3 member(s) found this review helpful.
I just couldn't get interested in it. Read the first half in an evening and then skimmed the rest. I think Patricia Cornwell's writing career is "At Risk".
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book may be the one that finally convinces me not to bother with any more of Patricia Cornwell's works. The writing was choppy and insubstantial, and the same could be said for the plot. The cynicism and meanness of the main characters (the good guys!) overshadowed their interesting qualities, while characters that had lots of promise were relegated to supporting roles. Fast to read, but not satisfying.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A well-known, attractive and aggressive Massachusetts district attorney is planning on running for governor. She wants to use her new crime initiative called At Risk to show off some cutting-edge DNA technology, and thinks she's found it in a Tennessee twenty-year-old murder case. If her office solves this cold case it will make this D.A. look good for her run for governor. In order to get some help with this case, she calls back home one of her Massachusetts state investigators who is in the middle of a course at the National Forensic Academy in Knoxville, TN.
The investigator isn't sure about his boss, the D.A., and when a violent crime is committed it makes him wonder even more about this woman who wants it all.
I enjoyed this book and finished it fast because it's a short book, only 212 pages with larger print than in paperbacks, so it went fast. The story makes you wonder who did what, and has a few twists like most of Cornwell's books. I think this catches me up on all of her books now.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Not one of her better novels; choppy and confusing.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Definitely not one of her better works, and I'm usually a big fan of hers. A quick read but I didn't care for the characters at all.

Karen A. (
karn818) - Melrose, MA wrote on 4/10/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Quick read.. Strong characters.. Liked it..

Alex S. (
saber) wrote on 4/4/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
mercifully brief
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The only things suspenseful about this book were "Is the story going to get any better?" and "What's Up with all the blank pages and spacing?". I just couldn't get into it. I was really hoping that after my disappointment with the Kay Scarpetta series getting old that a fresh series by this author was what I needed. I couldn't have been more wrong. The writing style was lame and I couldn't help but compare it to watching a "B" movie when I wanted to go to the theater and see a new release. There's definitely better authors out there that I'll give a chance to since I won't waste any more time on this one.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I just finished this book and had hoped for the typical Cornwell style. It was different from any of her others and not in a good way. I understand that it was written serialized for the New York Times magazine, maybe that's the explanation. She was trying something new. But I didn't like it. It was boring in places with too much technobabel, it jumped back and forth throughout the book, and its characters were mostly unlikeable. I finished it by really pushing myself. I hope she won't continue with this "possible" series. The ending hinted she would. If you're listening Ms. Cornwell, please don't!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A shorter Cornwell novel in the true twist and turn who-done-it style. Quick read, a bit confusing in the middle but the ending was worth it,