Rating: 
Summary: Poor Cornwall
Review: I have read almost all of Cornwall's books and this one is, without a doubt, the worst one! There is no reason to the story, no suspense, no common sense thought process involved - just N/G!
I am certain I will not finish it and only wish I could get my money back!
Rating:
Summary: Save yourself for better things
Review: This book is beyond dreadful. It depends for what plot it has on improbable coincidences, impossible dialect, and the readers willingness to believe that no one in the state of Virginia has an IQ that rises above room temperature. It's a shame, because the Kay Scarpetta books are invariably entertaining. Don't buy it, don't borrow it from the library, don't waste your time reading it if someone gives it to you.
Rating:
Summary: Isle of the Dogs
Review: I have read all of Patricia Cornwell's books, and in my honest opinion this is the worst book that she has written. The plot was rambling and hard to understand, seemed it had no rhyme or reason. It was a hard read. I normally finish one of her good books (The Scarpetta Series) in one day, it took me two weeks to read this book, as I kept putting it down to read other books that held my interest. Being an avid reader, I can get through about any book, especially one written by one of my favorite authors, but this one just couldn't hold my interest. I hope tht Ms. Cornwell is not "burnt out" as so happens to authors who turn out books too fast. I am looking forward to her next book to see if she goes back to her "old" style.
Rating:
Summary: "Comic Romp"...more like a humorless trek
Review: I am not sure what I expected...maybe a plot, characters you cared about,a mystery to unravel, something like that. What I found was a silly, senseless waste of time. I always finish a book, if the author took the trouble to write it, a publisher believed it worthy of publishing, I believe I should read the entire thing before forming an opinion...I am considering changing my policy....this actually hurt to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Bring back Scarpetta and ditch Hammer/Brazil
Review: I am not fond of this series of Cornwell's books. Some haven't been too bad, but this one was borderline pathetic and pretty confusing at times. Ok, it was down right simple. I got so sick of hearing Wooo, from the black helicopter pilot that I thought I would gag and the thought that the chief of the state police would allow a Trooper to have a webpage on the Internet giving out information is absurd. My brother is a Virginia State Trooper and he would laugh ...at this mish mash of mush.Save your money. I am not even halfway through, and I will indeed finish it, and if I change my opinion I will crawl back here and ask for forgiveness, but I don't think it's going to happen. I just hope they get Popeye the kidnapped dog back safely. At least it will have a happy ending, even if it destroys the reputation of all the poor innocent folks on Tangier Island. Oh and I have been there, and found it quite fascinating. The people there are easier for me to understand than half the people I work with. So, if you must buy this book, good luck. Wooo! It's a real piece of work, or piece of something, anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of paper
Review: I'm a Cornwell fan. That said, this book is awful. Apparently no one in Virginia is capable of speaking proper english. That includes the talking blue crabs. The device of essays posted on a website only serves to distract. The protagonist is incredibly dull and lacks the depth of scarpetta at al. Hold out for the next Scarpetta book.
Rating:
Summary: What was she thinking?
Review: According to the jacket, the San Francisco Examiner said "Patricia Cornwall has switched to Hiaasen's world of black humor and nearly conquers it." USA Today concurred: "Cornwell has coined a new penny". What kind of penny? The kind that is made out of lead? This is a truly bad novel. Although Cornwall supposedly has tongue in cheek, the icons of the noble state of Virginia that are somewhat related to this horrendous mishmash of "humor" have every right to send Cornwall packing. The governor is downright senile, his family too ridiculous for words, the people of the island of Tangier are made to look ridiculous, instead of the charming back-country types they really are. Cornwall manages to poke "fun" at lesbians, Christians, dog lovers and the old TV show, "Bonanza", in a way that makes you wonder what each or any of these constituencies ever did to her. This is not black humor, just vile writing. The villains are incredibly shallow, but the worst is the hero, Andy Brazil, who has come up with some obnoxious website by an alter ego named "Trooper Truth". The reader is supposed to believe that by discussing DNA, Mummies, the real history of Virginia and pirates, that his erstwhile web site somehow captures the imagination of the whole state, and all who see it are intrigued by it. As Trooper Truth would say..."Be careful out there! Cornwall may decide to write another "black humor book" to insure that she punishes her publisher for making her write so much so quickly." It is obvious that the pace of turning out a book a year has far exceeded her ability to put interesting words on a page. Don't buy it, don't take it out of the library, don't even wrap your trash in it.
Rating:
Summary: Isle of Dogs is a DOG
Review: Love Patricia Cornwell, look forward to each new release. However, Isle of Dogs is terrible! I would never have thought it was written by Cornwell. It is boring, poorly written and basically hard to follow. Normally I read a Cornwell book in a few days, I have been trying to read Isle of Dogs for nearly a week and haven't gotten past Chapter 10. My advise is save your money, don't buy the book. It is a real disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: What a Disaster
Review: I am a passionate Cornwell fan - but this book almost changed that. The intertwined plot was silly - a speed trap on Tangier Island, a character with supernatural powers - and I found myself bored. There are some wonderful characters, but they are drowned in the heavily contrived story. Regretfully, I bought this book in hardcover.
Rating: 
Summary: Effective Juxtaposition for the Extraordinarily Literate
Review: I've read all of Patricia Cornwell books. I snatched this one off of the shelves as soon as I could, having waited for it with great anticipation. First, let me say that I endorse this book. I noticed that, up to now, it's had a rather low rating on Amazon, so to prevent outside influence over my own opinion, I've read none of the other reviews... but I'll confess that they don't surprise me much. In this book, Cornwell does a masterful job illuminiating the absurdities of criminals, "red necks," American aristocracy, and human tradition. She weaves into the story significant details of American history, microcosms, and etymology. Her characters who maintain dignity are those motivated primarily by selfless commitment to others, and those with alternative motivations are drawn with such comic hyberbole as to be reduced to their lowest common denominators. Would many run-of-the-mill readers, who read mostly for pleasure and escape, assimilate as well as appreciate what she's done here? They see "Cornwell" on the cover and expect Scarpetta angst. But their limited perspective does not minimize Cornwell's accomplishment. A one-note author she is not, and Hammer and Brazill represent the exclusive channel for her comedic flair, a highly sophisticated and at times esoteric flair, but a flair nonetheless. In other words, this is a book for the sophisticated reader, the one with the point of view and experience for a true black comedy. The only Cornwell writing that made me laugh harder was Lelia Erhart in one of the book's prequels... the woman's malapropisms were marvelous as much for the words she meant as the words she actually said, both of which dovetailed seamlessly and with great effect into the plot. Readers could take everything two ways -- and often her misspeak revealed the precise truth she meant to avoid. Magnificent! Anyway, I did knock off a star. I miss Virginia West, a character in the prequels. Her elimination leaves Andy "alone" with Hammer, if you catch my drift, to confusing effect. Virginia used to soak up Andy's hormones, allowing him to develop as Judy's mentee, a relationship that was evolving most productively until Cornwell muddied the waters. I don't think a fiftyish and increasingly salty widow, one of accomplishment and dignity, would ever verbalize warmies, even in the abstract, for a man the age of her offspring. Call me crazy, but creating such an atomosphere rings false to me. Also, there is the issue of readability. This is a challenging book, one I'll have to reread to ensure I got it all. Now, I do admire that modern writers are able to generate stories of complexity and depth for modern readers. Still, when reading a pleasure book, I don't usually skim a page here or there just to get on with the show. For a Cornwell devotee, go for it! If you're not a voracious reader, this book -- actually, most Cornwell books, which are written intelligently, deeply, and with masterful command of language -- are probably not your cup of tea.
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