Rating: 
Summary: PATRICIA CORNWELL HEED YOUR READERS!
Review: I have scrolled through the various reviews here, as well as having read this novel myself and reviewed it for a couple of print publications recently. At first, I felt badly about giving Ms. Cornwell a negative review; she's one of my favorite writers, after all, and it felt like betraying a friend. But, having read the reviews here on Amazon.com, I don't feel so badly about my negative assessments now because I realize I'm not the only one with severe misgivings concerning "Black Notice". Ms. Cornwell, we LOVE Kay .... you are a wonderful writer and you've made us feel that way about her and Pete and Benton Wesley. That's why we find it so hard to believe how cardboard and one-dimensional they have ALL become. I hardly think I'd like Scarpetta were I to meet her in real life. And Lucy? That child needs to be slapped upside the head - it's high time a girl her age (and working for the ATF no less) grew up and started acting like an adult, not a whiny, petulant brat. Poor Pete - you may as well kill him off now, because with each book I feel him inching closer and closer to a heart attack or a stroke or worse. As for Scarpetta ... why is the world against her (particuarly all the serial killers in it?) Is there some literary rule that says KAY MUST NEVER EVER BE HAPPY? My God, Lucy's new girlfriend, Jo, better get out quick; otherwise she'll wind up just as jaded, one-sided and BORING as the other characters in the series. Though I found the novel's pace break-neck as usual and your forensic descriptions first-rate as always, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read your reviews - not from critics necessarily but from US ... your readers and (for the time being) loyal fans. Believe me, much more of this and I fear our ranks will reduce quite quickly. Good luck to you - I hope for better next time.
Rating: 
Summary: All of Patrica's books of Kay Scarpetta are wonderful
Review: I have been an avid romance novel reader for many years, but have been introduced to Patricia Cornwells books and loved them. I have read all (10)of her Scarpetta books in about 2 1/2 weeks. Can't wait for her next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Black Notice is a fair warning...avoid this unexciting book
Review: I have read most of the Scarpetta novels. I think this is the last. The author has lost her focus and this book was simply boring. Nothing exciting happened and the end was a complete contrived bust. It will take a big sell to get me into another one.
Rating: 
Summary: O.K. as a Weekend Read
Review: After enduring all of the author's previous Scarpetta series, I wasn't exactly expecting a diversion from her generally presented style. All of the usual cast show up, together with the requisite overbearing emotional baggage that each simply has to bear novel upon novel. Scarpetta is at her most emotional and cynical this trip around and should be either institutionalised or sent on a really long vacation. Marino continues to morph slowly but surely into Fred Flinstone at every turn, and Lucy, well - another book, another girlfriend, another job crisis.Having said all that, it's clearly not Colin Dexter, but then again, I don't think the author ever intended it to be. The strength of the book is pace, one which should keep you reading (regardless of what you may think of the plot), the author's comprehensive technical knowledge and, remarkably, the price. All in all, not that bad a value for the money.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant-AGAIN!
Review: The critics are out in full ready to cut both Scarpetta and Cornwell to pieces-probably envy at her unparralelled success and talent! Despite a continuous series Cornwell has managed to keep her storylines riveting and her characters developing. A wounded Kay is faced with enemies from within (Benton's death) and without (the vicious Diana Bray). Like a wounded tigress though she fights back, and shows she still has what it takes. Lucy is finally exposed as the unstable and willful child she is. Marino is brought up as the voice of the people. Yes the encounter with Jay Talley was unfortunate but he was on hand to display the anger so many readers have felt. Wonderful working of readers emotions-only the truly ignorant would fail to see!The critics can spew bile-but the sales figures and the real fans show that like mature wine she just gets better and is far classier than Grisham or poor immitator Reichs! Give us more please!
Rating:
Summary: Better than "Point of Origin" -- but could it be worse?
Review: Okay, Scarpetta, get over yourself. Sure, your life is tough, but whose isn't? At least you're not as cranky as you were in your last go-around. And tell me, when did you stop being a simple medical examiner and start saving the world from every lunatic out there? You might want to speak to your supervisors, 'cause they're putting a helluva lot on your shoulders. And do me a favor, will you? Slap Lucy for me. I know it must be hard to be so smart and find out your ex-lover is a pyschopath, but gimme a break. And if being gay in the '90s were as tough as she makes it out to be, I and a whole lot of other people would've slit their wrists long ago. Doesn't anyone in your family find joy in anything? Maybe this new young stud of yours can knock some sense into you. I hope so, 'cause your adventures are becoming just a little too depressing for words.
Rating:
Summary: What Happen??
Review: I have read every one on Ms. Cornwell's books and I have to say that she has always kept me enthralled. Not this time! Other then the characters being the same I would have to say that this novel was written by someone else. It is possible that she needs to find another cast of characters.
Rating:
Summary: None of her characters have any redeaming qualities.
Review: Not up to her early novels, I found it very hard to get into.Her key characters have too many distracting problems that stray from the story line. Glad got the book from the local library, not worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: Cornwell's Well has run dry
Review: I've read all Cornwell's books - but, man, this is the last one. I thought the other series she does was boring, but Black Notice is not only poorly written it is as dull as a desk job. Maybe Cornwell could take her foot off the pedal for a couple of years - despite lost earnings (and judging from her alter ego Scarpetta, Cornwell now has Dollar Signs in her eyes). She is definitely in need of some new ideas. Harping on about Benton is pointless: Benton was boring. Giving the reader details about Lucy's sex life is pointless: Lucy is boring. The only two interesting characters, Scarpetta and Marino she has now reduced to caricatures. Cornwell wants the reader to see Scarpetta as a brilliant, incisive investigator - but she comes off as a paranoid harpy - a bit the way her creator comes off in interviews. And Scarpetta as dominatrix with her suddenly irresistible appeal to younger (but apparently gay) men? Give me a break.
Rating:
Summary: Get some new ideas
Review: I was very excited when the new Scarpetta novel was released. I was very disappointed to find it the worst parts of all the previous books. In Southern Cross the Richmond PD was just cleaned up. How did a Diane Bray character arrive? If you don't know what to do with a character-just kill it off. Why is every killer personally after Scarpetta? When is Lucy going to grow up and start treating people with something more than hostility? The icing on the cake of this book was the "experienced" Scarpetta romancing. In the 14 years these books have covered she has only dated two people. A thirty year old is just too young for her-making him forty would have made the romance more plausible. Marino was treated so badly it was ridiculous. I won't be looking forward to a next book as much.
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