Customer Reviews
A bit better than her recent offerings - By: J. Bowen, 04 Dec 2008 
This slightly humorous book takes its' leave of Cornwall's main characters & focuses on Win Genaro, a Massachusets state trouper, & Stump, a local police woman, who are calledin to investigate a 40yr old murder that might be associated with the Boston Strangler.
As if a 40 year old crime scene isn't enough, they have to deal with their wariness of each other, & the fact that a self-publicising local D.A. is trying to make her name off the back of this case. They eventually deal with both, to a degree.
My main criticisms of Cornwall's books are the "black & whiteness" of her characters (who often have insufferable points of view), & the fact that the books often have these wildly diverse elements that only the central character can break down into something that appears to be an ending, no matter how implausible it appears to be, by the end of the book.
These problems are present here, but are nowhere near as severe as they have beenin the past. Consequently, while I wouldn't say that this isn't the best book that she's ever written, I would say that it's better than much she's written recently.
Try Val McDermid instead - By: C. Macdonald, 26 Oct 2008 
I bought this book to take on holiday & wish I hadn't bothered. It is so disappointing that Patricia Cornwell has lost her magic. The plot was sketchy, the characters incomprehensible & she seemed to give up at the end with a lame solving of the 'crime'.
I wish I had read these reviews before buying.
I really liked Cornwell's early books & thought she lost her way with far fetched plots & characters by the end of the Scarpetta novels, so thought that this novel would be a fresh start - wrong.
1st and Probably last - By: J.Jones, 02 Sep 2008 This is the 1st Patricia Cornwell book I have read & most probably the last - this is the most, boring & disappointing book I have readin a very long time. Was determined to finish it, feel totally cheated as MY reading time is precious to me, will be choosing other authorsin the future.
Don't bother! - By: V. Tew, 27 Aug 2008 Like many others, I eagerly awaited Patricia Cornwell's latest offering but, this time, I feel completely cheated. The plot (if it can be called that) was, at best, sketchy & many times, I found myself having to re-read sections of text because her usual clarity of writing has totally disappeared. It was rushed & I got the feeling that the book had been written purely to fulfil contractual obligations, rather than to provide the reader with a good read. A hardback copy costing £12.99 for 180 (and a half!) pages of widely spaced text - next time, I'll wait for the paperback version (probably secondhand at the church fete) so that I don't feel I've spent a fortune on nothing. Patricia Cornwell must now revert back to her original lengthier & more exciting style of writing and, if necessary, take longerin producing her next offering, otherwise, she is going to find herself being totally eclipsed by other writers who offer a great deal more story -in terms of plot, complexity & actual length of the book (and therefore, length of entertainment) - such as Jeffrey Deaver, Linda Fairstein, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Tess Gerritsen, Kathy Reichs & Karin Slaughter (to name a few!), all of whom are consistenly writing better. Please, Patricia, pull your socks up - there are others out there waiting to claim your fan base if you don't.
Excellant new departure for Cornwell - By: Niadan, 19 Aug 2008 
I thoroughly was gripped from cover to cover. While we all lament the absence of Scarpetta, the new novella style & gripping characters of Win Garano, Monique Lamont & wonderful Nanna are intriguing & a pleasant change from the norm. I could barely put it down & read itin one day. It is a lovely summer read. I was aching for more at the end.
I do admit some parts were confusing & a little disjointed & required a second read for clarity. However, I am hangingin there hoping that this new series will be as addictive & will soon become an old friend as Scarpetta.
It is difficult not to compare The Front to Scapetaa but really they are very different & should be treated as so. Take The Front for what it is, a crime novella introducing new characters that leave you begging for more. There are so many unanswered questions that leave the suspense lingering.
I loved At Risk & The Front & am waiting on tender hooks for the next installment. Enjoy with an open mind.
