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Summary: Enjoyable Fun Reading... Educational Too!
Review: I really have enjoyed the Kay Scarpetta series' (Postmortem, Body of Evidence, All That Remains, Cruel & Unusual, The Body Farm, From Potter's Field, Cause of Death, Unnatural Exposure, Point of Origin, Black Notice, The Last Precinct). I have read them all except The Last Precinct which I expect to begin very soon. I recommend you read them all for pure pleasure. They are an absolute delight to read. I also recommend these books to you (as well as to my clients) because they are a great way to see how vibration and reflection works with fictional characters while you are learning how your own vibration and subsequent reflections occur Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: EXHILIRATING!
Review: I really enjoyed how each character was pulled into this story. I was so shocked when the reporter got killed. I like to read Cornwell books because you never know what will happen next. Highly recommend.
Rating: 
Summary: The lustre begins to wear off...
Review: "Postmortem" and "Body of Evidence" were good books. "All That Remains" is not. It sets the pattern for the remainder of her work to date (Jan 2001): flimsy plots, poor/non-existent characterisation, awful dialogue and plain bad writing. The first two Scarpetta books showed signs of planning, thought, research and effort. None has since. This is dashed-off tosh, written too quickly with an eye on the bank balance and not on the story. Holes abound and description is poor. The pacing is usually glacial but then, just when it matters, too quick. It is not plausible as a thriller or mystery as the culprit is obvious from the get-go. Skip this and pick up Michael Connelly or John Connolly.
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Summary: An overrated author
Review: I have just finished reading this book. I kept turning pages, and I would have been reluctant to stop. But I have to ask myself, Why? Cornwell's writing is painfully lame. She strings sentence fragments together with commas, maybe because she thinks that gives her writing "pace". Try this for example: "I drew upon a break in the trees, the river below glimmering like tarnished copper, muddy from recent rains." Who's muddy? The river, the copper, or Scarpetta? Did she "draw upon" that break as on a bank account, or on a cigarette? Or a wall? This is muddy writing without a glimmer of craft, and I can't fathom the mentality of a writer of reputation putting it into print. Her characters all sound the same except for the Columbo-esque figure of Marino, who sounds like Columbo. And BTW, a detective named Marino helps Scarpetta track down a killer named "Steven Spurrier"? Who's next, Fran Tarkenton? The book's title cutely combines the image of a body reduced to a skeleton, with the Holmesian dictum that, when everything impossible has been eliminated, "all that remains" must be the truth; but none of Cornwell's brain cells were wasted on providing plausible alternatives to a killer who was the prime suspect as soon as he was introduced, and who when caught was promptly killed. Duh. IMHO, Patricia Cornwell is a grossly overrated author who keeps our attention because we hope she'll give more grisly details about autopsies. Reading her is akin to rubbernecking a crash on the interstate, and about as enlightening.
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Summary: Gripping and wonderful novel
Review: Being a Virginia native, I deeply enjoy Patricia Cornwell's excellent novels. This particular one holds a great deal of appeal to me. Reason being is that the events Cornwell speaks of took place at a rest stop near my home. Having a knowledge of the setting, I settled in, for I knew I had a great read ahead of me. ALL THAT REMAINS is a wonderfully crafted and suspenseful novel. Each character is beautifully written, and adds a unique touch to the plot. Anyone who enjoys great works of suspense will want to read this novel. For it is a true masterpiece. I recommend this book to you if you are a Virginian, or even if you are not. This truly fine display of Cornwell's talents will not leave you disappointed. Pick up ALL THAT REMAINS today!
Rating: 
Summary: She does it so... kindly.
Review: Like all Cornwell's Scarpetta books, this is a little cracker. Well worth the admission price. The story is, as ever, complex. There are twists and turns in Scarpetta's personal and professional life which leave the reader wondering just how strong she has to be... then the character herself breaks down in tears to let you know that even the toughest of Chief Medical Examiners has a beart. Mind you, as these books are written in the first person, Scarpetta never fails to sieze an opportunity that she "kindly" does something. No sooner done than said, eh old girl? A picky thing, but it does irritate me. Nonetheless, I have every Scarpetta book. And I've read them all more than once. Patricia Cornwell is a stylish writer, her heroine is stylish, and by god she wields a Stryker saw superbly. If you like whodunnits, you'll love Scarpetta. But don't read "Southern Cross". It's really, really awful.
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Summary: Another great Scarpetta Novel
Review: Cornwell's journey into the life of Kay Scarpetta as she investigates the murders of young couples is one of her best. With Lucy and Marino the journey can be heart stopping at times. You'll find it hard to put the book down.
Rating: 
Summary: Great story....bad ending
Review: I am a new Cornwell fan who began reading her books at the beginning of the summer, and when I picked up All That Remains a week ago, I was all set for another great, suspenseful story to follow up its prequel, Body of Evidence. However, I got the exact opposite of what I hoped for. The beginning and middle chapters are excellent--as usual, Cornwell hooks you and gradually reels you in until you can do nothing but continue to sit and turn the pages. However, despite all the plot twists, excitement, and usual pleasures of Cornwell's books, the ending was a let down.... Furthermore, although the addition of the political power the mother of one of the victims holds is a great idea for a conflict, politics often overtake the story in some parts, making it appear that Cornwell is attempting to write two books at once. Despite the fact that I did enjoy reading most of it, All That Remains is not worthy of my recommendation. For a truly great Scarpetta mystery, try Body of Evidence or Postmortem.
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Summary: One of the Better Scarpetta Novels
Review: "All that Remains", chronicles M.E. Kay Scarpetta and Detective Pete Morino as they hunt to stop a murderer who hunts young couples. They are hampered by the fact that the bodies are only ever found months after the crime, making evidence scarce, and by the high-power mother of a young girl beleived to be the killer's latest victim whose hysteria threatens to ruin the case, and Scarpetta's career. The plot is a masterful blend of forensic science and Christie-quality deduction. This was an absolute pleasure to read. "All that Remains" isn't bogged down with the Scarpetta preoccupation with her niece's social life which ruins later books nor is she coming apart at the seams emotionally (ummm..."Black Notice" anyone?) Cornwell's focus on the case makes for a seamless read that trully is fine thriller fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A Damn Good Book.
Review: This is the first Patricia Cornwell book I've read and I must say it was great. Her writing style is so genuine it makes you believe what you're reading. The story is full of suspense and suprises. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery will like this book.
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