Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, No. 15)

Book Description

From America's # 1 bestselling crime writer comes the extraordinary new Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel.

The "book of the dead" is the morgue log, a ledger in which all cases are entered by hand. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to take on a new meaning. Fresh from her bruising battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta decides it's time for a change of pace, not only personally and professionally but geographically. Moving to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, she opens a unique private forensic pathology practice, one in which she and her colleagues-including Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy-offer expert crime-scene investigation and autopsy services to communities lacking local access to modern, competent death investigation technology.

It seems like an ideal situation, until the new battles start-with local politicians, with entrenched interests, with someone whose covert attempts at sabotage are clearly meant to run Scarpetta out of town. And that's before the murders and other violent deaths even begin.

A young man from a well-known family jumps off a water tower. A woman is found ritualistically murdered in her multimillion-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is discovered dumped in a desolate marsh. Meanwhile, in distant New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.

Kay Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones confronting her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names-and the pen may be poised to write in her own.

The first name in forensics. The last name in suspense. Once again, Patricia Cornwell proves her exceptional ability to entertain and enthrall.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

I could not finish this book...
uh.........no thank you
The Body Farm
The Body Farm Review
Don't bother

Body Farm
Patricia Cornwell
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684195976

Amazon.com

New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell brings back Kay Scarpetta, consulting forensic pathologist for the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, in her grittiest and most compelling novel. In rural North Carolina, the brutal murder of eleven-year-old Emily Steiner has shaken a small town. But more disturbing are the details of the crimes, chillingly reminiscent of the handiwork of a serial killer who has eluded the unit for years. Into this volatile atmosphere comes Scarpetta's ingenious, rebellious niece Lucy, an FBI intern with a promising future in Quantico's computer engineering facility--until she is accused of a shocking security violation. While coming to terms with Lucy, Kay must conduct a grisly forensic investigation at a clandestine research facility in Tennessee known as the Body Farm. There she will find more answers to Emily Steiner's murder--and evidence that paints a picture of a crime more horrifying than she imagined . . .

Book Description

Little Emily Steiner left a church meeting late one afternoon and strolled toward home along a lakeside path; a week later, her nude body was discovered, bound in blaze-orange duct tape. Called by the North Carolina authorities, forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta recognizes similarities to the gruesome work of a serial killer who has long eluded the FBI But as she tries to make sense of the evidence, she is left with questions that lead her to the Body Farm, a little known research facility in Tennessee where, with the help of some grisly experiments, she might discover the answer. It is Scarpetta alone who can interpret the forensic hieroglyphics that eventually reveal a solution to the case as staggering as it is horrifying. But she must also endeavor to help her niece, Lucy, who is embroiled in controversy at Quantico. And Scarpetta, too, is vulnerable, as she opens herself to the first physical and emotional bond she has felt in far too long a time. Tenacious and brilliant, tender and gentle, this is Scarpetta even more realized and poignant than we've seen her before--in a stunning achievement from a best-selling author at the peak of her powers.

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Cornwell brings back Kay Scarpetta, consulting forensic pathologist for the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, in her most compelling novel. In rural North Carolina, the brutal murder of an 11-year-old has shaken the town with its bizarre details. Now, Kay must conduct a grisly investigation at a clandestine facility in Tennessee known as The Body Farm.

Customer Reviews:

I could not finish this book..........2007-09-01

I was disappointed with "At Risk". However, I knew that it was originally presented as a magazine series, and that seemed to explain the lack of continuity and the abrupt ending.

I was intrigued by the title -- "The Body Farm" -- and reviews that claimed it to be Cornwell's best work. I was also willing to give the author another chance.

Big mistake.

This book was entirely unengaging and characters were poorly developed. The fact that I hadn't read the previous books featuring Dr. Scarpetta doesn't seem to be to blame...

I made it through the first 200 pages and was still waiting for the story to get started!! I decided that I had suffered enough before flipping 160 pages ahead to see who the killer was -- and it was completely ridiculous...and yet kind of obvious.

Don't waste your time. You've read books like this before (strong, stoic female detective solves crime while dealing with relationship issues) but done better.

I recommend Sue Grafton's ABC Mystery Series instead.

uh.........no thank you.......2006-08-21

Honestly I only read like 3/4 of the book. This was my first attempt a a Patricia Cornwell novel and probably the last. The murder they are investigating seemed interesting from the beginning but the little side story about Lucy was simply a distraction. What bothered me the most was that so much attention was paid to conversation that I had no idea where the characters were going, where they were standing, what they were doing etc. I started to wonder if this was a sequal to another book because there were so many things that to me (not very knowledgable about forensic terms, departments etc) were left poorly explained or not explained at all. I heard so much about this author and for my [partial] first attempt I am not impressed at all.

The Body Farm.......2006-08-02

An A-1 book in my opinion. It should have been a Bestseller. I usually read at night and this book helped the work day go faster knowing I'd be sitting down with it after dinner. Like my other favorite writers I look forward to Ms Cornwell's new projects.

The Body Farm Review.......2006-03-21

I loved this book. It is very factual about the crime sences. I love anything to do with Crime Sence Investigations!

Don't bother.......2006-01-26

I was expecting a gripping murder mystery... when in reality it was a glorification of the main character in dressed up language that provokes no thought. This book simply feeds simple images and personas into the readers' heads and does nothing to stimulate a thought process. I was very disappointed when I found out on pg 383 that I had been right since pg 40. The storyline is remotely creative but the answer to the "mystery" is painfully obvious through the entire book.

Average customer rating:

Suspend disbelief to enjoy this one
Sassy, wise-cracking heroine
Don't waste your money or your time!
Early signs of greatness
A "FUN" Legal Thriller

Running from the Law
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0061094110

Book Description

Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever—her life.

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"Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever. "Sharp, intelligent, funny, and hip. [Scottoline] gives fans of legal thrillers a good, twisty plot" (USA Today).

Customer Reviews:

Suspend disbelief to enjoy this one.......2006-09-16

Rita Morrone is a trial lawyer in Philadelphia who not only defends her clients, but upstages the entire local police force by single-handedly solving the crimes for which her clients are charged. Believable? Well, hardly, but it does make for an intriguing plot.

Rita's live-in boyfriend Paul is a forensic architect (a WHAT? do I hear you gasp?) and his father a respected and well-off federal judge. When Daddy is accused of sexually harassing his young secretary, Patricia, Rita naturally takes on his defence. Then the secretary is found murdered, and the judge and son Paul, who had also been carrying on an affair with Patricia, both come under suspicion. The judge is charged with the murder, and Rita not only takes on his case, but determines to prove him innocent, at tremendous risk to herself, by attempting to uncover the true identity of the killer.

Lisa Scottoline has written a fast-moving tale, with plenty of plot twists and more than a couple of red herrings. The dialogue is feisty, witty, and very bitchy in places. The characterisations are sharp, particularly those of Rita's butcher father and his poker-playing cronies, who come across as full of spirit and humour, and the book makes for an entertaining read -- if you can suspend disbelief long enough to accept the basic plot.

Sassy, wise-cracking heroine.......2006-07-24

Rita Marrone thinks that she has her life in order. She is a samrt, young lawyer who lives with a handsome architect, plays poker with her Italian father and his friends, and wise-cracks her way through life. All of this changes when she agrees to take on a sexual harrassment case against federal judge Fiske Hamilton, who just happens to be the father of Paul, her live-in boyfriend. Things get complicated when the woman bringing the case against Hamilton is killed, and Rita hears from an eye witness who saw the judge near the victim's house at the time of the murder. Her own life and that of her friends and family are threatened when Rita begins to get too close to the truth. This is an entertaining read, and I especially liked the thoughts that go through Rita's head when she is trying her best to be polite to whomever she's talking to. I will be looking for more books by this author.

Don't waste your money or your time!.......2006-06-07

One of the absolute worst books I have read from the genre! It starts out with a promising storyline. Young, female lawyer hired to defend her live-in lover's father, who happens to be a judge. As the story moves along, rather slowly, there are a couple of small twists and turns. Then the reader is flat-out insulted. Rita, our young, hotshot lawyer dresses up her elderly father's mostly geriatric poker buddies and takes them to a car dealership to do some investigating on the Judge's case. The so called investigating continues at the crime scene as a one-armed, yes...one-armed, geriatric, poker buddy portrays a hedge trimming landscaper while Rita combs the grounds of the property. Give me a break! I have four other Scottoline books on the shelf that will not be read. It's no wonder I was able to pick them up for $2 each at a charity book sale for the library! I don't even that the heart to donate them back for this year's sale. I would hate to see another reader sucked in my Ms. Scottoline's credentials or an appealing back cover summary of the novel.

Early signs of greatness.......2005-09-19

Who knew in 1996 that Lisa was going to be a superstar in the legal fiction field. I grew up in a 95% Italian immigrant community. Her character development is so real I was continually picturing all the beautiful people I grew to know and love.
The plot has great twists and really moves quite well. If you haven't read many of Lisa's newer books, you would do well to digest these earlier offerings. It really helps to see how her style has developed and improved. I would recommend all of Lisa's works if you enjoy strong, intelligent, and resourceful female characters - supported entirely by wonderful ethnic family and friends. If you don't like plots and characters that are well developed and real, you'll be in that small minority that don't enjoy Lisa's work.
I love these components and look forward to every new work that Lisa grinds out.

A "FUN" Legal Thriller.......2005-08-05

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; I even laughed out loud a few times. I don't ever re-hash the storyline when I take the time out to do a review - it is done again & again - so you already know the essence. I will say that the plotline is sound, the dialog refreshing & the characters are endearing. RECOMMENDED!

Average customer rating:

Duped, again
Superwoman
Don't start on Cornwell with this novel...
cheesy
Don't waste your money

Cause of Death
Patricia Cornwell
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399141464

Amazon.com

Patricia Cornwell's heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back; this time to solve the mystery of the death of an Associated Press reporter who was killed while nosing about in a decommissioned navy yard. Scarpetta's involvement in the case leads her to be targeted for murder herself by a nasty little neo-fascist cult with delusions of grandeur that include a plan to "kill and maim, frighten, brainwash and torture" all who oppose their plan to rule the world. Helping Scarpetta is her niece Lucy, an F.B.I. agent whose computer expertise leads to a heart-stopping journey into cyberspace.

Book Description

4 cassettes / 4 hours
Read by Blair Brown
Also available Unabridged and on CD

From the New York Times bestselling author of Point of Origin and Unnatural Exposure comes a mesmerizing new thriller that takes Dr. Kay Scarpetta into the very vortex of evil--far beyond anything she has heretofore encountered as Chief Medical Examiner. Together with her niece Lucy and police captain Pete Marino, Scarpetta follows the scents of death and violence to the heart of sinister darkness.

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Dr. Kay Scarpetta plunges into the murky depths of a ship graveyard to recover the very human remains of Ted Eddings, an investigative reporter. What kind of story was Eddings chasing below the icy surface of the Elizabeth River?

Customer Reviews:

Duped, again.......2007-09-20

My review of this Patricia Cornwell/Kay Scarpetta book "Cause of Death" doesn't
have to do with the author or the story but with the publishers who designed a
different cover for an old book. It's a ploy I see frequently and find very
annoying. Unfortunately I got caught, for the umpteenth time. They reprint the
same book a few years later, with a new cover, and people buy it - again.

Superwoman.......2007-09-13

This was the last Kay Scarpetta mystery I've read. Scarpetta as superwoman and the outlandish, totally implausible ending were the reasons I stopped reading Cornwell's books. After this one, I decided that, with Kay Scarpetta around, who needs a department of law enforcement, or even a criminal justice system? She can singlehandedly gather any evidence at any crimescene, process it, and catch, try, and convict the perpetrators (I may be wrong, but I believe she also has a law degree to go with her medical degree.) Then, at midnight, after a full day of crimefighting, she can whip up a full, multi-course Italian meal from scratch - probably with homemade pasta and produce from her own garden! The early books were great, but, as I said, I won't read another!

Don't start on Cornwell with this novel..........2007-08-21

You can't start reading the Scarpetta novels in the middle, you have to start with the very first one and work your way through. This is in the middle, with characters already developed, and it is very difficult to like them if you start with Cause of Death. While I agree this is not her best work, and I REALLY wish she'd kill off the niece, Lucy, she really is a good suspense writer. SUSPENSE, not mystery. There is a difference in that in suspense you often know who the bad guy is, and the suspense is finding out what happens next. I would suggest The Body Farm and From Potter's Field as a couple of good ones.

cheesy.......2007-05-29

I couldn't finish it. It got more and more disappointing as the story progressed. I like to try reading new authors and different types of stories and I am perfectly happy to mix cheesy novels in with good stuff . . . all things in moderation as they say.

The whole book; characters, and story just felt false and untrue. When the characters start talking about computers it gets especially bad. It is clear that the author has no understanding of what she is talking about. A lot of the book felt that way.

All in all, it reads like a transcript of 'Walker, Texas Ranger." If that is your thing, then maybe give it a try.

Don't waste your money.......2007-04-04

This isn't one of Cornwell's better Scarpetta mysteries. The plot takes a sharp turn three-quarters of the way through into the realm of the truly unbelievable, and I lost interest. I finished the book only because I had nothing else to read in the house.

Don't bother buying this book. Fortunately, I got it for free, so no great loss there.

Oh, and I agree with one of the other reviewers -- the dialogue coming out of Scarpetta's mouth was stilted. And the ending? Blech.

Character and Cops, 4th Edition: Ethics in Policing

Average customer rating:

Best overall text on the market for L.E. professionals.
This Book Is A Sleeper!
More a text book than a book for the general reader
Essential reading for law enforcement
Character and Cops:Ethics in Policing

Character and Cops, 4th Edition: Ethics in Policing
Edwin J. Delattre
Manufacturer: AEI Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0844741531

Book Description

This book is a study of the nature and formation of the moral integrity and intellectual competence that make individuals and institutions worthy of the public trust.

Customer Reviews:

Best overall text on the market for L.E. professionals........2004-01-02

This to-the-point book answers many of the questions that concern officers, supervisors and adminisrators serving communities today. Not a re-hashed, warmed-over version of business management theory rewritten in police jargon, as we find in so many other books professing to be "police text". This book addresses issues ("cop things") in the realm of reality (the"cop world"). Don't let the title fool you, although it has much to say about ethics, this text expands on the "real" ethics of law enforcement; the "street level" use of ethics, morals and values in relation to the reality of the job. Each chapter deals with a diffenent core subject; they can stand alone as a lesson. I constantly review portions when met with a difficult challenge. In my estimation, history will hold this text as one of the best sources of information for professional police offices of all ranks. Many agencies issue a copy of this to all new supervisors. This is one book to have in your desk at all times.

This Book Is A Sleeper!.......2001-12-29

If you run out of sleeping pills, read this! Delatre is the King of run on sentences. For proof, check out the 1st sentence on page 76. It's on the Hypothesis of Structural Deviance and contains whopping 143 words!!!! Wow, Edwin! Your English teacher is turning over in her grave! If she is still alive, don't let her read this. It may cause her to stroke out!

This book is for academics looking for research to quote, but certainly not for anyone who wants a practical guide on ethics in policing. Delatre presents a lot of information in an unclear and vague manner. We would be best suited with the Cliff Notes. We would probably have them, too, but Cliff is probably still in a trance over this one!

Delatre offers both sides of several arguments, but at times, fails to take a side. How annoying!

In another book I read recently on Policing, its author says that the best way to relay information is to "be clear, be concise, be gone!" Delatre is not clear, he is not concise and he is not gone! Why, because I am still try to burrow through the last couple chapters of this book.

The only way this book could maintain a respectable, steady volume of sales is if it were required reading, i.e. for a college course.

Seriously, this book could lose half its pages and be much closer to readable. Make your points, give your examples, take a stand, then wrap it up.

More a text book than a book for the general reader.......2001-01-06

This book appears to be used by police academies in training police. It seems to be more of a textbook rather than a book for the general reader.

Police forces throughout the world are at risk of having certain problems. There is always some pressure for police to accept bribes. Police can also slide into habits of using excess force and some times other problems can occur such as simple laziness. One of the problems for any police command is thus to ensure that these problems are either eliminated or minimized.

This book talks about the sorts of reasons why police become corrupt and urges police to develop morale character. One of the chapters for instance looks in part at the question of whether police should accept free cups of coffee from restaurants. On the face of it such an offer would seem a simple measure of gratitude from a member of the public to underpaid officers. The author however indicates that often in such situations the offer of even a coffee may lead to an expectation of something in return. To warn customers of the restaurant instead of giving them parking tickets. To be around if the restaurant has problems. Such a process can lead to police accepting the idea of quid pro quo's and entering into other arrangements. This chapter goes on to explain the mechanics of corruption and why even non-corrupt officers will remain silent in the face of corruption. The police force is a cohesive unit whose members will from time to time face situations of real danger. The need to depend on others can lead to officers falling into the habit of not rating so that they will have support in any dangerous confrontations with criminals.

One of the strengths of the book is that it is filled with thousands of examples in which police can face pressure to do the wrong thing. These examples are carefully chosen and no doubt would in a class setting be valuable for trainee officers.

Other chapters, obviously again intended for class discussion rather than being definitive in themselves are disappointing. One chapter looks at the question of drug enforcement and examines arguments for changing the current policy of prohibition. Although the author presents both sides of the argument with fairness there is no real discussion of the empirical reality and the costs of the policies. His approach is one based on morality and rights rather than looking at the operational problems of policing drugs and the cost of imprisonment. In addition he puts the dilemma as an either or choice between legalization and probation. He seems to be unaware of harm minimization strategies. Another chapter that touches on positive discrimination is also disappointing.

These criticisms are perhaps churlish, as the book does not seem to have aimed at being one read by the general public. No doubt a reasonable text book but not something which would contribute to the debate on how to structure police forces to deal with problems and violence.

Essential reading for law enforcement.......2000-08-16

This book depicts a geniune need in law enforcement. The need to hire, train, and maintain ethical personnel is explained and stressed to the reader in a way that has been overdue. The occupation of a law enforcement offical world wide has a real need to be a true character , role model, or the public offical that can be trusted. Edwin has a clear style of writing with a no nonsense approach to describe past , present, and future occurrences of police conduct. I believe the criminal justice system would beam with pride and public trust if law enforcement would read and act on the issues and suggestion that Delattre brings forth in this fine book.

Character and Cops:Ethics in Policing.......2000-04-26

I used this book in a research paper for a grade and it helped me alot. My professor commented on the facts I used and how up to date the material was. Needless to say, I did earn an A.

BODY OF EVIDENCE (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Can't piece together until the end
Great Suspense !!
Second just as gripping as the first
A +
Another Scarpetta climactic finish

BODY OF EVIDENCE (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries)
Patricia Cornwell
Manufacturer: Scribners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684192403

Book Description

Someone is after Beryl Madison -- spying on her, making threatening phone calls. Terrified, she flees to Key West. When she comes back home it's not harassment that's waiting...it's murder. Someone kills her, someone she trusted enough to open her door to.

Police work begins with Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner. She finds laboratory clues no one wants to believe. So she follows them herself, putting her professional career -- and her life -- on the line.

"Cornwell makes looking through a microscope as exciting as hot pursuit." (Washington Post)

Customer Reviews:

Can't piece together until the end.......2007-07-30

This book was great! I could hardly put it down. I do have to admit it was a but too slow and confusing for the first few chapters, wasn't sure where she was taking it, but it was definitely worth the trip. The ending of the book makes all the mysteries make sense and you are on the edge of your seat just like Kay Scarpetta. Great read, very edgy, and extremely well thought out. All the puzzle pieces finally come together at the end making it a wonderful murder mystery.

Enjoy!
-Andrea :)

Great Suspense !!.......2007-05-25

She is a wonderful writer! This book was my first and I have since ordered most of her collection. The book is so easy to get caught up in and forget to make dinner or not want to put it down til wee hours of the morning.

Second just as gripping as the first.......2007-04-17

After reading Cornwell's first of the Scarpetta series I was eager to begin the next in the series, hopeful that this would be as good as the first. It was, Scarpetta continues to show her insight in revealing the stories her victim bodies tell, and little insight into human relationships.

A +.......2006-12-19

Another terrific Cornwell novel. Holds your attention throughout the book. Even my "non-reader" husband loved it!

Another Scarpetta climactic finish.......2006-08-11

The book offers Cornwell's well-known climactic finish where the reader may literally stop breathing toward the book's most hair-raising part...the delivery of the lost luggage! Unable to begin reading this book (took several starts and stops), after I was into it a few chapters, I was unable to then put it down. That was the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, as I just couldn't get into it during the 1st chapter, as most of Cornwell's other books. I recommend reading all of the Scarpetta novels beginning from the first in the series "Postmortem"; although if you don't, Cornwell does briefly describe people and events from Scarpetta's past so you aren't totally lost. I am ready to begin my 6th in the series and can barely wait to drive the 20 miles to my closest library to check it out!

Average customer rating:

The Ten Commandments Are For God's Beloved Children!
Another great book from Sister Joan
The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart
Not Your Father's 10 Commandments

The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart
Joan Chittister
Manufacturer: Orbis Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1570756848

Customer Reviews:

The Ten Commandments Are For God's Beloved Children!.......2007-07-29

I really enjoy Joan's writing style. I really appreciate to see people who have the love for The Ten Commandments of God and have a sincere desire to apply them to their life.

The Ten Commandments are greatest laws for our life. They are the only laws, in the entire human history, that are pronounced directly from the month of God. Likewise, they are the only laws that are written by the finger of God Himself; not once, but twice!

God does not give The Ten Commandments to any religion. He gives it to His beloved children, who are neither Jews, Christians, Muslims, etc., but all human beings whom He creates in His own Image. They are for God's beloved children! Please note that I am not talking about the past here because The Ten Commandments were, are, and will be the laws of life for as long as life exists!

The Ten Commandments are the laws of true love. If you truly love God and His commandments, I sincerly invite you to read my following book:

The Ten Commandments Are For God's Beloved Children!

Please note that I am a jungle man. I am not a great writer like Joan Chittister. I tried my best to share with you God's message which has been exploited and twisted by religions of this world for their own gain. So please forgive me if my writings are not elegrant.

May God bless you!

Another great book from Sister Joan.......2007-05-10

This book is an excellent one on the Ten Commandments. It has an historical part, an explanation and a series of questions about what the commandments mean in our world today. It has the usual insights of Joan Chittister and makes one think hard about what the commandments mean in our world today.

The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart.......2007-03-11

The most thoughtful analysis and application of the Ten Commandments which I have ever read!
Elaine Fleenor

Not Your Father's 10 Commandments.......2007-01-16

If I could simply copy even 10 percent of Chittister's latest work here, I am convinced that anyone who got so far as to look up this title would put it right in their Amazon shopping cart and maybe even order extras for friends. With copyright law what it is, I will have to use other means to express my conviction that this is an important resource with unique insights on a topic many of us thought we had "down cold."

First, a word about the book's design and the author's style. Chittister's presentation is marked by logical progression, clarity, and command of the material. As she announces in the introduction, she applies three points of view to each commandment: its meaning in the early Jewish community, current situations to which it applies, and personal considerations aimed at broadening the reader's perspective. She also integrates a brief explanation on differences between Jewish and Lutheran/Catholic naming and numbering systems for the first two and last two commandments, a fact that could cause confusion among readers if it were not addressed.

Throughout the text Chittister returns to the issue of what the Ten Commandments are and are not; for example, they are about "praise, human responsibility, justice, creation, the value of life, the nature of relationships, honesty, veracity, desire, and simplicity of life." They are not about restrictions; they are an adventure in human growth.

I will use the chapter on the fourth commandment (Honor your father and your mother) to illustrate the effectiveness of the author's three-pronged approach. She sums up the theme of Israelite life as an unyielding belief that humans, who are only "slightly lower than the angels," are possessed of dignity, rights, and value. The fourth commandment, Chittister writes, reminds us we are not worlds unto ourselves, demands that we respect the past, and builds perspective into the human race. Today, the fourth commandment calls on us to honor not only parents and children, but also those "who brought you beyond self-centeredness to the decent human self you are today." The 12 reflections that round out the chapter include the concept that each of us gives birth to the next generation "by being either wise or foolish, loving or hostile, arrogant or humble in their presence."

These insights and the others that spill across the pages of "The Ten Commandments" are powerful tools for individuals and groups with a serious desire to embrace discipleship more fully.

Average customer rating:

Law & Order -- year 703 of the Republic
Realistic detail pulls the reader in
great series!
Readable but "Energy" of Book Seemed "Curtailed"
I enjoyed this book.

A Point of Law (SPQR X)
John Maddox Roberts
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312337256
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Book Description

Decius Caecilius Metellus is moving up in the world. Hes won some money and glory fighting pirates in the Mediterranean and expects a speedy election to the office of Praetor. But, that all changes when a man hes never seen before publicly accuses him of corruption. Decius and his powerful family of Romes leading politicians scramble to prepare a defense. However, the day of the trial they are greeted with a strange surprise on the steps of the courthouse: The corpse of the man who made the accusation. Now Decius is up against a much more serious charge of murder. It may cost him his chance to run for office, but not if he can help it. Roberts once again masterfully sets Decius and his adventures against the background of this famed and crumbling Republic, enriching his story with historical detail and the immortal personalities of the day.

Customer Reviews:

Law & Order -- year 703 of the Republic.......2007-08-21

Overall:
----------
SPQR X follows well with the other 9 books in the series in terms of tone, pacing, detail and historical elements. The story is a court room drama done Roman style -- evidence is really secondary to how you work the crowd. Our juror system is not that much different when you come down to it; one would hope that the carefully gathered evidence and logic would top emotional manipulation to decide guilt or innocence.

The story moves very quickly with a dizzy amount of family lineage, Roman law subtle that is obsurce at best and baffling at best.

The character development is slight given the 5 day time frame for the events in the book. However, Julia gets a nice bit of development and does some more affection and compliments toward Decius.

Details:
--------
The compressed timeline of the events made for less investigation and more side characters giving obviously clues to Decius. The obviousness of the clues was a bit of a drawback to the book. The use of a cypher and a female code breaker was a nice touch. It added a nice element to the conspiracy part of the story.

The book seems to be setting up the next book with the transition of Caeser to Dictator...Emperor. There is a clear transition from the old Republic to the declining Empire. It seems that Decius is going to be up for some very interesting times in the near future.

The level of detail on the Roman legal system is quite impressive. However, it seems that the author is trying to impress you with the finer points of something that you have no idea how it works. There is something lost in the translation of the obviously impressive research done by John Maddox Roberts. The legal system/issues sometimes seems to impead the flow of the story / events.

The actual trial is very well written. Decius pulls a rabbit-out-of-the-hat once more.

Summary:
--------
Characters: 4 out of 5
Action: 2 out of 5 -- action is not really part of this story
Plot: 4 out of 5 -- it is hard to following the various machinations in the book. It would have been helpful to make the book a bit longer with some transitionary scenes / explaination scenes.
Overall: 4 out of 5

Realistic detail pulls the reader in.......2007-08-08

This is the tenth is the series, begun in 1990.

We follow the career of Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, who has returned from capturing pirates in Cyprus and is flush with money from captured loot. He pays off debts, gives some to the treasury, and runs for judicial office, praetor. Campaigning seems to be going well when a complete stranger, Marcus Fulvius, accuses him of corruption and plundering during his campaign in Cyprus.

This is during the last days of the Republic, when Pompey and Julius Caesar are vying for power. The family of Decius has not taken sides in the power struggle yet, though Decius is married to Caesar's niece, Julia. When they show up for the trial the next morning, Marcus Fulvius is found dead on the steps of the basilica (court building), and Decius finds himself suddenly accused of murder by a Tribune of the People, Publius Manilius. Hermes and Decius are free to investigate, and they find out a lot in the few days they have before the murder trial.

There is a lot of enjoyment here--housebreaking and leaping from balconies; a wine-tasting clue; a very unusual gold ring with a carved sapphire and scrolls in cipher. And there is an exotic and beautiful visiting Egyptian philosopher and mathematician, Callista, to help decode them. The climactic trial, while not the sort we are used to, is riveting.

Roberts is the author of many science fiction and fantasy books as well as this acclaimed series. His glossary and explanation of Roman names and characters helps a great deal in understanding this complicated political thriller. The city and the people are realistically portrayed and the detail is just enough to flesh out the story.

This is the first I have read in the series, and I am going back to read the earlier books.

Armchair Interview agrees.

great series!.......2007-04-03

I am soooo looking forward to SPQR X! I loved all of Roberts' books, they are as good as the Davis' Falco series and WAY better than Saylor's Gordianus the Finder, or the Caesar series by Iggulden. The only serious competition for SPQR would be Simon Scarrow's Macro and Falco, but since they are soldiers, and Decius Caecilius Metellus is a Senator... it's as different as James Bond and Rambo. I can't wait to read SPQR X and I'm VERY excited to read Davis' Saturnalia! This whole week of true ancient Roman enjoyment could only be beaten by an afternoon in Maecenas' garden, or Caracalla's baths ;)Or perhaps a good fight in Vespasian's theater... Don't we ALL like the Colosseum?

Readable but "Energy" of Book Seemed "Curtailed".......2007-01-11

Happy I read it but something was missing as contrasted with other works by the author. The book is 235 pages and that restricts development of both plot and character(s), each of which seemed hurried and abbreviated.

I enjoyed this book........2006-12-21

I have read the entire series and every book is entertaining and fun. Mr. Roberts is a great storyteller who writes a book that is hard to put down. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series. You won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Let's start at the very beginning....
Just the beginning
This is where it starts
Pretty Tepid Debut
Pretty Good Mystery

POSTMORTEM (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries)
Patricia Cornwell
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684191415

Book Description

The first novel featuring Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta from the #1 bestselling author of Black Notice and Point of Origin

Winner of the Edgar Award and the Macavity Award for best first mystery

Four women with nothing in common, united only in death. Four brutalized victims of a brilliant monster - a "Mr. Nobody", moving undetected through a paralyzed city, leaving behind a gruesome trail of carnage . . . but few clues. With skilled hands, an unerring eye, and the latest advances in forensic research, an unrelenting female medical examiner - Kay Scarpetta - is determined to unmask a maniac. But someone is trying to sabotage Kay's investigation from the inside. And worse yet, someone wants her dead . . .

Customer Reviews:

Let's start at the very beginning...........2007-09-15

...a very good place to start - except that I've already read two others in the series, namely Predator and From Potter's Field.

The series so far:

Postmortem (1990)
Body of Evidence (1991)
All That Remains (1992)
Cruel and Unusual (1993)
The Body Farm (1994)
From Potter's Field (1995)
Cause of Death (1996)
Unnatural Exposure (1996)
Point of Origin (1998)
Black Notice (1999)
The Last Precinct (2000)
Blow Fly (2003)
Trace (2004)
Predator (2005)

(Book of the Dead is scheduled for Oct 2007.)

Fortunately, there's no need to read them in order, and the reading experience was actually better given that I already knew how some of the characters would be developed in the future.

On its own the book isn't bad for a debut novel, except that it tends to get bogged down in places, the characters don't really come to life until later down the series, and the technology is understandably dated, given the techniques now available. (Naturally, it may have been cutting edge stuff when the book was written, which I took into consideration when reading it)

There's a little more CSI involved than in the ones I've read before (it gets less and less in later books) and the story revolves around a serial killer who eventually gets around to the Chief Medical Examiner. The modus operandi of the killer is suitably gruesome, but for the majority of the book Scarpetta seems to the weakest link as she struggles to hold her own in a world of men.

About the same as "From Potter's Field", but better than "Predator".

Rated: 3.5 stars

Amanda Richards, September 15, 2007

Just the beginning.......2007-05-28

I have read these Dr. Kay Scarpetta novels out of order so I was able to put together who the characters were early on. I think if you are just reading about Dr. Kay for the first time you might find her a bit eccentric and snotty but that is not the case. Do not let this book be your last novel of the series. They get so much better. This story had me intriqued with finding out more about the serial killer and if they were every going to catch the person. I love this series.

This is where it starts.......2007-04-17

The introduction of Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner in Virginia. Highly intelligent and motivated work-a-holic, poor emotional intelligence when it comes to relationships.
The appeal of this book is the detailed medical examination that Cornwell creates, illustrating the story of the victims death.
An excellent first novel and beginning for an exciting series.

Pretty Tepid Debut.......2006-10-28

When this book was originally published in 1990, it received widespread acclaim and brought the "forensic procedural" subgenre of crime novels to prominence. No doubt it's debatable whether or not Cornwell's series starring Dr. Kay Scarpetta truly invented this sub-genre, but since it is held in such widespread admiration and is set just down the road in Richmond, Virginia, I thought it might be finally worth checking out. However, I should fess' up that I'm not generally a fan of the serial killer subgenre, and when it is revealed in the opening chapters that this is what the book is, I came close to putting it aside. One crucial point that bears highlighting for the prospective reader in relation to this. In this -- her first book -- Cornwell, in either naivitee or boldness, breaks one of the crime writing rules nearest and dearest to most readers' hearts. She introduces the killer in the final pages, leaving the reader no possibility for "guessing" whodunit. She also removes any possibility of discovering what motivated the killer, which many will find equally irritating. Personally, I find this approach more realistic and satisfying, however most crime readers do not like having the "who" and "why" elements so removed -- so consider yourself forewarned.

All that aside, this is a pretty tepid debut. The central problem is that the heroine, Dr. Scarpetta is neither realized as a fully-dimensional character, nor does she actually do much in the course of the book. And when she does do stuff, it seems to be wholly outside her purview as a Chief Medical Examiner (just as in today's CSI-type shows, you have crime scene techs acting as homicide detectives). As a person, she's a generic late-30s, workaholic divorcee, who's smart, quick to judge, generally distrustful and/or resentful of men, angry, and definitely scared of the world -- none of which is treated beyond a superficial manner. And despite a very clunky subplot involving sexism from her boss, one could make a persuasive argument that the entire book is an unintentionally antifeminist work. The serial killer strikes women who live alone (in other words, mostly single working women), and when the killer is finally undone, it is only at the hands of a traditional male authority figure. Thus, the story taps into a very deep fear on the part of liberated woman, but offers them no meaningful role in their own salvation.

The supporting cast includes a police homicide investigator who is an unfortunate caricature of a gruff New York cop (and apparently has no partner), Scarpetta's visiting 10=year-old niece Lucy, Scarpetta's hunky romantic interest Boltz (who happens to be District Attorney), various lab techs, relatives of victims, and a reporter. The two major subplots involve her romance with D.A. Boltz, and some family drama involving her sister and niece. The niece also performs the key function of computer whiz, in a role that was already hopelessly cliche in the early '80s, much less 1990. Indeed, everything involving computers (which is some fairly important stuff, plot-wise) is hopelessly dated, especially when Cornwell spells out specifics such as how databases work and how one "dials in" to the office mainframe. Another element that is dated, but not in such a bad way is the use of DNA. It will strike the modern reader as quaint just how hard it was to get DNA analyzed, and that its use in court was very iffy.

in any event, if you like serial killer plots, it's passable, if you don't, it's probably not worth your time unless you've got a particular interest in Richmond, or in the forensic subgenre. Although here again, a warning is needed, there really isn't very much forensic stuff going on -- at least not when compared to today's TV cop shows. At some point I'll probably read the next in the series just to see if it gets any better, but this certainly hasn't whetted my appetite for more.

Pretty Good Mystery.......2006-07-17

I just ran across Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta after finishing Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series and feeling like I had lost a best friend. I listen to books on Audio CD. Getting used to the narrator, CJ Critt, took some time. Once I got past her voice and fell into the mystery, I realized that I could enjoy this author, too. I look forward to many more hours with Dr. Kay.

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