An enjoyable snarky read. There is no development of relationship with the characters. Ho Hum

Ms. Cornwell never disappoints in her books and in her colorful and exciting characters. Winston Garano, a Massachusetts state investigator, is the main protagonist. He has been called in to assist his boss, the District Attorney, the cold case murder investigation some twenty years ago. Garano, as the investigation proceeds, suspect that some sinister elements exists. The case has some political intrigue. The DA, as it happens, is also running for governor against the incumbent. Garano suspects that he may be well over his head on this unsolved murder mystery.

too short, maybe?

p82: nana is asleep on the couch, in her long, black robe, her long, white hair loose and splayed over the cushion, clint eastwood on the tv, making somebody’s day with his big, bad gun.

Winston Garano is called back from Knoxville to Boston by the Boston D.A. She's planning to run for governor and has an idea about using DNA to solve closed cases. She's focused on a twenty year old murder in Tennessee. Garano doesn't trust the DA, can't find the file that will help him work on the closed case, wants to go back to Knoxville and his forensic classes. It takes awhile before he can, with all that's happening in Boston

Difficilmente do una stellina ad un libro, ma questo proprio ne merita addirittura mezza.
Mi domando dove sia finita la Patricia Cornwell della brillante Kay Scarpetta...
Un libro senza capo ne coda, un cold case, caso irrisolto di parecchi anni addietro, tirato in ballo per affari poco leciti.
Scrittura così così, unica nota di pregio il fatto di essere corto, per cui si legge in un attimo, anche solo per sapere dove l'autrice vuol andar a parare.
Delusione totale per una scrittrice che amavo.
Sconsigliato.

2.5/5.0 - A non-Kay Scarpetta mystery/crime book by Patricia Cornwall, nothing special, just a quick read. Written in 2006, this looked like it might be the start of a new series, but only one more was ever published. Apparently the female DA, running for governor and the handsome, quirky African-American investigator generated enough interest that a Lifetime movie was made from the book, though perhaps that was the motivation behind it all along. Not one of Cornwall's best efforts. The plot was convoluted, the characters were underdeveloped, and it left me wanting more, but not in a good way.
Pop Sugar #23: A book with something broken on the cover
Book 64 of 2021

The first book of the new Patricia Cornwell serie gives mixed feelings. The new character Win, is interesting and well described but after years of Scarpetta, also very very diferent. Not the familiar Kay anymore to lead you through te story.

So thinking as a story on its own I think she did very well. Win gets the task to solve an old murder mystery. His first thoughts seem to be correct, it isn't a simple PR task, there is more behind. When politics get into it, it becomes even more complicated and you know that every second that pases, you can trust people you know, even less.

So, when I say four stars it am completely behind it but it are weaker and different four stars than tose given to a Scarpetta story.
But a good, nice and short (also so differnet from a Scarpetta story) story.

Electrifying thriller. This book is not Kay Scarpetta, but it was entertaining reading.

"....a brand-new Cornwell thriller, a book filled with all the chilling suspense, rich characters, and trademark forensics that have made her an international phenomenon. But what she does with those ingredients is a revelation."

I was unable to find any chilling suspense, rich characters or much of ANY forensics in this book. How can an author that was at one time so good at her craft create characters that the reader just does not care about?

After the last Kay Scarpetta novel, I had sworn off Cornwell, then a friend gave me At Risk for an airplane read for a return trip. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) she made no comment when offering me the book only that she had read it on the trip out. If I'd had anything else to read, if I could have turned on the television, if I'd had an interesting seatmate, if I'd had an uninteresting seatmate, if I'd had ANY alternative . . . . if I hadn't read the leaf notes and kept thinking "it must get better"

This one is so bad, I don't even want to pass it on to the rummage sale at church or the bag for the thrift shop. I'm not sure that I can in good conscience foist this onto some poor unsuspecting Cornwell fan . . . perhaps this book is why the recycle bin was invented!

This book had a good story, a little different from the Scarlett’s series that l loved, ‘good read’

Biracial male detective and hardboiled female DA do a complicated dance with assorted other characters. Quick pace, short book. OK read

Definitely not the depth or development of any of the Scarpetta series. The characters just didn't have any appeal. The story was mediocre. I stuck with it hoping it would get better but it didn't. That's surprising and disappointing from such an awesome writer.