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 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 that 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.

good story, poor performance

The overall story line was great; in typical Patricia Cornwell fashion. The narrator performance was absolutely terrible, and at times unbearable.

Great Story, Awful Narrator

As always, I love Patricia Cornwell and I have always enjoyed this story. However, this narrator was one of the worst I have ever listened too. She was too dramatic and points and sounds on the verge of tears throughout the entire performance. Thankfully she doesn't do others for Patricia Cornwell, because it thoroughly ruined the listening for me.

great story, bad reading

I loved the story, but it was hard to get through with the way it was being read. The narrator sounded computerized, talked too fast or too slow, and I found her voice whiney and overly urgent in times that the story didnt call for it.

DO NOT LIKE THIS NARRATOR

What did you like best about Point of Origin? What did you like least?

I really have not heard enough to to decide best, but least is the narrator. I am rating the story on what I have heard so far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Unable to answer this - not enough information yet.

What didn’t you like about Karen White’s performance?

She has caused me to want to return the book - I dislike it that much. She makes Kay sound strange - like in a monotone at times, or breathless in others! I have only been able to make it to the end of Chapter 4. I will have to read the book to continue this story.

Do you think Point of Origin needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Unable to answer this - not enough information yet.

Any additional comments?

This is the first Scarpetta book that I have listened to without C.J. Critt's narration. I know a lot of people did not like her, but I did. I did not like her Wesley voice - too stilted, but I can get past it. I see no more Scarpetta books narrated by Critt, so I will have to just go to the Kindle or paperback books to read this and the remaining books in the series. I am too afraid to try these other narrators and definitely want no more of White. Sounds strange, but she makes me feel tired and I had to keep turning it off. I finally admitted to myself that I cannot listen any more. I will be returning this book. So sorry to do so. I have enjoyed the Scarpetta Audible series up till now. With Critt I could not wait to listen whenever and wherever I could. So disappointed to not have that any more. I felt I was forcing myself to listen to this story with White.

Cornwell does it again!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Scarpetta in any form is fun.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Toss up this time between Scarpetta and Lucy.

Did Karen White do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Sorry, don't particularly care for this speaker -- too breathy in her speaking.