The Front by Patricia Cornwell
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Book Reviews of The Front
Book Review: powerful dramatic police procedural
Summary: 5 Stars
Working as a homicide investigator for the Massachusetts State Police Win Garano is currently assigned to Middlesex County District Attorney Monique Lamont, a power hungry, ball-busting political beast. She is opposed to the Front, a coalition of police departments that come to each other's aid like fire departments do; this provides a center of excellence built on an economy of scales as they do not need to duplicate labs or police specializations. Monique sees the outcome of this trend as lessoning her power so to hell with the citizens as that will not be allowed to happen.
Monique assigns Win to the cold case of a blond British woman living in the Commonwealth who was killed four decades ago. She orders him to look into a possible link between that homicide and the Boston Strangler. Win works with Watertown Detective Stump, who refuses to deal with either the State cop or Monique. Win catches her telling many lies, which makes him wonder what she hides and if it is connected to the inquiries. Stump is working on a case where a bank robber leaves a letter with no fingerprints on it and he is not wearing gloves. She is also working a case where copper is being sold illegally. In an ironic twist the bank robbery case is solved with Win's help but Monique might be in trouble and is not as tough as she appears because she fears her mistakes will surface to cost her what she holds dear.
THE FRONT is a powerful dramatic police procedural novella that packs as strong a punch as the Scarpetta saga does. Win feels insecure at times due to the machinations of his boss who is a Massachusetts Lady Macbeth. The audience will adore and admire Win though he is a beta male working for an alpha female. Monique on the other hand will be detested not because of her tough dominating personality, but for putting her ambition over what is good for the State. Fans will enjoy this solid whodunit while hoping Win wins and Monique gets her comeuppance.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: Could not put this one down!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Front is, in a word, AWESOME!! I loved this book!! It's classic Cornwell, but with a brand new twist. Page by page, Ms. Cornwell gently unravels an intricately woven plot of detail, deception, intrigue, emotion and suspense. From the sinister Lamont, to the mysterious Raggedy Ann, to the resentful and protective Stump, to the heroic Win, and all others in between, each character develops well as they present themselves in all parts of the story. And, the story itself is thrilling.
Set in suburban Massachusetts, the story brilliantly unfolds as a woven matrix, presenting an in depth look at the challenges common to most law enforcement officials. Certainly, the hero of the story is Win Garano. Throughout this book, Win emerges as both a brave and good cop on a diligent quest for the vindication of a murdered girl. But this is not his greatest challenge. Win's greater battle is against the egos, jurisdictions and corruptions of internal political machines. Win emerges victorious in the end and even saves the corrupt Lamont from total exposure and ultimate demise.
When I closed the book, two questions immediately came to mind. Is Win Garano's character mimicking Barack Obama?? And, could Win Garano possibly be the next Scarpetta?? The Front left me wondering!?!
This book is a good read. It captivates and intrigues its reader, and will leave you wanting more.
Book Review: "Cornwell at her best"
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Front" Patricia Cornwell's 2nd thriller in the serie's with the new team of Garano,Lamont,Stump and Nana is a story full of twist's and turn's that take you this way and that just when you think you are getting a handle on the plot.The main character is Win Garano, nicknamed "Geronimo". His nemisis is the politically ambitious D.A. Monique Lamont.Independantly wealthy and although Win saved her life she seem's to relish in trying to humiliate him, as with this latest project of her's, the unsolved sexual homicide of a british citizen in 1962 which she think's could be the work of the Boston Strangler.Lamont he enlist's the help of a cop nicknamed "Stump", who's nickname has nothing to do with the fact that she lost a leg below the knee in an accident.Win seem's to be fascinated with her,with her mind and with her beauty more than she is with him.Although the story is a brief one you can feel the emotional tension building betweem them, where's that going to lead to? While this is going on they also have to deal with a series of bank heist's and a possible case of blackmail.All this in a short story but this is Cornwell at her best. A fantastic read and I hope this team will develop to be around as long as Scarpetta's team.
Frank J. O'keeffe
Book Review: There she goes again!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had no idea what to expect when this advance galley copy arrived at my doorstep. I've read every Cornwell book that's been released and immensely enjoyed every single one, so enjoying this one was a given, but I was very curious as to what characters Ms. Cornwell would choose. Would I like new characters as they were introduced? Would they be believeable? Would I be disappointed in the choice of characters?
The Front exceeded all my expectations! Imagine my surprise to discover familiar characters in the first few pages! Readers are always comfortable and pleased when they can immediately relate to the storyline in such a way. I am a graduate student, so research and writing are second nature to me at this point and my eye for quality and excellence is spot on. Ms. Cornwell's latest release is quality and excellence without a doubt!
Familiar characters are incredibly fleshed out and new characters jump off the page, a talent few writers can truly pull off. Ms. Cornwell deserves tremendous praise as provides yet another amazing example of a furiously accomplished writer's ability to please her readers.
Bravo!
Book Review: It left me wanting more...
Summary: 5 Stars
This latest book by Patricia Cornwell is hopefully an introduction to both characters and storylines we will have the priviledge of getting to know more deeply in later novels. The main characters are authentic and complex, and the sub-plots are plentiful. I believe this novel just scrapes the surface of some great reading ahead. I read it very quickly and was left definitely wanting more... Many of the minor characters are interesting and have a lot of potential as well (ie Stump, Raggedy Ann, etc...) While the book is brief, it is loaded with substance. Geronimo, the nickname of the main "good guy", is endearing and intelligent, and seems to have layers we have just caught glimpses of thus far. He seemed "real" in the same good way that Scarpetta has always been. This novel was different from many of Cornwell's novels in that it does not have that certain brutality and rawness for which the Scarpetta novels are famous. It was much more intellectual, as opposed to eliciting mental imagery that some readers cannot cope with. I enjoyed this book very much and can't wait for the next installment!