Rating: 
Summary: Another author meltdown
Review: I have not felt this disappointed with a book since I read Hannibel (Thomas Harris). Don't waste your money or your time on Blow Fly.
Rating:
Summary: Warning: Compass Needed to Navigate this Book
Review: This book should come with a warning label: Readers will need a compass and a global positioning device to find their way through this confused mish-mash of a plot. Returning readers to the Kay Scarpetta series might want to stack your previous books next to your chairs. You will need them to pick up old threads such as the death of Benton Wesley, the murders by the brothers Chandonne and the reasons why you should care.
New readers? Forget it. There is no way you will comprehend the twists and turns this book takes, all based on the return of old characters and grievances.
The title of the book suggests that the blow fly, or bluebottle fly, and its maggots somehow help in solving a central crime. While some information on this carrion insect is dangled at us, it helps nothing and solves nothing. The craft of forensic science, which has been one of the strengths of the Scarpetta series, is missing from this story.
And so, really, is Kay Scarpetta, herself. She's a shadow character -- adrift in a confused narrative. Gone are the flashes of wit and itelligence that delighted us in previous stories.
In a nutshell, a series of murders in Louisiana seem to be linked to a psychopath on death row in Texas -- Jean-Baptiste Chandonne. His evil twin, Jay Talley, is in Louisiana with his partner in crime -- Bev Kiffin. You had to read previous Scarpetta books to know who they are and why they are significant. Mysterious letters are sent to Scarpetta, Pete Marino -- her former sidekick in Virginia -- and to Lucy Farinelli, Scarpetta's gay niece. They seem to be coming from Chandonne on death row -- but are they?
Everyone suddenly jumps into motion and takes helicopters, rental cars and planes to Poland, Texas, Louisiana, New York and Washington. Get out your compasses and GPS's folks.
Patricia Cornwell may be to blame for this mess of a book. Or her editor or publisher may be to blame for rushing this unfocused and unfinished book to print. Gotta keep the money machine humming.
Shame on all of them. Good, young mystery writers would kill for the press run this book got. They deserve one. Cornwell doesn't. Blow fly? Gadfly -- if you want the truth.
Rating: 
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: It's ben a while since the last one came out. I had to go back and read the previous one before I tackeled this one. It was much better then I had hoped. I think Marino is still a great character. Lucy surprised me alot and she seems like she would be a great character in a spinoff. Scarpetta seemed edgier but is still the best main character around. I hope the next one is longer.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book
Review: Loved it! Much better than the last Scarpetta novel. I think that Patricia Cornwell did a great job. I have followed all of the Scarpetta novels and even though I loved them there were some that bordered on mediocrity. Glad to say that this one isn't one of them. I wish everyone would read the books prior to the reviews because some of them are just off the wall.
Rating:
Summary: FLIES RIGHT BY
Review: This is definitely one of PC's best! Her writing style, while vastly changed, is exceptional. I'm not sure if I like the style as well as her others - it is hard to get used to the 1st vs the 3rd person writing style; but the book itself is wonderful. PC has outdone herself in letting the readers see how far Kay has fallen yet there is still that spark that suggests she will become the strong Kay that was before. I think there is a human aspect to Kay this time as opposed to just the robotic perfect Kay Scarpetta presented to us in the past. Simply wonderful. Cannot wait for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Fly away from this one
Review: As many fellow readers who has followed Cornwell for a long time, I have to agree with most people here that I was very disappointed with this last offering. Cornwell's writing style and her characters used to make me race to the bookstore to get a copy and then equally race through the book and leave me 'hanging' for the next year to come around.
Between 1990 to 2000, Scarpetta used to grace our bookshelves every year with quality and after 3 years away, I thought she would come back with a bang....more like a party popper that failed to pop. It felt like I was being robbed both in a monetary and literary sense with this book. Firstly you will/would have noticed the writing is in third person, which I didn't like...I only managed 2 chapters of this book and then put it down and didn't pick it up for another few days so I could finish off another book I was reading.
Cornwell's books used to be full of forensic details, depth and it had a PLOT, we would see the world through Kay's eyes but not with this book. She has turned into a self willowing character who now shacks up with a dog! With only a few mentions of her scattered throughout. Cornwell should either retire the Scarpetta series or spend more time on writing and ensuring there is quality with her work instead of spreading her self too thin with other projects. With over 400 pages, it dribbled on and on with a few pages at the end which made me question, Why?! (wont give away the ending), so if your a die hard fan, have a browse through a borrowed copy or if your new to her writings, please take time to read her early works, which would show you why we are all fans of her today.
Although after this offering, I would have to say she has to really make up for it in the next book for me to even consider buying in Hardcopy.
Rating: 
Summary: Scarpetta in the 3rd person
Review: I have read all the Scarpetta novels and have been addicted. When I saw another one coming, I pre-ordered. I just finished it - it was interesting and written differently than Cornwell's other books. Kay was in the third person and was somewhat of a victim, trying to deal with what life had dealt her. I was longing for Kay to get back to her old self and I'm sure that will happen - I await the next book! Some new characters entered the scene and some favorite old ones, that had more of a role in the book than Kay. Cornwell leaves you hanging a bit - with a happy ending but with some things still unresolved. That left me a bit disappointed but I know there has to be more coming! I recommend this book to Scarpetta fans.
Rating:
Summary: The Right Direction
Review: I have read all of the Scarpetta books and was beginning to lose interest as Scarpetta became more and more depressed. This book serves to tie-up a lot of loose ends from the last couple of books and sets the stage for future stories of the strong-willed and brilliant Scarpetta so many enjoy reading about. Bravo Ms. Cornwell.
Rating:
Summary: Where is Kay?
Review: As a long time fan of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels, I was anxious, as many of Amazon's customers were, for the latest installment. Unfortunately, I was equally disappointed. I feel a bit sad that a character I have enjoyed for so many years was treated so shabbily by her creator, and thoroughly confused why Cornwell's editors and publisher would print such a poor effort. I find it utterly amazing that I fell asleep reading a Kay Scarpetta mystery! Cornwell appears to be transitioning the Scarpetta series away from the tough, female, forensic pathologist toward the various characters who have played supporting roles in past mysteries. Echoing the sentiments of many of the other reviewers, she is barely in the book at all! When she does appear, she is not the Kay we have comet to know. She is depressed, sullen, lethargic, and old (although, it appears that Cornwell has shaved a few years off of all of the characters ages, perhaps in an attempt to add longevity to the series.) Additionally, after having spent the last several years delving into the criminal psyche of Jack the Ripper, she apparently felt that she needed to explore EVERY single character's thoughts and motivations - even those who appeared for only a page or two. Wrong! Most mystery fans want fast paced action and suspense. The plot is the key element. I wish someone could tell me WHAT the plot was in this book? Cornwell also makes a mistake in dragging the Chandonne characters into this effort - the hairy, modern-day Werewolf, and his handsome brother. The characters stretched the bounds of believability the first time we met them. To carry the plot line further (even weaving them into past plot lines) demonstrates a lack of creativity on Cornwell's part. Perhaps the proliferation of CSI / NCSI television shows have stolen all the good forensic criminology plot lines. I hope not. I would like to see the return of Dr. Scarpetta in a vehicle that is worthy of the series. The book certainly isn't a good read for anyone who has never read this series, and an irritation for those of us who loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Blows
Review: The many reviewers here stating how awful the book is do a great job in telling you the many things wrong with this book, so let me focus on the things that bothered me the most. 1) Cornwell goes in a million directions, each time delivering elaborate and dramatic details although almost none of it is meaningful to the plot. First we're led to think there's some reason for all Lucy's 007 cloak and dagger maneuverings in Poland, and with blow flies. On the contrary, Lucy's just going mad and Cornwell apparently just liked the sound of "Blow Fly" for a title. Lucy's baton (and NEVER has a baton received such attention)gets forgotten behind at the murder scene! So she acts like a prostitute! Flings herself at a drunken guest! Retrieves it! Sneaks back to the car and waiting partner! Decides the partner turns her on! Attacks him, sexually, although when *he* tried that with her, Lucy gave him a bloody lip and broken nose. And isn't she gay, anyway? Then there's mind-numbing telecommunications details that seem to be going somewhere but end up not being worth the trouble. Then Lucy tells Marino -- while in the air in a helicopter no less -- she regrets to inform him his son is dead, and well, see, she killed him. UNBELIEVABLY, Marino, says, yeah, the kid was trash. 2) Lucy, clearly, is mad, as in stark raving. She's no longer an agent of any kind but she's committed cold-blooded murder based on the flimsiest of rumors, or maybe it was a note or something. I want this crazy witch thrown in jail for life, and I mean it. These characters that used to be moral beacons are now crazy -- Kay included, judging from her reaction to Lucy's news. Oh, well, he needed to die. NEEDED TO DIE? Are we off our meds or what? 3) Cornwell used to never glorify the killer by giving his point of view. She sure has changed THAT policy. The twins -- Talley and hairball, both of whom I'm good and sick of -- are far more developed here, and have far more page space, than our beloved Kay, who makes about 4 cameo appearances, really. This is NOT a Kay Scarpetta book, don't kid yourself. 4) This huge scene (or maybe it just seemed long -- the book has tangents to spare) between Marino and he-who-gets-resurrected are weird and offer up yet another character who begs you to question his sanity. I do not believe that ANY character in witness protection, especially one who had officially been retired, would be allowed to reappear after 6 years and run an operation with the full support and backing of the Justice Dept. Even if the sanctimonious Senator Lord IS a buddy. 5) And I am SICK of hearing about the babe-alicious Kay Scarpetta. Suddenly, our attractive but serious doctor has become a U of Miami cheerleader, and everyone wants her. Even as she approaches fifty, there are repeated conversations about her as if she's Angelina Jolie. If you needed further proof that Kay Scarpetta, as we knew and loved her, is gone, this is it -- her creator has lost touch with her. And given that, I honestly don't know if there's hope for this series.
|
