Can we have a zero star option please? Books like this reinforce my decision to move on when an author (and Cornwell is in quite a crowd now) mindlessly throws in political views that are quotes from blog talking points and network news soundbites. This is the third book in a month that I've stopped reading, all from authors I previously enjoyed. One thing's for sure, none of these will stand the test of time!

I've read numerous Cornwell books, including the predecessor, "At Risk," and liked most of them. The Front has some good characterization and a nice setting in the Boston/Cambridge area, and some interesting forensics (how could she not?). And it moves at an amazing pace. BUT what's a suspense story without a great plot, with intricate unraveling, foreshadowing, red herrings - well, you know what I mean - and this book just lacks all of these. There is supposed to be this shadow organization called "the front" ... but we never learn much about it. And there are no real suspects for the crimes in this book - until the rather unlikely guilty perp is, all of a sudden out of nowhere, practically thrown at us with zero build-up of evidence and zero motivation at all! Yeah, as a suspense novel this deserves less than a 1 - maybe an 0.5. Its good features make me raise it to a 2, but I cannot recommend this book at all to readers of suspense/mystery stories. Cornwell either forgot what makes a good story or had a ghost writer or .... who knows what?

The Front
Was a so so read but not up to her previous standards. Allene

I have read everything Cornwell has ever written (except for Scarpetta which I should have my hands on in a matter of days!) This is a good book you can curl up on the couch with and finish in a day. Although Scarpetta and Co are my favorite characters ever, its nice to have a new series to feed off of also. If your a true fan, you'll like this!

It is hard to belief that this book was written by Ms. Cornwall!! I have read all of her books and I must say I was very disappointed with this one. The characters were there but the story was not. I hope the next one will be better. For example, I never did figure out what the Front was and I certainly would not go through it again to try to find out. This was not a well written book. Need I say more. I was generous when I gave it two stars!!