All That Remains

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.

Rating:
Summary: Read a good book lately?
Review: All that remains is a definite page turner. Dr.Kay Scarpetta seemed to bite off more then she can chew, in her small town of Richmond, Virginiah where she is top medical examiner. In a wirlwind of conspiracy, friendship and love; Scarpetta must find the truth to a string of murders; one involving a rich, influential woman's daughter. Young couples are being murdered and found dead months later, in a secluded area with no clues as to how they died. All of their vehicles found are found at rest areas, and all that remains with them is a jack of hearts. Can Scarpetta solve these murders, while juggling: Amy her journalist friend, Marino her best friend and partner, Lucy her niece growing up to quickly, and the brief return of Mark, her one true love.

Rating:
Summary: What's missing in all that remains?
Review: A female pathologist, dressed in white overalls and rubber boots and carrying a heavy bag, raises the tape and enters the crime scene. Who is she? Well, she is one of a species of investigators that has become enormously popular in recent years. Writer Patricia Cornwall has depicted her in a highly successful series, calling her Dr Kay Scarpetta. With training in forensic pathology herself, and a string of awards for her books, Miss Cornwall's achievements have elevated her to the top of the queue of authors waiting to be read by this reviewer.

I found much to admire, in this my first Patricia Cornwall book. Plotting and planning have been meticulously done. A disappointing ending - so often the ruination of a good crime novel - has been avoided. The narration is in clean, plain sentences. Cornwall has her forensic pathologist character, Dr Kay Scarpetta, lead the investigation into a series of killings, and her knowledge of the forensic pathology involved is highly impressive.

Reducing my admiration, however, are several deficiencies. I happen to like crime investigation novels that mix some charm, warmth, caprice or eccentricity into the investigative proceedings. Cornwall keeps all these additives locked away in her cupboard. Dr Kay Scarpetta's life is a distinctly feminist, answering machine, laboratory gowned and masked one, at least in this book. Am I looking in the wrong place if I expect wit, warmth, vibrant male-female interaction or spruce dialogue as I follow a forensic pathologist investigating serial killings? As if she were aware of the need for these "cozy" qualities, Patricia Cornwall introduced a niece for Dr Kay Scarpetta in her first book which I am now reading, allowing something like maternalism to soften the otherwise strong feminist atmosphere that pervades "All That Remains".

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: I picked up this book without knowing the order that the Scarpetta series had been written in. Cornwell does a good job of filling in back story unobtrusively so I don't think it is problem to start randomly, however, if I had had the choice I would have started with the first book. Her writing is slower paced than the average mystery/thriller and my own preference would have been to cut out some of the description but I keep turning page after page so I won't say I was ever bored.

This is definitely a series written with a woman in mind as it's target audience, however, it was a compliment by Steven King, in his nonfiction book on writing, that gave me the impetus to try a Cornwell novel. She keeps the story moving and her dialogue and pace are entertaining if not just a bit overdone. I've only read one of Grafton's alphabet series and in comparison, I'd say that Cornwell goes way deeper into description, dialogue, and characterization but that they'd both appeal to the same kind of reader.

One of the things I think about when reading this kind of best selling popular novel is whether or not it would make a good film. I don't believe that this book would translate well into film, too much of it is filler, description's of peoples clothes, food, medical equipment and the like. There is action, but I never felt much danger to the main characters and the way that the killer is eventually caught smacked me as being way to coincidental, as if there really wasn't a clever enough of a way to catch him.

I have two other complaints, one minor and one more of a problem. The minor one was the simple problem of an echo, an unusual word she used twice, once to describe trees being taken over by a parasitic growth and once to describe buildings taking over the country side. The other issue was something that happens in the beginning of the book, a search dog jumps back from a car seat in obvious fright. It was a big foreshadowing event, I thought, but was dealt with in the end with a couple of lines in a small paragraph. Both anticlimactic and unbelievable, however I will be the first to admit I am a bit picky.

I would recommend this work to any that like mystery thrillers, but would suggest getting the first book and starting there.

I am also torn when it comes to rating. It is probably better than average in it's field, however I don't believe it's a strong 4 or a 5, but being as 3 stars just means average, I'll give it a 4.

Rating:
Summary: Not particularly enjoyable
Review: This is my first book from Patrica Cornwell. I would have say that this book is a must-read, if not for the following points; Firstly, the book have a very strong feminist tone. Secondly, one part I simply can't understand is how Pete Morino, the detective, actually discuss the updates of an on-going investigation in the presence of Abby, who is going to write a book about the case. Abby has absolutely no business in this case, professionally. Lastly, the biggest spoiler. Anyone who love forensic science fiction should just stay away from this book. Dr. Scarpetta, who is suppose to be a chief medical examiner, actually spend most of her time doing investigative work. She was hardly in her working place. Not to spoil the fun, i will only let you know that in this book, the murderer was capture through pure luck and a little of investigative work. Forensic science play no part in it.

It is such a waste when this book can be really enjoyable. I wish that Scarpetta is a police detective rather than a medical examiner. Just think, how often does medical examiners go out and interview eyewitness?? Readers should also ignore the feminist tone of this book which can be quite irritating at some points. All men seems to be either stupid, evil, selfish, untidy or all of the above while the women are strong, tidy, clever.

So my conlcusion is, I may read her other books if i can get it from the library but i don't think it's worth my money to buy it. As a reminder, all forensic science fans should stay away from this book!

Rating:
Summary: More good Scarpetta
Review: No doubt here that Kay Scarpetta fans will enjoy this book. Patricia Cornwell constructs an enjoyable story here that will keep you turning the pages.

Rating:
Summary: Awful, pointless, disappointing first experience...
Review: This is the first book I've read by Patricia Cornwell. It will also be my last. I am absolutely baffled by the hundreds of positive reviews here on Amazon. This book was one of the worst I have ever read.

First, it was so long and drawn out. By the time you get to the end, you're on the edge of your seat waiting for that knock 'em dead moment when the killer is revealed and all of the clues are explained. Instead, you get a boring, predictable, disappointing ending that goes nowhere. It was like Cornwell just gave up on the story. There were so many characters who could have been the killer - their erratic behavior explained and an interesting ending provided. No such luck.

Also, Kay's lack of closure with Mark irritated me. There is no ending to their story. Just disappointing overall.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good, Very Solid
Review: This my favorite Patrica Cornwell book that deals with her charecter Dr. Kay Scarpetta. There is some guy out there killing young couples in the Virginia area. The press seemingly always without imagination in these types of books has started to call him "The Couple Killer".

With mounting political preasure Scarpetta has to do what she is good at...crack the case.

Some people give this serise a hard time because Scarpetta spends most of her time doing the actual field investigations not really any forenscis work. I was fine with that and I respect the fact that authors couldn't sell many books if they just had the main charecter working in a lab all day.

What annoyed me was Abby's charecter never in my entire life have I actually been praying for the bad guy to kill one of the charecters. Did she always whine so much?

All the other members of the supporting cast I liked Morino, The old black guy even the couple killer. They all had depth, life and a sense of humor.

I had only read the first and one other in this serise. I plan to go get some more. I suggest you do the same.

Rating:
Summary: One of my absolute favorite Scarpettas
Review: A serial killer dubbed by the media as "The Couple Killer" is kidnapping young couples, murdering them and leaving their bodies to decompose where they aren't discovered until Hunting season begins. This is one of my favorite Scarpetta novels. Any positive adjective you can come up with, I used it when I finished this book. I've read this book several times, and it's just as good the third and fourth time as it was the first. Patricia Cornwell once again proves why she is crime fiction's highest selling, most accomplished writer.

Rating:
Summary: Gruesome Detail, but Still a Five Star Thriller
Review: Dr. Kay Scarpetta is on the trail of a serial killer that targets only couples and one of his latest victims comes from an important family, so the good guys really want this killer caught. The killer leaves a Jack of Hearts at each crime scene and steals the victims shoes and socks. And as usual, Kay has to have obstacles, like a persistent reporter who is writing a book about the crimes.

I read this book fast and did tend to skip over some of the gruesome descriptions, but I suppose they were necessary for us to really understand how awful the murders were. Still graphic details and all, this is a five star book and not to be missed by any of PCs fans.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene