Rating: 
Summary: She almost got it right
Review: Well, there is no chance that Patricia Cornwell will be competing with Carl Hiaasen in the genre of quirky tales and offbeat characters, as the publisher claims on the book jacket, but surprisingly she did manage to hit some high moments in this rather messy and ill-conceived book. The idea as originally conceived, that an inbred and isolated community of Chesapeake Bay islanders would secede from the state of Virginia in a dispute over government interference in their lives, has excellent possibilities. Unfortunately, Ms. Cornwell never tied all the loose threads of her narrative together very well, leaving huge gaps where the logic of what was happening got lost. Also lost was the usefulness of certain characters which could have been central to either this story or, better still, an entirely different book, specifically the psychotic serial slasher "Unique". More than a few readers will probably be irritated by the "backwoods" portrayal of the islanders as too much like the Beverly Hillbillies instead of the descendents of pirate outcasts who find themselves out of place and out of time. There is no problem with having talking crabs and trout, and a Boston Bull Terrier who communicate with each other or give instructions to human characters, IF you carry that through the whole story, and Cornwell did not, which makes it seem like gratuitous fantasy rather than a plot device (i.e., why didn't the "seeing-eye pony" also talk?) The worst idea she had in this book was to use characters who had already been introduced in other novels as SERIOUS characters, such as Judy Hammer, Andy, and especially her claim-to-fame Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Scarpetta's lines in this book do not sound like the crime-solving coroner of before, she seems like she is sleepwalking through this story instead.Novels which have outrageous flights of logic and surreal characters who proceed entirely within their own personal universe CAN work, and work very well. Hiassen does it well, in my opinion Stewart Woods does not, and Elmore Leonard is a master at it. As another reference I recommend Richard Brautigan's THE HAWKLINE MONSTER for an exceptional example of this genre. Can Patricia Cornwell do it? I don't know, probably not. Since my family has been in Richmond, Virginia, since pre-Civil War days, as well as in costal North Carolina, I am always delighted with the very accurate and affectionate descriptions that Cornwell gives of the area. My sister's wedding reception was at the Country Club of Virginia, and everything Cornwell says about it is true. By now I suppose the real governor of Virginia is ready to run her out of town, though. The Anti Bellum South, and Richmond in particular, is very rich ground for an author with a GENUINE talent for satire and creative characters. Unfortunately, as a reader I kept feeling like a teacher examining a not-so-great effort by a budding writer. I wanted to tell her "Take this back and clean it up; it's not good enough for publication the way you have submitted it. You have some very good ideas and I can see your technical skills are mastered, but you got mixed up when you changed from what you already do best. Figure out who you are and if you really want to stick your neck out like this."
Rating: 
Summary: A total waste of time
Review: This might not be the worst book ever written, but its in the top ten. The attempt at comedy just doesn't work. The ending appears to be an aftertought. I always try and finish every book I start. In this case, I regretted that decision.
Rating:
Summary: Patricia Cornwell goes to the dogs
Review: What might have possessed Patricia Cornwell to demean herself and her readers with this book? The attempted mixture of satire, humor and crime simply doesn't work. I bought this Isle of Dogs eagerly anticipating a great mystery story, hoping for another Scarpetta tour de force, and instead found nothing that remotely resembled her past books. A passing reference to Medical Examiner Scarpetta was the best I could find. And her attempts at satirical humor? Give me a break! Instead of searching the twisted minds of her criminals, now Cornwell tells us instead of the content of the minds of blue crabs as they attempt to escape from a crab pot. All in all, a waste of time and money. I shall find it very difficult to ever trust another Cornwell book. Please, someone, tell me that she will never do this again.
Rating:
Summary: Worst book ever written? Perhaps
Review: I am (or rather, was) a huge fan of Patricia Cornwell. This book is garbage! I had to force myself to keep reading, but after 110 pages I gave up in disgust.
Rating: 
Summary: A pleasant surprise from a favorite author
Review: Patrica Cornwell writes very well, and the forensic details and law enforcement trivia add a great deal to her usual books about Kay Scarpetta. I've read them all. But they are a *tad* on the dark side. I was pleased to discover that she can also write such a delightful book as Isle of DoGs, and I hope she'll write more along this vein. The characters are fun, the plot twists keep coming, and the dialog is fresh and interesting. You won't be able to put it down. My only objection was the plot point provided by a dog giving advice to her kidnapper. Talking crabs and trout are a pleasant conceit (what they say to each other is hilarious) but it's irritating when the story is affected by a clearly unbelievable piece of business. But it didn't seriously affect the outcome, so the bottom line is, this is a fun book with a plot worthy of Hiassen, but with more believable characters (the humans, at least).
Rating:
Summary: Don't Bother
Review: Ms. Cornwall's first works were clever page turners. Over the years she has replaced intrigue intrigue with horrific, brutal and grotesque crimes which are of little interest. Isle of Dogs was a rambling and disjointed piece. The introduction of historical detail went nowhere. She could have taken the many threads introduced in this book and used them as the basis for several novels. Sadly, I have no incentive to ever purchase another one of her works.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time or Money
Review: I was an avid fan of Patricia Cornwell and especially loved her Dr. Scarpetta character. Isle of the Dogs was one of the worst books I've ever read. I was insulted and offended by the characters, their situations and reactions to each other. The writing was unbelievable and I kept thinking no one can be this stupid. The plot was predictable and you could see every event coming. None of the characters had any depth. I've given up on Patricia Cornwell and I'm off to find a new favorite author.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: I've read all of the books by Patricia Cornwell. She has been one of my most favorite authors. I have enjoyed all of her books up until this one. This is by far the worst book I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: I was robbed!
Review: That's the way I felt as I finally stopped trying to read this book - robbed. The money spent on the book was totally down the drain.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I read the reviews first
Review: I am a Patricia Cornwell fan. 2 years ago while visiting my mom I had finished reading the book I had with me, desperate for more reading material I dug into a bag of books passed on to her from friends... ALAS... I selected Point of Origin... from then on I was hooked! Patricia has a talent that was not evident in this latest effort... Talking fish and crabs playing dead???? If this had been the book in the sack of loaners, I would never have become the fan I am today. Needless to say, I will wait for the reviews from now on or frequent the public library rather than risk a purchase.....
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