Predator by Patricia Cornwell (2005, Unabridged, Compact Disc)

I've been reading Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta novels on and off for some time now. There was a time when these stories were innovative, and even groundbreaking in their introduction of the strong female lead into the serial killer, suspense genre. But something happened along the way. I don't know if Cornwell changed her story lines for her own reasons or due to bad advice, but rather than forensic suspense the stories turned into adventures in dysfunctional families. Scarpetta became a flaming codependent trying to mother Lucy, whose goal in life was staying in trouble. And Pete Marino, never the most likeable of characters became increasingly large, loud and obnoxious. To put it bluntly, the killers were often the most attractive characters in the stories.

Cornwell long ago fell off my 'buy in hardback' list. But when I picked up Predator the blurb sounded pretty good, and I decided to give Cornwell another try. The story finds Kay Scarpetta, Pete Marino, and a whole cast of crimestoppers working at the National Forensic Academy, the institute Lucy created so that she could work as a free agent. All isn't well at the Academy, strange events and thefts are interspersed with intense personality conflicts and mistrust until it is obvious that a crisis is brewing.

In the meantime a subtle series of deaths and disappearances come to light that seem to link Basil Jenrette, an imprisoned serial killer who has become the subject of Benton Wesley's research into the deviant mind, with killers down in Florida where the academy is. The connections surface painstakingly slowly after in depth forensic work. This is the formula which made Cornwell a success, and I hoped for a return to the Scarpetta of the early stories.

Unfortunately, that was not to be. Most of the suspense is about which character will have an argument with another, not with the forensic work. Kay Scarpetta literally shotguns the research work, creating a haphazard web of clues and red herrings. If it wasn't for Pat Cornwell's determination to give the whole story away by continually inviting the reader into the mind of the killer (and a very boring killer he is, by the way) the plot would have been almost impossible to follow. It is almost as if Cornwell wrote a bunch of short episodes and then put them in a semblance of order without any effort at continuity. I'll probably never know whether the ending was intended to be a cliff hanger or if the story was abandoned to its loose ends.

It's a shame that this series has been allowed to degenerate the way it has. Cornwell seems to be convinced that if she cannot breath new life into her characters she can succeed by making them so pitiable that the reader will succumb to guilt and read the yet another book. My recommendation is that, under no circumstances buy the hardback. Wait for the paperback if you will, although you may find the time best spent reading something else.

I liked it don't get me wrong it is ok just not what I put into my catagory of fantastic. I try to be truthfull the unabridged verson is like $40.

Dissapointing. Her last couple of books seem to be less than her prior efforts. This novel seemed to be "choppy" & disjointed. Continuity was poor.

This was my 1st Patricia Cornwall novel as she Continuing on in the Kay Scarpetta series. I personally had a hard time following the story line, it had some twists and turns. I felt she spent to much time of her romanitc interests, and not the main story. I do like her writing and will possible listen to more of her novels but this one is just an average book. I hear her earlier stuff is much more intense and doesn't leave you wondering.

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For some reason, it seems like Cornwell has lost her ability to keep a good story going. One thing is for sure, she doesn't know how to end a story. Everything seems to get wrapped up in less then a page after investing time trying to figure out what is going on. I am not sure if she has a good idea where she is going with the realtionship with Benton and her neice which she seems to spend too much time on. This story is an improvement over the last 4 or 5, but I didn't rush out to get this one and probably won't be in a hurry to get the next. Some magic is missing that was in the early stories.

I am a big fan of Patricia Cornwell and love every one of her stories. I work in a place where I can listen to stories with my headphones on. This was a great story and it kept me on my toes

I bought the audio book to listen to while driving or working around the house. I enjoy Patricia Cornwell's books but don't always have time to sit down and read.

I bought "Book of the Dead" and it kept referring back to characters in "Predator" so I ordered it also. I like the way the author weaves her story and keeps you guessing as to what is going on. I also like the way she uses all of her characters and keeps them involved throughout. I don't like in particular that they keep having relational problems and never seem to get to a "happy stage" in life. Benton and Kay should be happier I think. However, it is another book worth buying. The author hasn't lost her touch.

I purchased this as a present for my father. It came in great condition and I got a good deal on it.

Her books can be alittle dark sometimes. I wouldn't read them if your depressed. This book was very good- susprising end.

Predator is a good story, quite similiar to all the other Patricia Cornwell's. I have liked them all.

Another fantastic Patricia Cornwall book! The story kept you guessing til the end. I work on a manufacturing floor and listen while I build machines. The day FLIES by...and then I share the CD's with co-workers. It's great when they come up and say so-and-so did it! and you can just smile and shake your head! As with most unabridged audios, people say 9 cds, that's alot...but at the end of the story, everyone wishes there was more!

THis order went well, will do this again, thanks I enjoy being able to add to my personal library this way

Excellant plot, twists, turns, just when you think you know what is going on, the end arrives and surprises you totally!

I love Patricia Cornwall, and have all her books signed. I bought this book on tape so I could hear the book in my car during long commutes. The reader is fantastic and makes you really feel there.