Rating: 
Summary: Stinks on Ice
Review: I have always enjoy the Scarpetta novels and I really like the characters, but this book leads me to belive that Cornwell has lost her mind.I've learned to overlook the fact that she cannot continue the suspense throughout the whole book. She always ends the book in less than two pages. I know this book is a work of fiction, but at some point doesn't it have to be believable. A person in a prison (on death row in a Texas prison, no less) cannot escape by wearing some guards clothes and just walking out. It's ridiculous.
Rating:
Summary: Big Disappointment!
Review: Right from the first page I got the sinking feeling that this was a "Kay Scarpetta" novel in name only! Gone was the brisk, fascinating view through Kay's eyes... alas, this book was written in the "third person", so it loses ALL of it's appeal for die-hard readers like me, who want to hear all the workings and observations of Scarpetta's mind and heart as the plot is intricately woven. No interesting forensic details, no interesting plot, and none of the gifted writing of previous Scarpetta novels! If you didn't know better, you'd think this book was written by someone else... I'm not going to waste my time finishing the book! And believe me, I'm not going to buy the next Scarpetta novel until I look through a copy first to see if PC has gotten back to writing books to her former high standards!
Rating: 
Summary: One of her best.
Review: Cornwell's writing has improved and her stories have become much more like puzzles. This is definitely not a cut-and-dried murder mystery! The plot weaves in all directions, and if the reader has not read the previous Scarpetta novels, none of this will make sense. I have always had the feeling that Benton did not die, it was too convenient. All in all, it was fast paced and not easy to put down!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great companion book
Review: For Cornwell fans, check out 'Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab The Body Farm, Where the Dead Do Tell Tales'. It is the story behind The Body Farm. Patricia Cornwell wrote the Foreword and suggested the title.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't we see this plot on Dallas?
Review: Patricia Cornwell must be desperate for plots. In this outing, she uses the "Dallas" tactic, resurrecting a character long thought dead. However, that person isn't the only one back for a repeat performance. We, once again, must contend with the werewolf man and his mad brother (who weren't that interesting the first time around). Both Scarpetta and her niece, Lucy, seem to have lost their way. They have been ousted from prestigious jobs for political reasons and seem to be floundering, trying to find some way of bringing the guilty to justice, but without having the force of the law behind them. It's hard to root for Lucy when her morals seem little better than the criminals she chases. And Scarpetta? Why are all the men in her life so in love with her? In this outing she appears to be a cowering, depressed middle aged woman whose appearance could use some sprucing up. Rather than cheering her on, I felt sorry for her. And the final scene, when she finally meets the person who has risen from the dead, was a big disappointment. (Even the Bobby scene in Dallas was better). Please, Cornwell, bring back the strong, feisty, woman in charge we used to love.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have read every one of Cornwell's books and I have never been disapointed until now. This book appears to have been written by committee! Cornwell over focuses on her character's emotions. By this time, the reader knows what drives them. All this angst is distracting and takes away from the plot. Her people are well fleshed out; now is the time to turn them loose and let them do their jobs. I had a difficult time following the plot. One chapter appears to be thrown in. I never understood why. The ending disapointed me the most. Rather than witnessing what happened, we are told what happened. Where's the fun in that?
Rating:
Summary: Re-read an older story....
Review: This is the last PC book I will buy in hardcover unless something changes. I have ready every PC book and while I felt the last couple of efforts were not up to par, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Sadly, no more. Where to start? First, there is the distinct lack of a plot, plot twists, or any meaningful mystery--the things that have been PC's hallmark. Instead, we get to spend time on the analyst's couch with each of their characters exploring their personal angst. This might be cool if this added greater depth to the characters, but it doesn't--its just a rehash of territory covered in previous books. Your time any money maybe better spent re-visting one of her earlier novels.
Rating:
Summary: Another author meltdown
Review: I have not felt this disappointed with a book since I read Hannibel (Thomas Harris). Don't waste your money or your time on Blow Fly.
Rating:
Summary: Warning: Compass Needed to Navigate this Book
Review: This book should come with a warning label: Readers will need a compass and a global positioning device to find their way through this confused mish-mash of a plot. Returning readers to the Kay Scarpetta series might want to stack your previous books next to your chairs. You will need them to pick up old threads such as the death of Benton Wesley, the murders by the brothers Chandonne and the reasons why you should care.
New readers? Forget it. There is no way you will comprehend the twists and turns this book takes, all based on the return of old characters and grievances.
The title of the book suggests that the blow fly, or bluebottle fly, and its maggots somehow help in solving a central crime. While some information on this carrion insect is dangled at us, it helps nothing and solves nothing. The craft of forensic science, which has been one of the strengths of the Scarpetta series, is missing from this story.
And so, really, is Kay Scarpetta, herself. She's a shadow character -- adrift in a confused narrative. Gone are the flashes of wit and itelligence that delighted us in previous stories.
In a nutshell, a series of murders in Louisiana seem to be linked to a psychopath on death row in Texas -- Jean-Baptiste Chandonne. His evil twin, Jay Talley, is in Louisiana with his partner in crime -- Bev Kiffin. You had to read previous Scarpetta books to know who they are and why they are significant. Mysterious letters are sent to Scarpetta, Pete Marino -- her former sidekick in Virginia -- and to Lucy Farinelli, Scarpetta's gay niece. They seem to be coming from Chandonne on death row -- but are they?
Everyone suddenly jumps into motion and takes helicopters, rental cars and planes to Poland, Texas, Louisiana, New York and Washington. Get out your compasses and GPS's folks.
Patricia Cornwell may be to blame for this mess of a book. Or her editor or publisher may be to blame for rushing this unfocused and unfinished book to print. Gotta keep the money machine humming.
Shame on all of them. Good, young mystery writers would kill for the press run this book got. They deserve one. Cornwell doesn't. Blow fly? Gadfly -- if you want the truth.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: It's ben a while since the last one came out. I had to go back and read the previous one before I tackeled this one. It was much better then I had hoped. I think Marino is still a great character. Lucy surprised me alot and she seems like she would be a great character in a spinoff. Scarpetta seemed edgier but is still the best main character around. I hope the next one is longer.
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