At Risk

Loved the Scarpetta series, but this book doesn't even sound like Patricia Cornwell. Lacks pretty much everything she used to bring to her writing.

This was a great book. There is a second one all ready about the same characters "The Front". These characters are interesting and entertaining. I hope Cornwell brings us as many books with these characters as she did with her Scarpetta series.

I enjoyed "At Risk", I think that the new characters were a good idea, and it is nice to get new storylines and see them develop from the start. I think this series will be interesting and something to look forward to.

Winston Garano, known as Geronimo by his friends is the major character in this story. He is a student of forensic science and an officer of the MA State Police. He is a special investigator for Monique Lamont, the DA who is politically ambitious and seems incredibly calculating and self promoting. The story is fast paced and the mysteries solved were cleverly thought out and told. This is a wonderful novella crammed full of complexities and suspense. Cornwell did a wonderful job with this new form of writing with an entirely new cast of characters.

This novella was written for the NY Times magazine and is therefore not meant to be judged as a Scarpetta novel. The characters are immediately likable and well developed in this short read. Win Garano shows some promise as a main character, and I liked his sidekick "Sykes". There are good forensics in the book as well. Monique is the district attorney who will do anything to win the position of Governor, and she has an amazing grip on Win. There is a cold case that gets hot when Win and Sykes are put on it. Many intriguing details in this book with side lights here and there prove that Ms Cornwell can show case her talent in short stories.

Written as a novella, this book is perfect for that chapter by chapter read on the night stand. The characters are interesting as is the plot. I found that I looked forward to my nightly chapter as much as my warm milk and cookies before bedtime. I am excited to read the next book with these same characters which I think will be out in May or June.