Rating: 
Summary: How does a blind man see?
Review: Patricia Cornwell has lost her magic. Kay Scarpetta used to be my favorite fictional character, not any more. In this book Kay is almost not even important, of course everyone talks about her. Sure all the men want her (when did this happen??). However, she does not work on any cases and most of the book she is just a side item, so to speak. There are new people in the book that you just can't get a feel for. The people that appear in the other books are here also,however, some of their actions make you not like them anymore. The book skips around and leaves out so many things that it is hard to put the whole book together. There is blind man in the book...yet he gets handwritten notes and READ THEM?? It seems that when the plot calls for it, he can see..but when it does not..he is blind again. The book does not have any action that plays out. You hear them TALK about what happened. It does not playout as in the other books. There is a shocking twist in the book. However, even that is not played out fully. This book is choppy and not well thought out. When are we going to be rid of this boring wolfman story? How is she going to redeem this mess? There is NO PLOT to this book! Read it if you want...you will see what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: Where is Patricia Cornwell???????
Review: This book was a big let down for me. I was expecting a lot more out of Patricia Cornwell and I am wondering if she really did indeed write this book or did she leave her writing skills back here in Virginia.I hated the way she changed from writing in First person as Scarpetta, to writing in Third person. The characters lost a lot of their appeal to me. I don't want to spoil the outcome of the book for anyone, but I also found some of the plot twists in this book are truly just not believable. I found myself having to refer back to her past books to try to refresh my mind as to who it was she was writing about. She tried to jam too many people from those books into this book and it just made for a confusing read. Also, I think her writing has gone from skillful researching to just plain prevertedness. Some of the things she was describing I just had to skip over. I found them too disgusting to read or want to comprehend. I also get so sick of the way she always has to describe Scarpetta's physical attributes, ..., wonderful figure and the always present line about doctor, lawyer, Indian chief. I think she has used that phrase in every one of the books that she has written. I think Ms. Cornwell feels that she is indeed Kay Scarpetta. I really think after reading this book, that she has crossed the line from gifted writer to up and coming psychopath. Would the real Patricia Corwell please stand up?
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I have long awaited a return to my favorite characters...I am very disappointed. Half way through the book I am waiting and waiting for the story. I am not a pro reviewer just someone who longs for the good old days of Cornwell's good old books
Rating: 
Summary: What Happened ?!?
Review: What a terrible book - and what a terrible disappointment! I have long been an admirerer of the Kay Scarpetta series, liking some books more than others, but always satisfied at the end of each novel that I had spent time with admirable protagonists, convincing (mostly)crimes, and evil criminals who get what they deserved in the end. Not so this book. It's a mess - the characters have developed (or, rather, stopped developing)to the point where they are no longer recognizable, likeable or interesting. The third person delivery is obnoxious. The story is really a rehash of past novels that should have been put to rest a long time ago. I finished the book only because I ALWAYS finish books, and this time I was glad to see it end. I know the auther can do much better - what puzzles me, is why she thought she could get away with this fiasco. She should get back on track with the characters, finally kill off the wolf man (PLEASE!), and bring us the quality of writing that fans of hers have come to expect.
Rating:
Summary: Average customer rating based on 42 reviews = 2.73 Stars!!
Review: As a result of the Amazon average rating of FIVE stars I went to the trouble of counting the total stars awarded by 42 customers, and came up with an average of 2.73 stars!! (And that includes the five star ratings by "I haven't read the book yet, but I am such a PC fan..." customers)
Certainly a more telling rating concerning "Blowfly" than what the Amazon rating suggests. Makes you wonder...
Rating:
Summary: A major disappointment
Review: As with most Scarpetta followers, I eagerly awaited the publication of Blowfly and through a fluke ended up getting it at the library! I was truly glad that I did not spend a penny to buy this disappointing addition to the series. Another reviewer called the last 50 pages a train wreck--I'd call the whole book a train wreck. From the implausible scene with Lucy, Rudy and Marino's son to the tangled plot with the prior characters -- Jay Tally and Jean-Baptiste Chandonne--this book was not up to her usual writing. I suspect the publisher probably said something like "write another book about Scarpetta or you'll never be published again..." and she panicked and wrote this horrible excuse for a mystery. Did I say mystery? What mystery--the plotline was perfectly obvious and totally unbelievable. The book ends with the reader knowing there will be another book featuring Jean-Baptiste. Cornwell has her characters on a road to disaster and unless she is planning to kill them all off in the sequel, I don't see how she is going to give them redeeming qualities that will make the reader want to read any more Scarpetta books. Truly awful!
Rating:
Summary: How not to end a book
Review: I too was sad about this book. They last 50 pages seemed like a train wreck. The reviewer below who gave 5 stars says something about an evil nephew needs to reread it's son not nephew. I wish I hadn't bought it in hardback. Read it at the library.
Rating:
Summary: Not a real Scarpetta novel
Review: This is the most dissapointing Scarpetta novel I ever read, mainly because Scarpetta is missing througout most of the book.
The switch to third-person narrative doesn't allow you to feel like you go through the emotions with the characters, but instead make you feel like an outsider.
The worst part of it, is the thought of another book with Jean-Baptiste Chandonne in it, since by the end of the book he is still on the loose. After three books where he has played a big part, I am getting tired of him, and need a new villain.
Rating:
Summary: Blowfly Leaves A Lot To Be Desired
Review: I can't say this was a bad book, but I usually expect much better plot and characterizations than this. If you've never read one of the books in this series, you'll probably like it. For those of us who are used to getting rich details, and well defined characters, this book is disappointing. There are a couple of surprises in the plot, with reappearing characters, that make this book a little far-fetched. Plus, there is a theme of revenge in the book that makes is less than satisfying. Although all our favorites are in the book, Scarpetta, Marino, Lucy especially, the book seems somehow lacking in familiarity. At the conclusion, it's very obvious that another bad guy that couldn't be cought, who actually escapes off death row, is going to make an appearance in another book. Finally, there is not enough Scarpetta in the novel, and too much of everyone else. Unfortunately, I think Cornwell just went through the motions with this book, and I hope the next one is better.
Rating:
Summary: Dissappointed
Review: I would have given this book 0 stars but I was forced to put at least one because the site did not offer the 0 star option. I waited 3 years for the Scarpetta series to continue and was fully disappointed. The character is in about 1/4 of the book as the book focuses on Marino, Benton, Lucy and the Wolfman. The book was missing something and that was Scarpetta. I hope Cornwell can redeem herself by writing another Scarpetta novel real soon. I was so disappointed. I would not recommend reading this one as I consider it a skip.
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