Dust

Scarpetta, Book 21

By: Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

After working one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history, Scarpetta returns home to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Exhausted and ill, she's recovering at home when she receives an unsettling call. The body of a young woman has been discovered on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's rugby field. The victim, a graduate student named Gail Shipman, is oddly draped in ivory linen and posed in a way that is too deliberate to be the killer's first strike. A preliminary examination in the sea of red mud where the body has been left also reveals a bizarre residue that fluoresces blood red, emerald green, and sapphire blue.

Physical evidence links the case to a series of uniquely weird homicides in Washington, D.C., where Scarpetta's FBI husband has been deployed to help capture a serial killer dubbed the Capital Murderer. The cases all connect and yet seem to conflict. Gail Shipman was murdered for financial gain - or was she? It will require the usual ensemble of characters to find out the truth, including Scarpetta's sidekick Pete Marino, who has undergone a drastic change in his life that places him center stage in a Cambridge investigation that puts everyone at risk.

©2013 Patricia Cornwell (P)2013 Penguin Audio

a good read

I love people in the The story line is great it is hard to put down

Not one of Cornwell's best books

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No. I'm never sure that listening to thrillers and mysteries is "time well-spent", but this book was not enjoyable. I listen to books to help pass the time on long drives. With this book, I found my attention drifting. It also seemed like Cornwell could have told the story with fewer words. The narrator did not make it easy to distinguish the characters. Lucy sounded a lot like Marino at times.

Would you ever listen to anything by Patricia Cornwell again?

Yes. I keep hoping for books that were as good as her first few.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't know.

Could you see Dust being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I don't know

Any additional comments?

no

Disappointing

I used to read Patricia Cornwell books often, several years ago and always enjoyed them. This story was not as compelling as other works by the author and although I feel the narrator did a very professional job, she is not my favorite. Her cadence, intonations/inflections are a bit monotone and extremely repetitive. Sorry, a miss all around for me.

dust

well written book. like the characters, however was very long and normal p cornwold fare

Reader drags out words.

Love the book. Love all books from Patricia Cornwell.
The person reading it drags out most of the words and it just sounds strange.

sorry it's OK, reading is awful

Story teller should learn how pronounce words better. she mispronounced several words throughout the story

Terribly disappointing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would definitely NOT recommend this book to anyone because it repetitive, verbose, and it drags on needlessly. The detective's voice is done poorly, and Merino is portrayed as a dolt. Overall, this book was disappointing in every way except for the story line, which was good.

If you’ve listened to books by Patricia Cornwell before, how does this one compare?

The narration was not as good as in other books, and the author repeated herself concerning characters. There was far too much descriptive narration, and extraneous information.

How could the performance have been better?

Perhaps a different narrator would help.

Do you think Dust needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I don't know if one is needed, but I do know we would not be interested in listening to it or reading it.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to many books, some of which were done superbly, and were captivating. Unfortunately, this is the first one I have ever been extremely disappointed in.

another good one

Always love her books. I'm sure the resemble actual cases she might have done in her past.

Starts out good but then downhill rest of way...

What did you like best about Dust? What did you like least?

Like knowing the characters from other books seem like friends.
However, the actual progress of story line really slows.

If you’ve listened to books by Patricia Cornwell before, how does this one compare?

Hate to say this--"Dust" is one of my least favorites.(Have read ALL her books…)

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading – was your favorite?

Marino.

Do you think Dust needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No…needs new story line.

Any additional comments?

Needs to get story line back to basics…"forensics"

Great storytelling

I love her books always keeps you
Guessing. She
Is
My favorite author and stories