Rating: 
Summary: More of the same.
Review: This is just really more of the same..lots of extremely gruesome details from post mortems, and going over and rehashing old bits from past books featuring Dr.Kay Scarpetta and The Werewolf. It really got rather tedious towards the end, and as the book finished with The Werewolf and the two main baddies from this story, Jay Talley and Bev Kippen, alive and at large, the inference can only be that the author intends to drag out the story in more books..don't think I'll bother !
Rating: 
Summary: Kay humanized and dehumanized, past murders explained
Review: Being a long-time reader of Patricia Cornwell and especially Dr. Kay Scarpetta books, I was waiting with baited breath for this one, as I'm sure a lot of readers were. I was glad for the somewhat slow beginning, but one that shows Kay as a human being, rather than this ultra-perfect, untouchable medical investigator who never sleeps or celebrates any holidays. Murder doesn't respect holidays or human life. After Kay's lover's murder, she just threw herself into work. The Last Precinct gives Kay a beginning where she can cry -- yes, Dr. Scarpetta can actually cry! -- and look inward at her own suffering, instead of only other people's suffering. Murder continues in Kay's life, and she has to continue being a medical investigator, even while she is being investigated as a perpetrator of the very crimes she has to investigate. The surprise ending brings back Benton's murder and police deputy chief Diane Bray's murder, both from Cornwell's last Scarpetta book, Point of Origin. The ending puts the murders and other aspects of Kay's life in perspective, as Kay's professional life changes forever. A must read for those who have learned to love Kay Scarpetta from Cornwell's other books. The book is still a little slow in the reading, and would be a hard read for someone new to Scarpetta, although the end to the so-called Werewolf murders and a look inside Kay's life keeps those familiar with the series moving along in the book. I guessed correctly who was behind the murders about three-quarters of the way into the book, but I didn't make all the connections, and I'm not sure someone unfamiliar with this series would have been able to figure it out. I was a bit disappointed that I was able to guess the ending, but I still liked the book. Cornwell still remains my favorite crime novelist, and Kay my favorite protagonist!
Rating: 
Summary: A huge disappointment
Review: Although I am not a literary critic, I felt compelled to enter some thoughts after reading The Last Precinct. I too have read, with relish, every Kay Scarpetta novel Patricia Cornwell has written, and usually long for the next to appear. I could have waited longer for another version. My first distraction was that the novel was written in first person, present tense. It was very uncomfortable reading and I actually had to pull out all her other books to see if I had lost my perspective, but no, this appears to be her first attempt at that writing style. I hated it. Secondly, Cornwell is toying a bit too much for my comfort and enjoyment with the lesbianism theme. I just don't get it and did not like one of my favorite characters wrestling with her sexuality, albeit briefly. Then it just hung there. Finally, I just couldn't buy the entire plot. Come on - that anyone would suspect Kay Scarpetta of such a gruesome murder is ridiculous. The one point I should mention is that at least I did enjoy Marino, as usual, but a little more so in this novel. A last note. I'm just not sure I would read another Kay Scarpetta. I don't want to ruin her character in my own mind. For what it's worth.
Rating:
Summary: Getting Better, but not there yet
Review: Patricia Cornwell's first few books were great. I read each with great anticipation, to learn about Kay and Lucy and Benton and Marino. Then, her books started to get weird. They were angry and bitter. The story became unimportant. What became important was the interplay between Marino and Kay/Kay and Lucy and neither of these relationships was rational. In the Black Notice, the weirdness was taken to an extreme. I looked forward to the Last Precinct and for the first half of the book, I was not disappointed. The story of Kay's emotional catharsis was excellent and well written. I thought that we were on track to getting back to the story and getting rid of the anger. Well, the 2nd half of the book does not hold up to the promise of the first half. There were plenty of opportunities to make the 2nd half great, put Kay in a strong position for future books and take the story to a new level. Ms. Cornwell fails to achieve that. Too bad. I would certainly read this book if you are a Kay Scarpetta fan. Just dont expect the excellence of the first few novels.
Rating:
Summary: The seven degrees of Scarpetta
Review: This book is well paced and Cornwell brings back the suspense. I am an avid reader of Cornwell, or I guess I should say was. I only recently started reading her again. I was just bored with Cornwell's Scarpetta series after Black Notice, I mean a Werewolf!!!!, but this book is better, actually quite good. Of her last three novels this is the strongest and Trace the weakest, which is most regrettable sence it is her most recent. I do get tired of the seven degrees of Scarpetta, I mean is everyone she ever meets interconnected somehow, some of it is believeable, but much is just plain ridiculous. Having said that I still consider the Scarpetta series to be one of the best and encourage anyone who loves thrillers to read it from start to finish or at least to Point of Origin. If you are bored with Cornwell, try David Lindsey, now he IS the best.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked it
Review: I thought this was a well written tale. I enjoy reading all of Patricia Cornwell's work. If you are a fan, or a new reader of her stories you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Probably one of the best ones
Review: I need to stop reading these amazon reviews before I read the actual book. I was skeptical about this one. Especially with all of the medicore to poor reviews. I really liked this one. As a matter of fact, I think it is one of my favorites. I think Cornwell did an excellent job in the suspense department. I was riveted. It did take a while to get into this book. That is the only reason I rated this a 4.
I foresee a change in Scarpetta's life after this book. I think it is a good transition.
Nothing wrong with this one. I highly recommend...
Rating: 
Summary: Big let down
Review: I am glad that I had read Patricia Cornwell's mysteries from the first one on through, if I had begun with "The Last Precinct" I don't believe I would ever have picked up another Cornwell mystery. I am going to give her another try with Trace, looking forward to seeing some of her old style of writing -keeping my fingers crossed!
Rating:
Summary: The Last Precinct is Only the Beginning
Review: Endless law enforcement personnel are invading the home of Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, when THE LAST PRECINCT opens just a few short hours from where the previous novel ended. Dr. Scarpetta is back from the hospital, wearing a cast. She is valiantly trying to pack a suitcase, embarrassed by the presence of her friend and fellow investigator, Capt. Pete Marino. She is packing because the police have asked her to leave, an event that launches Kay on a journey unlike any she has ever experienced.
Eleventh in author Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series, THE LAST PRECINCT captured me immediately and never let up, thrilling me with 450 pages of sharp and gritty Cornwell style.
Without spilling the beans, readers will be drawn into these key plot elements: Kay is betrayed. Marino's vulnerability is shown. Lucy is hiding something. And Kay investigates Diane Bray's murder with Jaime Berger, a New York prosecuting attorney. But Berger thinks Kay might be the killer.
Guaranteed to keep you up all night and write these characters upon your heart forever.
Rating:
Summary: Frustrating!
Review: The story was filled with information, but never reached a resolution -- and this book should have brought a decisive conclusion for the questions that were brought up in Point of Origin and added to in Black Notice.
The story was engrossing, but the copious rehash of the same clues and similar ones used in Black Notice, and the gratituous torture murders simply made it long. The story is still not wrapped up. Why were the murder / tortures even included?
Whether the next book will resolve the crimes, criminals, and unearth significant details is the question. The serious problem is that I don't trust Patricia Cornwell to finish a story started in Point of Origin.
Because I hoped for the conclusion, I kept reading, and her style did cature me. So that gives the book a few stars.
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