Rating: 
Summary: Loved it!
Review: This was my second Patricia Cornwell novel; I couldn't wait to get the next one--disappointed that it isn't a Kay Scarpetta novel! I bought some earlier novels of Cornwell's (Southern Cross and Hornets Nest) which I can't get interested in. I love Kay Scarpetta! More More!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Return to Form
Review: After the dissapointing "Black Notice" I was initially annoyed that this book continued the story, but Cornwell manages to make this one of her better books. It also suggests more to come in the Kay Scarpetta series as it throws up questions over Scarpetta future which fans will be waiting to have answered. A thouroughly enjoyable read which leaves you wanting more.
Rating: 
Summary: 1/4 good story, 3/4 hand wringing
Review: Patricia Cornwell has stolen 3 days from my life of the 4 it took to wade through this book. A LOT of wasted words and frustrating hand wringing from Kay. I will no doubt give Cornwell one more try when this story is (hopefully) wrapped up and tossed in the furnace in her next Kay Scarpetta book. It is a poor sequel to "Black Notice" and a major disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Get well Scarpetta or get lost.
Review: Scarpetta has indeed finally gone over the edge. She has gotten so parinoid she needs to go into the psychiatric ward of a good hospital for treatment. Her resignation from the Virginia State Government is justified. It is too bad Cornwell left it unresolved at the end of the book. Of all the novels that are going to make up the Scarpetta lexicon this one will probably rank as one of the all time worst. I only hope Cornwell acts quickly to re-invent Scarpetta or she may soon have to stop writing Scarpetta novels, if for no other reason than Scarpetta fans becoming pernamently disallusioned with the character. Get well Kay, get a life, learn how to fight back, or simply stop waisting our valuable time and simply go away.
Rating:
Summary: First Cornwell Novel Will Be My Last
Review: "The Last Precinct" was, unfortunately, the first Cornwell book I have read--and will most likely be the last. This rambling, plotless narrative contains a [plot] so inane and preposterous that it makes the wilder Kennedy assassination ...theories seem highly plausable. Maybe all this would have been clearer had I read the previous Scarpetta editions--but somehow I doubt it. Perhaps Cornwell has used up the Scarpetta character and should consider jettisoning her for a fresher approach and set of characters. This novel is, at best, plodding and dull, with Cornwell's substantial knowledge of forensic techniques taking priority over an engaging plot.
Rating:
Summary: Different
Review: Just like being in shock when real life takes a sudden turn, for this series this book was a shocker. Kay was put in a different perspective for me. I have been a huge fan of this series since it came out and this one made her seem more human and personal. I love the way Patricia Cornwell wrapped the ending. For a Scarpetta fan, this book is GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: Two thumbs up for Cornwell
Review: I thought this book was the most clever one that Patricia Cornwell wrote. I have read the majority of her books except two of them. I was able to follow all Scarpetta's adventures throughout this book. I thought Patricia did a great job of tying all her other books into this one book. Explaining what happen to Benton, the Carrie Gretchen story and she brought up some new villians. I thought the book was wrote very well and as always Patricia is great with details. I can't wait for the next Scarpetta saga.
Rating:
Summary: Too much!
Review: A werewolf tries to kill her and she has to hide out with a friend who has a deep, dark secret and her niece is kicked out of the ATF and she's still in mourning for a murdered lover/colleague and she's investigating the death of a policewoman who was fiendishly plotting against her, but then she's accused of her murder. And there's a crooked prosecutor and the estranged son of her cop buddy who's lurking in New York with the Mob and the governor's wife is upset because some hate crimes might make the Jamestown colony look bad and then there's what happened to Mr. Peanut!
This is the first book by this author I've read. It doesn't stand alone - there are so many characters thrown at you and bizarre plot twists that a first-time reader is overwhelmed. A novel this long should have a more definite resolution. You're given lots of details about characters, but not really introduced to them.
Rating:
Summary: Whining in Richmond
Review: Okay. I read books while riding an exercise bike in the morning before I go to work. If it is a good read, I'll pick up where I left off reading when I return home. In the past, Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series has often been that type of book. But . . . not this time. The padding (and lack of a courageous editor) is obvious. Kay's repeated musings about "poor me" and inward entreaties became tiresome within the first 50 pages, yet the pattern continued to repeat throughout. The whining about personal relationships got so bad that I thought I was reading Elizabeth George! Also, every short trip, whether by car, SUV or helicopter in and about the Richmond vicinity could not pass without detailed, trivial, irrelevant descriptions of cars, scenery, etc., little of which added to the story. PLEASE, Ms Cornwell, quit cannibalizing your old books for plot lines and characters, and concentrate on your story (if you have one).
Rating:
Summary: Conspiracy theories
Review: I hated this book, but not for the reason I expected. Black Notice was so dark and depressing that I expected this one to be even more so. Actually, it was so sloppy and unbelievable that I just couldn't get involved in the plot.Aside from rather uninteresting introspection into Kay's personal history, this entire book consisted of rewriting the plot of two previous novels (Point of Origin, Black Notice) into an even more complicated conspiracy... and setting us up for future (and probably even more unbelievable) conspiracies in the next book. My proposed plot for the next one, at least as plausible as the conspiracies, is this: Kay awakes in a mental institution, receiving therapy for her delusions of grandeur, paranoia, and possibly multiple personality disorder. She really did kill Diane Bray, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The rest of the conspiracy was the product of her paranoia.
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