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A review by arthur_pendrgn
Trace by Patricia Cornwell
4.0
Cornwell's books are strange experiences for me. Her writing gets in my head. She creates very distinct characters that don't change but always develop. She has a fine balance between the case and the interpersonal relationships, yet they always intermingle. She expresses the heaviness of the politics and the squabbling, yet it doesn't weigh down the book. As much as I like these characters, the books exhaust me.
The most affecting scene is Marino and Scarpetta after Marino's rape. His agony of indecision is haunting--his physical pain v his painful fears of her reaction and the loss of his dream. Shame from a whole different angle.
Nice balancing act in this as well, although it is difficult to wait for Rudy to connect the dots between cases. The politics, which seem prominent at one point, are dropped. I don't remember it they are resolved in the next book.
I read Livid and realized I had missed a few. No way do I want to deal with my grief over Kay and Benton's "separation." I wanted to start from their reunion--this is the book after their reunion. I remember thinking the first time I read it that Kay wasn't pissed enough or long enough. I still stand by that. But I want them to reunite, so I'm glad Cornwell didn't drag it out.
The most affecting scene is Marino and Scarpetta after Marino's rape. His agony of indecision is haunting--his physical pain v his painful fears of her reaction and the loss of his dream. Shame from a whole different angle.
Nice balancing act in this as well, although it is difficult to wait for Rudy to connect the dots between cases. The politics, which seem prominent at one point, are dropped. I don't remember it they are resolved in the next book.
I read Livid and realized I had missed a few. No way do I want to deal with my grief over Kay and Benton's "separation." I wanted to start from their reunion--this is the book after their reunion. I remember thinking the first time I read it that Kay wasn't pissed enough or long enough. I still stand by that. But I want them to reunite, so I'm glad Cornwell didn't drag it out.