Rating: 
Summary: Transition
Review: Let us hope that this installment in the Scarpetta saga is a transition. The character could be an enduring one, but I feel that Cornwell has used up the ME scene and maybe the Richmond scene as well; and as another reviewer has said, has painted herself into a corner. Cornwell has created some compelling characters and in the past has used the police procedural to give them effective voice. Perhaps the impending move to New York will reinvigorate the author and the character.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Her Worst- But Bad Enough
Review: I wish I knew what was going on. I've been a Patricia Cornwell fan from the begining and I have read them all. This is another unmitigated dud. Not as bad as Southern Cross, but close. Kay Scarpetta wallows in self-pity in this one, and by the mid-point of the book I have lost all interest in her as a character. The plot is terrible and not very believable, the writing is stilted, and the whole thing is a poor imitation of her earlier works. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Scratching The Surface or Finding The Real Kay Scarpetta
Review: I am disappointed that there seem to be so many folks who are unable or unwilling to delve beneath the successful and "super" surface of a character. What a rich find The Last Precinct is. We are finally given the chance to see that the very successful hero of many books is a real live human being with doubts and qualms and overpowering fears. At the same time the Dr. is so knowledgable about so many subjects, she is woefully naive about such things as how the relationship of Kay and Anna can be used and abused and twisted by a legal system. This character is real and breathing and dealing with devastating loss and trauma. Yet she is able to begin considering the next step in her life and career. The Last Precinct gives me hope that we normal folks can get it together too. I eagerly look forward to where we go next. The Last Precinct left us with leads into at least a dozen new stories. Go for it! An unanswered question that continues to puzzle: why did Mrs. White feel it necessary to tell Dr. Scarpetta that she and her son had changed their names when she married again. I kept looking for that to be tied up neatly.
Rating:
Summary: The worst Scarpetta yet - don't rush out to buy it.
Review: The three things I used to like most about the Kay Scarpetta novels were that (a) although part of a series, each novel was a self-contained mystery (b) Kay acted like an intelligent professional, and we saw as much or more of her brilliant work than we did of her private life and (c) the end was always a surprise. The Last Precinct fails on all counts. This is actually Part 2 of Black Notice, continuing that story hours after it left off at the end of the last novel. It is overly long and meandering, and really should have been tightened up and included in Black Notice - the presumption that anyone picking up this book would have read the last one is sheer arrogance. The scale of Scarpetta's paranoia is embarrassing until the magnitude of the whole plot against her is revealed, which is so far-fetched as to be utterly unbelievable. But worst of all, the end is obvious a mile off. I realised what was going to happen exactly 243 pages before it did happen, which is an awfully long time to wait for the previously brilliant Scarpetta to tumble to what is by that stage blindingly obvious. The earlier novels in this series, particularly Cruel and Unusual, are some of the best books I have ever read, but the standard has been declining steadily over the last several years. I hope Ms. Cornwell can regain some of her former brilliance and originality and set off in a new and interesting direction next time. For those who'll read it anyway just to keep up with what's happening, I'd advise you to wait for the paperback or borrow a copy from someone else - this wasn't worth the purchase price.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Precinct
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect after reading some of the reviews listed here. To my surprise and delight "The Last Precinct" is probably one of the best written by Ms. Cornwell.I found the book enthralling - yes it did cover some old ground, however, it is so well written that it only further draws you into the world of chief character, Kay Scarpetta. I believe the deep background presented in this book would only serve to make someone reading Patricia Cornwell's books for the first time, curious enough to backtrack and read the preceding novels. Anyone who has a fondness for this character is sure to love this book. I truely enjoy the way Patricia Cornwell writes and have read everybook with the exception of the Scarpetta Christmas book. I look forward to her next book and what Kay, Pete and Lucy will get themselves into this time! Go Patricia!
Rating:
Summary: A new century, a new "Scarpetta"......
Review: Kay Scarpetta has always been on a journey and Cornwell made sure she had all the twists and turns needed to help you remember all the high points, along the way....No, this isn't the best book Cornwell has written in the series, in my opinion...but it moves Scarpetta,Lucy, and Marino in a new direction...I do believe in the right direction. The Virginia medical examiner theme has started to get a little old, so having Kay headed to New York with a new job and maybe a new life, "ref. questioning her own sexual orientation", in this book could bring about a new beginning for Kay and the gang. It is due, I did enjoy insights, glimpses of what Kay was thinking, making her character easier to know and understand. Yes, the ending left me a little unnerved, too short and incomplete, but knowing Cornwell, I guess we will revisit this again on the next journey. I will always be an avid reader of whatever Cornwell gives us, so she never disappoints, just takes me on a new journey each time. Hey, go out buy this book, its a new century and a new "Scarpetta".
Rating:
Summary: Expected much more
Review: Very disappointed in The Last Precinct. There was little action, way too much time spent in verbal communications and Kay's character seemed to take on a totally different personality than her earlier days. It was bad enough with this "werewolf" character in Black Notice but to rehash him in this latest book....I say lets move along to some new material.
Rating:
Summary: In the end, I liked it (a lot)
Review: Reading a Scarpetta novel is a little like visiting old friends. And in the case of The Last Precince also visiting old enemies. Yes, you must read Black Notice first(and Point of Origin before that) Yes, in the beginning TLP drags a bit as we regroup from the previous book and Kay wallows in her grief and pain for a bit too long (100 pages) BUT, then YES! The books picks up, Kay dusts herself off and gets back to wotk and the rest of the book flies. Twists, conspiracies, vintage Cornwell plots, and forensic detail make this a very satisfying book in the end. The interweaving of this story with the previous two is quite masterful even as it sometimes drags the story. In the end when details are tied up that have been dangling from previous books, along with deeper insight in what makes Kay tick, you are glad you picked the book up. Several new opportunities for Kay to grow as a character in future books are revealed along with the always interesting Marino, who really hasn't changed at all (and do we really want him to?) recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Pass On It
Review: My days of breaking down bookstore doors to get the next Cornwell book are probably over. I have people standing in line to borrow my book and have told them "forget about it". This book was BORING from front to back. If I want whining and self-indulgence, I can turn on a talk show. The only consolation is Cornwell's next book has to be better than this one!
Rating:
Summary: Cold chicken soup
Review: What a disappointment. Over the course of the Scarpetta novels we seem to have gone past exciting novelty, through comfortable predictability and become locked on a single case book after book. The raison d'etre for this book seems only to be to lay some kind of foundation for the next. ... she looked into her top quality Italian stainless steel saucepan and saw the remains of last year's chicken soup. Some of the ingredients, which looked so tasty when she had bought them, appeared to be going bad in the pan. Maybe they had been bad on the inside all the time. She looked ... she stirred ... she added a couple of new vegetables but no matter how much she stirred ... it remained ... last year's chicken soup. I think KS is spending too much tme in the kitchen - she even seems to overlook obvious forensic evidence that could help the case which underpinned the novel.
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