Patricia Cornwell - Black Notice: International Edition

Pros: Usual Kay Scarpetta thriller/mystery
Cons: Lacks credibility; amateurish storyline continuity and conclusion; boring, not capable of maintaining high-level of interest

"An unidentified body is a black notice... Usually suspected fugitives with international ties..." Dr. Kay Scarpetta, C.M.E., State of Virginia


Imagine this: A ship enters the Port of Richmond. It's cargo, hundreds...

Pros: Much mystery surrounds the contents of that cargo container
Cons: few parts are a little slow

Imagine.... if you can, being the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Imagine if you can....receiving a letter from the love of your life who has been dead for over a year. Turn the pages with me as we review the latest...

Pros: Familiar characters, easy reading, an interesting killer
Cons: Story strays for a long period from homicide plot, abrupt ending

“Black Notice” is the tenth installment of Kay Scarpetta novels, the fictional lead character and Chief Medical Examiner of Richmond, Virginia.

“Black Notice” begins where Cornwell’s last novel ends--with Scarpetta, a year later, grieving over...

Pros: Not the worst mystery you'll read this year, unintentionally hilarious sex scene
Cons: Author needs to tone it down

I like a good mystery novel now and then. I like the slow unfolding, the building of tension and the ever-accelerating plot. In the last two decades, the main character have changed for the better. Instead of only being white guy cops or private...

Pros: familiar characters, similar plot, good realism
Cons: main character is loosing strength

Patricia Cornwell is one of the best adult series authors I have read. Her murder/detective series, involving leading fictional character Dr. Kay Scarpetta has intrigued me from the start. Dr. Scarpetta is a lawyer, turned doctor, who happens to be the...

Pros: Good story line, not one of her best though
Cons: Not Cornwell's Usual Suspense

For some reason when I read this title and even partially into the book, I assumed the subject was going to involve Bubonic Plague, aka The Black Plague (get it Black Plague, Black Notice…). Ok, so my brain has ceased to function in a recreational...

Pros: Continuing Characters
Cons: ending, some spots not realistic, some parts unfocused to story

I have been a fan of Cornwell for a very long time. What I have liked about Cornwell's writing is how thoroughly focused the story and how tight plot lines are along with believable characters and settings.

In the case of Black Notice,...

Pros: The technical elements were great.
Cons: The characters weren't among the technical elements.

Patricia Cornwall is a well established and widely recognized journeyman author of mysteries. Her best known protagonist is M.E. (Medical Examiner) Kay Scarpetta. Kay is only a couple of points shy of genius at her chosen career, and is sufficiently...

Pros: none
Cons: too many to list

Against my better judgment, and that of my roommate, I bought this book and actually finished reading it.

To say I was disappointed in Southern Cross is an understatement, but since that book wasn't a Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel, I hoped beyond...

Pros: interesting plot, great character development, better than the last one.
Cons: can sometimes get too detailed, may not understand if you haven't read previous books

I am a great fan of Patricia Cornwell. I've been following the adventures of Dr. Kay Scarpetta (the main character) for years. Dr. Kay is the Medical Examiner of Virginia and through each book, you learn more about all of the characters that play such...

Pros: great plot, vivid imagery, great author
Cons: graphic details

I have read several of the review's of Patricia Cornwell's new book and I must disagree with the majority of the epinions. True, this book was out of character for the fictional Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Also true, the writing style and plot of Black Notice...

Pros: Kay Scarpetta and crew returning
Cons: nearly everything else

I was delighted when I read Cornwell was bringing Kay Scarpetta back to our shelves,and for one of the few times in my life, I actually bought a book in hard cover. I was anxious to see how Kay, Marino and Lucy were dealing with Denton’s death; if and...

Pros: Good for those familiar with Cornwell
Cons: Predictable plot-slow to start, quick to end

What has happened, Patricia Cornwell? This latest Kay Scarpetta book doesn't hold a candle to your earlier books. There used to be plot twists and turns. Now, it's predictable through and through. And a majority of the book was spent "mourning"...

Pros: Fast-paced and suspenseful
Cons: Gets a little soapy in spots

I have been a constant reader of the Kay Scarpetta novels, and over the last ten years I have observed a darkening of content that is disturbing but entertaining nonetheless. They are mystery novels, but the mystery takes a back seat to the finely drawn...

Pros: A much deeper book
Cons: None

For the past year, Virginia’s chief medical examiner has drowned in her emotional pain. A letter from beyond the grave only sends her into a deeper depression. Her job becomes her panacea because she discards her shroud of grief for periods of time.
...