This is the worst of the Scarpetta series. which is quite an achievement seeing as all the others are brilliant. My favourites being the claustrophobic "The Body Farm", and the superbly dark "Point of Origin". I have loved all the Scarpetta's, and read them at least twice over, and i still think this is the worst.

The plot was very complicated, and it all seemed a bit of a mess. The characters were nothing special, and i this is the only book in which Cornwell manage to bore me with her normally insightful computer terminology. It's too long, and basically i dont think it has any substance. There is a great potential. The idea for the plot is superb, and could well have been one of the best, but somewhere along the line it all slips. I cant put my finger on it, but i just didnt come away from this with the satisfaction i normally get out of a Kay Scarpetta book.

Nevertheless this is still a necessary book to read if you intend to read the entire series. It is one of the major turning points. The first book to feature Temple Gault, who would later lead to Carrie Grethen, Newton Joyce, and all the other catastrophic events which culminate in the next turning point of "The Last Precint". each one has signalled a new era for Patricia Cornwell, and each one has not been quite as good as the others. But The Last Precint was still much better than this. It is, admittedly, very clever, but far too complicated, and im surprised it got the CWA's gold dagger.

nevertheless, i have given it two stars purely because it is such a major point in Scarpetta's life. You must read it if you intend to read the entire series, but dont expect to enjoy it as much as you do the others.

In this fourth installment of the Kay Scarpetta series, we find the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia chasing a most challenging miscreant - a murderer with no pattern to his destruction except the intent to play games with the authorities hunting him. The book is a must-read for those addicted to Cornwell's well-researched suspense novels, since it sets the stage for a showdown in From Potter's Field. But a major plot hole revealed in the first few pages leaves the reader feeling cheated for the remainder of the novel.

We enter the story with Scarpetta recovering from the death of a close friend. While this development certainly bodes well for future plot twists, it leaves the reader frustrated with the current one. The few details of the death surface mostly at the end of the story and while we're told of Scarpetta's devastation, we really don't witness it. Seasoned Cornwell fans are accustomed to these shallow depths in characterization but it nonetheless puts a damper on an otherwise entertaining mystery.

Somehow as I became initiated into the world of Kay Scarpetta I missed this gem. It was great to backtrack and discover what has become one of my favorite books in the series. The story is SO imaginative and original! The suspense is taut and kept me on the edge of my seat. And most of all, there is Kay, a three dimensional, refreshingly human heroine. No, she isn't perfect. As the possibility of an affair with a married man arose, I wasn't "appalled" by Kay, I was heartbroken for her. Driven by work, shattered by lost love, reaching for someone to bring her back to life emotionally ... her feelings may not be noble but they certainly seemed human to me. A powerful woman in a controversial, conventionally male field, and reviewers ask why so many people hate her? It seems very realistic that the head of a high-profile state agency would find herself with enemies. While I have no real criticism of this book, I do have a comment on the rest of the series. Part of why I enjoyed this one so much is Lucy. As the series progresses, Lucy's life gets so complicated and convulated and dangerous that it is her character, not Kay's, that strains credibility. It was refreshing to revisit a time when Lucy was a teenager whose biggest (immediate) problem was access to a car.

This is my first book from Patrica Cornwell. I would have say that this book is a must-read, if not for the following points; Firstly, the book have a very strong feminist tone. Secondly, one part I simply can't understand is how Pete Morino, the detective, actually discuss the updates of an on-going investigation in the presence of Abby, who is going to write a book about the case. Abby has absolutely no business in this case, professionally. Lastly, the biggest spoiler. Anyone who love forensic science fiction should just stay away from this book. Dr. Scarpetta, who is suppose to be a chief medical examiner, actually spend most of her time doing investigative work. She was hardly in her working place. Not to spoil the fun, i will only let you know that in this book, the murderer was capture through pure luck and a little of investigative work. Forensic science play no part in it.

It is such a waste when this book can be really enjoyable. I wish that Scarpetta is a police detective rather than a medical examiner. Just think, how often does medical examiners go out and interview eyewitness?? Readers should also ignore the feminist tone of this book which can be quite irritating at some points. All men seems to be either stupid, evil, selfish, untidy or all of the above while the women are strong, tidy, clever.

So my conlcusion is, I may read her other books if i can get it from the library but i don't think it's worth my money to buy it. As a reminder, all forensic science fans should stay away from this book!

"All that Remains", chronicles M.E. Kay Scarpetta and Detective Pete Morino as they hunt to stop a murderer who hunts young couples. They are hampered by the fact that the bodies are only ever found months after the crime, making evidence scarce, and by the high-power mother of a young girl beleived to be the killer's latest victim whose hysteria threatens to ruin the case, and Scarpetta's career. The plot is a masterful blend of forensic science and Christie-quality deduction.

This was an absolute pleasure to read. "All that Remains" isn't bogged down with the Scarpetta preoccupation with her niece's social life which ruins later books nor is she coming apart at the seams emotionally (ummm..."Black Notice" anyone?) Cornwell's focus on the case makes for a seamless read that trully is fine thriller fiction.

Powerful, mysterious, suspenseful: these are all words that describe the book "All That Remains." In this book, the main character is the chief medical examiner for the police department. But when she starts finding clues on victims' bodies, she and some of her fellow cops try to figure out a baffling case of a serial killer, but the killer knows that they're on his tail. Patricia D. Cornwell does an excellent job of describing feelings, people, places, crime scenes, everything. Although the plot is great, she does get a little bit graphic when she is explaining what the killer does and what he has done. So I would recommend this book to jr. high school and high school students, and adults. Now it's your turn to try to figure who the killer is. Go read "All That Remains."

An eighteenth century novel recounting the life and survival of a strong willed Moll Flanders, a woman who, abandoned as an infant, finds her way to self sufficiency, in a world then dominated by men. Through ingenius schemes she still some how always regains the illusion of imaginary high standing and good reputation throughout it all.

I found Moll Flanders to be resourceful and ingenious in her methods for securing her own survival. The book puts prostitution and premarital sex in a whole new perspective. As one can deduce from this book, life was not so simple for women in the 18th century, especially if they were abandon as children, or even if they husband died and left them without means to exist. Moll takes her position as a dependent woman and finds power in her mind to devise schemes which will allow her a secure lifestyle without compromising her self.

I found Moll to be a woman of character and repute, with self esteem, who made her own way in a world where women had no power, money or choices aside from their dependence upon men.

I loved this novel, having read it for a classics book club. I probably would not have picked this up on my own, and I am thankful to the club for the selection. Moll was a sympathetic character in all aspects except for the abandonment of her numerous children. I especially enjoyed that she marked different periods of her life by the amount of money she had; money being the only safe form of love she knew. She reminded me of Tom Ripley in the Patricia Highsmith novels, extremely clever when extricating oneself out of touchy situations. I think this is a great choice for bookclubs as well, having sparked meaningful discussion in our group.

Daniel Defoe's 1722 novel, "Moll Flanders," remains a fascinating imaginative work, and is in many ways more interesting than his famous first effort, "Robinson Crusoe." Having seen bits of two recent film adaptations in the last couple of months on television, and being a budding 18th century scholar, I decided it was time I picked up my own copy of "Moll Flanders" and see the actual product on its own terms. A story no less about a castaway and delinquent than "Crusoe," in "Moll Flanders," Defoe attempts to set down the history of a woman with a wild and often desperate life. A character of infinitely more interiority and reflection than Crusoe, Moll gives us through a first person narrative, a look into various stations of life in 18th century England and America.

The novel begins with a tip of the hat to that fine progenitor of the novel, "Don Quixote," a Gines-like acknowledgment that Moll, as the author of her own story, cannot complete that story within the text of the novel, unless people can write when they are deceased. Amusements aside, Moll begins her story as Crusoe begins his, with an immediate acknowledgment of the instability of the modern self - the corruption of her own name. Born in Newgate prison, and having never known her mother, Moll finds herself among gypsies and landed gentry before settling in Colchester for the term of her youth. Here, she founds her sense of social ambition, unusual even for Jane Eyre in the 19th century, as one in which she figures to be a gentlewoman by earning her own living. Various mishaps and misadventures lead her through marriages, whoredom, and thievery as Moll attempts to find her place in the world as a woman of common birth. Early on she learns the lessons that will aid her on her journey, viz., the value of money, quick wit, and a sense of her own sexuality.

While Defoe certainly does not sugar-coat the wrongs of woman in the early 18th century - delving deeply into issues of feminine helplessness before the law, the difficulties of procuring stable employment, and various reproductive issues such as adoption, abortion, and infant mortality - yet he maintains a consistent character of Moll as an extremely strong, adaptive, and resilient female character. The most riveting facet of Moll throughout is her own sense of self-worth and importance, especially in her own history. For instance, while chronicling an encounter with a former lover, Moll tells us that while his adventures are worth their own narrative, this is "my story, not his." Moll's strength in the midst of doubt, desperation, and general loneliness keeps the reader's constant interest and admiration.

Defoe's exploration of inter-gender relationships are worthy of note themselves for the sheer variety of social, economic, and personal situations he includes in the novel. The economic theme stands out among these, and provides a link back to the preoccupations of "Robinson Crusoe." Like Crusoe, Moll is always aware of the value of her personal possessions, and conscious of how to exploit and husband her resources to best advantage. Also like Crusoe, "Moll Flanders" is keenly aware of the possibilities and drawbacks of English colonial ventures in America. Defoe's efforts to link all these themes to the lot of the English prison population, the family unit, and indentured servants and African slaves, are all managed extremely well within the text of the novel. For all this, "Moll Flanders" remains an entertaining, satisfying, relevant novel, and stands for me above "Crusoe" as a work of high literary value.

With this book Patricia Cornwell secured herself a multi-millions dollar career and countless follow-ups. Postmortem is extremely well written, the prose flawless, and the personal and forensic details absorbing. Don't expect and nice character as a protagonist. In Postmorterm a serial killer goes around Richmond, Virginia and kills young women. It's not a laughing matter, and Cornwell handles the narration and pace with a touch of realism which is scary to say the least. Maybe this has to do--apart from her ability to write convincingly--with the fact that the serial killings in the novel are based on a real case which also happened in Richmond, Virginia. Perhaps the only problem is the ending is a little weak but then Cornwell once claimed, 'I don't do mysteries'. And she doesn't. This novel takes you into the head and life of the postmorterm examiner. Keep in mind that Cornwell had taken some artistic liberties from the sake of dramatic tension, and that her protagonist, Kay Scarpetta, involves herself in duties which she would not normally be authorized to handle in real-life situations. Neverthelss, it's a rollercoaster of a book, and for those who have never read a Cornwell, start from the beginning, and read this one. For the record, as the years go by, Cornwell's novels are declining in quality. See my other reviews.

With this book Patricia Cornwell secured herself a multi-millions dollar career and countless follow-ups. Postmortem is extremely well written, the prose flawless, and the personal and forensic details absorbing. Don't expect and nice character as a protagonist. In Postmorterm a serial killer goes around Richmond, Virginia and kills young women. It's not a laughing matter, and Cornwell handles the narration and pace with a touch of realism which is scary to say the least. Maybe this has to do--apart from her ability to write convincingly--with the fact that the serial killings in the novel are based on a real case which also happened in Richmond, Virginia. Perhaps the only problem is the ending is a little weak but then Cornwell once claimed, 'I don't do mysteries'. And she doesn't. This novel takes you into the head and life of the postmorterm examiner. Keep in mind that Cornwell had taken some artistic liberties from the sake of dramatic tension, and that her protagonist, Kay Scarpetta, involves herself in duties which she would not normally be authorized to handle in real-life situations. Neverthelss, it's a rollercoaster of a book, and for those who have never read a Cornwell, start from the beginning, and read this one. For the record, as the years go by, Cornwell's novels are declining in quality. See my other reviews.

With this book Patricia Cornwell secured herself a multi-millions dollar career and countless follow-ups. Postmortem is extremely well written, the prose flawless, and the personal and forensic details absorbing. Don't expect and nice character as a protagonist. In Postmorterm a serial killer goes around Richmond, Virginia and kills young women. It's not a laughing matter, and Cornwell handles the narration and pace with a touch of realism which is scary to say the least. Maybe this has to do--apart from her ability to write convincingly--with the fact that the serial killings in the novel are based on a real case which also happened in Richmond, Virginia. Perhaps the only problem is the ending is a little weak but then Cornwell once claimed, 'I don't do mysteries'. And she doesn't. This novel takes you into the head and life of the postmorterm examiner. Keep in mind that Cornwell had taken some artistic liberties from the sake of dramatic tension, and that her protagonist, Kay Scarpetta, involves herself in duties which she would not normally be authorized to handle in real-life situations. Neverthelss, it's a rollercoaster of a book, and for those who have never read a Cornwell, start from the beginning, and read this one. For the record, as the years go by, Cornwell's novels are declining in quality. See my other reviews.

"Skull Session" is certainly one of the most original thrillers I've read recently. Mr. Hecht is certainly a master of unique characterizations and neurological information. Although I think the book is really "Over-rated" by the majority of literary critics, it IS a great read. Sometimes the dialogue is a little repetitive, and some of the scenarios are a little too lengthy to help maintain the suspense, but overall "Skull Session" is a worthwhile read.

There are many superlative characterizations. Of course, the leading characters of Paul and Lia are rich and provocative; sympathetic and believable; tragic and heroic. Along with them are some really excellent supporting characters, the most effective being Morgan Ford, the detective who becomes embroiled in the complex plot involving the vandalism of a wealthy woman's historic lodge and the mysterious disappearances of several teenagers. Mo (as he is called) has a disturbing past, and carries this along with the weight of his divorce. His insecurities, the desire for female companionship again, and his mania over resolving the case in his own "renegade" manner is intelligent and gripping. His ultimate fate, however, is a very disturbing part of the book that I wish Hecht had redirected, although it does have a tremendous emotional impact. Also very interesting is Heather Mason, a teenage girl with severe emotional problems who provides clues in the case, in spite of her parent's objections. Peter Rizal, a macho cop, is also quite well-drawn. Royce, Aunt Vivien, Demory Corrigan, Janet Skoglund, Mark Skoglund, the list could go on---there are richly drawn characters, which is what makes this book so rewarding in the long run. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is it's a little too lengthy and I really hated what happens with Morgan Ford. But, hey, what the Hecht? This is a very good book!

My friend and I each picked up a copy of this book and read in tandam. We had a blast trying to guess who the home wrecker was, how the characters related, throwing out ideas as such and trying to catch the author in unbelievable links to other characters. Well, we just couldn't find anything that didn't jive.

He writes a very plausible story but we would have wished for a slightly different ending.

Regardless, the ending is still plausible and we both felt like we knew the characters.

Great start! Wish I knew when the next one was coming!

I was amazed that this was Hecht's first work. He is an excellent writer and manages to combine prose and scientific information seemlessly. Hecht keeps the plot moving with twists and turns but down-to-earth with _excellent_ research to back it up. When I finished I felt like I would never read another book as good as Skull Session again. Lucky for me there are, but I look forward to the next time I read it.

The Kay Scarpetta series is best read in chronological sequence, as each new novel builds on developments from the previous ones, and knowledge of this history is to some degree assumed. Thus, if you're going to read one of the series, this is the one.

Some reviewers here criticize the lack of non-stop action. To the contrary, I think the style is highly effective. Cornwell indulges in her well-developed, diverse characters with introspection and dialog. Furthermore, investigations are not a linear progression -- everything isn't always wrapped up in a tidy little package, every piece of evidence isn't used, and every fact isn't explained. But that's life.

The series has also been criticized for being a bit "nerdy". But that's appropriate -- it's strength. The use of evidence and the examination of the crime scene reminds me of my favorite crime author, Canon Doyle. The magnifying glass is replaced by a substantially more expensive apparatus, but the attention paid to analytic methods and thinking is quite enjoyable.

The combination of rich character development and intellectual analysis makes this a really enjoyable book, and worthwhile series. I really highly recommend it. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is I reserve that for the highest tier of fiction, and I'm not sure this is quite there. But it's certainly some of the best work I've read in a long time.

Mrs. Cornwell is one of these authors that writes a couple of good books and all the rest of her books sell a very well quantity only because of those written in the past. Obviously, she really knows how to do the thing she does, she criated her own style out of nothing and she has more than just "a couple of good books". Patricia Cornwell is famous and has an intriguing life that would give to the readers a very nice biography.

BODY OF EVIDENCE is the best Kay Scarpetta book I've read till now. No other book by Patricia Cornwell moved me so much and gave me such pleasure. It's modern and it has also very nicely written characters that you'll love. And a wonderful plot, for sure. You won't be disappointed if you read that book. It's really worthwhile. One of those rare books by Patricia Cornwell that you buy and don't regret for doing it.

Unlike Post-Mortem, Body Of Evidence lays itself out like a roadmap with many blind curves. Kay Scarpetta knows her stuff but is a little out of touch as far as police work goes. (I don't know many people who maintain constant dialogue with the FBI to help out with their case-load.) That's the only down-side to the character. The one thing I appreciated was that the "Who-Dun-It" was introduced in the series of fact-finding points throughout the story. So, at the end, when they caught the person, you as the reader could say, "OK. I remember how this fit earlier." Post-Mortem pulled the killer out of a proverbial hat, as if the author suddenly needed to end the book. But Body of Evidence was a good read with mystery, a twisted love-interest, and Detective Marino. (I think Marino secretly likes Kay.) Enjoy.

Told in the first person, this is the tragic story of the life of the social climbing Roxana - it reads (as I suppose it was intended to read) as a guilt-ridden confession.

Abandoned (with her five children) by her profligate and irresponsible husband, Roxana rises to wealth by a series of affairs with well-connected men. Not to give away the ending, but the achievement of wealth does not result in anything like happiness.

Due to the way she was treated, Roxana has a highly critical view of marriage, and advocates equal rights for women. Although he puts such opinions in Roxana's mouth, Defoe makes it clear that (for the time) these were extreme views - Roxana goes too far in her cynicism and amorality. I thought that Defoe's point was that women should be treated far more humanely than they were, but not that they should be treated as equals.

Defoe also explores interesting issues surrounding the moral effects of both extreme poverty and great wealth: "... for tho' Poverty and Want is an irresistible Temptation to the Poor, Vanity and Great Things are as irresistible to others..."

In the edition I was reading, the editor had done his best to maintain Defoe's original spelling and style. You have therefore to put up with the peculiarities and inconsistencies of Defoe's grammar and spelling. Either you're into this or you're not, but I prefered it that way. The lack of chapters or other breaks in the text was a bother: I don't know enough about the literature of Defoe's time to judge whether that was normal, or whether Defoe deliberately avoided the use of such "artificial" stylistic devices in order to maintain the feeling that this was someone giving her confession. Unless you're able to sit down and read the novel at one sitting (I wasn't) it means that you have to judge carefully when to create your own breaks.

Although "Roxana" had plenty of points of interest, I felt that it was over-long. Defoe had made his case long before the end, and although the ending is shocking and tragic, the pathway there could have been shorter.

This novel follows the progress of a woman who is left by her husband with only her servant. She vows never to be poor again, and climbs her way back up the social ladder by using men and her body. The novel, while possibly intended as a conduct book to show women what happens to those who sin, reads today as a portrait of a woman trapped between society's views and her own upward movement. A very interesting, and at times disturbing, read.

Daniel Defoe has a way with words, lovely piece of words. I would advise you to read this book slowly to eat up the words.

An interesting story of a remarkable woman with unusual strength and deep insight into faith, Christ and christian living. Thus defenately worth reading. Yet the book left me spiritually hungry; I would have wanted to hear more Ruth's own voice, get closer to her and her way of figuring things out. That would have also brought more warmth into the biography. A book called "Coffee and conversation with Ruth Bell Graham and Gigi Tchividjian" fills that kind of needs better.

Ruth is a remarkable woman, with an interesting childhood, young adult and adult life story. She is a picture of a godly, submissive wife who is not a doormat....(something this world needs more examples of!) I recommend it, especially for young Christian women who are engaged or newly married.

A well written biography of one of the best examples of a Godly woman

A very good introduction to all major legal issues presented in what is called Health Care Law. Topics covered include: contractual aspects of the doctor-patient relationship (duty to treat, termination of relations); the legal nature of health care organizations; ERISA preemption; medical malpractice and informed consent; anti-trust; and ethical considerations.

"Remember the Alibi" takes place in a small North Carolina town, where Peaches Dann, the 55-year-old absent-minded sleuth in this series, is trying to solve a potential murder mystery involving her rich, willful father. After somebody poisons his tea with digitoxin, Peaches believes her father is the next target of a con artist who swindles elderly people out of their money and then conceals their murder as a suicide. The suspects range from her young cousin's current and past boyfriends to a few of her father's round-the-clock nurses. With the help of Ted Holleran, Peaches' 64-year-old husband/sidekick, and a few other characters from the previous book ("Who Killed What's-Her-Name?")--such as "Mustache" (aka Lieutenant John Wilson) who helped solve the previous murder case--, Peaches hopes to uncover the serial killer's identity before s/he has a chance to kill again.

Overall, I thought "Remember the Alibi" was quite good, except for the continuous mention of Peaches' memory book, the one she's in the process of writing: "How to Survive Without a Memory". That slowed the book's pace a bit, though some of the memory tricks were interesting. Still, I thought Peaches was a wonderful female detective--witty, resourceful, and intelligent--even though she was a bit forgetful. I'd certainly recommend this book/series to anyone who likes mysteries solved by quirky, older amateur sleuths.