IS CORNWELL BACK?
I used to rush down excitedly to buy Patricia Cornwell in hardback during the All that Remains, Cruel and Unusual, and The Body Farm period.
Then as she imploded around The Last Precinct and got worse with Blowfly, Trace, and Predator I merely bought each paperback to see if she had improved, only to be sorely dissappointed.
Now her The Book of The Dead sits at the top of the fiction hard back lists, and I would like to know whether this book has recaptured any of her lost magic.
Then as she imploded around The Last Precinct and got worse with Blowfly, Trace, and Predator I merely bought each paperback to see if she had improved, only to be sorely dissappointed.
Now her The Book of The Dead sits at the top of the fiction hard back lists, and I would like to know whether this book has recaptured any of her lost magic.
posted by Uriah Robinson at 12:46 PM
5 Comments:
Like you, I loved her first few. I became gradually more disappointed with the leaden, unrealistic plots and boring stories, so now I don't read her at all. It would be interesting to know whether she's improved lately, or whether she is continuing on the same trajectory as James Patterson.
There are lots of great crime fiction books out there -- have you ever tried one of my favourites, Michael Connelly?
Or, if you fancy something of the Cornwell genre but much, much better, how about Karin Slaughter? I love her series about a county coroner, Sarah someone, and her ex-husband, the local sherrif (Jeff someone).
I haven't read Michael Connelly lately but have two on the TBR pile/mountain range.
I agree the Harry Bosch series is consistently superb.
Karin Slaughter has written some tremendous books, but I didn't enjoy the last one that I read quite as much. But it was still a lot better than the stuff Cornwell has turned out recently.
I see Karen has been reading a James Patterson I wonder if she will review it?
She hopes to! Just on the blog though - a bit like the vegetarian option on a pub menu :-).
I think being top of the list is no indication. She's sold in buckets, so those of us who think as you do, myself included, who have been reluctant purchasers/readers of late, may actually not make much much of a bearing on sales.
However...
I read a review somewhere recently that indicated The Book of the Dead is a "back on form" job.
But then again, I also read one that said Scarpetta's life has become unrealistic since she left public service and remains so in the latest offering.
These days, I find too much great stuff elsewhere to think of risking a revisit.
Thanks cfr. I will possibly buy the paperback then at some stage.
At the moment I am fully stocked, well over stocked with books to read. Cornwell has probably become an airport bookstall buy when your flight is delayed author, rather like James Patterson.
Hope Oscar is doing well.
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