Unnatural Exposure

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Summary: I refuse to buy another of her books!
Review: Am I the only one who's willing to say that the empress is buck naked? Though I've loved most of her previous Scarpetta novels -- absolutely NOT the last one which starts with the sunken body and ends unbelievably with terrorists from out of the blue -- I simply can't stand it any more. "Unnatural Exposure" had the weakest ending I've ever read in a major author's work. Hint: when I figured out who the evil-doer was, I had to go back quickly leafing through the book to remember who the heck this person was!!! I suppose that one person's "unexpected plot twist" is another's totally lame climax. If you love this ending, you'll love being left hanging about Lucy's new "dilemma" which is simply forgotten and unresolved. I was willing to put up with the "cribs" and "squirrels" once more, but this is it. Even though I'm a student of forensic science novels, I can't take Patricia any more. I think she needs to take a break and practice writing a novel with a reasonable ending again. Sigh...

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Summary: Loved it! I didn't want this story to end!
Review: I couldn't put this book down! I read it in 2 days, staying up till 1:15 am to finish it. The ending seemed to come a bit too fast, though. I liked the further development of Kay's relationships with Benton, Lucy & Marino - but what happened to Ring? Does he ever get his comeuppance or (more likely) some political- patronage-hack job somewhere where he can continue to torment Lucy and/or Kay? Now we have to wait another year to find out! Patricia, dump the "Hornet's Nest" thing & concentrate on Scarpetta - that's what you do best!!

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Summary: Save your money and time!
Review: Unnatural Exposure is over-exposure of Cornwell full of herself. It deserved a rejection slip

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Summary: Scarpetta Books--I can't get enough of them!!!!!!
Review: What I liked most about this book is that Scarpetta finally went to London to say goodbye to Mark. I only wonder if she will still pine for him now that she know the truth or if she will wish she hadn't spent all that money in his memory (see the previous Scarpetta book). I found that I liked Lucy more in this book. Cornwell only puts her half way up the super human-lesbian-genius-hard body pedistal this time. This book did make me think about the scary possibility that someone could get their hand on a super virus and release it on the population. Make me want to read Steven King's "The Stand" again

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Summary: Great plot twists, intriguing premise
Review: I was so excited that Dr. Kay was back on the job that I read this book in a weekend. The only incongruity I found, which I envy, is the fact that Dr. Kay lives in the special world of literature, where she exercises her option to remain in forty-something splendor, book after book after book. I hope the next about Dr. Kay gives up the secret of remaining forever young. Loyal readers deserve it! Thanks to Patricia Cornwell for continued entertainment. See you again when the next manic killer strikes

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Summary: Excellent read with an unexpected twist.
Review: I was pleasantly surprised that Scarpetta was brought back. She seemed to have a little more depth of character this time, experiencing some of the same fallacies as we do in real life. Cornwell added a little twist to the plot when she created a likeable serial killer. I think this book created more suspense, fear, and "wonder about your neighbors" than any of her previous titles. It was an excellent read with a disappointing end only because you didn't want it to be over! Great job!

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Summary: Good Scarpetta yarn keeps the series solid
Review: Having read some of the other reviews posted, I realize that bestselling authors all eventually become victims of their own success. People seem to elevate an author to an "Unnatural Status," so that anything she writes doesn't meet their expectations, based on a skewed memory of earlier work. I have read the entire Scarpetta series in the last year, and this book is a solid entry in the series. I for one do not think Postmortem was Cornwell's best book, for all the awards it won. It is my least favorite of the series. I suspect that regular Cornwell readers may look back at that book with nostalgia, but I suggest they reread it after all these years -- they may have more of an appreciation for this latest book. I certainly believe the books have gotten better and better. Hey, it is what it is. I picked it up on a Sunday afternoon, and couldn't put it down until I turned the last page, which means it was a darn-good read. The final test (which this book passed easily) was that I regretted having finished the book so quickly, as I would have to wait another year for the next Scarpetta story

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Summary: Scarpetta Latest Arrives DOA
Review: Okay, okay, okay. I know there are legions of Cornwell supporters who firmly believe that the Richmond writer is the next Agatha Christie. And as a "johnny-come-lately" to the Scarpetta phenom, maybe I was expecting too much from Ms. Cornwell and her doctor/lawyer/super-sleuth. However, having read all of the existing Scarpetta novels over the last year and a half, I can only believe that the author's attention to medical, legal and technological detail is very much getting in the way of her attention to plot, character and pacing. In this latest venture, Kay is once again contemplating her feelings towards Bentley (she does this every hundred pages or so, whenever she has a moment of free time). Once again, a dangerous psychopath has targeted Richmond (!) for a sick and twisted plot to see revenge for a past injustice --one which is hastily explained in the last ten pages of the novel. Once again, Kay Scarpetta has become the focus of the fiend's attention. (Doesn't this happen in every town? The M.E. is ALWAYS the focus of nutjobs, psychos and bully-cops, not to mention the local press!) Instead of a fast-paced whodunit filled with fresh, interesting characters, we get the same old Scarpetta who spends WAY too much time telling the reader how busy and tired she is. Sister, we'll all busy and tired. Stop whining and chase the badguys. No arguement that Cornwell researchs her books beautifully. Her descriptions of Richmond and the Richmond area are accurate and make me remember fondly the time I spent there a few years ago. And she knows her stuff when it comes to the material: If and when I want to grow a mutant strain of smallpox, I know just where to go. But a good book makes you care about the characters in the book you're reading, not about what they'll be doing in the next sequel. My suggestion is to shake things up, Patricia. Make us care about Kay and Marino and Lucy again. And please let Scarpetta go on vacation!!

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Summary: It's good to have Scarpetta back!
Review: I did enjoy this return to what Cornwell can do best. After the pathetic "Hornet's Nest" and some pretty lame Scarpetta novels, this book is a pleasant return to the forensic heroine. And it was refreshing not to have to listen to the painfully bad Marino dialogue. The storyline is much more focused than previous novels. The ending was abrupt, especially the acceptance of Mark's death. But, all in all, it was pretty good

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Summary: Like Godiva Chocolate....addicting and never quite enough
Review: Patricia Cornwall's books are like chocolate to me....totallyaddicting and I can never get enough. "Unnatural Exposure" is right upthere with Godiva Chocolate!