Scarpetta
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Cornwell still does it better than anyone else' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's books run on high octane fuel, a cocktail of adrenalin and fear' The Times
Book Description
Twenty years after creating Kay Scarpetta, Patricia Cornwell has written her most extraordinary novel yet
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The last couple of Scarpetta's outings have been less than exciting and this one is even worse. It doesn't get going until the last quarter of the book, the murderer is obvious from very early on and there is very little to hold your attention. The ridiculous plot from the last book about Marino's attack on Scarpetta was ruminated over so much I was sick of it. Then it was swept away by everybody forgiving him almost instantly, even Lucy who was supposed to be hunting him down to exact revenge! I feel like Patricia Cornwell isn't even trying anymore. It's as if she thinks that she can get away with writing any kind of dross because Scarpetta is so well known. Not so! We readers will only take so much and then we desert and move on to writers who know how to put a good thriller together, like Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter, which I have now done. I gave Scarpetta one last chance but I'm done reading the rubbish this is fast becoming.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Another Patricia Cornwell book bought at the airport for some choice holiday reading. Or so I hoped. I have to agree with some other readers who gave this a low rating. The plot has been dealt with in other reviews, so I won't dwell on it too much. The mystery of the "midget murderer", who turns up at a psychiatric hospital in New York, begging Scarpetta to examine him. There's plenty of attention to forensic detail as you expect from Ms Cornwell, a lengthy description of a REALLY repugnant crime, and for once, a good and exciting ending (unlike the damp squibs that Cornwell can sometimes serve up). But Cornwell's writing has gradually got more dense and bogged down with technical issues (aside from pathology, how computers work, the internet, for example) at the expense of creating a page-turning read. At times, it's like reading a manual. Characters - even the killers - become more unbelievable in terms of their modus operandii. This is not The Body Farm, an intricate and involving story centred on a particular pyschological problem, nor one of the excellent "werewolf" novels in the series. Also, I'm a little tired with her recent books containing characters who have a personal vendetta against Scarpetta, and who are out to ruin her reputation via modern media outlets. In the previous two books it was Dr Self, the cable TV agony aunt. This time, someone is defaming Scarpetta via a blog. Why does Scarpetta attract such out-and-out psychos with the time (and the money) to wage a media war against her? Seeing how mud seems to stick to those in the public eye caught up in scandal, it's a wonder that Scarpetta has managed to rescale her former professional heights since retreating to Florida, given how much negative press must have built up around her. Sadly, I found this to be a rather tedious read and for once, did not enjoy it as a holiday read; there was a book-swap at the hotel so I left it behind for someone else and took an old classic off the shelf instead!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's been a while; I've probably missed about 4 of the intervening books. I tired of the numbing tedium of Scarpetta's on-off relationship with Benton, the antics of the completely unbelievable Lucy, the general bizarreness of Marino but thought, hey, time to give it a shot.
Well, some things are better, some things stay the same. She's still unable to envisage or describe a normal relationship between a man and a woman. Lucy is still irritating but Marino has redeemed himself and gets a nice new girlfried called Bacardi. He seems to have attacked Kay in the past but other people seem more worried about this than he or she do.
The plot is understandable and fair whips along so that's a pleasant surprise and Cornwell has actually found some kind of voice for characters other than the leading ones. Gossip columnists, dwarves, puppies and a very bent copper. And more information on skylights and fire escape ladders than anyone really needs. Best case scenario would actually be for Scarpetta and Benton to die in a bizarre double-suicide pact, leaving the field clear for Marino to start solving murders. Perhaps I'll write to her; she clearly needs firm direction.
Well, some things are better, some things stay the same. She's still unable to envisage or describe a normal relationship between a man and a woman. Lucy is still irritating but Marino has redeemed himself and gets a nice new girlfried called Bacardi. He seems to have attacked Kay in the past but other people seem more worried about this than he or she do.
The plot is understandable and fair whips along so that's a pleasant surprise and Cornwell has actually found some kind of voice for characters other than the leading ones. Gossip columnists, dwarves, puppies and a very bent copper. And more information on skylights and fire escape ladders than anyone really needs. Best case scenario would actually be for Scarpetta and Benton to die in a bizarre double-suicide pact, leaving the field clear for Marino to start solving murders. Perhaps I'll write to her; she clearly needs firm direction.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Scarpetta
I received the Scarpetta book very quickly and it was well packed. Great value for the price, I am a very happy customer
Published 2 months ago by Steve Gregory
literally a page turner!
Well, after 'suffering' withdrawal while waiting for my new Scarpetta - it wasn't a long wait at all;so, not too detrimental! - I immediately dived into my Scarpetta. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Inge
Taxi for Dr Scarpetta!
When Dr Scarpetta first emerged on to a crime scene in Richmond, Virginia in the early 1990's, she led the way in crime fiction as a strong female lead and as the pace-setter of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Catananche
fab
Excellent read, excellent read, fantastic read, really enjoyed it. The Kindle version is fantastic. I love my Kindle. Would certainly tell friends.
Published 8 months ago by chukkingmouse
It's Ok.
Having loved Kathy Reichs books I decided to give Patrica Cornwell a go. I've always seen her books everywhere so when I saw this book on sale I snapped it up. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A Customer
Not as bad as others are saying..
Although her writing style seems to have shifted a little, I really enjoy reading about Kay and all the others in the Scarpetta 'series'. Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Wake
Not her best - or her worst
The Scarpetta series has been going off the boil for several instalments now, starting off with blow fly and have steadily got worse. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Princess Mononoke
Relief from insomnia
I've liked her other work but this was awful. As someone said previously i've read manuals more exciting. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Benjs
Surprised at the low-ish reviews
Very much a return to form, in my opinion. Been a little disappointed with some of the character development in the previous few books, especially Marino so I was very pleased to... Read more
Published 14 months ago by P. Jeffrey
Disappointing
Patricia Cornwell is one of my favourite writers but I found "SCARPETTA" to be a disappointing read. Read more
Published 14 months ago by magpie
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