Helpful Score: 22
It is sad, very sad.
The title and the book description are missleading. The book of the dead is mentioned once. Shortly and briefly.
It is hard to find any good words for the book so I will focus on the bad things. There were enough.
The book says it is a Cornwell but it could have been written by anybody else. Gone are times were the reader knew how Scarpetta thinks and feels. Gone are the times were the reader was capable to follow the crime and the main characters life through Scarpettas eyes. The writing in third person, and the focus on the wrong things makes the story boring, unplausible and unbearable.
The whole books focus seems to be on Scarpetta´s, Benton´s and Marino´s messed up lifes, worthy to make a soap opera about it.
I can not say much without spoiling the book but what the h... did she do to Marino ! ? And then there is Dr. Self, you might remember her from "Predator". What a bad choice to turn her (again) into one of the key personalities.
***
Obviously I´m not the only person that had some hopes left that Patrcica Cornwell would get back to her own writing, her early, inspiring Scarpetta novels. After Predator and the last few Scarpetta novels I can only see one direction and that is downhill.
The title and the book description are missleading. The book of the dead is mentioned once. Shortly and briefly.
It is hard to find any good words for the book so I will focus on the bad things. There were enough.
The book says it is a Cornwell but it could have been written by anybody else. Gone are times were the reader knew how Scarpetta thinks and feels. Gone are the times were the reader was capable to follow the crime and the main characters life through Scarpettas eyes. The writing in third person, and the focus on the wrong things makes the story boring, unplausible and unbearable.
The whole books focus seems to be on Scarpetta´s, Benton´s and Marino´s messed up lifes, worthy to make a soap opera about it.
I can not say much without spoiling the book but what the h... did she do to Marino ! ? And then there is Dr. Self, you might remember her from "Predator". What a bad choice to turn her (again) into one of the key personalities.
***
Obviously I´m not the only person that had some hopes left that Patrcica Cornwell would get back to her own writing, her early, inspiring Scarpetta novels. After Predator and the last few Scarpetta novels I can only see one direction and that is downhill.
Helpful Score: 12
My first inclination was to put the book down, unread, and list it on PBS. For some reason, Cornwell introduces a number of new characters and the reader scrambles to fit together the pieces. And then, there's Dr. Self, who is such an antagonistic character that reading what she has to say (and think) makes me crazy.
However, once I decided to keep on reading, I was caught up in the plot. This is not Cornwell's usual crime novel, with the reader taken from point to point in the general direction of a solution. More than ever before, Cornwell develops personalities (flawed, for the most part) and it's not a pretty sight.
It might be that the author is taking a new direction with her writing. It might be that she wants the Benton-Kay relationship to have more substance than it's had in the past. For sure, future âScarpettaâ novels with be with the two of them working as a team. That's my take, anyway.
I consider the time spent reading this novel well-spent, and I have a feeling others will agree with me.
And one other thing: the title refers to one instance where Scarpetta's âbook of the deadâ was not treated properly. It also signifies the start of things going beyond Scarpetta's control. Read it for yourselfâI think you're going to enjoy it!!
However, once I decided to keep on reading, I was caught up in the plot. This is not Cornwell's usual crime novel, with the reader taken from point to point in the general direction of a solution. More than ever before, Cornwell develops personalities (flawed, for the most part) and it's not a pretty sight.
It might be that the author is taking a new direction with her writing. It might be that she wants the Benton-Kay relationship to have more substance than it's had in the past. For sure, future âScarpettaâ novels with be with the two of them working as a team. That's my take, anyway.
I consider the time spent reading this novel well-spent, and I have a feeling others will agree with me.
And one other thing: the title refers to one instance where Scarpetta's âbook of the deadâ was not treated properly. It also signifies the start of things going beyond Scarpetta's control. Read it for yourselfâI think you're going to enjoy it!!
Helpful Score: 11
I am so so disappionted in this book! Not at all Cornwells usual level of writing. The case they are working on seems to take a backburner to all the drama going on with Benton,Scarpetta and Marino. It reads more like a soap opera plot rather than a forensic thriller. The story itself is choppy and seems to bounce around so half the time it's really hard to follow exactly what is going on. Also the end is completely anti climatic. It just drops with a decidely loud THUD!
I really hope Cornwell does alot better in her next Scarpetta offering or I'm likely to stop following this series. Totally dissapointing.
I really hope Cornwell does alot better in her next Scarpetta offering or I'm likely to stop following this series. Totally dissapointing.
Helpful Score: 8
Just finished it tonight and I have to say - I was disappointed in this book. Too many characters, lame bad guy, tedious story - not the riveting stuff Scarpetta fans are used to. Also - Cornwell used the F-word so often I am beginning to think she has run out of intelligent conversation for her characters so she peppered in some expletives to try to heighten the drama - didn't work for me. Also, I felt like the book lacked the emotional depth usually infused into the Scarpetta series. Sad.
Helpful Score: 6
This book is a disappointment. It was as if Cornwell had run out of intelligent, coherent conversations for Scarpetta and decided to write a book anyway. The conversations are choppy. The characters belong in a soap opera.
As others have pointed out, this book is completely misnamed. Scarpetta's "book of the dead" has absolutely nothing to do with the plot.
As others have pointed out, this book is completely misnamed. Scarpetta's "book of the dead" has absolutely nothing to do with the plot.
