Patricia Cornwall's same depressing formula is getting very boring. Dr Scarpetti will once again not be allowed a shred of happiness. Her only long term relationship is with her equally long suffering niece. If you've read one, you've basically read them all.

Patricia Cornwell's latest book Point of Origin contains all the aspects of a well-written mystery. Suspense, foreshadowing, and a well developed, twisting plot are all techniques Cornwell has mastered in her latest novel. Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the consulting forensic pathologist for the federal government, teams up with ex-FBI agent Benton Wesley to recapture psycopath Carrie Grethen. Scarpetta and Wesley are lovers and, along with Grethen, are characters adopted from Cornwell's previous novels. At the same time of Grethen's escape from a mental institution in New York, a fire kills twenty thoroughbred horses that belong to multi-millionare Kenneth Sparkes. The fire also destroys Sparkes's million-dollar mansion. Dr. Scarpetta is assisted by her niece Lucy, an FBI agent with a bad past, in the investigation of the fire's origin. The involved plot takes the reader through the distressed life of Kay Scarpetta. The connection readers are able to make with Dr. Scarpetta is perhaps the strongest aspect of the book. Being able to experience the sorrow, apprehension, anger, and insecurity that Dr. Scarpetta faces in her daily life makes the novel much more interesting. I looked forward to reading ahead in the book just to see what situation Dr. Scarpetta might have to deal with next. Furthermore, Ms. Cornwell's extensive technical vocabulary makes the story much more realistic and believable. For example, the explicit jargon used to describe the chemical aspects of the fire, the condition of corpses recovered from the fire, and other such scientific prodedures was truly impressive. This, in addition with the interesting characters and well-developed plot, has enabled Ms. Cornwell's most recent novel to fare well among the critics and readers. However, the weakest aspect of this book is Ms. Cornwell's lack of expanded language. The language, excluding the technical and chemical descriptions, seems to be underdeveloped. Also, I am rather unimpressed with the author's use of the English language. I feel as though she sticks in metaphors, similes, and other literary characteristics just to show the readers that possesses some form of literary aptitude. Futhermore, the literary techniques she does use are awkward and inappropriate. Nevertheless, the plot's complexity enables this book to be one of Patricia Cornwell's best. I personally thought the book was very enigmatic and entertaining.

I love Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series! Every book is so interesting. This book is as terrific as the rest, however, I was just as shattered as Kay, Lucy and Marino regarding the final victim of Carrie Grethen (or it is her final victim after all???). I was so angry and hurt! A testimony to the affect and quality of these novels on this reader, and, I'm trying to say this without giving anything away, is that I cried unabashedly for the last three chapters and then, was unable to even start the next book. I may have to wait a few months to take on Black Notice without, again, sobbing through the book. I am easily sucked into the worlds presented in books, but rarely are my reactions this intense.
One thing, though... Hey Patricia Cornwell! Is Kay Scarpetta EVER going to be happy???

Gunn and Smith struggled valiantly to shape a collection of 9 biographies of Native American achievers, blending the historical and the personal in a somewhat old-fashioned style of narration that young people will find attractive. The biographical sketches review the life and achievements of Weetamoo, an Indian woman who figured in very early white-Indian skirmishes, Geronimo, Will Rogers, Jim Thorpe, Maria Tallchief, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Wilma Pearl Mankiller, Michael Naranjo (Vietnam War Veteran), and Louise Erdrich. Yet, this reviewer believes that most libraries will not want to purchase it this book. First of all, the title picks up an egregious lie that appeared in many treaties that were later broken. The authors admit knowing this but used it anyhow. The persons pictured, for the most part, became successful in the white world on white terms. In the story of Jim Thorpe, Gunn and Smith tell of a battle in which 300 Sac and Fox Indians were killed, and include parenthetically a comment by Lincoln that, during his war experience at this time, he "could not remember meeting any enemy except mosquitoes." The authors refer to the disparaging term "blanket Indians," which is very nearly as offensive as the n word to black Americans. They say that Quakers forced an Indian young person to do indoor chores but provide little context. They comment that Senator Campbell made jewelry but never got to the point of selling it for income; also, that he was married in a sleazy wedding chapel. The authors refer, directly or indirectly, to disparaging stereotypes this reviewer has not heard for half a long lifetime: laziness, drunkenness, and unwillingness to embrace reasonable white demands for education, private ownership of land, and relocation to urban areas. They may not have intended to offend, but they have a glaring lack of intuitive sense of what Native American culture is all about today. Add this to the unattractive packaging of the book--black and white portraits, large print, and narrow margins. Schools should reject this collection.

Did you know Will Rogers was American Indian? Want to know about Balancine's wife? Read this book. It's good

I was truly disappointed in this book. The story takes place in Kennealy's Keltia universe, but she has replaced plot and character development with a (thinly) veiled fictionalization of her life with the late Jim Morrison. Her male protagonist is a serene bard (musician), originally part of a popular music group, who splits with his band, is killed with a drug called "hazen" (heroin?), and is rescued by his one true love. His name appears a variation of the Celtic rendering for "Jim Morrison", and his nickname "Fireheart" is (by merest coincidence) also the name by which Keneally refers to Morrison in her earlier non-fiction account of their life together. Where she is not reworking her life, she spends describing Wiccan rites and philosophies. I truly enjoyed the previous two trilogies dealing with Keltia. In fact, that is the only reason why I didn't abandon this book midway through. While the framework remains, the fleshing out is gone. Her characters are shallow, and the plot goes to its inevitable conclusion. I hope she either returns full-bore to her earlier style, or abandons all pretense of keeping to the Keltia theme. Blackmantle just doesn't work.

I feel for Kennealy-Morrison, I really do. But I must agree with other reviewers here that this book is far below the quality of her earlier work. I loved the original Copper Crown series, they were vivid and engaging. This book is so obviously and painfully autobiographical that it's quite hard to read.

I sympathize with what she's been through. And I know writers are supposed to "write what you know". But this was too much for most of us, we don't want to share this stuff. Let Jim go Patricia, and get on with your life. We'd like to read more excellent fiction the like of which we know you're capable of, but this, sadly, just isn't it.

While it is true that Patricia Kennealy Morrison's Blackmantle is not in the same league as the Aeron or Arthur series, it's not "supposed" to be. I found PKM's "Celts in outer space" story to be a charming love story, never mind that you can read her own history into it and yes, play anagrams with many of the names. I find the previous reader comments peckish and with an underlying tone of personal grudge. Hmmm, wonder why they sound alike... Well, anyway, I found that, as usual, PKM's command of Celtic culture and language made reading Blackmantle that much more enjoyable. She's truly in a class of her own.

David and Goliath, the classic Biblical story from 1 Samuel 17, is a classic. The theme of a shepard boy going against the odds and relying on something bigger to give him the courage to help him win is inspiring to atheists, agonostics, and devout Christians alike.

I am quite disappointed with this book. If I have read it in a book store (instead of mail order) I would not have bought it. It is bacially a book with only pictures and the prices. It does not even include the price of those that are not pictured. The pictures are not great either, some ivory pieces look like they are green!! The listing is not complete and in my own opinion, any one who goes to an auction site can gather enough pictures and a more complete price list of all the Fire King items than this book. There are only 2-3 pages that have words/writting by the author. I didnot gain any new knowledge by reading this book at all. A waste of money. The one by Gene Florence is much better.