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Book Of The Dead (2007)

Book of the Dead (2007)

Book Info

Genre
Series
Rating
3.61 of 5 Votes: 1
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ISBN
0399153934 (ISBN13: 9780399153938)
Language
English
Publisher
putnam adult

About book Book Of The Dead (2007)

Ugh. What is WRONG with Patricia Cornwell? This book stinks. And in the spirit of throwing myself on a grenade (reading it so you don't have to) I will review this one.First of all, Cornwell continues her de-evolution of her characters that started somewhere about "The Body Farm." She totally jumps the shark when she resurrected Benton several books back and “The Book of the Dead” continues her new tradition of incomprehensible plot, incomprehensible character motivation, dialogue that lies flat as road kill, and a world populated exclusively by misogynists, racists, bigots, psychopaths, sociopaths, homicidal maniacs, thugs, morons, and, in general, all-around misanthropes. I read this (and, sadly, I DID read the whole thing) and I kept saying to myself: What? Who? What??? This makes NO SENSE! Even the title is a throw-away. Book of the Dead? Huh? What?SPOILERS (if you care) -- Scarpetta is as pedantic and self-righteous as usual, Rose is dying of cancer AND having an affair with Scarpetta's competition (??), Benton is jealous of some idiotic Italian cop for NO APPARENT REASON, Dr. Self is back, and is manic-depressive (I know, big surprise), and is foul as ever. But the worst is Marino. Poor guy. Patricia hates him, apparently. He used to be just slovenly but a good investigator, and loyal, and a "good guy." Now he's a motorcycling nutjob -- whacked out on steroids and has a seriously psychopathic nutjob girlfriend who constantly whispers poison in his ear. He's also turned into a complete moron. He talks about the "Hinelick" maneuver, and the "Dewey Decibel" system. When was Marino ever dumb? Now he has the IQ of lettuce. Oh, and the worst? While drunk one night, he attempts to rape Scarpetta. What? WHAT??? Argh!So here's my theory and I have two possible scenarios, each of which are equally likely, I think. 1) Patricia has gone insane. Or perhaps is simply off her meds (Wikipedia says she is bi-polar, which explains a bit.) Or 2) Paticia is dead and her books are being written by committee by her publisher who recognizes a cash cow when he sees one. Either way, I am done with her and her incomprehensible books. If you haven’t read any of Cornwell’s novels, start with the first one, and STOP at about the fourth or fifth. Blah.

I just love revisiting Patricia Cornwell's characters that I have gotten to know over the past 15 years. I don't necessarily like where she's taking them, but I still like to read about them. Her books are always very engrossing and I hate to put them down. This one got me through two stomach viruses in one week! I came to the conclusion that Kay, Benton, Lucy, and in his own way, Marino, are all highly intelligent people that lack emotional and social smarts. I want Kay and Marino to resume the relationship they used to have back in the best books of Patricia Cornwell's career, The Body Farm and From Potter's Field. I want Kay and Benton to either commit or break up. Their relationship is ridiculous. The end of this book is very disturbing and implies a sequel is necessary. The plot of this book, while very interesting and engaging, is at times, confusing. I had to reread things as the author quickly jumps to conclusions. When the characters are talking to each other, they leave out a lot of "filler", so that you really have to think about what they are saying. Sometimes the pronouns are unclear. I don't know if that is intentional based on their intelligence and relationships; like married people who can finish each other's sentences and have to only say a short phrase or word to know what the other is thinking. I like the new character, Bull, who I assume will remain a constant. It seems like some of the other regulars may be eliminated but of course, I'll have to wait at least a year to find that out.

Do You like book Book Of The Dead (2007)?

No More Cornwell.In my opinion this has got to be one of the worst books Cornwell has written.Ok, I understand that the story have to do with people who have serious psychological problems but it seems that Cornwell decided to make all the characters ……. really mad.Kay Scarpetta is an unhappy and boring woman. She does not have a life and even the relationship with her fiancée seems to be “strictly” professional. It is a mystery to me why men fall in love with her. She should have some charismas that Cornwell keep very well concealed, otherwise I can’t comprehend it. Lusy….. what she is doing throughout the book is to sneak around, watching everything and everyone, driving SUV and flying her helicopter. That’s it… Oh, there is a hint about her complex sexuality, and –surprise, surprise!!!! everything it’s her mama’s fault.The men, lets see how I can describe some of the main characters. Benton seems to have lost his intelligence, Marino, although never an angel now has become a complete creep. And the Italian carabiniero look more like a “no brain model” whose only concern is to flirt with Scarpetta.Boring…… boring…..boring.I really struggled on through to the end, but it is not that bad if you want to read something easy on the airplane, like me, or in the beach.
—The Nomadic

The book I was reading is called "Book of the Dead", by Patricia Cornwell. I wasn't even sure what's this book is about, but I'm guessing that it's a mystery of solving a murder case. I didn't like this book because I don't understand the whole thing about this book, and I wasn't sure if they are really solving a mystery, and plus, there's so many quotes and talking. I felt confuse when I was reading this book because I wasn't even sure what's going on in the book. The main character is Kay Scarpetta because she is the first person that pops up in the book. I rate this book as a 3 because it can be confusing and you won't understand it, and it can be funny sometimes.
—Eric

Cornwell shifts her Scarpetta series away from the balmy clime of south Florida to the enchanting streets of Charleston, South Carolina. Bringing Pete Marino with her, Scarpetta sets up shop in the South in hopes of turning her abilities into a full-fledged consultant, cognizant of her long-time friendship with the former cop and his less than kosher investigative style. When she is called to consult with Italian officials on a slain tennis star who was recently in Charleston, Scarpetta comes across an elusive killer, The Sandman, whose kills seem fueled by some personal vendetta.. Plagued by a television psychiatrist that caused her headaches while still in Florida and a Marino who continues to lose touch with reality and comes perilously close to losing it all, Scarpetta musters enough strength to keep herself busy. With Benton living and working in Boston, their relationship takes another strain, one that they try to mend by taking a major leap. When the body of a child surfaces in a backwater lagoon, Scarpetta begins trying to piece the larger picture together, while those around her continue to unravel and leave her to pick up the pieces. Can Scarpetta make sense of the evidence and catch this killer or is it all slipping away, like sands in the hourglass?Cornwell’s continual reinvention of her main character has its moments of success and yet also creates a weaker foundation. It is as though Cornwell has been told to shake up the snow globe that is the series and make new connections and destroy old storylines with whom avid readers have become tired. While it is hard to keep things fresh this far into a series, the continual change and pitfalls makes it a little harder to rein in, especially for readers who consider themselves great fans, as I do. I seek some stability, while Cornwell seeks to keep things unstable and on thin ice, in hopes that major change will produce new and exciting paths down which Scarpetta can travel. So far, I’m lukewarm to it all.Kudos, Madam Cornwell on another great book, though I am eager to see where you are taking the reader on this ever-evolving trip.
—Matt

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