Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Cornwell's Scarpetta books have always had their flaws, like Kay's enemies never getting their comeuppance, and Kay's addiction to being betrayed and the world champion victim even as she is supposed to be so awesome smart and powerful. Other annoyances are continual buildups to climaxes that never happen, for example Marino threatening to stroke out over every little thing, and Lucy's non-stop drama over nothing (geez Lucy is obnoxious), and characters and subplots that get introduced, are a big deal, and then are dropped and never resolved. But the complex plots, good action, and complex trails of clues were enjoyable and interesting. Then along about "Point of Origin" the Scarpetta series slid off the rails and never made it back. Benton Wesley died, but then miraculously came back in "Blow Fly." But in the interim anything that was halfway interesting about him was lost, and he became a stiff wooden bore. In "Blow Fly" Cornwell changed from writing in the first-person from Scarpetta's viewpoint to a weird present-tense third person. It's a rambling shapeless stream-of-consciousness, and "Blow Fly" is the last Scarpetta book I read to the end. I've tried every one since, and they all lose me in the first few chapters. "Bone Bed" is billed as a comeback, a return to the old Scarpetta, Cornwell getting back on track. Nah. Don't think so. It's back to first-person Kay, but it's still rambling stream-of-consciousness. It starts out with Kay working alone in her sleek new office, and she's all agitated and freaked out because it sounds like someone is prowling in the building, and nobody else is supposed to be there. So does she get up and look? No, she just sits and frets. Then Lucy comes in, and Kay freaks out some more. Then Lucy is just as unpleasant as in all the other books. Why is a major character so unlikable? She overcame considerable obstacles to become a success, and is brilliant and beautiful and can buy cool toys like hot cars and helicopters. She should be a fun character we can root for. But no. She's just plain awful. I wish a strong editor would rein in the worst of Cornwell's ramblings, bring some focus, and get this series back on track, because it's obvious she is talented and highly imaginative. I miss the old Scarpetta.