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The Front (Winston Garano #2)
The audacious new adventure of the At Risk team from America's #1 bestselling crime writer.
When Patricia Cornwell introduced the quicksilver, cut-to-the-bone style and extraordinary cast of characters of At Risk, the result was electrifying: "At Risk is Cornwell's finest novel. It works in every way possible--fascinating characters, solid plot, great pacin...more
When Patricia Cornwell introduced the quicksilver, cut-to-the-bone style and extraordinary cast of characters of At Risk, the result was electrifying: "At Risk is Cornwell's finest novel. It works in every way possible--fascinating characters, solid plot, great pacin...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
May 20th 2008
by Putnam Adult
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Started reading Cornwell for the forensic science before CSI made it cool. The early Kay Scarpetta novels are downright frightening, the closest I get to reading horror. (No Stephen King books or slasher movies for me!) Now Cornwell has started a new series with a cool detective in Boston, which has extra appeal to me. (From USA Today: In The Front, Win Garano is investigating a 45-year-old cold case that could be linked to the infamous Boston Strangler. Or is the investigation merely a ruse to ...more
This book was horrible as so many of her previous novels have been. I think Cornwell has lost touch with what made us readers want to read her books. I keep coming back to her new books hoping she will regain what I once loved to read her for, but this may be the last attempt for me.
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The second of the Win Garano books, The Front is written in the same breathless present tense as ‘At Risk.’ This has the effect of differentiating it from books in the Scarpetta series, which may have been why Ms Cornwell adopted it.
The plot construction is very clever and, as in the first book, Garano digs Monique Lamont out of a hole of her own making. As before, Lamont sets Garano up somewhat and, also as before, he follows her moves and saves her from her own stupidity. In most ...more
The plot construction is very clever and, as in the first book, Garano digs Monique Lamont out of a hole of her own making. As before, Lamont sets Garano up somewhat and, also as before, he follows her moves and saves her from her own stupidity. In most ...more
I am used to Cronwell’s novels with the women pathologist and disgusting sociopaths who skin women and things like this. So this was a welcome relief to have the main character be Win Garano, an African American detective, why do we need to know that he is African Amercian. No one says, “oh by the way, this detective is white.” But in any case he was refreshing. The writing style is abrupt and almost abbreviated like the authors is saying, “Oh, you know I’m famous and I’m just going to give y...more
At one time, her Kay Scarpetta books were some of the best mystery/thriller fiction around... and then they grew dark & nasty & mean - and I stopped reading them.
Since the "At Risk" series meant a new set of characters and a possible fresh start, I gave both of the books a try this weekend. I'm sad to report that the books read like TV pilot proposals: the sexy ice queen prosecutor with political ambitions who bosses around the good-looking African-American detective hero. ...more
Since the "At Risk" series meant a new set of characters and a possible fresh start, I gave both of the books a try this weekend. I'm sad to report that the books read like TV pilot proposals: the sexy ice queen prosecutor with political ambitions who bosses around the good-looking African-American detective hero. ...more
This book was OK. There was promise, but I think it was too short. Under 200 pages, I just felt like the surface of the story was barely scratched. It took me three days to get through it, and I think the reason is partly because I couldn't ever truly sink my teeth into it.
I'm not sure if that is indicitive of Cornwell's writing or not. This is the first book I've read by her. The characters seemed interesting, but once more it wasn't deep enough to truly become attached to anyon...more
I'm not sure if that is indicitive of Cornwell's writing or not. This is the first book I've read by her. The characters seemed interesting, but once more it wasn't deep enough to truly become attached to anyon...more
I almost didn't click to update my status on this book, simply because I didn't know what to say about it. I finished reading it last night and I've had few hours to think about it and I still don't know.
Cornwell can write. She knows how to craft a character, or ten, and she knows how to create a mystery. She wouldn't be as popular as she is if she couldn't. Still, this is the first Cornwell mystery I've read and I was less than impressed. I shouldn't have been. It was all right there...more
Cornwell can write. She knows how to craft a character, or ten, and she knows how to create a mystery. She wouldn't be as popular as she is if she couldn't. Still, this is the first Cornwell mystery I've read and I was less than impressed. I shouldn't have been. It was all right there...more
This novel is a very fast read, especially since a movie for television did both this novel and At Risk. The differences between the novel and the movie for The Front are great. A major difference is the outcome of female detective Stump. I enjoy reading Cornwell, but this novel is not up to par with her other novels, and the characters are not as good. Monique Lamont, the District Attorney, is a despicable character. Lamont's only concern is herself and her future. She will use whatever a...more
What a disappointment. It was lacking substance, grit, passion. It's almost like the author was just going through the motions. And I am a huge fan of Patricia Cornwell but her latest works just don't have the same 'edge' - there's no camparison between these and the Scarpetta series. Characters were very dull and the storyline so-so. I have a strong feeling that this may well be my last PC purchase. What a shame.
"c2007. Not the best of her books that I have read. This was a somewhat random choice from the library. I believe that this is the 2nd book in a new series featuring Win Garano from the State Police, a DA Monique Lamont and “Stump,†the lead detective in Watertown. There are hints and clues of all sorts of skullduggery from accusations of terrorist funding, to murder, to mob hits etc. Jumps all over the place. The Front is actually an acronym standing for FRONT … Friends, Resources, O...more
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Told in present tense, this short novel (54k words, but a big font and lots of white space pad it out to look like a £6.99 paperback should do) takes off at speed and never slows down, skimping on everything from description to characterisation (it’s the 2nd in a series) and plot. Losing the well-written tone and atmosphere of the Scarpetta novels, this reads more like the plan for a novel, rather than the finished product. It’s difficult at times to work out what’s going on, the Lamont charac...more
A nice enough little romp solving an old crime.
I liked "Geronimo" and I know I liked his grandmother! I would certainly like to read about her again! "Stump" was an admirable character as well but I'm not sure I cared much for the others.
I'm glad I picked this up at the library. I would have been bitterly disappointed had I actually paid for it.
I liked "Geronimo" and I know I liked his grandmother! I would certainly like to read about her again! "Stump" was an admirable character as well but I'm not sure I cared much for the others.
I'm glad I picked this up at the library. I would have been bitterly disappointed had I actually paid for it.
This is a light book. In fact, I believe it is something Cornwell wrote between Lunch and dinner one day. She should have watched a movie or made better use of her time! Her early books were great, but these last 5 or 6 are scraping the bottom of the barrel! Her characters are not developed and the plots are so simple that you just think 'who cares'.
Liz Hester
added it
Much better than her Southern Cross, Hornet's Nest series, but I still felt lost throughout most of the novel. The plot is good, but she jumps from one thing to another and often begins new chapters and/or sections with fragmented thoughts and sentences that leave you feeling as though you are missing information. I noticed this same problem in the more recent Scarpetta novels and find it extremely frustrating to read. Cornwell really needs to fully develop the various components involved in ...more
I've long been a fan of Patricia Cornwell, in particular her Kay Scarpetta series. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite work for me. Something about the writing style (present tense, very abrupt, lots of broken sentences) was very jarring and I really struggled to get into this book.
Once I did, I enjoyed the book - but I still feel like something was missing. I'm not sure if it's because I either didn't read the first book in the series or have forgotten all about it (I really di...more
Once I did, I enjoyed the book - but I still feel like something was missing. I'm not sure if it's because I either didn't read the first book in the series or have forgotten all about it (I really di...more
Not really a "better than tv," but more a "made for tv" plot. Still better than her Andy Brazil series. Liked Win's character best; Lamont is just so-so. A very quick read - did it in a day. For the "real Patricia Cornwell" go bact to her early Scarpetta books with which she built her reputation: Postmortem, Body of Evidence, The Body Farm.
Long-time fan of Patricia Cornwell, but this book didn't hold my interest. Finished it since it's so short, but was easily distracted. Just didn't care for the characters.
Heidi
added it
The latest fro Patricia Cornwell. Typical Cornwell, fast read, lots of forensic info. The whole book felt rushed and undeveloped. The ending seemed like an after though.
I have been a Patricia Cornwell fan from the beginning. But this book is disappointing. It feels like the ending was very rushed and it wasn't very satisfying.
2 1/2 stars. More like a novella than a novel, though priced like a novel. It is written as a sequel to "At Risk", which was equally short and under-developed. The story is written with the style of a screen play, complete with staging directions, undoubtedly so Cornwell could have it tv-movie ready, in case it follows the made-for-tv "At Risk". If she had taken her time with character and plot development, it could have been good. Detective Win Garano and DA Monique Lam...more
What a huge disappointment. It truly felt like Patricia Cornwell needed to write a book and turned in something....the plot was insane, the characters underdeveloped and the ending was anti-climatic. She ended it as if she just simply ran out of time. Even the supposed love affair between Win and Stump was close to being unbelievable. One saving grace is Win- if she can develop this character more and get rid of Monique Lamont the DA (another impossible character- she's so smart that she did...more
Another good read from Patricia Cornwell, and a nice find at the local library. Read it in an evening, and while I liked it, I still REALLY like her Scarpetta series better. This book reminded me for some reason of the writing of Elizabeth George - maybe it was the writing style. EG's stories are set in Britain tho, while PC's are on the east coast of the US. But both write about police officers & detectives, although that's not why this seemed similar to EG, since PC's other books don't resembl...more
Thk
added it
Quite a short book in essence, at about 200 pages, ready to be crunched up in 2-3 hrs. However, twists and turns in the plot abounds, although they are arranged out of order, and can be intimidating at times. A good book to grab for a lazy afternoon.
The author makes good use of current issues like Youtube and the current American election to good effect. In the end, the storyline falls into place but I am still a bit puzzled by some of the finer details. Cornwell writes well as judged from the f...more
The author makes good use of current issues like Youtube and the current American election to good effect. In the end, the storyline falls into place but I am still a bit puzzled by some of the finer details. Cornwell writes well as judged from the f...more
304 pgs. May 2008. I have a lot of respect for Cornwell, but I find that I do not read her all that often anymore. I have to really think about what it is I feel is 'missing.' Somehow, there was an incompleteness to the story, almost like I was reading an outline. This may be a result of the fact that I haven't been immersing myself in the novels; perhaps there is a fullness in the linking of the stories and characters. I don't know. So few pages, so few words per page - almost like a 100 page b...more
This book read as if it was written in order to satisfy a contractual obligation - competently but quickly with llittle eye towards plot or character development. I read this book in 3-4 hours but still feel cheated when doing a utilitarian calculation of time vs. enjoyment. I llike the characters and hope that future novels will use them to develop a more interesting and engaging story line. I can't recommend this book to anyone but the most die hard Cornwell fans and feel that many of them ...more
Having read several Patricia Cornwell novels from the Kay Scarpetta medical examiner series, I felt this book fell short from what I expected of her. The Front is a short mystery that takes place in Boston and involves a savvy headstrong DA and renewed interest in a 40-year-old crime. The main detective Win and his superstitious Nana and her spells are interesting characters, but the story lacked explanation of tying everything together cohesively and then sped up at the end to finish! The story...more
Simply put; failure. Four hours of my life I won't get back. Lifetime made a movie out of it which happened to be on tv the day after I listened to this audio-book. I can't decide which is the more epic disaster.
Cornwell hasn't been good in some time now. The early books in the Scarpetta series were page turners with characters that were flawed but still relatable and they all had some likeability. I thought by picking up a new series that I might find that same satisfaction ...more
Cornwell hasn't been good in some time now. The early books in the Scarpetta series were page turners with characters that were flawed but still relatable and they all had some likeability. I thought by picking up a new series that I might find that same satisfaction ...more
It's an affront.
This was the closest I have come to giving up on a book since Satanic Verses. The non-dialogue is truncated in the style of a film script and makes for difficult reading. There are five main characters but none of them satisfy. The plot trips over itself with several improbable threads that don't come together or follow through, culminating in an implausible ending out of the blue. This book looks like a rush job by Cornwell. I need to revisit other of her work to und...more
This was the closest I have come to giving up on a book since Satanic Verses. The non-dialogue is truncated in the style of a film script and makes for difficult reading. There are five main characters but none of them satisfy. The plot trips over itself with several improbable threads that don't come together or follow through, culminating in an implausible ending out of the blue. This book looks like a rush job by Cornwell. I need to revisit other of her work to und...more
It was okay...not really my "cup of tea", I guess. Although I realize that the book states that it is a work of fiction and the use of names, places, etc. are the product of the author's imagination OR used fictitiously, it bothers me that the mention of the US Navy vessel, the USS Stump, is referred to as a WWII destroyer, when it wasn't commissioned until many years later. It obviously doesn't matter in relation to the story line, but those individuals who served aboard the USS St...more
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Patricia Cornwell was born on June 9, 1956, in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Montreat, North Carolina.
Following graduation from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer, rapidly advancing from listing television programs to writing feature articles to covering the police beat. She won an investigative reporting award from the North Carolina Pre...more
More about Patricia Cornwell...
Following graduation from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer, rapidly advancing from listing television programs to writing feature articles to covering the police beat. She won an investigative reporting award from the North Carolina Pre...more
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