Red Mist question

I was so disappointed in the book. I honestly feel like Cornwell is just not the author that she used to be. The forensic science in her books used to drive the plots and help walk the reader through the clues. Now I honestly think that the author uses the science as a distraction from how sloppy her books have become.

The storyline seems a litte "out there" to me compared to some of her other books.

NO, I hated it. I rarely ever fail to finish a book but this one, it took everything I had to finish it. BORING! I love forensic heavy murder mysteries- this book was neither. It could have been shortened by 200-300 pages without losing anything. I hated the way she wrote the dialogue, very difficult to stomach. The plot (if you can call it that) was weak and meandering. I lost track of and almost forgot the original event that spurred her into this place. I ended up finishing it but "speed read" otherwise known as skipping thru, long winded boring going no where scenes. Probably zoomed thru 150 pages without missing anything important. I won't read anymore of her later books after this.

I liked this one a lot better than the last several. She got back to the story and the forensics and less on their interpersonal drama. I'm tired of Lucy and her mopey ways and I'm tired of Benton and his clashes with Kay. I miss the nitty gritty forensics of 'Postmorten' and other early books.

I really liked this, actually. I think Cornwell has had more criticism lately because she is so successful. She has spent more time developing her characters and so there is less of that pulse-pounding thriller drama that some of her books have had, but then no character can be constantly be kidnapped, facing down the other end of a gun, etc. because it strains credibility.

For awhile I did not get why her protagonist didn't turn Marino in (earlier book & earlier event), and why she kept him around. Then the incident w Lucy (again, earlier book & event, don't want to toss out spoilers) redeemed him...but only for awhile. Benton...what the hell? But again, she hasn't contradicted her running characters, only made them more complex. I personally love the series, and will take it hands-down over the scientific droning and formulaic plotting of K. Reichs.

To me it seemed to move from page 1, unlike some of her other books where the action doesn't start until the middle. Which makes me wonder since announcing her first book going to film, is she starting to write a book for a book's sake or future film deals?

The first 100 pages flowed well as the main character, Kay Scarpetta, speaking first person, found herself running into difficulties on a business trip for no apparent reason. I was anxious to find out what caused these curious events. Scarpetta was engaged in both dialog and action.

However on page 98 she enters an apartment and meets with two other characters. They explain to her why she has been lured into the meeting under false pretenses. Fine. But the ensuing dialog drags on and on, with the only action being the refilling of wine glasses. After 40 pages of this same scene I became restless but kept slogging through the conversation, hoping it would end so the story could resume. Finally I gave up. Looking ahead, the scene ends on page 186. Almost 100 pages of nothing but talk!

I really enjoyed this one, but was a bit dubious about reading it because I really didn't like Port Mortuary it felt that she was just churning out books every year. I think with this one she is back on form.

I used to LOVE the Scarpetta books and couldn't wait to read them. I feel they started to go downhill when Marino tried to rape Kay. I feel like there are no likable characters anymore. I am ready to move on to new characters. Lucy seems pretty complex, maybe she can spin off into a novel featuring Lucy.

It was better than Port Mortuary in which characters thought a lot but didn't do a lot. However there was a lot of navel gazing in this one.

Just started reading her books for this character. I should of read them in order I like them but wasn't too happy about this one book.

I really liked all her books in the series even Red Mist, haven't read the latest book on this series.

I'm with Louise on this one. I liked this one a whole lot more that the 3 prior ones. I was about to give the series up before reading it and because I was afraid it would not be good, it set around for a few months. But when I started it, I pretty much went nonstop and finished in a couple of days. Ya, I was put off by Kaye's second guessing of her actions, but I was glad to see she's back to being comfortable around Marino, who is one of my favorite characters of all time.

I really do not know why I continue to read these books.Maybe my life just feels better reading how dumb they are.

they have gotten darker and darker as she has written the stories.. I have not enjoyed the later stories as much as the earlier books.

Red Mist was by far the worst Kay Scarpetta/Patricia Cornwell book I have ever read. I have read almost all of her novels over the years from the very beginning and have seen the gradual decline in the past few years. I hope to see a return to the quality of writing of the earlier years before this series ends.

I really didn't care for the Jamie story line, and while it wasn't the best book I still enjoyed it. I did find that I harder time getting into than others in the past.

I like the Scarpetta series, but you are all right. Thought it was just me because I don't always read the series in order and thought maybe that was the problem - something wasn't quite right. The stories are always intriguing for me but the characters are getting a little boring. We know them too well and it's the same hang-ups over and over again.

I may be in the minority here, as I think I liked this more than her other recent ones... the whole thing does seem to be turning into a big soap opera theses days, I hope we are done with Jaime and Jack now... but it was enjoyable and it hasnt put me off reading anymore... thinking we might be getting back to basics with Marino, Kay, Lucy and Benton as our main characters... fingers crossed anyway.

I also did not enjoy this one as much as the previous ones.. I agree with all the reviews above

I agree with the rest. I always read a new Cornwell novel but the Scarpetta stories are getting tedious.

I agree with Becky. Scarpetta's gotten so insecure about herself and everyone around her has so many psychological hangups it's beginning to get in the way of the story. This story's good but it is overshadowed by so much it's honestly painful to get through it all.

I think my view is like most of you I love her books, but this one was hard to get into, half the time I didn't get a grip on the characters, very disappointed in this one.

I liked it but the characters seemed kind of out of sorts or something in this one.

Agree with Vivien. I had a really hard time getting thru this one. I usually love her books and can't wait to start them. Her characters seemed very flat in this Scarpetta novel.

Loved these books at the beginning and then, as Becky said, they just started getting unbelievable...

Agree with both the comments above - massive Cornwell fan but the Scarpetta stories seem to have stagnated.

I liked it but her characters are getting more and more mopey and who has this much drama in their life ?