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Summary: what is patricia smoking
Review: If this wasn't written by an author I respect I would have closed it and gone on. It seems she is dreaming and writing what she sees. Brother, get back to what you know
Rating: 
Summary: It Doesn't Work
Review: I've read most of Patricia Cornwell's books and find her a compelling writer. I started this book and couldn't finish it - and I seldom give up. Some professional reviewers have given positive reviews of this book. I can't help thinking that it's out of respect for the author.As mentioned, I've not been able to put down some of her other books. Despite that, I've often wished she could 'lighten up' a bit. The angst and paranoia of her lead characters becomes a bit wearying at times. (Surely there must be a ray of light somewhere in their lifes). However, this book is not the way to go. The humor sounds forced and false. It doesn't flow naturally nor does the plot hold the interest.
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Summary: Patsy Goes PoMo
Review: In a departure from her many forensic thriller books, Patricia Cornwell has written in 'Isle of Dogs' a silly satire of the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Tangier Island. She skewers the First Family and the state police among others. 'Dogs' is the third book that features Andy Brazil, now a state trooper, and Judy Hammer, now superintendent of the Virginia State Police. (They were also in 'Southern Cross' and 'The Hornet's Nest.') It took me several days to finish this overlong book, unlike most of Ms. Cornwell's previous page-turners. As a fan of her Dr. Kay Scarpetta series, except for 'The Last Precinct,' I tried to suspend judgment on 'Dogs' and be open-minded about its postmodern narrative. Even so, aside from some very comical dialogue, I couldn't find much to like about this novel. Dr. Scarpetta made a cameo appearance in two chapters, but she seemed robotic. Judy Hammer was among the least-developed characters in the book. The quasi-historical Internet postings by Trooper Truth a.k.a. Andy Brazil were informative at times but distracted from the narrative flow. Governor Crimm's 'submarine' seemed like a poor imitation of Ignatius J. Reilly's valve. 'Dogs' is somewhat like other postmodern satires I've read, but it never really comes together as a novel. Ms. Cornwell, count me as another disappointed fan who would like to see a revitalized Kay Scarpetta back on the scene.
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Summary: Couldn't get through it.....
Review: I never thought I would say this about a PC novel, but I couldn't get through it. I am a Scarpetta girl. I did like the first two in the other series, but the third book, Isle of the Dogs was just boring. I couldn't get through it. I thought the first two books in the Andy Brazil series were amusing. I liked the idea of Andy and Virginia West. Without Virginia in this latest novel, the novel was lacking the humor she adds. The book is lacking in itself. Sadly disappointing that I could not bear to get through it. That never happens to me.
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Summary: Don't Waste Your Time
Review: A jumble of thinly sketched characters (including a crab and a trout) speaking an obscure dialect in a convoluted pointless plot. I nearly put this book down many times, but plowed through to the end wondering if it could possibly get any worse. I wasn't disappointed. I kept thinking this must be some publisher's idea of a joke. You know, passing a book from author to author, each writing a chapter of "can you top this?" If you want to smile when you read, get some Hiaasen. If you want to be laughing out loud, get Evanovich. Cornwell would do better to can the comedy and stick to what she does best.
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Summary: What an experiment !
Review: I first took notice of Patricia Cornwell with Hornet's nest.
I have read them all. I could not set them down and the 'Last Presinct' was masterful. Alas, I set down Isle of Dogs many times .I only managed to get it finished on holidays as I had nothing left to read. Please Patricia, take a good holiday, and get back Kay Scarpetta to her former glory. We, your loyal fans deserve better.
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Summary: Tough selling postmodern lit to die-hard Scarpetta fans...
Review: If ever there was a reason for an author to use a pseudonym, this book is it! While her earlier Hammer/Brazil books were different from Scarpetta, they were accessible to fans. Somewhere there is a readership for this kitschy blend. Postmodern literature, the "no-rules genre", the gritty parody of contemporary social commentary and fanciful historical invention, sells widely internationally. How easy it would have been to publish under another name and then let it be known that this was another face of a well-known author. It would have seemed less a betrayal to her fans.
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Summary: What a mess !
Review: I've enjoyed the first two books in the series featuring Virginia Hammer but what on earth happened to this one??Was this churned out because of a book deadline? Nothing made sense and the focus on the governor's digestive system -while mildly amusing at first-became downright gross. This book had a few elements of what could have been an amusing and interesting book but I hope that next time the author gives Virginia and Andy something better to do.
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Summary: What was she thinking?
Review: I am a huge Cornwell fan. I have read every book that has Kay Scarpetta in it. From Postmortem which had me walking around my house making sure that my windows and doors were locked. I can never wait for a new Patricia Cornwell book to come out. I got this book as a present and was so excited until I opened the book. Every attempt that she has made to write a book that doesn't have Dr. Scarpetta in them are terrible. I was getting my car fixed and sat at the dealership for 4 hours and couldn't even get through the first chapter. I thought maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read so I picked it up again, another day. Nope the book is just horrible. The charcaters are boring, the plot is boring, the whole thing is boring. Well I am guessing the whole thing is boring. I hope she goes back to Kay and Lucy and Pete I miss them. It didn't even deserve the 1 star that it made me rate it.
Rating:
Summary: Not Worth the Time or Effort to Read
Review: I kept thinking the writing was going to get better...it didn't. As a native Richmonder I always find it interesting to read about the places I know, but even that aspect couldn't keep me interesting. Not worth the paper used to print.
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