Hornet's Nest

Rating:
Summary: unsuccessful experiment
Review: I am one of the many fans who purchased the hardcover edition of this novel on first sight, and wish I'd saved my money. While engaging enough for me to finish it, I was left disappointed. In reading this genre, I prefer that the underlying mystery be the central focus of each story, with some compelling characters providing the connecting thread between novels. Here, PC seems to be performing an experiment in establishing new characters: take a set of stereotyped, sexist, characters from a 30-year-old novel, reverse their genders, and let them bounce off each other for a while. The characters didn't work for me, and with the underlying mystery given a low priority, neither did this novel.

Rating:
Summary: An attempt at something different, with fair success
Review: It appears that Ms. Cornwell was trying to write more of a psychological novel than her previous mysteries. In doing so, she expanded to the points of view of many more characters, in a sense showing that what one sees and assumes is not always correct. She perhaps went too far when she included "the Almighty" in her characters! The regular characters were not developed enough, especially in regard to history. The murders seemed to take a back seat and were solved incidentally (and would not have been solved otherwise). This is such a radical change from her series about Kay Scarpetta that it feels disappointing. However, I did finish the book without too much difficulty. I applaud Ms. Cornwell for attempting a new approach, and wish her the best of luck in exploring what are clearly some of her own issues. Melissa Lenihan

Rating:
Summary: Disjointed, difficult to follow, a sad disappointment
Review: I have read her every book with great enjoyment. This was a total flop. I finally gave up after 100 pages. I'll think twice before paying for another hardcover book by Cornwell, unless others review it with positive ferver

Rating:
Summary: Hornet's Nest iLacks Sting
Review: As a Patricia Cornwell fan, I look forward to each new book. Although well written, "Hornet's Nest" falls short of my expectations again. Unlike her last novel which suffered from too much plot with Dr. Scarpatta single handedly defeating a group of domestic terrorists, Hornet's Nest suffers from not having enough plot. Actually, there is no plot at all, just a series of incidents. Ms. Cornwell's rlier works always taught me something about police work. "Hornet's Nest" really never goes anywhere or tells us anything. It seems to be a rehash of areas previously covered. It is as though she had unused bits and pieces of story lines for other novels and found a home for them in this book. I also am curious about the ending in which the newspaper journalist, Andy Brazil, kills the serial killer. Since Ms. Cornwell was once a journalist (in Richmond, I think), is she just having her character act out some hidden wish of hers to resolve a crime wave, a form of penal system envy. In fairness, the book is not that bad. Perhaps if it were written by someone else, I would have been more accepting. However, the price of producing quality work is an expectation that level will continue in the future

Rating:
Summary: I stood in line 3 hours to have Cornwell sign this...
Review: An avid fan of Cornwell's previous novels featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta, I jumped at the chance to pick up her latest novel and attend a book-signing. Three hours in line & several chapters into the book, I had serious doubts about this novel and my decision to attend my first-ever book-signing. The characters in Cornwell's latest novel failed to capture my interest. Unlike earlier novels with Kay Scarpetta , Lucy, et al, Hornet's Nest's characters are flat, lifeless and simple. Even the villian, "Pumpkinhead", was a big yawn. While I was open to Cornwell's desire to expand and explore other characters, I was dissapointed in her failure to develop these new characters sufficiently. I never came to care about Andy, Judy or Virginia. I became increasingly annoyed with that damn cat! But, like a devoted sports fan, I eagerly anticipate her next novel and will reserve final judgement until I'm convinced that "Hornet's Nest" wasn't just a fluke

Rating:
Summary: In the minority, I liked the book!
Review: I have to say that I bought the book from my book club despite the reviews and tho' it is not Kay Scarpetta, I liked it. It was different, but change never hurt anyone. I just wanted some to know it is not awful for everyone. Like someone else, I loved the cat

Rating:
Summary: Oh Man, I paid twenty bucks for this????
Review: I'm a Cornwell fan, and I feel I'm using the wrong tense. "was" might be more appropriate, after reading Hornet's Nest. Theories abound on the writing of this stinker: it's an old Cornwell unpub dredged up to meet a deadline: Cornwell didn't write it; Cornwell wrote it but Didn't write the Scarpetta books; ad nauseam. But the scariest theory for me is that Cornwell wrote it and thought it was Good! Second scariest theory: Cornwell suffered an attack of hubris, and felt anything she wrote would satisfy her adoring public. Wrong. Very wrong. This one is dreadful. Sorry I wasted my money. Leave the procedurals to McBain, who I now appreciate even more after reading an unsuccessful procedural. And finally, one last theory -- previous critic NTSH10(above) is really Patricia Cornwell

Rating:
Summary: Anyone want to buy a used book?
Review: What a letdown! I was browsing in the bookstore and saw the familiar PATRICIA CORNWELL title and grabbed the book, knowing it was just going to be one heck of a good read. I'm now on page 262, and wondering what I've gotten myself into! The plot. WHAT plot? The characters seem to be a feminist delight, but totally unreal. Although it might be a grand idea, the practicality of the Chief of Police, her two trusted deputies AND the District Attorney of a major southern city ALL being women seems more of a fantasy then a feminist! And why is it that all the male characters are losers? Where is my beloved Dr. Kay? Actually, I did learn something from the book, so my $18.19 plus 6% tax wasn't a total waste. I never knew about the origin of the Charlotte Hornets, and did wonder, from time to time, why their basketball team was the Hornets. Thanks to Patricia Cornwell for cluing me into that, but it wasn't worth putting up with Brazil!

Rating:
Summary: Readable, with humor, fantasy, and symbloism.
Review: Hornet's Nest demonstrates evolution of Cornwell's fiction. Kay Scarpetta, like other marytrs needs a long rest. Virginia West and Judy Hammer are composites of what many professional, past girlish readers fantasize for their own lifes. Opportunities to dump the millstones (Seth) and play with boytoys (Andy). Lot's of role reversals. The cat was a riot. Not intended as a police procedural, read McBain if you want narrow predictability. Bonnie Campbell

Rating:
Summary: Who really wrote this thing?
Review: I have four speculations about the origins of this book: 1) Cornwell is suffering from some malady that caused her to be unable to meet her deadline, so she had it ghostwritten, 2) It's really her first novel, written when she was a promising high-school senior, 3) She was tripping the whole time she was writing it and consequently put down every thought that fluttered through her mind without regard to plot, pacing, characterization, or good sense, or 4) She convinced herself she was writing an experimental novel--part wry comedy, part stream of consciousness (it's hard to keep track of just whose, since the point of view changes faster than Seth's hip measurement), part police procedural (I don't know--do police really proceed in this manner?). The book is certainly readable, occasionally fun, and bold in the sense that in it Cornwell breaks every rule her writing teacher tried to teach her