Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Another good entry in the Scarpetta series July 26, 2008
This is Patricia Cornwell's 4th installment of the highly acclaimed Kay Scarpetta series. It's a good enough read but im starting to find the whole 'Kay is to blame' route a bit boring and repetative. It's worked so far but I feel if Cornwell continues this idea in further books then it will start to become boring. Also I have to admit that I find the character of Kay's neice, Lucy, highly annoying, although i like her as a character and I am glad she's in teh book she really is an annoying young woman and I don't know how Kay puts up with her.
The best part about this book, I thought, was the setting, Cornwell really builds the setting of the holidays and Christmas and it really makes it a cozy read, aside from the murders of course.
I've given this book a 4 star rating because it seems like more of the same of Cornwell's first 3 books. And I also feel that the ending seemed a bit rushed an implausable.
I shall definately continue reading the series as I love Patricia Cornwell's writing style and the character of Scarpetta. I only hope that in the next book 'The Body Farm' the bar is raised and shows the authors true potential.
 Plenty of Twists and Turns January 7, 2008
First off, let me say that although all of Cornwell's thrillers stand alone, it's better if you read them in the order they were written. More so in PC's case than in other authors who continue with the same character, book after book. This is because PC does the impossible, she keeps her characters continually growing with each story. Pass one up and you miss some of their development and the very interesting, but very flawed people that walk through the pages of her books are like people we know, friends, and one should stay current with one's friends.
"Cruel and Unusual" opens with Kay waiting for the execution of murder/rapist Ronnie Joe Waddell, but even as she's waiting someone is being killed, the killer using Waddell's M.O. One of his finger prints even shows up at one of the crime scenes.
This book has the usual Cornwellian twists and turns and as usual I was glued to my seat as I read this five star novel. I loved every second of it, because nobody does Cornwell, like Cornwell.
Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne
Unusual and Wow! December 6, 2007
Ever since I started to read Patricia Cornwell`s books I know that I need to expect the unexpected. Without labelling it. I just go with the flow, turning every single page one by one without knowing what will happen next but knowing only one thing - that at the end I may have learned something different about science, state law, psychology and about how a big hearted person like Dr. Kay Scarpetta can cope with other big people and their twisted games. Cruel and Unusual is good example of all this. Everything builds up around one person, Ronnie Joe Waddell, who is electrocuted. Then murders start and it looks like the executed man is to blame.... Well worked on details. Unusual. I am now looking forward to reading Patricia Cornwell`s new release, Book of The Dead.
What a great read! July 27, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have bought all the Scarpetta books and have read the first 7 in less than 2 weeks - that's how great they are.
This one if maybe not as thrilling as the previous ones BUT it leads to the next two books, and altogether they are truly amazing.
The reason I read so much in so little time is not because I don't have much to do or my life is boring but because once you have started to read there is no stopping.
A truly superb writer!
A thriller with twists. August 17, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Although not quite as good as her earlier books this still makes for a scintillating crime novel. With twists and turns galore this book takes you on an enjoyable journey.
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