Rating: 
Summary: ...a new direction...
Review: After reading this book, I find myself asking one simple question. What is Patricia Cornwell trying to accomplish? On one hand, she seems intent on taking the Scarpetta series in a new direction. This avenue seems to be focusing on The Last Precinct, a murky organization founded in part by Scarpetta's niece Lucy. However, the reader is given no definitive reasons for the organization's existence or even a clear explanation for why it was mentioned in the first place. In addition, there are so many loose ends that are never dealt with. Why does Cornwell feel compelled to mention the excavation at Jamestown when it clearly does not do anything to enhance any aspect of her story? As well, there is also a grand jury investigation centering on Kay Scarpetta's possible involvement in a murder. The charges levelled against her are so far fetched that the reader is left feeling insulted by the incredible leaps of logic that Cornwell has taken with the storyline.The most promising aspect of this novel were the chapters dealing with Scarpetta's sessions with her good friend Anna Zenner, an Austrian psychiatrist. For the first time, the reader is given an in depth portrait of Scarpetta's feelings regarding those she knows and loves. But even that is overshadowed by the decidedly odd, even uncomfortable, tone of the sessions themselves. It does not seem that it is Scarpetta who is being laid bare before the reader's eyes, but Cornwell herself. I certainly admire Cornwell for taking the Scarpetta series into new and uncharted territory. Despite the rather disjointed way in which she has chosen to accomplish this feat, it will hopefully breathe new life into a series that has taken some rather nasty hits in the past couple of outings. Patricia Cornwell is certainly capable of delivering a sharp, tightly constructed and riveting storyline. Let us hope her change of direction will allow her to do just that.
Rating: 
Summary: A new side to Scarpetta
Review: We get to see a new side to Scarpetta in TLP. We get to see the HUMAN side of her. What person, even fictional (Scarpetta), can go on, day after day, without changing, once a loved one (Benton) has died? Scarpetta is changing.. for the better? For the worse? Who's to say because this story is not over. I found the changes in realistic, and the emotional side/factor of the character gave her more depth than she's ever had before. Cornwell's books are always complex, this book seemed moreso.. perhaps because it backtracked so much into the previous book Black Notice. I've always told friends that Cornwells' books are stand alones.. where you don't need to read them in order. But if you're reading TLP, you really need to read Black Notice first, otherwise it won't make any sense to you. I give this one a 4 stars, and do wait for the story to continue in the next book.
Rating:
Summary: New story please!
Review: I was so excited when I realized The Last Precinct was finely available. I have read all of the books in the series and was very ready to join Kay, Lucy, and Marino on all new adventure. Sadly, though, it just seemed that we were reliving old stories. Cornwell seems to be trying to tie together too many of her plots and it comes up very weak. I really think it is time she put Benton to rest, as well as Carrie Grethen. Kay and the gang neeed new foes to fight and some new allies as well. I do not believe Cornwell has lost her touch, she is just going the wrong direction. I hope there is another Scarpetta book, as I do love these characters so, but I would like to see a fresh story. Other authors, such as Ridley Pearson and Jeffrey Deaver, are managing to continuously turn out quality stories with their cast of characters, and Cornwell is just as talented. I hope this talent shines through in her next book.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Precinct
Review: This is my last Cromwell / Scarpetta novel. Less angst and more action is required.
Rating:
Summary: The Last Precinct
Review: Not in keeping with Patricia Cornwell's usual succinct writing. Trying to keep up with the Kay's jumbled thought patterns was difficult and was a diversion from the plot of the book. She focused too much on jumping back and forth from one time period in Kay's very troubled life to another while trying to somehow weave the Chandonne storyline into these periods. Or could it be vice versa. I'm not sure. I lost track. Bringing Marino's emotions and feelings toward Kay into light was a nice touch. We needed to know that Pete was human instead of the gruff personality he usually bears. Overall, it was a good read. Not quite up to par with some of her other work, but a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Give the Doc a happy pill
Review: Like many dedicated Cornwell fans, I am getting very disappointed with the new Scarpetta novels she is writing. I now think the witty, 'nail biter', I will read til its finished ( even though its 3am ) died along with Benton. The writing is more focused Kay and her Maudlin feelings and the plot is an after thought. With all the references to Black Notice, new readers will find it a bit hard to understand, so I suggest to you, to read that first so TLP will make some sense. TLP does fill in some of the gaps, and ties up most loose ends which is good! :) Hopefully the ending is signalling a new beginning for Kay? I certaining hope so. Please Ms. Cornwell try to find that spark once again that so many of us fans loved in your earlier works... So I guess its another year long wait til next time :)
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is a true great work by Cornwell, of course I will never get over Benton getting killed, which is why I couldn't give this a 5 star rating. I thought her and Lucy communicated to each other better in this book (which I have wanted all along), her distaste for Marino has become more apparent with each book (kinda sad), I was glad to see her talking to Anna (because she definetly needs a shrink). A must read for Kay fans.
Rating:
Summary: The Last Precinct was fantastic
Review: I loved this book. I can see how Patricia Cornwell needed to tidy up the happenings of the last 2 to 3 books. The only complaint I have is that Kay Scarpetta was in her forties in the early 1990's books and suddenly she is only 42 in this book. Lucy is now 28 but was only a young teenager in the early books. How can one person age so much in a few years (Lucy) and the other not age at all (Kay)???????? Apart from this minor fault I loved the book.
Rating:
Summary: Another Cornwell disappointment
Review: I am one of the legion of past Cornwell fans who are simply fed up with Scarpetta's tiresome psychological problems. I began reading Cornwell's books because of thrilling plots and fascinating insights into forensic science. Unfortunately, Cornwell now spends all of her time on the tortured relationships between Scarpetta, Lucy, the deceased Benton, and Marino. If this is "character development," I'll pass. And please, enough with the Virginia Chief Medical Examiner being under constant criminal suspicion! Ridiculous! Unfortunately, Cornwell must not read the hundreds of negative reviews that all sound the same (or she's too rich to care), because she shows no signs of returning to the really superb writing that marked her first books. Stay away if you liked the early Scarpetta.
Rating:
Summary: Just Going Through the Motions . . .
Review: I've been an avid fan of the Scarpetta series. This sucked. Give it up, okay? This was by far the biggest stinker of the series. More like reading a long deposition transcript than a novel. Blatantly setting us up for the sequel so she can grind them out again. Enough about brilliant, beautiful and now rich Lucy, okay? Hangdog Marino mooning around like a lovestruck puppy. Who cares any more?!
| 
