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Summary: Scarpetta Saga Continues & Continues
Review: The new installment of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta saga continues almost exactly where the last one ended. The cast of characters is the same, and much old ground is retread. The early Scarpetta book's had some interesting mystery plots for its readers, but the last few have been character driven. Kay Scarpetta, MD/JD, is a Chief Medical Examiner who thinks she's a detective, often overstepping her boundaries in doing police work beyond her responsibilities. Facing another major personal crisis when faced with a murder indictment, Dr. Scarpetta attempts to resolve several murder cases revolving around the last novel's plot involving a French-born "Wolfman" who claims innocence.Unlike some of the past few novels which had fast moving, although convoluted, plots, the current book takes its time to get to the action. There are too many detours, including a rehash of plot points from two and three novels back. Readers new to the Scarpetta books are likely to find it difficult to follow the current installment. Ongoing readers may become impatient waiting for something new to happen before realizing that the peripheral murders and plot points will all be neatly tied up quickly in the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed...but ultimately find it fairly good
Review: Having been a fan of Patricia Cornwall's books for many years now, I looked forward to the next installment. Instead as many other reviews have said, it is in some respects a rehash of the other books. I found the long narrative with her psychologist to be rather long and tedious as I did find other parts of the book. But perhaps the thing that distresses me the most is the intemperate use of foul language. It may be realism, but I get tired of being subjected to the 'f' word about four or five times a page. Just eliminating the profanity would probably shorten the book by about a hundred pages, and the book was definitely too long. Hope her next effort moves forward a bit...otherwise I may go shopping elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing!
Review: I just finished The Last Precinct a few hours ago! Patricia Cornwell has come through with yet another great Scarpetta novel. She tied up some loose ends and left us all craving more with her ending. I look forward to the future of Scarpetta, Marino, Lucy, Teun and Berger. Great job PC! Can't wait to read the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Don't give up
Review: I almost gave up, but once you pass the tedious beginning (which is very important to the rest of the book) you will find the best Scarpetta story yet! I just hope the next one finds all of the group together, whatever Kay ends up doing with her life.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply a rehash
Review: The Last Precinct is simply a rehash of her previous book, Black Notice. The current plot centers on the serial killer in her last, but rather than continue with the plot it remains stagnant. Again a character is introduced within the last 60 pages or so of the book who could not be anticipated, thereby leaving the reader frustrated. The protagonist, Kay Scarpetta, is at her darkest and leaves the reader unsympathetic towards her even though the circumstances call for such.
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Summary: The Dark Side
Review: This is not your typical Kay Scarpetta book and it's not easy to rate. Little forensic brilliance, lots of angst. Dr. Kay is not her prickly but positive self but rather a haunted, hunted individual actually being accused of one of the heinous butcheries she so detests. She is a dark, Poe-esque heroine and the book is hard reading, plodding through the gloom, at parts. But for those who know and love the Scarpetta saga, to put it down would be unforgiveable. And in the end it's worth it, even if it leaves us waiting for an inevitable followup which is almost Part 2 of the book. And it is brilliantly written, Poe-esque in that regard, too. At times passages soar. And Lucy is there, and Pete Marino and the villain we love to hate, the Werewolf. It's heavy, too heavy. But a Scarpetta fan would not miss it.
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Summary: I love Kay Scarpetta, BUT..............
Review: ...is there no JOY is this poor woman's life??....and I am getting really tired of the bratty Lucy [actually who likes her BUT Kay]...and making Marino such pig[and most men]. Let's get to the point again where she is The Forensic Pathologist and solves murders that she is NOT the victim of, just because she is so smart....Kay gets more depressed in every book...and more out of control...and I like my hero/heroines to be somewhat in control of the scene.PATRICIA,PU-LEEZE SAVE KAY!!! However,I will continue to always read your books, because I fell in love with your writing long ago and I am hooked on you.
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Summary: Why do I keep torturing myself?
Review: As I stated when I reviewed her last book, I continue to read this series to see if the author can redeem herself. Not happening. The only thing about this book that brought me any satisfaction was finally seeing the protagonist as part of the problem, not the solution. Seeing her professional life, personal life, etc., brought into question and put under scrutiny made this book a little more realistic than her previous one. I don't want to appear as though I enjoy seeing people's lives picked apart and exposed, but it doesn't appear as though Kay has ever done anything wrong or made any mistakes, and this book finally brings that under scrutiny. The other issue with her books is that even though the protagonist is a medical examiner, the author could leave out quite a bit of the descriptive stuff about what goes on in the morgue during an autopsy. For the most part, much of the descriptive stuff does not promote the plot or storyline and appears to be filler. My recommendation would be not to let this be your first Scarpetta novel. Start at the beginning of the series, and then decide whether or not you want to continue up to this point.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best ones by YOU
Review: Cornwell does it again. Her descriptions of events is incredible, you almost like you are there with her.Patricia, if you read this Thank You, I've read all of yours, and all of John Grisham.
Rating:
Summary: Better...but not *as* good
Review: I look forward to Patricia Cornwell's new books & tend, lately, to be a bit disappointed. I think her first 3-4 books were the best, when she stayed in & around Richmond rather than jet setting to Europe to catch a killer. Believe me, there are plenty in Richmond for her to hunt! I was intrigued at the thought of getting a bit more personal look at Scarpetta through this introspective novel. I thought it would be a treat to learn a bit more about what makes her tick. Now that I've seen, I don't think I like! I saw her as self-pitying & it just isn't what Scarpetta is supposed to be. While it was interesting to get a more personal look at her, I just didn't like what I saw... 450 pages makes it a long read, but not too tough. Once again, however, it seems Ms. Cornwell realizes the book is getting long & she abruptly ends, leaving you to turn back a few dozen pages to see if you skipped a few, or just missed something along the way. If you haven't read Patricia Cornwell, start at the beginning. If you start here, you may not go back. It's a better book than some recent releases, but still not as good as the first.
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