Rating: 
Summary: Not typical Cornwell
Review: I picked this book up in an instant thinking it was like her others which I have read all of them -- this is nothing like her style and it jumps around so much I could hardly keep up with it - I couldn't even figure out a plot - Go back to Kay Scarpetta - they were enjoyable and you couldn't put them down - this one I'm having a hard time finishing.
Rating: 
Summary: Different expectations
Review: Since I'd never read anything else by Cornwell, I guess I had different expectations than the other reviewers I see here. I enjoyed the book -- actually chuckled out loud quite a few times. It certainly won't win the Pulizer, but I found it entertaining. I loved the characters and the serendipity.
Rating:
Summary: Isle of Dogs is a Dog
Review: I am an avid book-on-tape listener, and read a lot of hard cover books, as well. I love fiction, and have some favorite authors I seek when a new book comes out. Patricial Cornwell has been one of my favorites. I purchased the 4-cassette abridged version of "Isle of Dogs" looking forward to another Cornwell adventure. I am so grateful I have the abridged version, as I don't think I could have made it through even the first tape unabridged. I listened to the entire tape one, both sides, and could not justify wasting my time continuing. The plot (?), character development, names of characters, etc., etc., were so far beneath Patricia Cornwell, that I wonder if she is hospitalized and someone else has ghost-written for her. I have begun to recommend to my reading friends that they avoid this book, at all cost.
Rating:
Summary: A Major Disappointment
Review: I've read nearly everything written by Patricia Cornwell and look forward to each new book she puts out but this book was a tremendous disappointment and insult to my intelligence. I tried through the whole book to understand just what she was trying to accomplish with this work but decided that she missed by a mile in making dark humor and bashed just about every group mentioned. Back to Kay Scarpetta please!
Rating:
Summary: not even a chuckle
Review: I believe this was Cornwell's attempt at a black comedy, but I couldn't even muster a chuckle. It was horrible. I concur with previous reviews in that the plot wandered and when it got back "on track", the reader sure didn't know it. As an avid Cornwell fan prior to this read, I could never have imagined she was capable of writing such a thoroughly disappointing novel. She should stick with Scarpetta; that's why we all (used to?) read her anyway.
Rating:
Summary: So Bad I Had To Review It
Review: This book is a painful disappointment and a constant hardcover reminder of how I wasted my money. I'm going to stop reading it now so i don't waste my time. I just keep thinking the next chapter will get better and it still doesn't! I usually treat myself to Cornwell's "Scarpetta" novels but this one wasn't nearly the same calibre. One positive comment in Cornwell's favour is that the Tangier Island information was well researched but she should've published a factually based website if she wanted to get creative and share her knowledge rather than force all the loyal, long-time readers to suffer through this book. Trooper Truth, a law enforcement official who publishes "the truth" with behind the scenes essays on his website, was Cornwell's worst idea yet. They felt like a series of 'know-it-all' monologues crammed throughout the book. And ENOUGH about the helicopters already. I agree with the hundreds of other readers on Amazon.com; Isle of Dogs is not suitable for literary consumption. I wish I would've looked at these reviews before picking up her book off the shelf and buying it.
Rating:
Summary: What a long wait for a colossal disapointment
Review: I have read each of the Cornwell series and enjoyed every one until this one. I pre-ordered this book in March of 2001 and have been reading other writers works to occupy my time until this one came out and it took me over twice as long to read this one as most. This should have been penned under a different name so the readers would not associate it with her other works. I will not blindly pre-order another book until I hear that the next one is better. The 2 other books with Hammer & Brazil were not as exciting as Dr. Kay's but they were entertaining books. This book is just plain boring ! It wanders ! It is hard at first to even piece all the events together ! My copy is available for free if buyer will pay for shipping and handling ! I do not want it in my house !
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning Disappointment
Review: Readers of Patricia Cornwell have come to expect suspense and excitement, strong female characters, clarity of content, and creative manifestations of evil. Isle of Dogs offers nonsensical digressions, obscure plot lines and motivations, simpering idiots for characters--male and female, slapstick and ridiculous scenarios.
It might have made more sense for Ms. Cornwell to create a collection of creative essays based loosely on local history for entertainment purposes only. If her name wasn't on the cover, I would never have believed this was written by Patricia Cornwell.
Rating:
Summary: Wish I had my money and time back from this one!
Review: This was my first go at a Patricia Cornwell novel, and it will also be my last. Acting on a newspaper snipet about the plot, I decided to give it a whirl. It took everything I had to get through this unbearable read. What could have been an intelligent plot line was muddled by thin subplots, inplausible characters and painfully taxing dialogue. Nothing about this novel resonated with me at all, and from what I hear, I'm not alone.
Rating:
Summary: It's not worth reading for Free--Don't waste your time.
Review: I'm a huge Cornwell fan, and I can't believe she wrote this. It has absolutely no good points. Don't even check it out at the library, it's not even worth reading for free! I'm from Richmond, VA and am ashamed that this book was set here. Please do not waste your time reading the book cover. Crabs, fish and lobsters have dialogue in this book. Enough said.
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