The Front
by Patricia Cornwell
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Book Reviews of The Front
Book Review: Could not put this one down!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Front is, in a word, AWESOME!! I loved this book!! It's classic Cornwell, but with a brand new twist. Page by page, Ms. Cornwell gently unravels an intricately woven plot of detail, deception, intrigue, emotion and suspense. From the sinister Lamont, to the mysterious Raggedy Ann, to the resentful and protective Stump, to the heroic Win, and all others in between, each character develops well as they present themselves in all parts of the story. And, the story itself is thrilling.
Set in suburban Massachusetts, the story brilliantly unfolds as a woven matrix, presenting an in depth look at the challenges common to most law enforcement officials. Certainly, the hero of the story is Win Garano. Throughout this book, Win emerges as both a brave and good cop on a diligent quest for the vindication of a murdered girl. But this is not his greatest challenge. Win's greater battle is against the egos, jurisdictions and corruptions of internal political machines. Win emerges victorious in the end and even saves the corrupt Lamont from total exposure and ultimate demise.
When I closed the book, two questions immediately came to mind. Is Win Garano's character mimicking Barack Obama?? And, could Win Garano possibly be the next Scarpetta?? The Front left me wondering!?!
This book is a good read. It captivates and intrigues its reader, and will leave you wanting more.
Book Review: Best Cornwell in a while, but questions, questions...
Summary: 3 Stars
Frankly, I had a hard time getting into this book. It begins dreadfully slowly. But, the last half is some of the best Cornwell in a while -- right up until it wraps up in too few pages, without a real finish.
Coupla points: This book is short -- like someone finished it just to be done with it, like, ya know, before a deadline (that one has perhaps received a generous advance for?!). And, the frantic second half of the book has numerous direct and indirect references to the housing-bubble burst, which didn't really take off until Winter 2008.
Thus, I suspect Cornwall contracted for this book some time ago, let it simmer until it was almost too late to finish it, then rattled off enough pages to call it 'done' in the last 2-3 months before deadline. The interesting thing is, she seems to have worked well under pressure, but just ran out of time to turn it in a truly good Cornwell work.
I bought the book-club edition this time instead of a First Edition, because it was cheaper. I'd skipped the last couple until they hit the remainders pile because I'd felt cheated too often in recent years. Thus, note to author: if you don't have the passion about pleasing your readers any more, STOP WRITING! While this was a good effort compared to the recent past, it's also obvious it was thrown together. You now risk losing the respect you spent the earlier part of your career gaining.
Book Review: "Cornwell at her best"
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Front" Patricia Cornwell's 2nd thriller in the serie's with the new team of Garano,Lamont,Stump and Nana is a story full of twist's and turn's that take you this way and that just when you think you are getting a handle on the plot.The main character is Win Garano, nicknamed "Geronimo". His nemisis is the politically ambitious D.A. Monique Lamont.Independantly wealthy and although Win saved her life she seem's to relish in trying to humiliate him, as with this latest project of her's, the unsolved sexual homicide of a british citizen in 1962 which she think's could be the work of the Boston Strangler.Lamont he enlist's the help of a cop nicknamed "Stump", who's nickname has nothing to do with the fact that she lost a leg below the knee in an accident.Win seem's to be fascinated with her,with her mind and with her beauty more than she is with him.Although the story is a brief one you can feel the emotional tension building betweem them, where's that going to lead to? While this is going on they also have to deal with a series of bank heist's and a possible case of blackmail.All this in a short story but this is Cornwell at her best. A fantastic read and I hope this team will develop to be around as long as Scarpetta's team.
Frank J. O'keeffe
Book Review: A good book to read while you're waiting for "Scarpetta".
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the sequel to At Risk. Many readers are saying stick with the Scarpetta series; I say this is a good little mystery while you're waiting for the new Scarpetta book to be released. Yes, it is short - it was written in a serial novella form just like At Risk. Personally, I like the shortness because although I love to read, I am a very slow reader. I think The Front may be even better than it's predecessor (of course it's been two years since I read At Risk - mostly I just remember that story having a great twist). At any rate, this series is much better than the Andy Basil series Cornwell did - those stories and characters were just plain silly. I think The Front has just the right amount of humor mixed in and serves as a good commentary on current events and political feelings. In my opinion, Cornwell does quite well in this little piece and it matches the quality of her recent Scarpetta books. I love the characters of Win aka Geronimo, Lamont and Stump; I hope to see more of them. Now that I'm finished with The Front, I'm ready for Scarpetta (Kay Scarpetta) this Fall.Book Review: Cornwell has lost both her mind and this reader
Summary: 2 Stars
The failings of this latest effort by Cornwell have been well-documented, and rather than going over the same territory, I'll just include a passage from the book as additional evidence of the author's obvious brain-freeze:
"The Governor is a pure conservative Republican. White, early 60s, a pleasant, beatific face that belies the heartless hypocrite behind it. Balding, portly, avuncular enough so as to not appear overbearing or dishonest...unlike Lamont, who is assumed to be ball-breaking and deceitful because she's beautiful, brilliant, enlightened, exquisitely dressed, strong and quite vocal about her support and even tolerance of those less fortunate than herself. Simply put, she looks and sounds like a Democrat."
(The Governor's Republican wife on the other hand was described as a stay-at-home mom who was a "dumpy old housewife with the IQ of a clam.")
Stereotypical and sophomoric doesn't begin to describe those banal characterizations. SHAME ON CORNWELL FOR MAILING THIS ONE IN. After the awful Isle of Dogs, I gave her a second chance, but this piece of garbage was just too much. SHE'S PERMANENTLY LOST THIS LONG-TIME FAN.