Cornwell, Patricia. The Book of the Dead.The book of the dead is the morgue log where Kay Scarpetta enters all the cases that pass through her morgue. Opening with a brutal murder in Rome, then moving to Charleston, South Carolina, Cornwell creates one-dimensional bad guys (Dr. Self is almost funny in her egocentricity) and the "good guys" have so many personal flaws, I wanted to smack each one. Twice.
This is the first time in years that I've bothered with Cornwell. Should have left well enough alone.
Fiction. Mystery. 2008. 511 pages.
I got hooked on her books years ago and was a real follower but then they started getting more and more gruesome until I found them too, too disturbing...so I gave myself permision not to read her anymore...and I haven't since...except I was interested in her one on Jack the Ripper...but never did read it...
ReplyDeleteI stopped reading her years ago, when Kay Scarpetta got so full of herself.
ReplyDelete"This is the first time in years that I've bothered with Cornwell. Should have left well enough alone."
ReplyDeleteI wonder, looking back at Conrwell's obvious decline, Jenclair, just exactly when it was that she "jumped the shark."
I used to look forward her new books - now I laugh at the thought of reading one of those things. I have to wonder how she keeps selling in such huge numbers.
I think Black Notice was when I left off. (In answer to Sam Houston's question)
ReplyDeleteI can't remember when I last read Cornwell. It's good to see that others feel like I do. I think I quit after the one with the hairy monster-like man who stowed away on a ship in from London. It's been so long that I don't remember it that well, but it seemed pretty far-fetched to me.
ReplyDeleteNever tried Cornwell but if I do, I'll make sure to look for the early books then!
ReplyDeleteWell, there certainly seems to be a consensus!
ReplyDeleteI used to enjoy Cornwell, but I stopped just before Black Notice. There was so much negative talk about it that I couldn't bear to read the book and I've never gone back. Nobody seems to like what's happened since that title. Thanks for confirming that it's still not worth going back.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read a Cornwell book in awhile either. I do occasionally read a review (like this one) of her more recent books, wondering if the author's recaptured that old magic again. It doesn't sound like she has though.
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