Patricia Cornwell

jbcohen · 02-11-2015, 08:42 AM

What do you think of her two latest books: Dust and Flesh and Blood? Has the writting improved any? Are the characters still a bit nurotic?

crich70 · 02-12-2015, 05:34 PM

Haven't read them, but I have read some of her older books. A former neighbor (now deceased) loaned me some of her copies (hard cover) of the earlier books. I enjoyed them.

ReneAZ · 02-13-2015, 12:01 PM

I had given up on Ms Cornwell's books a while back, but decided to give her another go and got the latest ("Flesh and Blood") from the library. Sure glad I didn't put out any $$$$$. I could not get past about 15 pages. Just so much *blather* I gave up -- not worth it when there are so many better books to read. I know I didn't give it much of a chance, but it was just so dang boring and tedious. I think a lot of library patrons felt the same because I was like #200 or something on the waiting list and got the book fairly fast (and returned it just as fast!!

)
I read the reviews on Amazon and, while there were a lot of 5-star reviews

there were a lot lower ratings also (hundreds). Many mentioned that the ending was a cliff-hanger, so you would have to get her next book to see what happened in this one. I don't like that.
My last attempt at a Cornwell book.

Luffy · 02-13-2015, 11:50 PM

I have never read her books. I do have some of hers. Always seem to have had her books around. Never got to reading them.

bert501 · 02-14-2015, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What do you think of her two latest books: Dust and Flesh and Blood? Has the writting improved any? Are the characters still a bit nurotic?

Got Flesh and Blood from the library and couldn't get past the first chapter. Dull dull dull, characters are worse than neurotic! the plot (I'm pretty sure there was a plot!) set up was weird and I just gave up. Too bad because she used to be a guaranteed good read.

mitford13 · 02-17-2015, 12:25 PM

Ugh. Add me to the list that returned the library book unread. Yet another plotline where Scarpetta is stalked/the obvious object of fascination for a master criminal mind...or some such drivel, volume sixteen.

ETA: over the years I've gone from pre-internet hauntings of Borders for a new release, to happy to get the hardback from my public library, to now - can't even be bothered with reading more than a handful of pages from a free (library) digital download. Sad what's become of Scarpetta.

FatDog · 02-20-2015, 01:51 PM

I enjoyed her first bunch of Scarpetta novels. But then the Detective love interest has turned to a Harley driving gang-banger type with all the emotional maturity of an 8 year old. Her niece is suddenly a computer millionaire/lesbian/ninja with a brain tumor. It was like a new editor advised her to 'punch up' the characters to create drama or give her things to drive plot points.

The series went south in a hurry. The fatal "I don't care what happens to these characters." feeling.

Someone (on this forum I think) described the author as becoming excessively paranoid/suspicious in her personal life.

Hey - If I listen to too-many novels about genius serial-killers during my commute I start to get paranoid. I can only imagine what an author doing research for a forensics investigator might be exposed to/start to feel.

I wish Cornwell all the best - but I cannot support her with the quality of work she has been putting out in the last few years.

02-11-2015, 08:42 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Patricia Cornwell What do you think of her two latest books: Dust and Flesh and Blood? Has the writting improved any? Are the characters still a bit nurotic?

02-17-2015, 12:25 PM	#6
mitford13 Guru Posts: 684 Karma: 6495650 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Arlington, VA Device: iPad Air2, Fire HD10, Paperwhite, Kobo App	Ugh. Add me to the list that returned the library book unread. Yet another plotline where Scarpetta is stalked/the obvious object of fascination for a master criminal mind...or some such drivel, volume sixteen. ETA: over the years I've gone from pre-internet hauntings of Borders for a new release, to happy to get the hardback from my public library, to now - can't even be bothered with reading more than a handful of pages from a free (library) digital download. Sad what's become of Scarpetta. Last edited by mitford13; 02-17-2015 at 12:31 PM.

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02-12-2015, 05:34 PM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Haven't read them, but I have read some of her older books. A former neighbor (now deceased) loaned me some of her copies (hard cover) of the earlier books. I enjoyed them.

02-13-2015, 12:01 PM	#3
ReneAZ eBookaholic Posts: 79 Karma: 1071702 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Phoenix AZ USA Device: iPad Mini, Kindle Fire	I had given up on Ms Cornwell's books a while back, but decided to give her another go and got the latest ("Flesh and Blood") from the library. Sure glad I didn't put out any $$$$$. I could not get past about 15 pages. Just so much blather I gave up -- not worth it when there are so many better books to read. I know I didn't give it much of a chance, but it was just so dang boring and tedious. I think a lot of library patrons felt the same because I was like #200 or something on the waiting list and got the book fairly fast (and returned it just as fast!! ) I read the reviews on Amazon and, while there were a lot of 5-star reviews there were a lot lower ratings also (hundreds). Many mentioned that the ending was a cliff-hanger, so you would have to get her next book to see what happened in this one. I don't like that. My last attempt at a Cornwell book.

02-13-2015, 11:50 PM	#4
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,463 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	I have never read her books. I do have some of hers. Always seem to have had her books around. Never got to reading them.

02-20-2015, 01:51 PM	#7
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	I enjoyed her first bunch of Scarpetta novels. But then the Detective love interest has turned to a Harley driving gang-banger type with all the emotional maturity of an 8 year old. Her niece is suddenly a computer millionaire/lesbian/ninja with a brain tumor. It was like a new editor advised her to 'punch up' the characters to create drama or give her things to drive plot points. The series went south in a hurry. The fatal "I don't care what happens to these characters." feeling. Someone (on this forum I think) described the author as becoming excessively paranoid/suspicious in her personal life. Hey - If I listen to too-many novels about genius serial-killers during my commute I start to get paranoid. I can only imagine what an author doing research for a forensics investigator might be exposed to/start to feel. I wish Cornwell all the best - but I cannot support her with the quality of work she has been putting out in the last few years.

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