Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Bag
Review: I found the book to be a good read, tough to put down. In the end, though, I had a problem with the completely unbelievable premise that Dr. Scarpetta would be the target of a murder investigation, that the prosecuter of this investigation would involve Kay so much in it, and that it would be allowed to continue as long as it did.Too many loose ends, too. However, I enjoyed the new insights into the character and look forward to discovering what the future brings for her.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing twist of "introspection"
Review: As an avid Kay Scarpetta fan, I eagerly dove into this latest book. But from the start, I found it hard to get through. In the first place, I had not reread "Black Notice" recently, so I was confused about what was going on. Secondly, so much psychobabble and introspection gets boring (and I'm a psychotherapist!). Further, Cornwell did more telling than showing in this book and so it dragged. Finally, it didn't quite make sense. Tying up these "loose ends" didn't quite work. In most of her books, the mystery is foremost, but Kay's personal life and friends/family are intimately involved. In this one, the mystery seemed to be an afterthought and it was a stretch to tie it all in together. We feel confusion just as Kay does; it just isn't the same confusion. Part way through, I thought maybe that "The Last Precinct" was a double-entendre--that this might be the last book in the series and it seemed that Kay's life was changing dramatically. At the end, though, I'm not so sure, and, it seems, it might continue pretty much as it has been (her job, her hometown, etc.). And, please, enough of this Loup-Garou--don't focus the next book on him. Books written in the present tense are are hard to do, and, if I recall, this is a shift in tense for Cornwell; go back to the past tense. It works better. Bring back the gory details of the murders, not of Kay's mind!
Rating:
Summary: Dino Bashing
Review: I have been a Patricia Cornwell fan for many years. One of the things I always loved about her character, Kay Scarpetta, was her relationship with Dino. This new book, The Last Precinct, should be a last.... Where is the loving, loyal Kay? This one is mean, heartless and whines, whines, whines.....Poor Dino can do nothing to please her. His gruff demeanor, which was once written with such love, has become vendictive. Ms. Cornwell's lesbian lifestyle is well known, but when did she become a "man-hater"? She disappoints all of her longtime fans with this book which portrays Dino as an olf, Lucy as a rich quitter and Kay as an unfocus wretch. Please Ms Cornwell, write a book which reflects the talent of your earlier works.....
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Why did she bother writing Black Notice? It's practically re-written in this book. I want the old Kay back. The independent, self-assured, intelligent medical examiner. Not this whiny, irrational being. Sorry PC but I agree with other readers, you're too caught up on your popularity, trying to fulfill book writing obligations and losing creativity and you're too hook on your own AC/DC persona.
Rating:
Summary: on her way back
Review: I've been a fan of the Kay Scarpetta series since the beginning, but it's become more and more difficult to justify my enthusiasm for Cornwell with Scarpetta's last few outings. The series has become less and less about forensic medicine and suspense and more about the characters' psyches. Unfortunately, while Cornwell's talents in creating suspense and intriguing forensic cases are beyond doubt, her skill as a writer of introspective psycho-prose is shaky. Scarpetta, Marino and Lucy have all become less and less interesting as we've purportedly learned more about them. Marino used to be a classic gruff-but-lovable cop. Now he's just gruff. At best. And while I sympathize with Cornwell's desire to present a strong, intelligent lesbian character in Lucy, the constant references to Lucy's sexuality and to her amazing capabilities (is there anything she CAN'T do??) make her a less interesting figure. Cornwell would do greater justice to this issue simply by toning the character down and making her real, interesting, and appealing. All of that said, I think TLP is a step, albeit a tentative one, back toward the old-style Scarpetta novels. Although there's still plenty of psychologizing and still plenty of emotional tedium, there's also some solid suspense and somewhat of a return to the forensic elements of the "classic" novels earlier in the series. I felt just a little bit vindicated for the the time and energy I spent on "Black Notice" since it formed the backdrop for a more interesting story this time around. ("Black Notice" is the only Scarpetta book I've ever seriously considered putting down halfway through.) It seems inevitable that we'll have at least one more story centered around Le Loup Garou, Berger, Talley, et al. Here's hoping Cornwell will then draw this line to close and get back to basics. I think most of her fans would be grateful.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I have been struggling with this book for over three weeks. I currently find myself on page 278 (of 449 pages) and I am seriously thinking about giving up on it. I don't usually abandon a book but The Last Precinct, as far as I am concerned, is not, by any stretch of the imagination, even remotely in the same league as prior Patricia Cornwell novels. I even wonder a little whether Patricia Cornwell actually wrote it or if someone else did the bulk of the work for her. If a book doesn't grab me within the first 20 or 30 pages I usually go on to something else. I was persistent with this one however because I have thoroughly enjoyed every other Scarpetta mystery I've read. Sadly to say I cannot say the same about this one. I'm not sure I even know what the plot is. The Last Precinct is, to quote the Editorial Review, "an odd, ill-defined organization that is, in the words of its motto, "where you go when there is nowhere left"". You would think that by page 278 there would have been some interaction with this "odd, ill-defined organization" but there hasn't been unless you want to consider the mere presence of Lucy and her friend Teun McGovern in Richmond, VA as an interaction. Perhaps what is meant by odd and ill-defined should very well be applied to the entire book (at least to the 279 pages I have read). I'm very disappointed with The Last Precinct and when Patricia Cornwell's next book comes out I'll wait until after my daughter has a chance to read it before I decide to even give it a cursory glance.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: As a fan of the mystery/thriller genre, I was disappointed (yet again) in the latest offering from Patricia Cornwell. I think the only reason that I actually finished the book was because I kept thinking that it had to get better (it didn't). I was dismayed by Scarpetta's ongoing angst and self-centeredness . . . yes, she has suffered some tragic events in previous books, but she is now taking on the tragedy of those around her and still making it all about her. Scarpetta has been (in the past) an independent, self-sufficient woman that is now whiny and afraid. Many of Cornwell's reader have experienced tragedy in their own lives, but the time comes when one has to get on with living. For someone who says that she (Scarpetta) has never been involved in any type of analysis or therapy she sure seems to be suffering from analysis paralysis! These are no longer novels, readers are now subected to an on-going soap opera. C'mon! Cornwell is capable of better than this, Scarpetta has been better than this, and Cornwell's readers DESERVE better than this. I am sad to say that I have no interest in reading another Scarpetta novel (of course, I also said that after Black Notice). Is Cornwell simply fulfilling a contractual obligation or has success spoiled her as much as it would appear from this book? Disappointing, disappointing, disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: A refreshing book!
Review: It's always fun to read a Cornwell novel. The characters are well developed and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. I think The Last Precinct is one of her best books so far, although some lose ends are not tied together at the end. And I'm not fond of the lesbian emphasis in that certain character, but it's an interesting read and a great follow-up to Black Notice. As I'm more of an international thriller fan, I just finished a tremendous new book by a new author, and this book I really read from cover to cover over the weekend as it's suspenseful, a story that keeps your face glued to the page, which is THE CONSULTANT by Alec Donzi.
Rating:
Summary: The Last Precinct
Review: One star is too high. Save your money and don't buy the book
Rating:
Summary: Twists, turns, and surprises will leave you ready for next
Review: This book was better than the last few Scarpetta books were. It starts by reviewing the occurences at the end of the previous Scarpetta book BLACK NOTICE. So if you haven't read that one, you should before you proceed, or a lot of what happens won't make sense. Kay moves in temporarily with her friend Anna, who has secrets also (not really germaine to the story, but neither are big chunks of the book). There is a lot of psychological analyzing going on in this book, which leaves little room for any action. Some of it helps the plot, some of it doesn't. After moving in with Anna, Lucy and Teun and Marcino all get together to help Kay understand her current predicaments. A proscuter from New York gets dragged in as well. There are many little bombs dropped here and there about characters and events; in part , that is what kept me reading, to find out how it all made sense. In the end, lots of points here and there really didn't further the story at all. They were placed just to keep you guessing. I think this book could have used some better editing. BUT, having said all that, I am looking forward to the next installment. I want to know less about Kay and Lucy (the poster child for lesbian wondergirls) and more about Marcino and Rocky. That would be an interesting relationship to get feedback on. Without Benton, Marcino is one of more interesting characters in book. Let's here about what makes him tick, what made him the person he is. Just as an aside, my favorite Mystery series are those by Elizabeth George feature Lynley and Havers (and Simon and Helen and Deborah). That series leaves me begging for more. Go read them if you want to read a literary mystery series without a whining lead character.
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