Rating: 
Summary: I cannot see what is wrong with this book
Review: I cannot for the life of me see why people find so much fault in this book. Admitteddly, this is not the BEST of Cornwell's wrok, but that is not saying a lot. After all, only one book is. (For me, that book is "Point of Origin.)The only thing i can see fault with is Scarpetta letting the killer in so readily, but if you'll notice, Cornwell does sort of explain that in the previous chapters, so that offers some redemption from the act. Otherwise, this ook is excellent. it's exciting, very original, and has Scarpetta at it's core, the woman who has been changed by the horrible things which people have wished to do to her, and the things which they have done. Scarpetta has always been an insecure woman, and this time she is fully vulnerable. It is a vulnerability that will come to the fore in PC's next novel. But there is no denying the fact that going through such hell as Scarpetta has will change a person. those who critixise that change are not criticising the actual quality of the books, but just what their own opinion tells them. And when you review books by opinion, you risk a lot. Lucy has changed, naturally so. Disillusioned with the FBI, she has been pushed from pillar to post and targeted by the cruel Carrie grethen. Would this not change you? Would this not uncover in you a desperate desire for all the death to be over? The plot is great, and the further delving into Scarpetta's personality is also great. The simple fact is, some people like it and some dont. Some say she is flawles...that is not strictly true. Her flaw is that she is flawless, and thus us cut off form most other people, is not acessible to them, nor they to her. I enjoyed this book a great deal. The quality of the prose is as great as ever, and for those that like delving into Scarpett'a character, this book is a must.
Rating: 
Summary: Black is the operative word.
Review: I found myself struggling to finish this book. Normally I can't put a Cornwell book down. I read from cover to cover almost in one sitting. BLACK NOTICE, and it's predecessor, POINT OF ORIGIN were books that got shuffled to the back of the bookshelf for when I didn't have anything else to read. It appears that Cornwell is moving away from the stand-alone novel and moving into the area of novel-in-serial, where in order to understand one you must read the earlier works. Some of the twists and turns will be explained in the later book, LAST PRECINCT, if you can hang on for that long of a journey. Scarpetta still solves her crimes but she appears to be doing it while whining and complaining. I'll read her next books because I want to see where she takes this character, but I won't buy them.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Quite What the Doctor Ordered
Review: I have loved and identified with Kay Scarpetta since her debut in Postmortem. This latest installment in this character's life does not really do her justice. The book finds Scarpetta coping with the death of her lover as only she can: by throwing herself into her work. However, her act of grieving is so predictable, it takes away from the story. Her sojourn to England to help with similar murders is just odd, as are the requests made of her. While I am familiar with her ability to solve murders by going above and beyond the call of duty, I had some problems with her thought processes. I really struggled with how she got from point A to point B and drew a logical conclusion (i.e. diatoms in the water, murder weapon). The long-suffering Marino and his unrequited love/lust provided more of the expected. Even the introduction of Diane Bray served more as an annoying distraction than the presence of a true Scarpetta adversary. The only truly interesting event in the book is the climactic self-destruction of Scarpetta's niece Lucy. Lucy has been the most complex character and I enjoy seeing facets of her revealed in each Kay Scarpetta tale. Fans would enjoy this book, but Patricia Cornwell fell a bit short in this one.
Rating:
Summary: Goodby Dr. Scarpetta
Review: I have read quite a few of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels and this is the last one! I have finally realized that Kay is definitely a self-centered ......Anyway, this book really was a disappointment. I think that Ms. Cornwell would be well-served to move on to another character in her writing future, if she is indeed to have one.
Rating: 
Summary: Back on track...
Review: I heard an interview with Patricia Cornwell about this book and was intrigued - and I haven't been intrigued by a Scarpetta novel for some time. Patricia said that in this book she wanted to explore Kay's own reaction to grief, bearing in mind that until now Kay has always dealt with the grief of other people. I thought this was an interesting idea and thus bought the book. My only complaint about this idea is that Scarpetta did not fall to pieces over the death of her beloved boyfriend Mark from an IRA bomb at Victoria station (one of the more sillier plotlines Cornwell has used, I might add) to the extent she has done so over Benton. But this is a minor quibble! Like many readers I share some of the criticisms about the "james bondisation" of the main characters and Cornwell's obsessions with the sexuality of her characters. It would be good if Kay could stay in Richmond for one novel at least! Lucy is no longer a credible character but Cornwell (at least) alluded to this via some of the comments made by Marino in Black Notice about Lucy's latest somewhat deranged escapades. The Diane Bray storyline seemed a bit pointless - I mean, why would Diane Bray give a rat's *** about Kay Scarpetta? She is just a forensic examiner for crying out loud!! And Jay was poorly characterised. It would also be good if next time Cornwell could drop the killer chasing after Scarpetta storyline - that really is tired now and we all know Kay will survive! There is absolutely no suspense in that route at all and as other reviewers have said, it was all so predictable. But for some reason I found Black Notice to be a compelling read and I enjoyed it much more than I have some of the more recent Cornwell fare. The murders were interesting and I did not spot the resolution of the baby hair. I think some of the reviewers have been a bit harsh on the technical aspects of this book which, as ever, were second to none. ANOTHER TIP - Patricia Cornwell said in the radio interview that she is developing an interest in archaeology and has been going on digs, looking at skeletons, etc. This reminded me of the Kathy Reichs novels where the main character is a forensic anthrolopolgist. Is this going to be a future Scarpetta storyline? Watch this space...
(I previously reviewed this novel in September 1999)
Rating:
Summary: Renewed Hope: Some People Can Still Write
Review: I must say, this book captured my attention. I finished Black Notice only a few minutes ago and remembered Patricia Cornell's newer books were being slandered. I must say, I find each Scarpetta novel get better and better. Her old works are interesting, especially because Benton is still alive (personally, I thought no one would be able to replace Mark's character.) Though, as the storys progress, Kay's life begin to work in a downward spiral, and people can't stand seeing their heros in such a form. Though there is not much joy in Kay's life anymore, after Benton has died, Lucy is still fighting to become better then her Aunt, and others are trying to ruin her job, it gives the reader more of a 'real' sense. That Kay doesn't have the perfect life we all wish for, it gives us something to relate to. If you've never read a Scarpetta book, I suggest you pick one up, but as far as this one goes, its the best since the three books on Gaunt.
Rating:
Summary: Renewed Hope: Some People Can Still Write
Review: I must say, this book captured my attention. I finished Black Notice only a few minutes ago and remembered Patricia Cornell's newer books were being slandered. I must say, I find each Scarpetta novel get better and better. Her old works are interesting, especially because Benton is still alive (personally, I thought no one would be able to replace Mark's character.) Though, as the storys progress, Kay's life begin to work in a downward spiral, and people can't stand seeing their heros in such a form. Though there is not much joy in Kay's life anymore, after Benton has died, Lucy is still fighting to become better then her Aunt, and others are trying to ruin her job, it gives the reader more of a 'real' sense. That Kay doesn't have the perfect life we all wish for, it gives us something to relate to. If you've never read a Scarpetta book, I suggest you pick one up, but as far as this one goes, its the best since the three books on Gaunt.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing.
Review: I typically enjoy Cornwell's Dr. Kay Scarpetta character, but for some reason this book was a far cry from the usual enjoyable read. Perhaps it was the complete nonsense masquerading as a story, or the unbelievably boring details that constituted the alleged plot. Whatever the reason, upon finally finishing this painful waste of time, I literally tossed the book into the garbage. I not only wish I had my $5+ back, but also the 5+ hours of my life, wasted on this joke of a book. Don't buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not At All Like Patricia Cornwell
Review: I was very disappointed with this particular book. I was hanging in there until about the last 25 pages or so. We got to France and the book just fell apart. It wasn't that great to start with, but some hairy guy. Please. The romance was wrong, the Lucy character is disgusting and just rude. I love Patricia Cornwell, but at the French trip I was ready to throw the book in the trash. I suffered through, but I hope this is her worst, and I will look for suggestions from you other readers for my next. I have not lost faith in this author. Even her wrost has a way of always holding my interest. To me this is a great writer, who just decided to write crime novels. She has great potential.
Rating:
Summary: Tired, tired, tired
Review: I've read several Kay Scarpetta books, and I liked them to varying degrees. This one covers Dr. Scarpetta's mourning of the tragic loss of someone very dear to her. In a way I got the impression that as tired and depressed as Scarpetta was through the entire book, the author herself seems in a similar rut. This is easily my least favorite of Cornwell's books. The plot seems loosely slapped together, the characters are cardboard cutouts of themselves, and the ending is quite (bad). I don't like most of the Scarpetta endings because it always seems the good doctor gets herself or a loved one in mortal danger every damn time, and some of the endings are so over the top, they seem like Glenn Close forever popping out of the bathtub in the final scenes of "Fatal Attraction". This ending, however, is simply (bad). I won't give anything away, but I'll just leave at that: (bad). Oh yeah, and predictable. Not a surprise to be had here. I think it might be best if Cornwell turned to writing something else for a while and maybe returned to these characters after taking a breather. It's clear that they have become stale -- this book seems to have been a real chore for her to write.
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