have complained that Kay is a super woman...well, she is, that is her character. She is an over achiever professionally and academically. That counters with the decisions she makes in her personal life, where she doesn't do so well. The woman not only is the top in her field, she also possesses a law degree. Like I said, I don't understand all of the negative reviews. I enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing with the series.



5. I'll probably spend more time on this post-mortem than Dr. Kay Scarpetta spends in the autopsy room. What with having to conduct international missions for the FBI, or was it the Justice Department; being relied upon for expert advice on everything from Civil War battlegrounds to satanic cults; lending out critical evidence in a murder case with less care than a librarian would use with the latest Patricia Cornwell novel; and then being forced to save the East Coast from a nuclear disaster by intervening in crucial hostage negotiations that would otherwise be conducted by a local police captain and a profiler (there apparently being no one more qualified to do that sort of thing...)
   
   Well, suffice it to say, there is precious little time left for Dr. Scarpetta do the mundane work of an M.E.
   
   This is the first book I've read by Patricia Cornwell, and it's in a dead tie for Most Implausible Suspense Novel with the last book I'll ever read by Catherine Coulter. Mercifully, I've forgotten what that one was called. (It might have been "Eleventh Hour.") I had also forgotten what it felt like to have paid only a few cents plus shipping for a nice used copy, and still suffer Buyers' Remorse. Now I remember.
   
   Question: is "Cause of Death" typical of the famous Kay Scarpetta novels? Or was it just an unfortunate choice from an otherwise stellar series? I've become a fan of Tess Gerritsen's M.E. character, Maura Isles, and was expecting a similarly fascinating look at the forensics side of detective work. Instead, I found myself reading a sci-fi/spy fairytale. I rate it two stars only because I read the entire book. The one-bomb is generally reserved for books I find unreadable.

5 comments about Trace (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries).

1. Once again, I am in the minority in thinking that this book, Trace, by Patricia Cornwell is not awful. I do admit that this one was not quite up to the five stars I have given her previous books that everyone trashed in the reviews. Cornwell continues with the third person point of view and chapters jump from story to story. In the end, they all do come together. The question in this book is not who did it, but why they did, and of course the steps Kay, Marino, Lucy and Rudy go through to find him.
   
   Marino's before unstated feelings for Kay are verbalized finally, not to Kay, but at least to himself. I could feel his humiliation when she had to play doctor and forensic analyst after his "assault."
   
   My main complaint with this one is the relationship between Kay and Benton. We start yet again with their vacation plans to Aspen interrupted. That is how the book started when Benton "died" too. We get little explanation as to how Kay is dealing with Benton being back. The man wasn't just out of her life for six years, he was dead (at least as far as Kay knew) and she grieved for him so completely. Another issue that hasn't been dealt with is the fact that Lucy and Marino knew all along that Benton was not dead, yet allowed Kay to grieve and lose control of her life as if he was really dead.
   
   This book does leave a few things dangling. For example, the new medical examiner has a phobia of garbage collection day to the point that he stays home from work and has a panic attack for a whole chapter. I'm not sure where that fit into the story or why we had to know that.
   
   Despite the flaws, I still enjoyed the book. Predator is next in the series, and I've known since it was published that it had bad reviews. I can hardly wait to read it now to see if I agree or disagree. So far, I've liked the other books in the series with bad reviews.



2. I hadn't read a Patricia Cornwell book in a while and came across this one at an airport store. This was easily one of the worst books I've read, and I definitely won't be picking up any Cornwell books again.
   
   The character development is poor and the dialog reminded me of something from a college writing class. There are scenes in the book that are out of place, and it seemed like Cornwell couldn't figure out how to end the book.



3. Against advice from her niece Lucy, Kay Scarpetta answers a request to return to the Richmond medical examiner's office, the same office from which she was fired, to help with the sensitive case of a dead teen. When she and Pete Marino arrive, they find the new medical examiner to be a vituperative, uncooperative martinet and the office that Kay ran so efficiently in chaos. Two murders, oddly linked, demand their attention. In the meantime, Lucy, still unsettled despite her success with the Last Precinct investigative agency, is having personal problems (there's been an attack on her housemate), which strangely enough find her treading the same path as her aunt Kay. Traces of the smart, dynamic, yet vulnerable Scarpetta of the early novels are in evidence here, and Cornwell has better control of her plot and characters than in her last few efforts, faltering only occasionally when psychobabble weighs things down. The mystery is intriguing, there's plenty of forensic detail, and the ending, though perhaps too abrupt, opens the way for Scarpetta and her associates to proceed in any direction that calls to them.



4. This book was one that I could hardly put down each evening. It is suspenseful and true to Ms. Cornwell's words, she keeps you in the dark with small hints now and then....but nothing until the very end. That I love about her stories. You can never get enough of Kay Scarpetta!



5. Trace is a murder mystery based on a coincidence in evidence between two corpses (never really explained) which turns up when Kay Scarpetta is invited back to her former medical examiner's lab as a result of state politics (the need for someone to blame) which leads to her becoming quasi-police along with sidekick Marino (updated, thanks!) to sorta solve the case (read "announce the solution"). The story is intermixed with a seemingly unrelated situation invoving her neice, Lucy, who's getting to be a more interesting character (maybe Lucy's where she's taking the series)(?).
   
   The early Kay Scarpetta mysteries were inspired!! ... a state medical examiner with a broad view of medical forensics and crime. Patricia's/ Kay's at her best with the always informative technical explanations.
   
   If you're a committed fan, and have read the newer ones for recent background (a must or you'll be lost!), it's so-so, but if you're new to the series start with earlier ones.

5 comments about Trace Disc. (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries).

1. As hard as it is to imagine, Patricia Cornwell's writing keeps getting better. This was my favorite novel so far. It did not have the usual hair-raising finale in a gunfight or some such ruckus but was thoughtful and realistic.
   
   The subtle changes in Lucy's persona are intriguing and I am eagerly looking forward to the next adventure.



2. this book is very hard to listen to. lots and lots of profanity. it's read by a woman who then tries to disquise her voice as a man's. just doesn't sound right. why not have a man read for a man's part and a woman read for a woman's part? did not continue after the first chapter. this is a great author and the audio book is a sad way to 'read' one of her books.



3. I usually enjoy Patricia Cornwell but I found Trace long-winded and boring.



4. Cornwell's Scarpetta mysteries are always enjoyable entertainment. This just wasn't as good as some.



5. An absolutly enjoyable read/listen. Great entertainment! Hard to put down because you want to keep going!

5 comments about The Body Farm.

1. this book is so amazing!! i was getting bored with other books and i just couldnt find anything interesting to read. these books are so good. they are truthful and they take you into the forensic world. i read this one first because i didnt know it was part of a series but now im going back to the first book to read all of them. so far all the ones ive read, ive read them in like 2-3 days. i cant put them down. and theres no point in the book where i was getting bored. it keeps going and going and going. they are truly amazing books!! good job patricia cornwell!!



2. This is the fifth installment in the Kay Scarpetta series. Kay and Marino are summoned to Asheville, North Carolina to evaluate the murder of a child. The characteristics of the body and the scene are similar to the previous murders by serial killer Temple Gault, who first appeared in Cruel and Unusual. This book is best enjoyed in fact if you've read Cruel and Unusual. Lucy is now working with the FBI at Quantico in a top secret program which utilizes her computer skills, that is until she is accused of breaking in to the system and stealing information. Lucy continues to develop as her own person, one that Kay cannot control and protect. We also see an interesting side to Marino in this one too. All in all, one of the best of the series.



3. It REALLY bothered me that the main character came off as a cold homewrecker with no conscience whatsoever. Nobody is perfect, but this woman's internal dialogue doesn't hint much at remorse over boffing a married man with CHILDREN!
   
   Simply put, the main character was one I did not care for, as she comes across as very self-centered and almost as sociopathic as the killers, in a way.
   I can't really get into a book or series if I don't respect the main character, or at least find them interesting. I found this book somewhat wooden and dull, and figured out the killer about one third thru, or even earlier.
   
   Should a main characfter be perfect? No, that would be boring, but at least have somewhat of a conscience. This woman seemed like a selfish ho.



4. Could the murder of Emily Steiner be the most horrific murder that Scarpetta has been asked to solve? Cornwell tells you the chilling story of Emily that takes her to the Body Farm. Is the killer one who has eluded the police in the past? It is a gripping suspense. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"
   
   Qualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelTravelersWriting as a Small BusinessNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early Settlers



5. Nothing unique or compelling here! No surprises, intrigue, thrills, spills or chills! Just a good solid police procedural that focuses on forensic investigation and is predictably interesting - no ... let's make that gripping - informative reading coupled with great dialogue and compelling in depth character building in an ongoing series. This is Kay Scarpetta's fifth appearance in the literary world as the consulting forensic pathologist for FBI's Behavioral Science Unit and the series continues to move triumphantly from one success to another.
   
   This particular novel deals with the disturbing murder of 11 year old Emily Steiner. The title of the novel derives from the most interesting part of the entire novel - the details of the research into the scientific minutiae of a body's decay after death. This research is carried out at the University of Tennessee's Decay Research facility, known colloquially as the Body Farm. It is absolutely fascinating and would lead one to wonder how it is possible in this day and age that a criminal actually gets away with anything!
   
   Part of the appeal of Cornwell's writing is that she so effortlessly weaves Scarpetta's professional life and the details of the case at hand into the complex, uncomfortably difficult story of her personal life and the development of the characters around her. Pete Marino, her friend, long-time colleague and undoubtedly frustrated admirer with an unrequited fondness for Scarpetta, wallows in self-pity and begins to unravel as he finds himself in a most unprofessional relationship with one of the suspects in the Steiner murder. Lucy, Scarpetta's niece, is a computer whiz working on an internship at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. She is charged with violating security and it is clear she is headed nowhere in life until she clears her name professionally and resolves substance abuse issues. Scarpetta herself wrestles with the difficulties of an affair with a married colleague.
   
   Not a lightweight subject, to be sure, but thoroughly enjoyable light reading that will guarantee a break from the workaday world. Highly recommended.
   
   Paul Weiss

5 comments about Predator (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries).

1. I have (had) been a fan of Patricia Cornwell for many years. I would eagerly await the new novels and especially the Kay Scarpetta series. The last 2 in this series have been so disappointing that I will not buy another of her books. I will try to get them at the local library and see if my disappointment in her writing these last couple of years is unfounded, but will not spend my money until I am reassured that the books are worth my investment. Her characters have become weak and her plotlines trite. Her main character (Kay in this book) seems to have lost her edge and the lesbian situations in these last few books are just not my cup of tea. I would like for her to go back to the "medical examiner" situations and storylines. I learned quite a bit of forensic science when I was reading her earlier Kay Scarpetta and would like to see the return of this aspect of her writings.



2. I am not sure why this book got so many 1 star's, but this book was really good. I love the way that Scarpetta handles all the different twist and turn's in her life. I would recommend this book to anyone to read, Another great book by Patricia Cornwell.



3. This book was like half a book -- something Cornwell sat down and spewed out over a long weekend or so. In general, authors would then go back and edit their work, but it appears in this case that her half-baked manuscript somehow made it past all the editorial gatekeepers, straight to hard copy.
   
   I hate how everyone in Scarpetta's life is so dysfunctional, grumpy, and repetitive. And I hate how Cornwell left us hanging with so many unanswered questions and incomplete plot points (what the heck happened to Joe???). And I hate that I spent money on this awful book.



4. 'Predator' was my introduction to Patricia Cornwell's books. I do wish that I'd chosen to start with a previous book instead of using Predator as my introduction to Cornwell's cast. The book immediately throws its characters into a chaotic mess of roiling emotions, paranoia and anger fueled by sabotage, and I think this would have more impact after having followed the characters around under more 'normal' (for them, anyway) circumstances for a few books. That said, I was still able to get into the characters, get a sense for them and their lives, and appreciate most of what was happening to them.
   
   Cornwell writes in a clinical, almost detached present tense that wouldn't work for most writers; in most books it would keep the reader distant and uninvolved. Instead, in this case it beautifully conveys the way in which the investigators go about their work without also robbing the story of its emotive impact. I'm sure there are people who won't enjoy this approach, but I liked it.
   
   Obviously since this is the first of Cornwell's books that I've read I can't speak to ongoing issues, relationships, etc. in the books, or to its quality vs. her other novels, but as a first read of her work I definitely enjoyed it and hope to read more soon.



5. I have always found Patricia Cornwell novels excellent. I enjoy the ones with Kay Scarpetta in them... have not enjoyed the others as much. I have read every book with Kay Scarpetta in them and am anxiously awaiting the next one.

5 comments about At Risk.

1. At Risk was a great read. It was a mystery combined with humor and wonderful character's. Nana being my favorite! I think a lot of the one star's are due to Scarpetta and her crew not being in At Risk. It does good to have a change of character's every now and then. GREAT READ!



2. I was a fan of Cornwell from "postmortem" on. Every one of her books had plenty of merit. After reading this book I had to ask myself if the writer really was Patricia Cornwell. It's very amaturish, sounding like a cheap romance novel written by an unknown. It is that bad ! From a male investigator who buys designer clothes in a thrift store, to a female DA who buys designer clothes, well, that's about the gist of the story. Boring, pointles and a complete waste of time.



3. The book was new and came promptly, but I was disappointed in it. I went back and reread Postmortem, her first and I think probably her best work, and this one seemed like a diluted version of what have now become standard Cornwell characters and plot twists: the brilliant but disfunctional and often very self-destructive major female character, the dark side of relationships, conflict with the bureaucratic power structure, the last-minute rescue by a much verbally abused but surprisingly loyal underling. I know it was serialized, but that doesn't account for the thin texture, predictable plot, and meager character development. I wouldn't buy it again.



4. This is new series (not Kay Scarpetta). Although the characters are interesting the story is short and not well developed.
   
   Winston Garano is called out of forensics school to solve a decades old crime. His boss, Monique Lamont, is using the case to further her political career. Before he can even get started, strange events happen, followed by an act of violence. Politics, personal lives and crime are intertwined in this story.



5. The book was in perfect shape and it arrived within a short time period after it was ordered. This was a great seller to buy from.

No comments about Scarpetta (Kay Scarpetta).

5 comments about Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta).

1. Patricia Cornwell should pay me to read this novel. My first impression after reading the book was complete and utter disappointment. No developing of the characters, no indepth plot. I read this in under 2 hours. I usually can't wait to read on of her novel about Kay Scarpetta and her group. I will wait for reviews of any future writings of hers before I purchase any other Cornwell books.



2. "Yuck" is the most appropriate word I can think of to describe this truly awful book. It is boring... It is silly... It is implausible... Worse than that, it is blatantly contemptuous of the readers who buy her books. Check out the description on page 301 of the hardcover for an example of what goes through Ms. Cornwell's mind when she thinks about the hoi polloi. I bought this book at a yard sale for $1.00. I think that was a very fair price considering its quality.



3. I don't normally write online reviews, but I am taking the time to write this one in the hopes that I can save someone from spending their hard-earned money on this book.
   
   I have been reading Patricia Cornwell since the beginning. I have always loved her characters and looked forward to new Scarpetta novels, even though they have been less frequent in past years.
   
   The last Scarpetta book, "Predator", was tough to get through...and "Book of the Dead" takes it to a new low. It seems as though everything is over-written. Just get to the point, already! Cornwell spends too much time over-describing and not enough time telling the story. It's almost painful to read. At times, I just wanted to put the book down, which is sad. The main characters, once enjoyable, are now conflicted and unpleasant. The story was disjointed and hard to follow, and once the killer was uncovered/caught, Cornwell did a poor job of wrapping up the story and bringing closure to the reader.
   
   If possible, I would give this book 0 stars. Shame on Patricia Cornwell and her editors for bringing this book to market and subjecting loyal fans to such a terrible piece of fiction.



4. Several years ago, I quit reading Patricia Cornwell's novels because they actually became boring and the characters unlikeable. In the past 5 or 6 years I passed up several at both the library and bookstore. This past week, I decided to give her another try. After all, I thought perhaps I had just tired of the genre and maybe they really hadn't been that bad. Or I thought perhaps sometime through the intervening years Cornwell had recaptured the magic and excitement of her first few novels. Alas, it was not to be! This novel is worse than any that I remember, and although I didn't (or couldn't stand to) finish it, I read enough to conclude that the characters were obnoxious, the storyline disjointed, and the dialogue absolutely absurd. I really think this book may have been produced by a very disordered mind, and how it got into print baffles me. If Cornwell is not able to get it together . . . and she probably would have by now if she could . . . she should call her career as an author "Done" and move on to something else.



5. Dear Patricia Cornwell,
   
   I wrote you a letter back in 2005 after you released Trace. I was, quite frankly, worried about the direction that you were taking poor Kay Scarpetta. And I must say that The Book of the Dead has not done anything to set my worries to rest.
   
   I'll start with the things that I liked. I read once that you should always open a critique with things that you like. I liked that you let Scarpetta finally make fun of herself for some of the conspiracies which she imagines are aimed in her direction. It beggared the imagination that absolutely everybody was out to get the poor woman. In this book, many people were *not* out to get her. And that was a refreshing change. And for that I give you an extra star.
   
   But, oh dear, the rest of the book...
   
   First of all, shock schlock is one of the most virulent diseases of modern airplane novels. The world doesn't need another entry in the race to find The Most Sadistic Serial Killer Ever. Just say no. Please work with a nice straightforward killing, and solve it! I realize that this sounds terribly retro. However, I am tired of seeing writers burn their creativity in an effort to imagine a string of ever more icky things to do with eye sockets and bath tubs.
   
   Second, you failed to get my disbelief to suspend. Too many coincidences. Too many links between all the characters and killings. Too much. Way too much. My disbelief actually didn't even levitate, let alone suspend. Honestly, I think that you ought to have a serious chat with your editor on this point. That is the person who should get paid to warn you that you have broken your plot. And you should listen to them if they do make warnings like that.
   
   Last but not least, Dr. Self. Drop her. Drop this thread. Drop this character. I repeat the "oh dear, oh dear" when it comes to Dr. Self. She is not readable. She is not interesting. She is not anything. Let poor Kay settle down in Charleston without any more outside fuss than her already tangled relationships provide.
   
   Actually, that brings me to a suggestion. Once upon a time, detective novels did this quaint thing where the world around them featured as a character in the work. The novelists used the local color and the detective became a vehicle through which the reader could explore the world. You seemed as though you kind of were starting to get at this with Bull. That was good, but then you got distracted. You wandered off and forgot about him. It was sad. Why don't you try that the next time?
   
   I keep reading your books, largely because I still have a strong affection for Kay from back in the day. I also kind of like that you are one of the few mystery writers who allows your character change, and doesn't keep them encased in a plot-like amber. Please don't make me regret liking you for that, okay?
   
   Thanks for your time.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   the frumious bandersnatch.

1 comments about Patricia Cornwell CD Audio Treasury Volume Two Low Price: Includes Body of Evidence and Post Mortem.

1. 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.

4 comments about The Patricia Cornwell CD Audio Treasury Low Price: Contains All That Remains and Cruel and Unusual (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries).

1. I didn't listen to the book because it was abridged. I detest abridged books so I gave it away. Next time I will be more careful about what I buy, and examine the fine print before purchasing.



2. An absolutly enjoyable read/listen. Great entertainment! Hard to put down because you want to keep going!



3. I found these stories lacking. My sister has the unabridged version and she says they are much better. My advise is to be careful and buy only unabridged versions.



4. I listened to these CDs on a recent trip and was very pleased. They are well done, hold your interest and are well-spoken. I thoroughly enjoyed them.