The scarpetta series started out awesome, truly well told stories and i would highly recommend reading it. But it just got more impossible to believe and i wouldn’t even bother will her other books/series unless your getting them for nothing. Plenty of other writers that have stayed consistently good.
Read every book, definately hard work forlast few books.She pads out the story, but I am finding each subsequent book boring, she appears to be going through the motions
Read one of her books a few years ago and didn’t enjoy it. I stuck with it in the hope that it’d improve; it didn’t. Too many good books out there to waste time flogging a dead horse!
I have always been a big fan, but the last few Kay Scarpetta are not the best. I thought when she started to wrote the Andy Brazil series we were in for a new character, but…
it’s been a while since I have read any of her books, but I got to the point where I thought that most of the criminals in her books seemed to be out to get Scarpetta personally, and to me it just seemed ridiculous and very far fetched. Maybe that’s just my impression, but I got to the point of thinking, this is stupid and why am I reading this regurgitated junk.
Her first books in the Scarpetta series were excellent, and I still enjoy the rest as well.Admittedly they have not got the same punch, but I thoroughly enjoyed Chaos, thought there signs of the old style peeping through in it.
I loved the first 4 of her books. After that she went off the boil for me. I kept on reading her stuff for quite a while afterwards, in the hope that she would recapture her early form. However, in my view, she never did.
Never read one. My husband used to love them but feels she probably has a ghost writer team not doing an especially good job any more and has given them up. Went to a talk with her about a year ago which was very interesting.
I read the first two in the Scarpetta series and thought they were ok but never felt drawn to read anymore for a long time. I then ended up with a later book of hers so read that and it felt like it was written by a different person. So I’ve decided that sadly Patricia Cornwell probably isn’t an author for me.
Now there seems to be a feeling of paranoia from the character about what she says and does how she behaves how everyone else needs to behave and its boring now
I absolutely loved her books for many years but over the last few years they have been dire, as much to do with Scarpetta’s menopausal yearnings & paranoia than with crime. Couldn’t even get to 50% on the latest. Kathy Reichs much better.
I read earlier books and liked them but have been disappointed with the recent ones so won’t buy anymore.I may be wrong but some authors write really good reads then when they are well known they don’t try so hard thinking that their name alone will sell a book.dont shoot me just saying x
I read her whenever I come across her and rarely in order, I have enjoyed the books I read. She has wrote rather a lot though and loyal fans who have read them all as they came out and in order have been split and feel either they are still great or have lost something over time xxx
the early books are brilliant. From Book of the Dead onwards, her writing style seems to have changed and I’ve not been so keen to be honest, found them hard going.
I loved her early Scarpetta books but stopped reading several years ago when the plots became even more bizarre. Sadly not an author I will be going back to.
I read her early books and loved them at the time. I’ve picked up a few of her more recent books in charity shops, but as yet they are unread. I saw her interviewed on tv recently and really enjoyed it.
Used to really enjoy her books but i feel now they are very similar. Gave up on Dust and didnt go any further. However i will get the new one on her Jack the Ripper theory. I read the last one and she has made some very good points.
Been reading through all the comments, and even though I’m still a devotee, have to agree with the comments about her change in style of writing, that did phase me for a little while but then got used to it, As someone posted, it was as though they were being written by someone else. In Chaos however I felt her old style was very slightly making a come back. Still love her books.
It’s a while since I read one. I remember her writing well enough but I prefer plots that rely less on the incarnation of evil – – or find out how a few monstrous anomalies emerge from life – – and as to comments, well that comes with the territory and if there weren’t a few dissenters all her fan mail would be a tad flat.
Like others have posted. I loved her early books but after reading her books for several years I gave up as she seemed to go stale for me. That’s just my opinion though. X
Really loved her early books, but gave up on her later ones. Just found they were so convoluted, never seemed to get to the point. Haven’t read any for a long time.
Loved the early books but finally gave up on last one. Couldn’t stand the streams of consciousness, with characters who had changed completely and became unrecognisable – and not very nice.
Loved her in the beginning. She got me hooked on crime fiction. Haven’t read her in a long long time now because I don’t like Kay Scarpetta’s niece and she was starting to dominate the books.
I have them all. Up until the last five years or so they were brilliant, but now I find them quite bland. Too much focus on forensics and not enough on the characters. If it was me I would have written a series concentrating on Lucy. An awesome character. Brilliant but flawed in so many ways. So strong but vulnerable.
It was Lucy who put me off the series. I like Kay Scarpetta. I agree with you, give Lucy her own series, then I will go back to reading the Kay Scarpetta series 🙂
I don’t really know why. It’s a good few years since I read one. If I can remember she was a string character, and would go storming in flying helicopters with all hell blazing and save the day. Probably unreasonable of me but I have a pet hate of the FBI. If I see FBI in a book blurb I will drop the book like a hot potato. Same goes for MI5 or MI6 etc. Unreasonable of me I know 🙂
I loved her first few books . But after a while they became repetative. Almost as if she was using a stecil What a shame as she used to be really good. Im reading one from my local library at the moment and its very wishy washy. Wont be buying and will probibally give any more a pass in the library
Gone off her for a while now, loved them in the beginning.
She is going downhill faster than a rollercoaster. Even her latest non fiction book is supposed to be awful
Her early books were very good later ones bit boring and repetitive
The scarpetta series started out awesome, truly well told stories and i would highly recommend reading it. But it just got more impossible to believe and i wouldn’t even bother will her other books/series unless your getting them for nothing. Plenty of other writers that have stayed consistently good.
Not for me, unfortunately
Read every book, definately hard work forlast few books.She pads out the story, but I am finding each subsequent book boring, she appears to be going through the motions
Read one of her books a few years ago and didn’t enjoy it. I stuck with it in the hope that it’d improve; it didn’t. Too many good books out there to waste time flogging a dead horse!
I liked her earlier book’s, not her later ones.
Me too, Amanda, they all merged into one after a while
Really enjoyed them at the start but find them boring now have got two unfinished ones can’t get into them
Early books were okay but seems to have lost her way
I could never get into her books
I used to enjoy her books but the last few have been hard work to read 🙁 shame really.
Was great..gone off the boil now…
Same as heather really. Latest books are poor. Won’t be reading any more
Gone off her totally… first books were good
Agree with Suzy, think she’s run out of ideas x
I have always been a big fan, but the last few Kay Scarpetta are not the best. I thought when she started to wrote the Andy Brazil series we were in for a new character, but…
Everyone is out to kill Scarpetta – just ridiculous now.
Can you expand on that comment?
it’s been a while since I have read any of her books, but I got to the point where I thought that most of the criminals in her books seemed to be out to get Scarpetta personally, and to me it just seemed ridiculous and very far fetched. Maybe that’s just my impression, but I got to the point of thinking, this is stupid and why am I reading this regurgitated junk.
Her first books were excellent but now they’re dross.
Loved the early Kay Scarpetta books but got boring. The other books hornets nest?? were dire
Her first books in the Scarpetta series were excellent, and I still enjoy the rest as well.Admittedly they have not got the same punch, but I thoroughly enjoyed Chaos, thought there signs of the old style peeping through in it.
Her books have never appealed to me.
Read one but ending was disappointing
Couldn’t ever get into her books x
I used to love her books but the more recent ones havent been good. Won’t buy her books again unless I hear of a great review
I loved the first 4 of her books. After that she went off the boil for me. I kept on reading her stuff for quite a while afterwards, in the hope that she would recapture her early form. However, in my view, she never did.
Have you read Southern Cross and Hornets Nest?
Tried but couldn’t get on with them
Never read one. My husband used to love them but feels she probably has a ghost writer team not doing an especially good job any more and has given them up. Went to a talk with her about a year ago which was very interesting.
Have always enjoyed her books.
I read the first two in the Scarpetta series and thought they were ok but never felt drawn to read anymore for a long time. I then ended up with a later book of hers so read that and it felt like it was written by a different person. So I’ve decided that sadly Patricia Cornwell probably isn’t an author for me.
Never could get into her books not my kind of writing
Love her!!!! She does the research before everybook a she knows what she is writing about and you can tell.
Now there seems to be a feeling of paranoia from the character about what she says and does how she behaves how everyone else needs to behave and its boring now
I absolutely loved her books for many years but over the last few years they have been dire, as much to do with Scarpetta’s menopausal yearnings & paranoia than with crime. Couldn’t even get to 50% on the latest. Kathy Reichs much better.
I read earlier books and liked them but have been disappointed with the recent ones so won’t buy anymore.I may be wrong but some authors write really good reads then when they are well known they don’t try so hard thinking that their name alone will sell a book.dont shoot me just saying x
I so agree with this
I have not read any of her books!
I watch a film The Front the other day I didn’t bother after 20 minutes so boring. I won’t be doing that again lol.
I read her whenever I come across her and rarely in order, I have enjoyed the books I read. She has wrote rather a lot though and loyal fans who have read them all as they came out and in order have been split and feel either they are still great or have lost something over time xxx
I read the earlier Scarpetta ones and enjoyed them but then I began to dislike Scarpetta-she was so miserable!!
the early books are brilliant. From Book of the Dead onwards, her writing style seems to have changed and I’ve not been so keen to be honest, found them hard going.
early books were brilliant and then I found they all got a bit too Samey! I agree with @Karen – Scarpetta was so miserable!
Agreed first books the best. From Potters Field my favourite.
I liked them at first, but like many prolific authors the more they wrote the more “samey” they become.
I loved her early Scarpetta books but stopped reading several years ago when the plots became even more bizarre. Sadly not an author I will be going back to.
Early ones are fab. Later ones get really silly
There are too many good new writers out there!
I read her early books and loved them at the time. I’ve picked up a few of her more recent books in charity shops, but as yet they are unread. I saw her interviewed on tv recently and really enjoyed it.
Despite her many followers, I’ve never been able to get into her books!
She used to be better xx
Yeah I used to like her but it got samey
Her early books were good, then she got goofy.
Loved them 20 years ago , not read one for years now
Used to really enjoy her books but i feel now they are very similar. Gave up on Dust and didnt go any further. However i will get the new one on her Jack the Ripper theory. I read the last one and she has made some very good points.
Not for Me 🙁
Brilliant !
I loved all the early ones but then they got a bit silly don’t read them now x
That’s how I felt. At the start they were really gripping. But it seems to much of the same thing and the story lines are rubbish.
Got all her books she’s one off me fave authors
Been reading through all the comments, and even though I’m still a devotee, have to agree with the comments about her change in style of writing, that did phase me for a little while but then got used to it, As someone posted, it was as though they were being written by someone else. In Chaos however I felt her old style was very slightly making a come back. Still love her books.
Used to love her books and never missed one…haven’t read her in over 10 years…to me she lost it.
Loved the earlier ones but not read one for years.
I love her books. Earlier ones are better but I still buy and enjoy each book as it comes out
No offense to her content but she could condense them. They are a bit too long for me…..
I love her books..I’d hate to be a writer and read ppls comments that’s for sure..each to there own I guess
Loved her stuff at the start, but her books became a little tedious and a bit ‘meh’
Wouldn’t pick one up now
I agree, loved her early work but not the later ones.
I’m reading her new one… with the moving chapters and graphics… I’m easily pleased ??? only read a couple of her fiction though and it’s not for me x
It’s a while since I read one. I remember her writing well enough but I prefer plots that rely less on the incarnation of evil – – or find out how a few monstrous anomalies emerge from life – – and as to comments, well that comes with the territory and if there weren’t a few dissenters all her fan mail would be a tad flat.
Love her books!
I haven’t read her work.
Like others have posted. I loved her early books but after reading her books for several years I gave up as she seemed to go stale for me. That’s just my opinion though. X
The earlier books are better than her more recent ones, I think.
Overrated
Read everything she has ever written!
Like a lot of authors, her early books were brilliant, but her later books were very disappointing. I don’t read them now.
Early books were good now very rehashed stories
Her early ones were good. I found her books in the last five or so years hard going. I sense anger in some of her writing xx
Her early books were fantastic, her newer books are all repetitive and quite boring ?
Brilliant !
Great fan of her earlier work. For me, her later books were terrible.
I have all of them; I really like them so far. On Scarpetta Factor now with the other 6-7 in queue. Hope they don’t disappoint.
Was a big fan of her earlier works . Now long winded and technical
Really loved her early books, but gave up on her later ones. Just found they were so convoluted, never seemed to get to the point. Haven’t read any for a long time.
Good at first but in decline.
I enjoyed the early ones but the later ones were terrible
Loved the early books but finally gave up on last one. Couldn’t stand the streams of consciousness, with characters who had changed completely and became unrecognisable – and not very nice.
Same as previous comments, loved her old stuff but don’t enjoy the newer books.
Fantastic!!
Loved the earlier books. Haven’t read any of the later ones.
Love her books.
Love all her books
Bored with her.
loved her earlier books
Good for Audio books in the car
Loved her in the beginning. She got me hooked on crime fiction. Haven’t read her in a long long time now because I don’t like Kay Scarpetta’s niece and she was starting to dominate the books.
As above, loved her earlier books, postmortem brilliant then gradually got a bit same old ?
Me too, bored with her books. Stopped reading them years ago.
I’ve tried a few but just can’t get into them at all
I have them all. Up until the last five years or so they were brilliant, but now I find them quite bland. Too much focus on forensics and not enough on the characters. If it was me I would have written a series concentrating on Lucy. An awesome character. Brilliant but flawed in so many ways. So strong but vulnerable.
It was Lucy who put me off the series. I like Kay Scarpetta. I agree with you, give Lucy her own series, then I will go back to reading the Kay Scarpetta series 🙂
Why did she put you off the series?.
I don’t really know why. It’s a good few years since I read one. If I can remember she was a string character, and would go storming in flying helicopters with all hell blazing and save the day. Probably unreasonable of me but I have a pet hate of the FBI. If I see FBI in a book blurb I will drop the book like a hot potato. Same goes for MI5 or MI6 etc. Unreasonable of me I know 🙂
‘Strong’ not string!
Loved her books but became bored with the later ones.
In my opinion not much seemed to happen. Lots of people talking. I enjoy books with action.
I havent read them in years, it seemed to me that the writing was contrived to shock and repulse, I just grew out of them after a while
I have always been a fan especially of her earlier books but what was the Isle of Dogs all about?? Think she’s become too clever & technical now.
I loved her first few books . But after a while they became repetative. Almost as if she was using a stecil What a shame as she used to be really good. Im reading one from my local library at the moment and its very wishy washy. Wont be buying and will probibally give any more a pass in the library