Scarpetta (Book 9) (Kay Scarpetta) - Point of Origin

Kay Scarpetta Virginia Medical Examiner along with the FBI and ATF investigates several spectacular fire deaths in this fast paced book. The investigation process is entertaining and suspenseful . In determining the cause and origin of the fires the question is whether the deaths are the result of the fire or is it arson to conceal a murder, how this is determined is compelling. Having started with this book (#9), this is my introduction to Cornwalls' characters such as her niece Lucy, psychotic Carrie , Capt. Marino , and her boyfriend Benton. There is a lot of technical jargon involved in the arson/death investigations, helicopter rides and many surprises to keep the reader turning pages. Upon reading the descriptions of the fire scenes and subsequent death investigations, my interest was in how these fires were started, I feel that this aspect of the story was not as clearly explained as the fire damage and evidence descriptions were. The ending seemed rushed and as a result a little disappointing,though the memorial service for her boyfriend/victim was described nicely, however the story was mostly enjoyable and I plan on reading more of the series.

After totally losing the plot with 'Cause Of Death', Cornwell got the Scarpetta series sort-of back on track with 'Unnatural Exposure', and it's pleasing to see that 'Point Of Origin' continues the trend. An investigation into a fire at the home of media personality Kenneth Sparkes turns up the dead body of a young woman, and immediately raises many puzzling questions. Accident or homicide? Is Sparkes the killer or victim? Is there a connection to other unsolved arson deaths? What about the baffling trace evidence adhering to the body? And is Carrie Grethen, who continues to torment Scarpetta and Co from behind the walls of her asylum, involved in some way?

The best thing about 'Point Of Origin' is that there's a strong focus on the forensic science, in particular key trace evidence such as metal particles adhering to open wounds, a silicone substance on the head, and odd cuts on the skull. There is also quite a detailed investigation into the fire itself, trying to unravel the mystery of how such a ferocious blaze could be started in a low-fuel area such as a bathroom. Woven through the book are investigations into previous and subsequent blazes, plus the continuing story of Carrie.

There are also some very strong character developments. At the time, I felt the series "reboot" that occurred with 'Last Precinct' and 'Blow Fly' was jarringly abrupt, but looking back, it is clear that Cornwell is laying the foundations as early as this book. Scarpetta laments how the FBI is no longer calling on her services, Lucy gets shunted sideways into ATF, and a resigned, worn-out Marino ruminates on retirement from the force. There is of course also a gut-punch of a twist involving Benton, which gives this book a considerable emotional pull, despite that fact that Cornwell undid it in later books.

`Point Of Origin' is an important book in the series, both for its own sake and because it concludes storylines from earlier books (`From Potters Field' and `Unnatural Exposure'), so it's essential for all Scarpetta fans. Fortunately, it's also one of the stronger books in the series as well.

After reading 10 novels in the Scarpetta series, Cornwell lost credibility with me in this book because of her artistic choices. Cornwell is an excellent writer, and I have been impressed with her ability to weave more lyrical prose with the technical, and to expose Scarpetta's inner world as well as the outer one she inhabits. But an author who writes about psychopaths has the choice to kill off or save her main characters, and I feel that Cornwell in this novel cut "too close to the bone" in her choice to destroy Benton Wesley. I knew it was coming, because I read Black Notice out of sequence, but that did not prepare me for my feelings of betrayal by Cornwell in Point of Origin. I am aware that writers make all kinds of artistic choices, but I cannot live with what happened in Point of Origin, and choose not to read any more of Cornwell's fiction, notwithstanding her skill as a writer. I'll spend my time with deeper authors.

I have to admit something about this book - it made me cry. Yes, at one point while reading, I had to wipe tears off of my face and rub my eyes so I could see the printed words. Ok, so I may be emotional, but Patricia Cornwell knows how to bring the sentiments of her readers to the surface. And just to clarify a major point (and save a little of my credibility) I've had others admit that they shed a few tears while reading this book too! So there, you can be assured that I'm not a crybaby (at least most of the time) it's just that this book really moves people.

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is again on the trail of Temple Gault and his one time accomplice Carrie Grethen. This is a personal thing with Scarpetta since the dastardly duo tried to set up her niece Lucy and used Lucy's passion as part of a psychotic game in THE BODY FARM. Scarpetta has a new role, one of consulting forensic pathologist for the federal government (just how many hats can that lady possibly wear?). She's called to investigate a horse ranch that had been burned to the ground, and a body found in the ruins. As Scarpetta is on the heels of this pyromania killer (Gault and Grethen or someone else?), her usual cast of support characters surrounds her. We again see Benton, Lucy, and Marino at their best (and worse) so that a vivid picture of who they are and what makes them tick is forever established in our imaginations.

The main thing that makes this book memorable is the emotions this story brings to the surface. We see each of the characters as we've never seen them before and it makes it much easier to relate to some that Cornwell has kept at arm's length from the reader.

True to her fans, Patricia Cornwell doesn't disappoint with this work. It's graphic, emotional and thrilling, as we've come to expect from this writer who is setting the standard for mysteries in the future. It's almost impossible to put this book down and turn the light off to go to bed!

Like many popular novels, this one is an easy and fairly quick read despite the fact that Cornwell often gives way too much detail and information in places. Near the beginning of this work she introduces a manager at a local motel that has red hair and a cat named "Pickles". She tells us why the cat is named Pickles, and if I could ask her, I'd wonder why she bothered. Somebody apparently likes Vidalia onions too, so what? I think some of the attention to detail, like what's for dinner and what color a meaningless characters shirt is, could have been left out.
Cornwell does a good job of back story and I was surprised to find that a character from 'All That Remains', the only other novel of hers I've read, had died off in one of the previous books. By the end of this one, I decided that there was a plot line that Cornwell doesn't seem to escape from; Scarpetta is a bit of a loner and lots of her friends die including one in the the book I just mentioned. I suppose it propels readers into the next book, who will die next? But I find it too contrived. I never liked the premise of that tv show 'Murder She Wrote' either, how many people have someone around them get murdered all the time?
In 'All That Remains' we have too many coincidences. Perhaps that is often how crimes are solved, through lucky breaks and the like, but here it was too much. And I really didn't care for the ending, it was too sudden and didn't have much suspense. It seemed like she decided it was time to end the book, so the killers just showed up and started shooting.
Another complaint I have is simply that she leaves some issues unresolved. In the beginning of the novel, there is a black foal that has mysteriously escaped death and we are lead to believe this is some kind of foreshadowing, but it never gets resolved. Also the character that seems to be important at the beginning, the big-wig rich guy, ends up being almost meaningless, even though we are lead to believe he has some importance.
A huge issue in trying to solve the crime, how the fires started and how they get so big, gets tons of play, but we never get told what actually happened. This was the biggest error of the book, I felt, there was all this drama building up about how they couldn't figure out how the fires got started and then we are never told what actually happened. One of the problems of writing from only one viewpoint, in the first person, is that it is sometimes awkward to describe events that the protagonist doesn't know about first hand. I'd give Cornwell an "A" for how she handles this technique, but to leave out something so important seems unforgivable. She does explain how the fire starts, but it is akin to saying they "used a match" she left out how they got so hot when that question was a huge story point to the fire detectives.
And of course the characterization of Lucy was too much. If Cornwell wants to write about a computer genius, beautiful and perfect, able to do calculations in her head that everyone else needs a calculator for, able to fly helicopters, be a fire investigator, FBI agent, and so forth, perhaps she should make her the protagonist as she is almost like a female James Bond and she shouldn't be playing second fiddle.
Despite my complaints, being picky and looking for faults is a character trait of mine, I'm still going to give this book a 4. In the field that it is written in, it is above average. I'd recommend, however, starting in the beginning of the series, unlike myself, as I think that would make the stories run together more smoothly. I'd also point out that this type of writing probably appeals more to female readers, but I'd venture to say I'll read more, they are certainly entertaining.

I'd heard of Patricia Cornwell and her medical examiner protagonist before, but hadn't read one of the series until this one. Perhaps the previous books were better, but frankly, I don't think this book would have been accepted by a publisher if it wasn't "Halloween XVXIII" so to speak. Nothing really made sense. Why was one colt spared the fire? How did the fires start anyway (we learn that they're ignited with magnesium, which is conveniently incorporated into cuts on the victims, but not what continues to feed them). What ever becomes of Kenneth Sparkes? What about the morning phone calls (Scarpetta "just knows" all of a sudden that they're from the parents of a boy who died for lack of medical care, and that clairvoyant knowledge is meant to satisfy us as much as it evidently satisfies Scarpetta). And so on. And so on. To say that the plot is weak is too generous - it scarcely has a plot at all. Nor is it a novel of character. Benton shows up briefly, smelling good, and then vanishes again. We're told he's too samrt to get careless, but although he knows that he's being stalked by a psycho killer who has a male accomplice, when a male calls and says he has info about the psycho killer, Benton goes off to meet him in a dark and lonely place. "Hey, Benton! When you hear something eerie in the basement in a horror movie, don't go down there"! But this is all third hand - the man only has two brief scenes and about three lines of dialogue. Then there's Lucy, who just walks around in a sort of perpetual huff. And Marino, who sweats mostly. And finally there's Scarpetta, who has Dark Emotion. We are told so, more or less, just as we're told that she's a genius. But she never thinks any particularly ingenious thoughts, and her insight into her own or any other emotion is about as deep as Dr. Laura Schlesinger's - mostly, she disapproves of stuff, just in general. And although some readers seem to find "the technical details" compelling, all of them are extremely superficial, and amount to little more than canned quotes pasted onto the page. As "Legends of the Fall" demonstrated, there is an audience that is content just to be given stage directions. "Kay is suffering. Kay feels pain. Kay has a brilliant insight". But if you expect to be convinced or instructed rather than just told, and if you like a plot that makes a bit more sense than a disorganised morbid daydream, skip this book.

I HAD TO SAY THAT AFTER BEING "TREATED" TO SEVERAL OF THE FOLLOWING REVIEWS THAT SPOIL ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE NOVEL. HOW DISPPOINTING! With that said, I really enjoyed POINT OF ORIGIN. I'd nearly given up on Cornwell, after the past three disappointing Scarpetta novels. My criticisms of those hold true for POINT; (a) frankly, I don't care as much about Lucy as Cornwell obviously does. I just don't see the purpose served by all the text devoted to her. She spouts technobabble and explains it to Scarpetta and Marino. The rest of it, well, I find her a poorly-sketched character even after all these novels. (b) second, the Marino character is growing tiresome. I still care about him much more than I do Lucy, but, the device (and that's what he seems like now) is OLD now (but, to Cornwell's credit, it's been imitated ad nauseum). HOWEVER, yes, I enjoyed this book. The focus is on VICTIMS, not on getting-in-the-heads of serial killers. We see the devastating effects the events of past novels have taken on the stalwart Scarpetta. This adds to her believable traits. Then, there's the triumphant return to what gets THIS reader turning pages, the descriptions, from Scarpetta, of all the deliciously grisly little procedures and details and such. (come ON, I'm not reading this for the love scenes!)Cornwell walks a fine line with this stuff, and she walks it as surely as she did way back in THE BODY FARM. My faith has been renewed a bit, less written-for-contract-and-film-op schlock, and more poetic contrasts of death and life...

Normally I really enjoy Patricia Cornwell's books, in fact, I'd consider her one of my favorite authors, but Point of Origin falls so far short of any of her other works. My first complaint, too many references to earlier books, one of which I haven't read. This makes the book terribly confusing at some points, and if you haven's read Cruel and Unusual, you're really going to be lost. Second, since most of the characters do appear in other books, she neglects to introduce us to them in Point of Origin properly. For instance, it took me pages to figure out that Sparkes is African American. Vital information to racheting up the suspense and interest in "who-dun-it". Third, enough with Carrie Grethen and Temple Gault. They were interesting the first time (first couple times for Gault), but give it a rest. They're just too invincible. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Carrie appeared again. Disappointed, but not surprised. Finally, the story itself could have been so much better. I agree with an earlier reviewer who reacted to the helicopter shoot out...lame. And with the Fire Marshall, because I can't believe it took that long to figure out how they were starting the fires. You would think an ATF investigator and FBI officers would be able to figure out where the magnesium came from, if they've had any training at all. SO, all in all I was very disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this book to old fans, and I DEFINITELY would advise new Cornwell readers to pass on Point of Origin.

In the past I have enjoyed how Cornwell mixed the technical with the mystery of why a death occurred. This kept my interest from page one, but this time it took me until around page 200 to care about this book and then I didn't care that much. Usually with a KS book I want to do nothing else but read. With this edition I had to force myself to continue. From Cornwell's overdone descriptive to set a scene , "the antique French oak breakfast table."(pg2), "stainless steel Breitling Aerospace watch"(pg2), to the incorrect descriptions "flapping" blades of the helicopter (pg21),& "My beer bottle was limp"(pg63), to her cliched vision of Lucy as Carrie's "supple, hungry lover" (pg58). I didn't get all the anger Kay was feeling toward .Lucy's lifestyle, Benton's love, McGovern's connections with Lucy? What is Cornwell telling us, that Kay is coming out of the closet and is in love with Lucy? I figured Cornwell was going through some major personal stuff during the writing of this book and vented on the page. I think her editor should have helped her out and revised the relentless whining and anger about every character KS has in her life. She use to be more faceted. Hopefully Scarpetta's Winter Table, will be back on track. Cornwell books have always been a must buy for me, but at this moment I have one more book in me, before I start waiting for reviews or maybe paperback or maybe James Lee Burke.

I have always looked upon Patricia Cornwell's novels as a release. They are never intellectually demanding but, generally, are guaranteed to provide an interesting plot, good characterization etc.
While there was nothing wrong with "Point of Origin", there was nothing in it to rave about either. Once again, the protagonist, medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, is faced with a baffling series of murders but, once again (and I am giving absolutely nothing away by saying this) she faces the same nemesis that we have seen in previous novels. In reading the novel, I could not help that Cornwell has become too comfortable with Carrie Grethen to be willing to branch out and create a new villain who resorts to methods other than those made so familiar by Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs."
Where Cornwell succeeds, however, is in her mastery of medical detail. The success of the Scarpetta novels hinged greatly on the fact that the reader was actually able to picture themselves at the crime scene and in the morgue as a criminal investigation was conducted. The descriptions that Cornwell makes are admittedly gory but no more so than what medical examiners are, presumably, faced with every day. One is not left with the impression that the gore is gratuitous and that is why I have kept coming back to the Scarpetta novels.
"Point of Origin" is an improvement over some of Cornwell's other more recent Scarpetta novels. If only she were willing to experiment with new characters and plot lines, rather than stick to what is becoming the same formulaic plot, her readership would only continue to grow.

While I finished PC's latest tome, I generally found it kind of boring and uninteresting. In fact, I actually took a break in the middle to read something else (William Diehl's _Reign in Hell_....VERY GOOD.) Unlike previous Kay Scarpatta novels, I found I didn't like her very much. She was much less sure of herself than previously and really pretty depressing in fact, I found her to be pretty bitchy. Her relationship with Benton was edgy at best and her relationship with her niece was almost combative. Marino was downright morbid...so much so that I see him as the next to get killed off. Possibly by eating his gun! Several issues were left unresolved and, as a previous commentator mentioned, the lack of a face-to-face confrontation with Carrie and her accomplice by ANYONE was unsatisfying. And who was that other guy anyway...where did he come from and how did she hook up with him?
I won't reveal the plot or ending as others who have posted have done (SHAME ON YOU!!! DON'T YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO REVEAL CRUCIAL PLOT ELEMENTS PLOT IN A REVIEW!!! PLEASE REVIEW THE "REVIEW GUIDELINES BEFORE YOU POST!!) Hopefully, people considering the purchase of this book will read my review and realize that other commentators have "let the cat out of the bag" and be careful about reading the other reviews.

This was the first Patricia Cornwell and Scarpetta novel for me; I hate to say it, but it left me feeling deflated. Perhaps it wasn't the right novel of Patricia's or Scarpetta's to start with, but a story is a story and this one seemed incomplete in certain parts. I felt like there were loops that weren't closed or addressed fully, like Carrie's letter at the beginning. It was mentioned throughout the book, but not really solved only bits and pieces towards the end linked up. The whole novel was centered around Kay and Gretchen, among the other characters Lucy, Marino, Benton, and yet the demise of Carrie seemed so lackluster! Four hundred pages led up to a 2-page fight with the villian, and no dialogue was ever set! They fought in helicopters and then, YES! Carrie and her accomplice were gunned down. It as anti-climatic, but yet I was interested enough to see how it turns out. I have one more Scarpetta to read, but if it's along the lines of Point of Origin, she'll be off my book list for good.

Normally I really enjoy Patricia Cornwell's books, in fact, I'd consider her one of my favorite authors, but Point of Origin falls so far short of any of her other works. My first complaint, too many references to earlier books, one of which I haven't read. This makes the book terribly confusing at some points, and if you haven's read Cruel and Unusual, you're really going to be lost. Second, since most of the characters do appear in other books, she neglects to introduce us to them in Point of Origin properly. For instance, it took me pages to figure out that Sparkes is African American. Vital information to racheting up the suspense and interest in "who-dun-it". Third, enough with Carrie Grethen and Temple Gault. They were interesting the first time (first couple times for Gault), but give it a rest. They're just too invincible. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Carrie appeared again. Disappointed, but not surprised. Finally, the story itself could have been so much better. I agree with an earlier reviewer who reacted to the helicopter shoot out...lame. And with the Fire Marshall, because I can't believe it took that long to figure out how they were starting the fires. You would think an ATF investigator and FBI officers would be able to figure out where the magnesium came from, if they've had any training at all. SO, all in all I was very disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this book to old fans, and I DEFINITELY would advise new Cornwell readers to pass on Point of Origin.

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is still the Chief Medical Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. When needed, she is loaned to other agencies due to her deservedly sterling reputation. Life has dramatically changed for both Kay's lover (Benton Wesley) and her niece Lucy. Unable to cope with the intense scrutiny that the FBI provides to a gay woman working on a top secret project, Lucy transfers to the ATF. Benton has also left the agency to become a private consultant.
Just when Kay and Lucy are happy with their significant others, a shadow from their past descends on them. Sociopath Carrie Grithen, Lucy's first lover, has escaped from a maximum security mental facility. She gives notice that she plans to obtain revenge from the three people who sent her up (Kay, Benton, and Lucy).
As soon as the reader becomes complacent that Patricia Cornwell could not possibly surprise them anymore, the talented author releases POINT OF ORIGIN, a novel that contains one of the most unexpected but plausible twists in years. With a simple action, the focus of the characters radically change as the more vulnerable side of Kay surfaces.
Harriet Klausner END

I found POINT OF ORIGIN to be Patricia Cornwell's best novel since the early ones in the Scarpetta series. It's interesting to me that the very things other readers do not like are what make me feel this is her strongest novel in years. I see great improvement in her main characters' depth. It's quite clear that Cornwell's harshest critics are letting their personal prejudices detract from what should be considered tremendous growth in the author's writing. I think it's great how Cornwell is allowing Scarpetta and Lucy to reveal "true to life" thoughts and emotions. They're becoming more human before our very eyes! In addition, the pacing of this installment is exceptional, and the dialogue is her most captivating and realistic yet. The only weakness I detect is the ending--the helicopter chase is too abrupt, with it ending before the reader is even aware of what's going on. But, overall, POINT OF ORIGIN is a real page-turner. Keep your chin up, Ms. Cornwell. You've been on the receiving end of some hard knocks recently, but your hard work on this novel was very much appreciated by this reader!

I liked this installment in the Kay Scarpetta series. The forensics are detailed and graphic, and by now I feel I know her characters well, both their good aspects and their faults. The only issue I have with the series is that they skip major changes in the character's lives. For example, in the last book, Benton was still at the FBI, and when this one opens, he is retired. We don't get to know what led up to that decision and how he feels about it. Lucy was last with the FBI and in the process of having her career ruined. In this book, all of a sudden that is over and she is with the ATF.

Regardless of those deficits, I still enjoy the series. Carrie Grethen is back and the book starts with a poem she writes to Kay. I won't give away spoilers, but this one has an ending that shocks, and is a heartbreaker.

If you plan to read more of the Kay Scarpetta series, don't skip this one. It is needed in my opinion to fully understand at least the next two books. (that is as far as I've gotten in the series)

I have always looked upon Patricia Cornwell's novels as a release. They are never intellectually demanding but, generally, are guaranteed to provide an interesting plot, good characterization etc.
While there was nothing wrong with "Point of Origin", there was nothing in it to rave about either. Once again, the protagonist, medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, is faced with a baffling series of murders but, once again (and I am giving absolutely nothing away by saying this) she faces the same nemesis that we have seen in previous novels. In reading the novel, I could not help that Cornwell has become too comfortable with Carrie Grethen to be willing to branch out and create a new villain who resorts to methods other than those made so familiar by Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs."
Where Cornwell succeeds, however, is in her mastery of medical detail. The success of the Scarpetta novels hinged greatly on the fact that the reader was actually able to picture themselves at the crime scene and in the morgue as a criminal investigation was conducted. The descriptions that Cornwell makes are admittedly gory but no more so than what medical examiners are, presumably, faced with every day. One is not left with the impression that the gore is gratuitous and that is why I have kept coming back to the Scarpetta novels.
"Point of Origin" is an improvement over some of Cornwell's other more recent Scarpetta novels. If only she were willing to experiment with new characters and plot lines, rather than stick to what is becoming the same formulaic plot, her readership would only continue to grow.

In `Point of Origin' Patricia Cornwell is following the lead of James Patterson's protagonist Alex Cross. Once again we are confronted with the essence of evil in the guise of a manipulative serial killer that works her way from one book to the next. By comparing the Scarpetta series with the Cross you would be right to leap to the conclusion that I am laying a major insult on Cornwell. Patterson has proven himself to be the most craven and laziest author at work today, concerned only with making a quick buck on the hapless reader. But where Patterson has utterly destroyed the credibility of a once interesting character in Cross, Cornwell has fashioned a more thoughtful approach to the same problem. This book works well, but only just barely.

As much as I am enjoying reading the Scarpetta series, it is becoming frayed at the seams a bit. I am hoping that Cornwell will leave behind this character who has seemingly been explored to about her furthest point. Scarpetta cant battle a new serial killer every book and confront that person in such a personal one on one struggle every time with out getting a little tiring. After all, most of the growth Scarpetta attained was in the first few books of this series, and now it feels like she is becoming a stereotype of herself. I think that Cornwell is such a gifted author that she could, if she wished, write a novel on par with Jim Harrison's better books, or `Mystic River' or `Motherless Brooklyn.'

Carrie Grethen is back – as in on the very first page, back. She has sent Kay Scarpetta a letter, scrawled in red, full of disjointed phrasing. But as Benton Wesley studies the letter, he realizes that those disjointed ramblings are really challenges, threats and promises. At this point, Carrie has been in a facility for the criminally insane in New York City for the last five years, and her trial on multiple murder charges is but a month away.

Before Kay and Benton can fully absorb either the message or its ramifications, Kay is called by the ATF to the property of media mogul Kenneth Sparkes. There his home and outbuildings have been destroyed by fire, a virtual inferno. His stables, along with over 20 high-dollar horses, have been consumed also. And Kenneth Sparkes is missing.

Then four events occur within hours of each other. First, Kay discovers the badly burned body of a female in what appears to be the point of origin of the fire at the Sparkes home. Secondly, Carrie Grethen manages to escape that maximum security mental facility in NYC.

Next, Carrie sends a well-written and detailed letter to all the major newspapers on the East Coast. In that letter, she slanders Kay and Benton, accusing them of framing her for the murders. She exposes their affair and she exposes Lucy’s sexual orientation, accusing her of seduction for criminal purposes. Then she begs the masses to see that she is freed and that Kay, Benton and Lucy are made to pay.

And, finally, the FBI summons Benton to New York. He was the lead profiler on Carrie’s case all those years ago but he is now retired and no longer with the Bureau.

And when the dust settles from these events and their consequences, when Carrie Grethen deals her ultimate blow, everything the major characters – and the readers – have come to count on will be gone.

At the very end of Cornwell’s previous novel in the Scarpetta series, “Unnatural Exposure,” one particular scene with Kay and Benton stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. The subject matter of the scene came out of nowhere and seemingly had no real connection to the novel’s storyline. That scene felt very wrong and then punched my memory back to an earlier scene with Benton that had puzzled me also.

Then it hit me. Cornwell was telegraphing a major curve in her arc for the series. And, if my intuition was correct, she was either going to end the series with the next book or she was going to restructure the line-up of major characters. Well, she didn’t end the series!

With that final scene in mind, I began this book. By the end of the first chapter, I knew how it was going to happen and had confirmed, in my mind, who it was going to happen to. The only thing for it now was to turn the pages one by one, verifying the clues, waiting for the final blow and just wanting Cornwell to get it over with.

In trying to wrench her story arc in that different direction, Cornwell really makes a mess of it. First, it’s difficult to tell exactly how much time has passed since the conclusion of the previous novel. Secondly, Benton has retired from the FBI and we don’t know why. And Lucy has been drummed out of the FBI and we don’t know why that happened either. We just know that Benton is still relatively young, with his own consulting business, and that Lucy is now with the ATF.

And, as we read, the red herrings that Cornwell tosses into the soup become increasingly obvious. We know that Kay Scarpetta will not be spared all the blows, but she will remain. She is, after all, the “I” in the first person POV. But those herrings are heavily and repeatedly directed toward only two of the three remaining main characters.

Then, at the beginning of the dreaded scene that we have been moving inexorably toward, Cornwell writes every character but Kay totally out of character. The dialogue and action Cornwell writes for all but Kay comes off like something you’d see and hear in a third rate daytime drama. However, that cheesy, juvenile dialogue made me realize one thing. There had been three people “missing in action,” so to speak, that day, not just one.

The Scarpetta series is, and has always been, dark and gritty and never with a happy ending. The murder is always solved, but the killers are not always caught and justice is not always served. Like revenge, the entries in this series are best served cold, spacing them a month or so apart and interspersing them with lighter fare or something from a different genre.

This book started with ashes and it ended with ashes. And if my suspicions are correct about the import of that unusual scene in “Unnatural Exposure,” we’re not done here. The truth will out; it always does. And a Phoenix will rise from these ashes.

The most suspenseful thing about this book was waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I am a longtime Cornwell fan and have been looking forward to the next Scarpetta novel for a while now. However, I was disappointed in this one. All of the major characters, without exception, seem to be getting old and tired. I halfway expected them to all be killed off by the end of the book, because it seemed like the author didn't like them anymore. Cornwell still includes the elements that I love such as all the forensic information, but it seems she got more caught up in the prose this time. The "climax" of the novel (getting the bad guy) was too easy. Had it been a movie, it would have been over in 2 minutes flat. Overall, this book felt like a character development novel. I felt like the only reason there was an antagonist and a gruesome crime was to give the characters a reason to talk about themselves and how they feel. The plot got lost in the prose. Sorr! ! y, Patricia. However, I'll still be waiting for the next one.

Patricia Cornwell's last novel is her best since From Potter's Field. She weaves a web of intrigue and suspense that keeps you up late at night. The crimes and the reasons behind them are chilling and the truth sends a shiver up your spine. The book was all I expected and more. Point of Origin keeps pace with the technical detail aspect of her books that Cornwell fans expect. Also Point of Origin makes the reader realize, to a greater extent, the painful impact that Temple Gault and Carrie Grethen both had on the lives of Scarpetta and the ones she loves. It is the final chapter in the torment that Gault began in Cruel and Unusual. Point of Origin has fear, love, remorse, hate, and an array of other emotions that carry the reader into the lives of Scarpetta, Lucy, Marino, and Benton. When you finish the book you are ready for the next chapter in the lives of these characters. Point of Origin is Cornwell at the top of her game and is everything and so much more that her ! ! readers have come to expect over the years.

Ms. Cornwell brings us her 9th thriller featuring ME Dr. Kay Scarpetta. In "Point Of Origin", there are several plots twisting and turning the reader. Sick psycho Carrie returns from "Body Farm" to threaten Kay and retired FBI boyfriend Benton Wesley. Add a special assignment from the government, to now help forensically in the case of a burnt to the ground horse farm...including a body, and Dr. Kay has her hands full.
I enjoyed this book. However, at times I felt the scenes were perhaps overwritten, clogging down the penned rich rhythms we are accustomed to. Or, maybe there was just TOO much going on.....rather dizzying, like several kittens bouncing about with frazzled balls of colorful yarn.
Ms. Cornwell apparently was getting EVERYTHING in to complete this series. And for Scarpetta fans, there are some sad endings besides the series.
Still a classic Cornwell chiller.
Thanks for your interests & comments--CDS

Thank goodness I only borrowed this stinker from a friend.Iagree with other reviewers - Cornwell is not up to form. There hasbeen a steady decline of quality since 'From Potters Field'.
Her development of Scarpetta has become tiresome. Kay is a whiny, self-important, annoying shrew who has no chance of connecting with human beings on any level. And Lucy, well, the less said the better. She's beyond intolerable.
My main problem with the book, besides the obvious plot holes, was the text that was dedicated to absolutely unrelated events. When Kay and Marino eat at the Old Ebbitt Grill in DC, the author spends at least two pages reviewing conversations being held by various patrons at the restaurant. And I need to read about this because....? Cornwell employed this abysmal style in the unreadable Hornet's Nest.
Another annoyance is the shameless brand name dropping. Do I care that Rose wears an Armani suit? Not really. Also, why does Cornwell need to specify that Kay uses and ergonomically correct chair? These are all useless details that only seem to take up extra text.
If she wants to return to the business of writing taut, suspenseful novels, then it is time for Cornwell to perform an attitude adjustment on her main characters, and FIND A BETTER EDITOR!

I found this book very disappointing from several standpoints.First, our main characters (Kay, Marino, Lucy and poor Benton) wanderthrough the book in a depressive haze. Hey people! Ever hear of Prozac? I'm not sure how these characters could be so interesting in previous works and now can barely hold my attention for two chapters in a row. Secondly, the story takes the first 2/3 of the book to develop and then you get socked in the stomach with the twist. Frankly, there are a couple of other main characters who I would like to have seen end up like him after their incessant whining in the first part of the book. Third, is there anyone out there who can't see Kay's burgeoning mid-life sexual identity crisis coming in the next book?
After Patricia Cornwell's first few (excellent) Scarpetta books I would have never thought I'd stop reading this character or even want to stop. This is my last Scarpetta book. It was fun while it lasted.

Although I have been an avid follower of Patsy Cornwell since her pre-Edgar award days, I am quickly loosing interest in the tiresome, repetitive story lines involving heroine Kay Scarpetta.
Cornwell's formula, once inventive and new, is now old hat. It is time for new characters - especially the bad guys. Staying with proven foes for Cornwell has worked before - but she is not venturing into new territory here. Her plots have become too much like a James Bond novel - coincidence, luck, and improbability have overshadowed the important and pivitol role of realism that used to set Cornwell apart.
I look forward to Cornwell's next work, but I do fervently hope that there is something new to be found for Scarpetta, Lucy, and Marino. I dislike the experience of deja vu that comes from this latest Cornwell effort. It's all been done before - and unfortunatly with better results.

Patricia Cornwell's books have been falling off in quality over time, but the drop here is particularly steep. Part of the problem is her always haphazard plotting -- half of the problems and red herrings thrown up here never get explained. But her prose -- so alive and vibrant in those early books -- has become choked with cliches, so embarrassing to read that you wonder whether she's even assigned an editor nowadays. As for Scarpetta herself, well, Cornwell must suffer the most extreme case of 'I love my character' since Dorothy L Sayers. Kay Scarpetta isn't a character anymore, she's a Superhero: omnipotent, with Godlike wisdom, telling us all What's Wrong With The World. Lucy continues her decline from a sympathetic character to Wronged Genius Who Can Do Anything. She desperately needs killing off. Avoid at all costs and go back to those marvellous early books instead.

The charcaters in a series should bring some consistency from one installment to another. The protagonist in this series, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, has degenerated into a paranoid BORING one dimensional irrational person. Her behaviors are simply not believable. A person who thinks and acts this way could not hold a job as a mortician, let alone a state's Chief Medical Examiner. This book was a struggle to work through. Its plot contrivances seemed to be thought up on the fly and slapped into the manuscript. At times, I was wondering if the author simply grabbed an old character (The evil Carrie) and tried to re-work her for the sake of meeting some kind of publishing requirement. I could never really get "into" the story...whenever I was slipping into the fictional world created by the author, the sloppiness or preposterousness of that world jarred me back into my own. A true disappointment and the last Cornwell book I'll ever read.

There is a guideline among play/screenwriters that says if a gun is on the table in the first act, it must be fired by act three. So when the villain's threatening letter appears on the first page of the book, a reader can reasonably expect a person-to-person confrontation by the end of the book. Don't hold your breath, it never happens. The ending clearly points to a continuation of Carrie the Villain in another Kay Scarpetta book, but disappointed fans may not pick up the next installment.
Kay Scarpetta fans will have to be devoted and loyal to love this book. The quality if a far cry from the tensely plotted, intriguingly detailed books that Cornwell wrote at the beginning of the series. The result is a main character who has shed all her flaws, leaving an unsympathetic, driven, workaholic superhero in her place.
Kay's niece, in this plot installment, is fast following the character of her aunt. In other books this young woman was brittle, smart, sympathetic, and on the brink of self-understanding. Now she is just another lesbian computer genius, athlete, and expert helicopter pilot who comes complete with incredible intuition and brilliant firefighting skills and who regularly falls in love with her supervisors. Oh, and she was the villain's former lover, too. But it wasn't her fault. She was young. And dumb. Her character just doesn't add up.
Readers can't sympathize with someone they don't understand, let alone identify with. A good book editor would have made sure to create a character transition for those who have not read every Kay Scarpetta book in order.
And that's the major problem with the book--it's not badly written, it has a lot of potential to be another stay-up-all-night-and-read-Cornwell book, but it is badly damaged by sloppy work that could have been easily fixed by a shrewd book editor. An editor would have also made sure the escaped colt that received a big buildup was explained instead of forgotten; that Mr. Sparks either had a name change or at least a more finished role in the second half of the book; that people vital to the plot line would have been introduced before the plot line is exhausted; that the dialogue flows less awkwardly; that the non-word "ironical" never appeared at all; and that the ending explained better why no chemical ingniter was found in the tests when it suddenly becomes an important factor in the book.
Let's hope plot details get fixed by the next installment, or it won't be a mystery that Kay Scarpetta fans begin to vanish.

Kay Scarpetta thought she was done dealing with Carrie Grethen when they locked her up for her gleeful participation in the crimes committed by Temple Gault. Though locked up, Carrie can still communicate with the outside world. Carrie sends Scarpetta a cryptic message that indicates she blames her for Gault's death and is plotting revenge on Scarpetta and her family. Not long after Scarpetta receives the letter, Carrie escapes from prison.

Scarpetta is walking on eggshells around her house, sure that Carrie will turn up around every corner and attack her. But, she won't let that get in the way of her work. Scarpetta is called in on an investigation into the death of a woman in a fire that destroyed a farmhouse. Scarpetta must figure out who this woman is and why she was at a house that doesn't belong to her. The point of origin of the fire is also suspect and may be the key to figuring out who perpetrated the crime as another fire seems to point to the same pattern. While Scarpetta is focused on the investigation, she is worried about Benton, who has become all consumed trying to capture Carrie. Scarpetta fears that Carrie knows their habits all too well and can predict their next move. She's worried that Carrie is laying a trap to ensnare them, but Scarpetta may be too late to stop the trap from closing.

This was another good read in the series. I had read the previous ones back to back and had become quite tired of them. After giving them a break for a while, this one was refreshing. While Scarpetta and her motives are quite predictable, the bad guys and the nature of the deaths in the stories always provide for some intrigue and variation.

Thank goodness I only borrowed this stinker from a friend. Iagree with other reviewers - Cornwell is not up to form. There hasbeen a steady decline of quality since 'From Potters Field'.
Herdevelopment of Scarpetta has become tiresome. Kay is a whiny, self-important, annoying shrew who has no chance of connecting with human beings on any level. And Lucy, well, the less said the better. She's beyond intolerable.
My main problem with the book, besides the obvious plot holes, was the text that was dedicated to absolutely unrelated events. When Kay and Marino eat at the Old Ebbitt Grill in DC, the author spends at least two pages reviewing conversations being held by various patrons at the restaurant. And I need to read about this because....? Cornwell employed this abysmal style in the unreadable Hornet's Nest.
Another annoyance is the shameless brand name dropping. Do I care that Rose wears an Armani suit? Not really. Also, why does Cornwell need to specify that Kay uses and ergonomically correct chair? These are all useless details that only seem to take up extra text.
If she wants to return to the business of writing taut, suspenseful novels, then it is time for Cornwell to perform an attitude adjustment on her main characters, and FIND A BETTER EDITOR!

This year's Christmas presents have been the best yet, and the element of Patricia Cornwell's "magic" made it possible. Let me describe to you the scenerio: "gotta study for exam, but what about P.C.? Well, maybe I'll just take a little peek , 5 mins & no more! ..(5 HRS. passed) GOSH! It's 3 am! But I can't put this book down! Let me finish!!" Hey, who can say no to this book? :) I have read (and loved) earlier works of hers and therefore understood this sequel-like series with this last satisfying big bang. However, for someone who has never read other Kay Scarpetta books might be confused. Other than that, I would say this book is SUPBERB! It is very realistic to make one wonder if it could really happen. It makes my blood crawl with excitement. The way a thriller should be!

I gave up on Cornwell several books ago, but picked this one up at the library for one more shot. My initial annoyance with the heroine was that she is such a belly-acher: ain't it awful what I have to do, dealing with dead bodies and all. I disliked the token love story with Wesley, who had a perfectly nice wife and family, as being introduced for people who are more interested in sex than in mysteries. Her preoccupation with her niece is obsessive. So I find that this book is worse in all the above. If Kay Scarpetta finds her job so disagreeable, why doesn't she just quit and do something else? I'd like to see a positive attitude here. I am not dazzled by all the techno-garbage. Let's have a heroine I can care about. Scarpetta, resign and get a job in a factory and let Lucy live her own life.

I finished reading Point of Origin two days ago, but didn't get a chance to get to the computer until today. I read the other reviews before I put fingers to keyboard. I get tired of reading about people who expect more from authors than a good, page turner of a story. If you want to cure the evils of the world, don't look to fiction for the answers.
Patricia did a good job, and I for one am interested in what happens to the villains as time passes. It's a sad statement that Carrie was able to manipulate the system and do the things she does in the story.
And as to the comment about the end of the main story from one reader, who knows what really happened? I seem to remember that appearances can be deceiving...Please keep up the good work. I'm recommending this to my pals.

Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner for the Commonwealth ofVirginia, is called in to help investigate a deadly fire which may ormay not have been planned by the apparent victim, or a villian from a previous novel. Joining Scarpetta in her investigation is her usual supporting cast: niece Lucy (now with the ABT), Captain Marino, and her paramour Benton Wesley. The plot is relatively straight forward, as the reader knows that sooner or later the spectre of Carrie Grethen will appear to play a role in the arson/murder cases. Readers should note that a helicopter appears in the author's back cover photograph, and will will play a major role in the plot. The series has lost some of its freshness, but the technical aspects continue to keep a reader's interest to the end.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Cornwell's main characters in all of her Scarpetta books. They are very human and have problems just like the rest of us. Point of Origin brought back these characters I feel like I've gotten to know. I thought the plot was invigorating and found it difficult to put the book down. The fires, being again with Scarpetta in the morgue, deducing from the forensic clues, and having her persevere even in a time of tremendous personal tragedy make for a great read. And I'll just admit it--I think it's splendid for a woman to be a doctor and a lawyer. Cornwell's Scarpetta books are among the few I purchase in hardback--just can't wait for a library copy or the paperback. I'm anticipating another one--hope it will be soon.

This is a pretty good book, interesting info about fires. I am tired of Lucy and Kay's obsession with her. I loved Hornet's Nest(why, No Lucy)Any- way it was still a good read. I suppose we will see Carrie again(See what started Dr. Hannibel Lecter started, the villain never seems to go away, and it seems that Kay will have a new boy- friend? Enjoyed the description of UNC-Wilmington and all the details Cornwell does so well. Boy, does she hate the FBI? One question, though, what happened to Pumpkin the cat? Seeing what happened to the horses, we can assume what happened to Pumpkin, but I always have to know what happened to animals and this is left hanging. Anyway,look ing forward to the next Scarpetta novel"

This was my first Patricia Cornwell and I assure you, it will not be the last. This amazing and very knowledgeable author is not only a pleasure but a priviledge to read. Her plot is very well developed (having accidently listened to the last tape first I was able to get a sense of how she built her plot) I like best her excruciating attention to detail, right down to the physical landmarks of the settings for scenes in the book. She must research these details exhaustively and in addition to her medical knowledge makes for a very enlightening read. I felt as if I were at every place, peering over the investigators hands as she performed autopsy's and sifted through physical and logical evidence. I was riveted!

I hounded the library until they got this book on the shelf. Once I got it, I didn't put it down until I finished it. Overall, I think this book was far and above Hornet's Nest, but not as good as her earlier work. Kay has become a familiar character, kind of like an old friend. However, I can't really evaluate this book fairly because of the terrible twist it takes. We know from the dust jacket that Carrie does something terrible to Kay on a personal level. However, when I read what it was, it just stopped me dead in my tracks and everything else after that just seemed to be so unimportant. I would recommend this book to any Cornwell fan. It will be very interesting to see where Ms. Cornwell takes us from here.

Usually a Cornwell fan who finishes within a couple of days or a week, but took me nearly 3 months to wade through this one. I am not sure why I even plugged along! The murder/arsonist storyline seemed intriguing and filled with hope. The book got too caught up in tedious details of the personal lives of Kay, Lucy, et al. Interesting characters deserve much more interesting dialogue, actions, and lives! A potentially suspenseful plot with a few new twists got dumped for scenes such as visiting Lucy's apartment? Maybe Cornwell has written one too many books! I want the suspense and mystery back, but only if she can come up with new motives, new perpetrators, and a whole new outlook on life for Kay.

We found 'Point Of Origin' another one of Cornwell's excellentreading of and about Scarpetta's intriguing case load. Again once we got started we couldn't stop. We went from Hornest's Nest to Point of Origin so we know we are missing inbetween as some of the story didn't make sense and we had a feeling we had missed something. (Benton's & Scarpetta's affair and Benton's marriage breakup.) Hopefully this author will continue this story (no bodies found!) and now the 3 main characters will continue on with the struggle of trying to make a difference in their world. We won't give away the ending, but we all felt Kay's pain like we were right there at Hilton Head Island. Great reading 4 Christmas or 4 a gift.

Well Ms.Cornwell has once again given us the treat of yetanother novel with all our favorite characters, right down to CarrieGretchen. as I gazed at the book in the store and took notice of the new back cover photo (her in flight jacket w/heli in background) how did I know that she or Lucy would be a pilot. It is a well written book which as always, I had trouble putting down but some of the plot line, kind of out there. And the rubber swimmers cap come on, I dont think so. Semi-Kudos to you Ms. Cornwell and yes I will continue to read your novels even this one didnt keep you on the edge of your seat like your past one's. Just glad I waited for paperback version.

We found 'Point Of Origin' another one of Cornwell's excellentreading of and about Scarpetta's intriguing case load. Again once we got started we couldn't stop. We went from Hornest's Nest to Point of Origin so we know we are missing inbetween as some of the story didn't make sense and we had a feeling we had missed something. (Benton's & Scarpetta's affair and Benton's marriage breakup.) Hopefully this author will continue this story (no bodies found!) and now the 3 main characters will continue on with the struggle of trying to make a difference in their world. We won't give away the ending, but we all felt Kay's pain like we were right there at Hilton Head Island. Great reading 4 Christmas or 4 a gift.

Nothing too amazing about the story. It was a good book and I thought I knew the ending but in the end I didn't. There was a lot of descriptive detail about forensic devices... Probably far too much than I wanted to read about, but I understood why it was needed. I'm a Richmonder so I enjoyed reading about places i am familiar with, I'll have to read the books in the series before this one because it looks like there is a really juicy storyline within it