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Summary: In the best tradition of Cornwell, Scarpetta is great again!
Review: Scarpetta solves another great one. The mix of emotions of the three main players is great. It was good to read the human side to all three. Where will she go next?
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Summary: As Usual: Slick but Implausible
Review: BALCK NOTICE is an entertaining, intriguing, and colorful work. Yet, in the end, it's as hollow and disposable as almost all of Cornwell's books since POSTMORTEM, her phenomenal debut. After reading Ridley Pearson's disappointingly frugal THE FIRST VICTIM, I dreaded another mystery novel opening with the discovery of a corpse on the water. Luckily, Cornwell keeps things lively and moving -- as usual -- at breakneck speed. Actually, the first 100 pages or so are quite deft and concise, but Cornwell (again!) drags out tired plot gimmicks from past works such as an insider sabotaging her office and people from on-high looking to displace poor ol' Kay from her prestige position as Chief Medical Examiner. And (once again) Lucy comes off as nothing more than a grating inconvenience on the whole thing, starting out on one level and staying abrasive throughout; she's still the same stick-in-the-mud as before. Luckily, there's good ol' Pete Marino around to give this novel some class. He's a dandy creation (even more so than Scarpetta), and I couldn't possibly imagine this series without him. He gives it dignity, emotional gravity, qualities that Scarpetta (despite all her 'give-me-a-break' emotional whinings) fails to elicit. Bravo to Marino, once again. A faint round of applause for this passable book.
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Summary: Number 10 was WONDEFUL!
Review: I really liked this one. I was pleased to know that all had surivived the death on Benton. I am already ready for the next one. I want to know how Lucy handles all that had happened in Black Notice.
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Summary: What are you thinking?
Review: This is a horrible book and a waste of lifespan; yours and the author's. Do not waste your time. Go watch Mexican soap operas or something.
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Summary: Ms. Cornwell's Younger Man/Older Woman Obsession
Review: Ms. Cornwell's Younger Man/Older Woman obsession now rears its nasty head in this series as well. Perhaps it is supposed to be titillating, but it ends up being tedious and forced just as in her other novels: "I pulled Talley into the bedroom, and he was no match for me because I had experience and skills he knew nothing of. I controlled him. I dominated."If there were some explanation as to how Kay Scarpetta and Mr. Talley "fall in love" after having just known each other for hours -- and after just one romp in the hay Talley volunteers to get a job transfer so he can be near Scarpetta, so it must be pretty serious -- it would be more satisfying. But that sort of thing has never been Ms. Cornwell's strength. Probably her editors told her she had to create a new love interest, and so she whipped this one up in 100 words or less. It's clear that Ms. Cornwell plans that we will see much more of Jay Talley in the future: "His hazel eyes were so penetrating I felt violated by them, his dark good looks so striking I instantly knew his type, because men that beautiful are all alike." The prospect of seeing more of this cardboard thin, cartoon character is not a very appealing one, however.
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Summary: Cornwell hasn't produced a decent book since 1995.
Review: Dull, unimaginative, "been-there-done-that," crank 'em out drivel. I can't read another one.
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Summary: The best so far!
Review: I am an avid Patricia Cornwell reader and Black Notice is certainly her best book so far. It is well written and grabs the reader straight away. Certainly one not to be missed and re-read!
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Summary: Good but is this All that remains ?
Review: Scarpetta is back not with a vengeance but with a whimper. I got Black Notice today and just finished it. It is defintely better than Southern Cross bit does not approach the brillance of Post Morteum or her earlier works. The plot is weak and there are two divergent story lines that are not related at to each other. I was disappointed with the conclusion because it seemed very contrived, I think Cornwall has reached the end of the line with this character and the body of evidence in this book points that way. I had eagerly aniticipated this book but was left unsatisified.
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Summary: Another great Scarpetta novel!
Review: I was lucky enough to receive Black Notice a week early through the Mystery Guild book club and I ended up reading the book in one night. This another classic Cornwell; it keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through! I'll admit, it's not as shocking as Point of Origin was, but I enjoyed this one all the same. It was wonderful to see Kay dealing with some of her grief, *and* doing a little healing. Now if only Cornwell would concentrate a little more on Lucy! :)
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Summary: O! KAY!!!!!
Review: This is totally juicy. Am only halfway through, and have to force myself to put it down so as to stave off the end. Kay gets way more human here. I was afraid to splurge on the hard cover, but have read every other Scarpetta 2 times, having only discovered Cornwell in March. Cornwell sounds irate in this one. Maybe because everyone hated her hornet's nest stuff. Maybe she's mad she has to go back to Kay. (The thing is she doesn't have to write Kay. If she wants to widen her horizons, by all means,but don't write BADLY.) So far more marino and less lucy, and thats good. BLACK NOTICE is extremely satisfying.
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