Alan Cornwell

Advantages: Good story, well researched
Disadvantages: None.

...This is the second of Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels and is set around the battle of Talavera and Sharpe's quest to take a French Imperial Eagle because of his regiments dishonour in battle. The novel is an improvement on the first in the series (Sharpe's rifles), because the author seems to have developed the characters, and the story is more gripping. The novel is very well researched (Cornwell actually visited the site of the battle) giving a realistic flavour to the story. Definitely recommended to people who like historical novels.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Clever storyline, well written, exciting
Disadvantages: need to know something about the characters, not up to usual high standards

...Patricia Cornwell has written another novel based around her fans best loved character, Kay Scarpetta. If you have never read any of Cornwells Scarpetta novels then I would suggest reading earlier volumes published before this one as the characters histories are very important to the emotion of this particular novel. Arson, murder, escape, all the ingredients are there to set up a great tale and as usual Cornwell has created a story worth telling. The plot is exciting, yet not over complicated. The writing is excellent and Cornwells ability to paint a scene in words is excellent. I was hooked to the book and it definitely is a page turner. However, I do feel some of the emotion required to rate this in Cornwells best is missing. The drama that unfolds should inspire a much greater intensity of empathy for Kay Scarpetta than it does... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...This is the first Cornwell book that I read, and it got me hooked to the whole series! It's the sort of bek that you can't put down, you need to know what happens next. The plot (as in all of her books) is great, but she also goes into great depth about the characters and their backgrounds. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes crime novels. The only disadvantage of all of the Cornwell series is that (as they are about a coroner) they can be very descriptive and at times it can get a little unpleasant. If you have a weak stomach then maby it's not the book for you.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful