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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780425180631
ISBN number: 0425180638
Label: Berkley
Manufacturer: Berkley
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 608
Printing Date: July 01, 2001
Publishing house: Berkley
Release Date: July 03, 2001
Sale Popularity Level: 53679
Studio: Berkley
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Product Description:
Now Patricia Cornwell brings her millions of readers a novel concerning crimes with roots in a murder from the distant past. When Kay Scarpetta is mandated to investigate the 400 year-old violent death of one of America's very first settlers at Jamestown, Virginia, it seems like the perfect match: modern technology's savviest avatar versus an age-old crime. Kay's involvement in the case attracts headlines, and more-the unwelcome ire of a person or persons unknown.
Kay and those closest to her soon find themselves the targets of vicious hate crimes that are clearly inspired by her connection to the archaeological excavation. At very first more nuisance than assault, the nature of the attacks quickly escalates to violence. Worse still, those sworn to protect prove to be the enemy, forcing Scarpetta, her niece Lucy, and detective Peter Marino to take matters into their won hands- torquing the rule of law and changing their lives forever. In a case ranging from an 18th-century murder to mortal risk in present day, The Last Precinct pits Kay Scarpetta against a rogue enemy who will stop at nothing to stop her.
Amazon.com Review:
Patricia Cornwell's legendary crime fiction creation, Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, has logged a host of fans among mystery readers and, within the bounds of her fictional world, an equally impressive tally of individuals intent on causing her grievous physical or psychological harm.
The 11th Scarpetta novel, The Last Precinct, doesn't add any new names to the second roster. Instead, in a sweeping narrative gesture toward retrospection (less-than-fervent fans might whisper 'or stagnation'), the novel depends largely on ground already covered in its predecessors, Black Notice and, to a lesser extent, Point of Origin. All the familiar faces--friend and foe--are here: police captain Marino, Kay's niece Lucy, the so-called Werewolf murderer, and (in memoriam) Kay's lover Benton Wesley and his killer, Carrie Grethen. Kay, who nearly killed the Werewolf in self-defense as Black Notice came to a close, now finds herself the target of a corrupt police investigation that will dredge her darkest secrets from the deepest corners of her past.
Torn between a desire to clear her name and the instinct of a wounded animal to turn against even its would-be rescuers, Kay sifts through the forensic evidence that seems to link Chandonne to other horrific events in her past, up to and including Wesley's murder. Physical analysis, however, will not be enough to right her up-ended world. Instead, Kay must rely on the strategic support of her niece, cofounder of the Last Precinct (an odd, ill-defined organization that is, in the words of its motto, 'where you go when there is nowhere left'), and on her willingness to examine her own fears, misconceptions, and anything-but-altruistic motives. The most important setting in this novel is not the morgue--it's the living room where Kay's therapist forces her to address (you guessed it) 'unresolved issues.'
The novel's focus on Kay's emotional evolution does not, unfortunately, mask the leaps of illogic that pepper the plot's murky stew. More disturbing than these occasional lapses, however, is the feeling that Cornwell has written herself into a corner. The Scarpetta of The Last Precinct is a far cry from the irritably independent woman of previous books. Her often over-inflated musings are more tiresome than tantalizing. Cornwell's impressive track record makes this excursion a bit disappointing, but that same record means that loyal fans will race to acquire the book anyway and that the odds of her returning to her usual stellar form subsequent time are (hurrah!) favorable. --Kelly Flynn
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Rated by buyers -
Cornwell always writes in vivid color. Some of her books have been my favorites. However. I think her plots are strong enough that she does not need to have such descriptive details. I find myself skipping these descriptions. Marino has become my favorite character ahead of Scarpetta. If you like violence this is the book for you. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"
Writing as a Small BusinessQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelTravelersThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War
Rated by buyers 
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I recently read(listened to on CD) Black Notice, The Last Precinct and Blow Fly all one after the other on my two-hour daily commute. The Last Precinct was a very disappointing, almost time-wasting, read. I see that others felt the same way. It spends a lot of time inside Kay's head with few revelations and even less plot. After a while, I found Anna to be a pain in the butt. The interaction between the two was fake and contrived. And I hate to say this about a Cornewell novel, but it was boring, even.
The irony is that Blow Fly, which seemed to wrap up and even accelerate some story lines left dangling in past novels, was presented in a too neat package with most climaxes and thrilling events happening off-camera and not written about in detail.
I had stopped reading Cornwell after Black Notice, which I originally read when it was very first published. Several years went by and I had forgotten why I didn't like her books anymore because I could still feel the rush of reading her early novels.
Now I know why.
Rated by buyers 
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Like the last book in the series, this one seems to get a lot of criticism. I don't understand. This book starts to tie some things together from the previous two books. Kay, and the other characters as well are not one dimensional, they have many layers. This book shows us that losing a loved one is not something that just happens and you get over it. It continues to touch every part of our lives, as Benton's death does for Kay, Lucy, Marino and even the staff of the morgue. This book moves at a slower pace and is more in depth than the previous ones. To me, that is a good thing. Some say the book is dark. Well, yeah, a book about a medical examiner and what she sees can be that way, not to mention how difficult the job has to become once you have lost someone dear to you through a violent death.
This isn't a book to begin the series with, that's for sure. It picks up a few hours after Black Notice ends. Point of Origin should be read very first as well. I look forward to the subsequent book in the series, this one obviously is about change in Kay's life, beliefs and career.
Rated by buyers 
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Most of the major writers of crime fiction get away with sloppy plotlines and mailed-in characterizations just as long as their base readership gets to see the same characters as in the book before. The Last Precinct is no exception. I was so bored that I simply could not slog through the whole thing. Too bad; if this one has even been remotely readable I might have moved on to Cornwell's other work. If you want to read a thriller with a little heart, pick up any of Michael Connelly's work, or one of relative newcomer Jeff Lindsay's Dexter novels. You owe it to yourself not to support lazy writing.
Rated by buyers -
While thoroughly enjoying all Patricia Cornwell`s work and being an avid fan of Dr.Scarpetta I feel The Last Precinct is my favourite. It is a riveting story and we get a really great insight into what makes the Doctor tick following her time with her friend Dr. Anna Zenner who as a Psychiatrist knows how to lead her friend into telling what troubles her .Having followed her through nine earlier stories we begin to understand what she really feels, how she looks upon various times in her life and begin to know the lady personally (up to a point).Very enjoyable,a great forensic mystery. Joan Blacklock/uk
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