Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling!
Review: In BLACK NOTICE by Patricia Cornwell, Kay Scarpetta tries to outwit a serial killer unlike any other!The characters are exciting and the plot had me glued in my comfy chair all night! (Highly Recommended!)
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment or Good?
Review: In the tenth installment of the Kay Scarpetta series, the book was a disappointment to more of the action readers. As Kay took on a fragile emotion DEA officer. As the book becomes slow in the beginning and then it gradually gains into a thriller to a horror. So in the beginning if you can get through the slow reading into the middle were the plot unravels into a awesome book, then I recommend this book to you.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment or Good?
Review: In the tenth installment of the Kay Scarpetta series, the book was a disappointment to more of the action readers. As kay took on more of a fragile emotion DEA officer. As the book becomes slow in the begining and then gradualy gains into a thriller to a horror. So in the begining if you can get through the slow reading into the middle were the plot unravels into a awsome book, then I recommend this book to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre
Review: It was readable and interesting, but ultimately unsatisfying: a pat ending that tried to tie together too many loose ends, somewhat cliched characters, and Kay Sparpetta I found to be almost insufferable. All the women are jealous, all the men want her, etc. I found her "perfect" persona (wealthy, beautiful, brilliant, famous, etc.) a bit much. Even her flaws (somewhat distant, uncomfortable with her own emotions) were meant, it seems, to make her that much more alluring. This is the first Scarpetta book I've read and have heard good things about the series. Maybe I need to go back to the beginning to see what the appeal is (besides the foresensics info, which was quite interesting).
Rating:
Summary: Cussing ruined a good story
Review: It's easy to see why Patricia Cornwell is such a popular author. She's a master of characterization and detail and suspense. I
really enjoy her work--and the characters of Scarpetta and Marino. They seem like real people with real feelings and flaws. But what's with all the cussing in this book? A few well-placed words are enough to get across dialogue and personality. The cussing progressed as the book did; her two previous books weren't like this. It detracted from a good story, and took away my interest in reading any more of her books.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't think of a more annoying character.
Review: Kay is a self centered, whining, career obsessed, materialistic, obsessive compulsive, conceited and annoying character. I was even more annoyed after watching that pathetic attempt on television of Patricia Cornwell trying to convince the world she knows who Jack The Ripper is (this was not new news, though she claimed it was, and Walter Sikkardt has been ruled out as being the killer since he was not even in England at the time of the murders, yet Ms. Cornwell tainted the reputation of an entire family to sell more of her books) in which I realized that kay Scarpetta is a fictionalized Patricia Cornwell, or at least Ms. Cornwell with delusions. The book reads more like a writer who wants to proove how many hours she spent in a forensics lab rather than really tell a story. Every character in the book is shallow and has no redeeming value. There is no reason to like them. Very simply, this is a bad book, bad story and bad writer.
Rating:
Summary: Not her best Scarpetta effort
Review: Loyal Patricia Cornwell readers will perhaps be somewhat disappointed in Black Notice, the 10th release in the Kay Scarpetta series, but will nevertheless purchase a copy and savor each page as if reading the last words of a great world leader. In other words, Cornwell is such a superior writer it is doubtful she could produce a bad read and, indeed, she hasn't yet. Scarpetta is a bit more fragile here than we've seen her in the past, dealing with the death of her lover, Benton Wesley, a year after the fact. It seems she has lost touch with what is going on around her, and must now begin to regain control of her surroundings and her life. Faced with problems within her office, political powers that seek to end her career, and, of course, a killer on the loose, she is forced to come to terms with the past and move forward. This includes reliving much of her relationship with Benton, accepting that he is not still alive and living out some elaborate plan concocted by the FBI for whatever reason, and finding passion in the arms of a living male counterpart abroad. Enter disappointment. The patience of Cornwell's lesbian followers are wearing thin with Benton Wesley. While Cornwell obviously agrees it is time to either put him to rest or bring him back to life, this should have been done some time ago, freeing Black Notice to be the book it could have been. In recovery, Scarpetta engages in sexual activity with a virtual stranger, which seems forced and out of character for our favorite heroine. Maybe we're just jealous, but Talley's introduction seems sudden and intrusive. Lucy, Scarpetta's openly lesbian niece, plays only a small role in the novel, which adds to further disappointment. Surely lesbian readers would have to admit they secretly hope Lucy will be the main focus, or at least a larger one, in upcoming Scarpetta tales. In this book Lucy is still dealing with the monsters that drive her to emotionally dangerous places, while readers wait to see the monsters for what they are, and how she might prevail and overcome her self destructive tendencies. Maybe in the next book. Marino is strong in this installment, as Cornwell brings his unique personality to the forefront and lets the friendship he shares with Scarpetta express itself with humor and an obvious deep caring for one another. Readers have watched Marino's life change over the years, and now he must deal with aging and his shifting importance in the world of law enforcement. The plot of Black Notice lacks the believability of earlier Cornwell novels. Gone are the strong, realistic killers of the early days, having been replaced with dramatic, almost super human qualities. Cornwell seems to be steering clear of the more forensically technical aspects of Scarpetta's work, and does not share as many interesting, if somewhat gory, details that once provided readers with clues and insight into the mind of the killer. The characters' lives and personal quandaries surpass anything the killer may or may not do in this book. With a writing style that is clearly Cornwell, and a cast of characters we have known too long to turn our backs on, Black Notice is a continuation of the Scarpetta saga, and one that is well worth suffering a few disappointments. After all, Cornwell would be hard-pressed to outdo herself, with Potter's Field and Point of Origin tough acts to follow. While perhaps not her best, Black Notice is still worth curling up with on a dark, rainy night. Sherry Stinson...
Rating:
Summary: My least favorite Scarpetta
Review: Of all the books in this series, this is my least favorite. The story was a bit too unbelievable, but it is more Kay Scarpetta for lovers of this series. At least I did finish the book so I'll say it's an okay read!
Rating:
Summary: My least favorite Scarpetta
Review: Of all the books in this series, this is my least favorite. The story was a bit too unbelievable, but it is more Kay Scarpetta for lovers of this series. At least I did finish the book so I'll say it's an okay read!
Rating:
Summary: I think people are being a little too hard on this book
Review: OK, so the book isn't perfect, but I was engaged and entertained for the duration of the book. I got the book from the library as a book on tape, so I haven't had the luxury to read the Scarpetta series in order. This was my second novel in the series (the first one being "Cause of Death"). One criticism is Cornwell's overly pessimistic view of humankind (people are evil and serial killers run rampant, etc). Also, I agree that she may have gone a little over-the-top in making Marino a caricature of himself, though, I thought a lot of his actions were understandable, given his personality and what he was put through in this book. Also, the relationship among the three main protagonists (Kay, Lucy and Marino) wasn't too sappy or glossed over... though Cornwell may have gone a little too far in seeing that they weren't. Also, the fate of Diane Bray was a little hard to swallow. But overall, the story was engrossing. Cornwell's prose creates a dark and gritty aura through much of the book; I thought the grieving bit was realistic, and, as always, the forensic details are well-researched and realistic as well. Not the best book I've read (listened to) but definitely worthwhile if you like dark, gritty mysteries with a lot of human drama.
| 
