Review of 'Book of the Dead' by Patricia Cornwell

I always enjoy the tight, present tense, analytical style of this series. The characters are old favourites who grow and change. The writing, plotting and conclusions are always polished and satisfactory. I enjoy being required, as a reader, to think and read intelligently.

In this novel, Kay Scarpetta has moved to Charleston, in the southern States. There is some hostility to her presence and she has to sort the trivial from the serious. And serious it becomes as it appears there is a killer on the loose and the seeming separate deaths she has to deal with are finally linked.

As usual Kay Scarpetta has to deal with the irritating little problems of every day living, the personality clashes of her colleagues, as well as a nasty murder. She manages to retain her dry sense of humour through it all, solve the murders, and even make headway with the difficult neighbours.

A good solid read and not just one for fans. All the books stand alone although it does help to have read the earlier ones if you enjoy watching the characters develop.

Reveiw of 'The Abomination by Jonathon Holt

A well written tightly plotted novel set mainly in Venice.As the story proceeds so a conspiracy emerges between the CIA, the Italian government and the Catholic Church.

Villains act like goodies and the main characters are people the reader wants to care about. I am puzzled in that the novel is meant to be thee first of a trilogy and I looked for the second part but according to Goodreads there is only that novel and a non-fiction book available. Pity, as Venice is a great setting will used and I want to see what happens to our three main characters.

Well worth a read as it's more original than the usual conspiracy whodunit, Jonathon Holt writes well with a distinctive voice and his plotting is exceptional.