Point of Origin

By: Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by: Karen White

This dazzling thriller pits Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta against greater odds than ever before.

Convicted serial killer Carrie Grethen has escaped from a psychiatric hospital with plans for revenge. Wary and shaken, Scarpetta also has to investigate the death by fire of an unknown woman. The post mortem reveals the woman was stabbed before the fire was started, and soon Scarpetta and her colleagues are called out to the scene of another fire and another murder.

When her lover, Benton Wesley, disappears while following up a tip-off, Scarpetta, with sudden, appalling clarity, sees that Carrie has set up a scenario in which she has the upper hand and can manipulate them all.

©1998 Cornwell Enterpises, Inc. (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Buyers Remorse - Dreadful Narrator

I regret not checking the reviews before downloading this title.

Having read the beginning of the Scarpetta series in the late 90’s, I have been enjoying revisiting the books and enjoying C.J.Critts narration.

However this narrator is impossible to listen to, it sounds as though the words are being translated via a voice automation or CG?

0 stars for performance.

I am not more than 5 minutes in and returning the title. Will find the book and re-read it that way.

Disappointed.

Narrator

The narrator makes Kay S. sound like a depressed and dramatic mess. Kay is supposed to be level headed and pretty clam and this reader sounds like she is trying to win an award for most dramatic character. She ruins the book, I’m 4 chapters in and I don’t know if I can finish it.

Where's C.J. Critt?

This narrator is HORRIBLE! Nasally voice, weird pauses almost computer-like in places, no change between characters. Couldn't bear to finish listening after the first chapter. Thankfully, I've read this one before. Was painful to try to listen to.

Great story, not so great reader

Hard to tell the difference in characters due to narration from reader. C.J. Critt does it better, or Kate Reading. Karen White doesn't differ between characters as well as the others and feels bland.

Horrible narrator!

I almost never write reviews but I have to say this narrator completely ruins the story for me. She has a stutter-stop kind of reading style that makes me wanna pull my hair out.

Series narrator change is horrible

Narrator’s performance was over done, too shrilly and whiny. Definitely not the strong confident character of Kay Scarpetta from CJ Critt.

Not as bad as is warned by reviews

Ms Cornwell's 9th book in the Kay Scarpetta series has a surprising series of plot twists. Although Dr Scarpetta still plays a part in numerous situations no Chief ME would ever be allowed in, her shenanigans are clever and move the plot well. I could request that she be less irritable with her intimates and a bit more likable, but Ms Cornwell clearly believes (unfortunately realistically) that effective female leaders have to be bitchy.

The narrator is, indeed, prone to occasional robotic reading, but isn't as consistently awful as stated in many of the reviews. It was rare that her narration interrupted my immersion in the story. No one should listen to this one before reading From Potter's Field. Point of Origin stands on its own, but is enhanced by knowing that background.

Patricia Cornwell novels are so brilliant!!

The Scarpetta novels are so captivating!! I’ve read the entire Scarpetta novels twice & decided to listen to the entire Scarpetta novels before I read the recent release; Autopsy. The only negative thing I have to say is the narrators of all the audio books to this point are terrible!! I love Patricia Cornwell; she is an amazing writer. I forced myself to block out the narraters voice & concentrate on the story; that is how good the books are. After I finished the series I will READ the Autopsy novel then I will reread the Scarpetta novels to erase the terrible audio narrations.=

Always love Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series.

Story is always brilliant! Actor a little halting. Liked her Benton better than Critts, though.

Disappointed spoiler alert

I can’t believe that the author killed off a major character and to do it in such a gruesome fashion. I finished the book days ago, and I still can’t get the images out of my head.