Rating: 
Summary: Short but sweet review
Review: I'm a big fan of Cornwell so she gets the 3 stars for her ability to write. This book, however, does nothing to enrich the series. It is basically a long, drawn out therapy session in which Kay discovers and embraces her demons. To be honest I found myself wondering why I paid for the book when she should have paid me for listening. NOVELIST, HEAL THYSELF!! The characters of Kathy Reichs (Tempe Brennan) and Robert Walker (Jessica Coran) still deliver the goods. Spend your money there!
Rating: 
Summary: Cornwell's Well Running Dry
Review: This book is really Black Notice Part II. The question is, did Black Notice need a part II? First of all, forget all that promotional talk about Jamestown and a 400 year old mystery. Cornwell obviously had an idea for a book then changed her mind and went in a totally different direction. I wish she hadn't. First, you have to wade through excruciatingly boring psychobabble with Kay's friend Dr. Zenner (the real mystery here is why Kay forgets Zenner was her shrink in earlier books but denies it here -- besides the fact that the weak setup of Kay for murder required it). I nearly didn't make it past that part, which is a full third of the book. Second, the book is low on action. An enormous part of the book either replays old scenes -- we relive the Loup Garou attacks, Bray's murder, etc. -- or has Kay watching other's actions, like a long section where Kay watches a videotape of the werewolf being interviewed by someone else. All of which leaves very little new and real action for Kay. Then there is the ending, which is absurd. Without giving anything away, let's just say when you stop to think about it all, you know it could and would never happen. In addition, Cornwell seemed compelled to tie in her last few books. Just about everything gets answered here, including things you never asked. It just adds to the dopey ending. On a down note, Marino does nothing but get drunk and act foul. I can't recall if he had a single police action to perform. Lucy becomes an even more unbelievable and unlikable superwoman, if you can believe that. On the upside, I still like Kay, even though she's only a shadow of the wonderful character first introduced over a decade ago. And Cornwell has good pacing. Even when scoffing I had no trouble turning the pages, once out of the Zenner psychobabble, as I do with her non-Scarpetta books. And Jaimie Berger, the Linda Fairstein-ish ADA from NYC, is wonderful. Gee, maybe Cornwell can start a new series with Berger.
Rating:
Summary: STILL WAITING FOR THE NEXT ONE
Review: I eagerly anticipate Cornwell's novels and usually am more than overly excited to share with my friends the newest Kay Scarpetta novel, but The Last Precinct for me was a disappointment. The writing itself is up to Cornwell's usually 5 star work for me, but the story line, just left me wanting more of what wasn't there. Kay is a strong character, but she was so wishy-washy to me in this book. Trying to see her as vulnerable at times just came out as bland to me. Black Notice had a little bit of everything and I guess I just kept thinking of it considering the characters are carrying over.
Rating: 
Summary: PATRICIA CORNWELL IS BACK WITH A BANG!
Review: After Patricia Cornwell's disaster of a novel in "Black Notice," I was quite skeptical and queasy about reading "The Last Precinct," but I felt that urge to read it. I am very glad that I did. This book is so much better than "Black Notice." The summary on Amazon.com and Patricia Cornwell's website says that the book goes on about a hundred year murder mystery case, and Kay Scarpetta is investigating it. That is not true. This book takes place about five days later from where "Black Notice" left off at. Eighty percent of this novel is about the preparation for the trial that is coming up over the serial killer and attacker of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Jean-Baptiste Chandonne, who was captured at the end of "Black Notice." Chandonne makes up an incredibly absurd story, saying that he was framed for all the murders that he did by the government, CIA, FBI, and other branches. He makes it sound like he is a pawn in a chess game. He says that the government is just using him to get to his powerful drug infested family in Paris, France. He says that Kay Scarpetta is part of the conspiracy and says that he was just trying to talk to Kay at her house and SHE ATTACKED HIM! Unfortunately, many reporters and government officials believe this nutcase and Kay Scarpetta is going to go on trial for the murder of Diane Bray, one of the victims of Chardonne's killing spree. Kay Scarpetta, along with slob and drunken faced cop, Pete Marino, and with Kay's lesbian niece Lucy (whom I detest greatly), must try and prove Kay's innocence. While they are doing that, they all discover that some of Kay's closest colleagues and acquaintences are involved with Jean-Baptiste Chandonne and his powerful family, who are drug dealers and gun dealers. Kay and the slob (Marino) must bring down these people to get to the truth of the matter. Unfortunately, Dr. Kay discovers that Benton Wesley, her old lover who died in "Point of Origin" may not have died by the hands of Carrie Grethen, who the police and Kay both thought killed Benton. Finally when Kay puts all the pieces together, she discovers that she needs to bring down the whole Chandonne and find out who the true killer of Benton Wesley is before she is found guilty and rots in a prison cell. In the middle of the novel, Lucy and her lover, Tiel ask Kay if she wants to join them with their new organization, called THE LAST PRECINCT, a new independent crime fighting organization. Will Dr. Kay Scarpetta quit her job as a medical examiner of Virgina? Will she be going to prison for the rest of her life? Who really killed Benton Wesley? The answer to all these questions and more are all revealed in one of Patricia Cornwell's best novels, "THE LAST PRECINCT!
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD ENTRY IN THE SERIES
Review: Kay Scarpetta is recovering from a run-in with Jean-Baptiste Chandonne (featured in the previous novel "Black Notice". It seems Chandonne is the suspect in the werewolf killings that Scarpetta has been investigating, but as she and Marino look further into the killings they see the murders have traveled to New York City. When brought in for questioning, Chandonne, spins a wild story about his being "framed". Scarpetta must unravel every thread of his story to find out if he is actually telling the truth, or is there a sinister plan behind his story, before any more women are murdered. "The Last Precinct" is a slow starting novel, but when the action kicks into gear (about 160 pages into the book) it cooks, readers will be forced to turn pages to find the outcome of the story, as well as what will become of the novel's characters (Scarpetta, Marino, and Lucy). Patricia Cornwell brings "Scarpetta" into the millenium, in a novel that boils with suspense...One of the better novels in the series. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: Great Follow up to Black Notice but time for something new..
Review: The Last Precinct is a follow up to Black Notice. It is a very good book but it is not as good as some of the others in the Kay series. This book will answer any lingering questions you may have had when reading Black Notice. It is almost as if it should of been in just one book not two. However, I did enjoy it a lot. Patrcia Cornwell is a wonderful writer. If you are a big fan you will like. It also seems that the next book if there is one will turn in another direction. If you think about it most things in life really do go around in circles and then you choose another path once you are satisfied. I think this is what Cornwell is trying to do with the Scarpetta series.
Rating: 
Summary: Last Precinct Lays an Egg
Review: Loyal fans of Cornwell will be sadly disappointed in this first person introspective that reeks of psycho-babble. One is not sure what Cornwell is trying to prove, but it is certainly an abysmal failure. Recommendation is to NOT read this book near an open flame as the temptation to toss it in would be too great. Let's hope Cornwell comes to her senses when writing the next book of this series --------
Rating:
Summary: A good comeback
Review: Kay Scarpetta does not kill Le Loup-Garou, as evidenced by his continual presence throught The Last Precinct. I would suggest that only readers familiar with the revisited cast read this book. You will not understand the dynamics of the realtionships played out in this novel. While Black Notice was not her best book, it took us through the dark places we expect people to visit after murder touches their lives, along with the introduction of new, hateful characters that I'm sure will pop up time and again as did Carrie Grethren. The Last Precint shows the mending of the souls of our familiar cast. It is not as entertaining as her previous books but it was necessary for Cornwell to create closure for her characters. I am pleased with the turn Cornwell is alowing Kay Scarpetta to take in her career. With her realization of her own damaged psyche and her practice of creating angst ridden relationships she will no doubt be a more compelling character in the next book. I do hope with all my heart that Pete Marino, by far the most likeable character in her series, will not get lost in the shuffle. I feel this book was a gift to fans of the series. We previously have been privy to every nuance of the two main characters. They were 'profiled' for us as we knew every move they would take. We are now left wondering if there will be a change in Kays and Petes relationship, will there be a change of venue? My interest is already piqued. The Last Precint was a book that I could simply not put down as each page brought a new plot twist. Was it her best work? No. But it was a good read, especially for series fans. I am certainly looking forward to the next installment. I am sure that Patricia Cornwell will hit her stride and give us a good time getting to know the new Kay Scarpetta.
Rating:
Summary: A new Kay Scarpetta
Review: By the time I had read The Last Precinct, I had already seen Patricia Cornwell give several interviews about it, so I had a certain expectation about what kind of book this would be. For the most part, her descriptions were accurate, which is unfortunate. From the beginning, this is a completely different Kay Scarpetta than we've read about before. Cornwell claimed in her interviews that this could be a stand-alone book, that it wasn't necessary to read the previous books to understand this one, but I disagree strongly. It literally picks up where the last one left off, and if you didn't read Black Notice, chances are you won't have a clue what's going on. There are half-hearted attempts to bring the reader up to speed on the various characters, but they seem forced and uncomfortable. The storyline is much the same as in previous books, despite Cornwell's assertion that this is the first time we see Kay in professional jeopardy. There's a bad guy, Kay gets personally involved, Lucy goes off on some weird tangent, Kay's professional judgement is called into question..the bare bones of this story are the same as the others. What bothered me most about this book was the extremely sudden and startling change in the way we see Kay, and through her, all the other characters. She suddenly analyzes every thought, every emotion; we see all of the characters in a new light, and it is almost without exception, unflattering. Suddenly we are literally forced to consider Kay's sexual orientation, Marino's weird attraction to her; even the deceased Benton is re-examined and somehow comes off looking the worse for it. Cornwell said in the interviews I saw that she doesn't model Kay after herself, but there are several aspects of this book that almost feel voyeuristic. The forensic and investigational parts of the book almost seem like an afterthought. The main purpose of this entry in the Scarpetta series seems mainly to explore her psyche; at the end of it all, I've lost my respect for the character. I had a hard time deciding how many stars to give this book. Taken alone, simply judging this book's writing style, plot and character development, I would have given it 4 stars; as part of the Scarpetta series, comparing it to past books, I would have rated this one a 2, so I split the difference and gave it a 3. Fans of the first books in the Scarpetta series who were upset after Black Notice probably won't be any more thrilled with this entry; fans that haven't read the first few books in the series and liked Black Notice probably would find this an interesting follow-up.
Rating:
Summary: NOT ONE OF HER BEST, SADLY
Review: I am, for lack of a better adjective, a Cornwell "nut" having read all of her Kay Scarpetta books. The main flaw in her latest creation is....confusion. Let's be honest - we read her forensic treasures for the mystery, intrigue and "page-turning" suspense! However, if there are (IF THIS IS INDEED POSSIBLE) too many twists and turns we lose track of her ingenuity - forced to sort through endless facts thrown in the "mix" rather than relish her tempting forensic tale. Another problem was how "slow" the beginning seemed with much talk about Kay's instability and psychological health after her brush with (at the end of "Black Notice") Chandonne. There is also, unlike her other Scarpetta masterpieces, no finality to the story. She, quite obviously,leaves us "hanging" (HOPEFULLY only 'til her next Scarpetta outing)- with a sloppy summation that, I feel, short-changes the reader!!! LONG LIVE KAY SCARPETTA!!!
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