Rating: 
Summary: what kind of ending was that?
Review: i almost stopped listening to this book after the first tape. i thought it was just going to be pratuitous psychopathology from start to finish. i persevered and it was good to have some loose ends tied up. but what the hell kind of ending was that? after all of that everyone just gets blown off in 5 minutes? and clearly we are gearing up for the saga to continue....perversely, i will read the next book, but really i was very dissappointed by the end of this one.
Rating: 
Summary: NOT AGAIN !!!!!!
Review: After reading 'Black Notice' I decided to remove Cornwell from my library. Weak as I am though, I read 'Blow Fly.' Another disappointment. Same old story. Cornwall needs a sabbatical to give us some fresh material.
Rating:
Summary: Very big let down
Review: I was hooked on Kay Scarpetta--everything she did was exciting and action packed---until this book. What a let down. I was hoping to see Kay and Marino get together, you know with the atkins diet so big, Marino could have slimmed down a little, retired, helped sell Kays house, and they could have started off somewhere new (due to the fact that Kay was jobless in Virginia).
I don't think the bringing back of Benton was a good idea. How could Lucy have kept Benton a secret from her Aunt Kay for 6 years, when she could not keep her 'secret' from this book from her Aunt Kay for 6 hours? The house Kay is renting, how can she live in a house (like the one described in ths book)it sounds more like Marino's pad, rather than a place Kay would live. The book jumped around way too much, and left an obvious start for the next book--can we move on from Jean-Baptiste, he needs to be burried. It seemd like ther was too much busy writing, and not enough plot. I will read the next one--but Kay needs to get back "on the job" and get her hands dirty again--good luck with the next book Patricia Cornwell.
Rating: 
Summary: Cornwell must be getting tired...
Review: That is the only excuse I am come up to explain the total lack of effort put forth on this book. Having read all of her other books I was eager to get my hands on this one. Don't know now why I bothered. Boring!! If you must read it check it out from your local library don't waste the money buying it.
Rating:
Summary: What a huge disappointment...
Review: Huge disappointment in the Scarpetta series. The book seems to be loosely gathered ideas, the plot jumping all over the place. Jean-Baptiste Chardonne, on death row, suddenly contacts Scarpetta, Lucy, and Marino. He's planning some sort of show down, but what can it possibly be leading to, with him on death row? A side plot involves a chain of murders in Louisiana, which Scarpetta is called upon to assist in - but could this be some sort of manipulation, too, on Chardonne's part? Very little actual action in this book, and Scarpetta actually plays more of a supporting role than the lead. A different - but unsuccessful - venture for Cornwell. There is a huge surprise in this book, that I don't want to spoil - but I will say, that I can't understand why Scarpetta wasn't aware of it LONG before now. Extremely incredible, to me. Also, the cheap unfinished ending detracts from the book as a whole. Very dissatisfying read - sure hope the series can pick up soon.
Rating:
Summary: A depressing loss of direction and detail.
Review: I feel a little sorry for my wife. I bought 'Blowfly' as part of her Christmas present and after reading the book myself I can understand why she was disappointed.
In the past we have both been fans of Cornwell's Scarpetta books but 'Blowfly' was a big let-down. Ms Cornwell, from whom we have come to expect detail and well researched books, seems to have largely abandoned forensic science (a personal disappoint for me as I work in a closely related field) and instead she has taken up writing true fiction, pure fiction. Ms Cornwell, for example, has clearly never been to, nor done any solid research on the topic of, Poland which she paints as a nation full of money-hungry thieves who will do anything for American currency. In fact, at the time of writing, the American Dollar is worth only 3.87 Polish Zloty making the Zloty considerably stronger than a great many other currencies. I wonder how many others she would label "worthless". Also, considering that the book is set in the present day (post 9/11) it is a little puzzling as to why she describes columns of Russian tanks in the Polish streets. The Russian army left Poland many years ago since when Poland has become a member of NATO. Furthermore, Poland will join the European Union later this year which means that it's financial system, while not ideal, is sufficiently strong to enter a large market.
As I live in Poland with my Polish wife I take a rather personal view of Cornwell's lack of care. We have two cars and a nice house which, according to Cornwell's latest offering, means we must be connected with organised crime.... I suppose we'd better not buy more Scarpetta books (assuming Ms Cornwell dares to write another with rehased and rebuilt characters) because apparently - we can't afford them with our 'worthless' currency.
Rating:
Summary: Bring back Kay Scarpetta
Review: Just finished "Blowfly" after waiting 4 1/2 months to get it from the library. I read a lot about Lucy who almost seems not to be the same Lucy, and way too much about the character I didn't even like in the past novels, Jean-Baptiste Chandonne. Kay Scarpetta and Pete Marino seemed to be incidential characters. The chapters seemed to "hop around" from one character to another and I got to the point where I didn't even bother to keep it all straight. I was able to put the book down 12 pages before the end to start dinner!
Rating:
Summary: See Below
Review: I'm a big fan of MS Cornwell and have read several of her Kay Scarpetta stories. This one I checked out of the library and it is a good thing I did not buy it. Though I can say I enjoyed reading most of it, it just seemed like she had to pull a bunch of chapters together, link them somehow, and make it a story. Maybe she was pressured after finishing her Jack The Ripper book, I don't know. I just felt strongly enough about this book to say my piece because she is capable of so much better. If you get a chance, read all of her other books but save this one for when you are desperate or just plain bored... then again this might not be an appropriate cure for boredom unless you have a high tolerance level like I do.
Rating:
Summary: What is going on here?
Review: I have read every Kay Scarpetta book out there and this one is, in my opinion, full of errors. First and foremost, Lucy left the FBI due to that relationship with Carrie and the problems with the computer system she created as an intern. Never before have we even heard of this "rape" scenerio. Also, how can she even think of trying to pull off Benton's return? It's time for some new characters, not a return from the dead like some sort of deranged soap opera. Where is the Kay Scarpetta we all know and love? Why has Particia Cornwell forgotten her own books? I hope it gets better after this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Character & Story Line Maturity are a Good Thing
Review: Before I read this book I read many of the reviews, and was especially surprised at the number of less-than-glowing reviews. I began reading with great skepticism. Lesson here: do yourself a favor, read it for yourself and come your own conclusion. After reading the book, I have thought about it some more, and cannot say enough about how much I liked it! As another reviewer indicated, many loose ends are tied together, which is satisfying to those that have read the series. More importantly, the characters have matured with the story and the story has not been a repeat of one independent serial killer case after another. This is book was not directed at an audience with the maturity of Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys or Three Investigators, where each story rarely plays on another. This book was an evolutionary addition to the ongoing story and not stunted by merely repeating a successful mystery format. I loved the book and look forward to seeing what else Ms. Cornwell can do with the characters and story line. Thank you Patricia Cornwell for another wonderful book!
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