Rating: 
Summary: Terrible
Review: I am midway through Black Notice, the first book I have read by P. Cornwell and I cannot believe she has been a best selling author for how long? Would somebody email me at ajohnson@vvi.net and let me know what is so wonderful about these books? I am not a dodo, but this stinks.. Sorry
Rating: 
Summary: Disagreement. Wonderful book
Review: i've read the latest reviews that are pretty bad. I'll answer at least the one saying that Marino's behavior in Europe is not close to reality. I live in France and frankly when you see how tourists behave, especially Americans, you start to wonder. I know americans are ablsotuely flawless manner wise in their own country but they definitely leave them at the airplane's gate! So his behavior does fit a certain profile! Then losing someone you love, you never ever feel the same, and for some people it takes years. so i wasn't surprised that after a year she was still out. Third, i think the story was well written and interesting enough. Plus, for once, you see a lot more about Richmond and it's plus to any of her books. and i haven't read a book so fast in ages : ). I do agree that Killing benton off was a very bad thing for me, and at one point in black notice i thought maybe it was the wrong guy they found and he would come back! and most people i know liked it, so i'm always surprised to see such bad reviews....
Rating:
Summary: Distressingly angry and anoying characters
Review: I bought the book despite the bad reviews I read here on Amazaon. I made a mistake. I thought, how bad could it be? The story line sounded too good to resist. But this book is populated with absolutely the most angry and anoying characters I have ever encountered. To pick just one example, Dr. Scarpetta's side-kick, Marino, is a manic, foul-mouthed police officer who always states the obvious for the benefit of readers who are just skimming. Other than Dr. Scarpetta, none of the other characters in this book had any appeal. I urge you to heed the warnings of the other readers!
Rating: 
Summary: Continued Disappointment
Review: A new book starring Kay Scarpetta is guaranteed to cause me to pull out my checkbook immediately. Unfortunately, like many of the other reviewers, I found Black Notice a disappointment for a number of reasons. Wesley Benton was a moderating influence in previous stories, and I miss him greatly in the current book. Kay Scarpetta seems less organized, more bitter, and her angst colors the entire story. Lucy has become a distraction, rather than a contributor to the storyline, perhaps she should have been the one killed off! I would also agree with one of the other reviews that the ending of this book was hurried, poorly crafted and undeserving of the hundreds of pages of buildup.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've always loved the Scarpetta books, but if this had been the first one I wouldn't have read more. It's not just that the personal interaction seems to take precedence over the actual crime, or that the mood is horribly dark. It's that none of the plots in this are very well developed. Although there's a lot of time spent on the plot against Kay and her friend Marino, the motivation behind the plot wasn't very believable, at least to me. The introduction of Kay's new boyfriend gave that part of the book the tone of a bodice-ripper starring Fabio. And even the crime itself was easily solved with tips from the Kay's French counterpart - almost a deus ex machina solution. I will try to avoid reading Cornwell's next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Black Notice A Predictable Read
Review: I, like many of you, am a voracious reader of all the Scarpetta books, and wasted no time purchasing and reading this latest novel, Black Notice. We are reminded immediately of Benton's demise, which was painful enough when it happened in Point of Origin. Why he was killed off, I'll never understand. I only hope, for the good of the continuing story line, that he does not miraculously reappear in the next novel. Sadly, Kay is left with no one to love, or help construct a mental profile of her abhorrent killer(s). This plot line returned to its familiar inciting force murder, followed by Kay using all of her unlimited resources to solve the case. The foreign intrigue, in the guise of a trip to France to assist the FBI which was supposed to keep us interested, just wasn't enough this time. Additionally, the reader was not allowed to get into the psyche of Loup-Garou, the number one suspect, to the same extent as that of Kay's other psychopaths. The insuing murders did not heighten the climax, but instead seemed more more like a secondary vehicle which allowed Kay to meet the young FBI agent. This reader wants to know if he will be the next Benton in Kay's life. Will we see the older woman, younger man theme take place in the rigid structured life of Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner of Richmond, VA? Lucy, Kay's brilliant, gender diverse niece, remains the flat character she has always been. It would be nice if Lucy found a significant other with some genuine character that would help her grow up. Considering the impressive credentials Cornwell has given to the Lucy character, shouldn't she be developing into someone more than just a beautiful, intelligent, elusive, gun-toting techie? Once again Lucy puts her life, as well as her lover's life in extreme jeopardy and worries good old Aunt Kay to death. How much longer can Auntie Kay endure Lucy's elusive affect? Marino, as usual, is in conflict with an "authority" figure(s). This poor man will either eat or smoke himself to death or get bored with playing second fiddle to Kay. After all of these books, neither has learned much from the other. Obviously, they will never be a love match, but how long will Marino be satisfied with his role as brotherly-protector? I guess Kay and company are getting a little too predictable. Don't get me wrong, I think Kay Scarpetta is a breath of fresh air as the female heroine in Cornwell's lady sleuth yarns, but I hope to see Kay get back to the job of being the super medical examiner/lawyer/investigator extrodinaire in which unraveling the crime is the thing. A grisly millennium crime might be just the thing for Kay Scarpetta. It could start on New Year's Eve, 1999 in the middle of winter, as usual!
Rating:
Summary: Author going downhill slowly
Review: I have read all her books and like many serial authors,Cornwell seems to feel she must include either devient sex or outrageous language.This book doesen't come close to the way people act.Three examples come to mind:the secretary suffering the loss of a husband but unable to carry on after the loss of a shopkeeper,Marino's absolute stupidity in Europe and Kay's mourning over her loss for a year.Her whole department suffers because she is in never-never land.It is too bad that she doesen't have some intellegent everyday chacters because her topic,a female medical examener, is wonderful.This will be the last Patricia Cornwell I will read
Rating:
Summary: Cornwell back in top form
Review: This book and its predecessor Point of Origin were so much better than Cornwell's other recent titles. I loved the new romantic interest Talley, the Benton Wesley romance was really going nowhere fast. Hope the next one is even better.
Rating:
Summary: Is anyone else getting sick of Kay?
Review: You know...I really love the story lines in all the Kay Scarpetta books. I think the suspense is great, the cases themselves exceptionally interesting in their "twisted-ness". Black Notice was no exception. That is why I continue to read Patricia Cornwell's books. But, and this is a big BUT, I'm am so tired of everyone always being in a bad mood. I can handle Pete Marino's character and his temperament. He's almost funny. Kay, however, is an unbelievable drag. It's bad enough that we have to put up with her SUPERIORITY over everyone (not just men)...constantly feeling the need to prove her level of authority, as if everyone need bow down to her because she is the CHEIF Medical Examiner (who cares?)...but she is also the most negative recurring character I've ever encountered. She never has anything pleasant to say, is always in a bad mood, never has a good day, and is just a big nagging crab in general. Her niece Lucy is just as hard to take. The only gentle and pleasant character (Wesley Benton) is now dead...which I think is very unfortunate for the series. Don't get me wrong...I am a fan of Patricia Cornwell's books. I just wish the large chip on Kay's shoulder would go away. It would really help the tone of this series.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining...
Review: I've read about 3 or 4 books, including "Black Notice" recently. I'm quite impressed however, everytime I read her books, why is it that Lucy is always some kind of a troubled child. I agree with one of the readers, she's a spoiled brat... Plus I've noticed that to make the story long, there's always the personal problem involved... Oh well, this is only a book but I hope on your next project, it will focus more to the subject of the book, a little bit about her life is okay...
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