Helpful Score: 1
The story is implausible in just about every respect from beginning to end. Don't waste your time!
Helpful Score: 1
Not as good as her mystery books with Kay Scarpetta
Helpful Score: 1
I'm halfway thru this book and I'm really struggling to finish it. I really like what I've read so far of the Scarpetta series (I've read the first 4 so far) so I expected this one to be similar. I just can't get past all the weird names. The names make it very distracting and hard to keep up. I just don't feel connected with this book and I'm from the south. I will probably finish this one but not read anymore of this series. I did not read the first of this series so maybe that would have helped although I don't think it would have.
Helpful Score: 1
Very different from her usual books. Not sure I would have read any more of her books if I had read this one first.
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!!
Another one of Patricia Cornwell's best!
I pressed myself eleven chapters into this book before I finally just couldn't go any farther. I've loved all of Cornwell's work that I've read previously -- haven't been able to put it down. This one's different though -- I guess probably due to the teenage gang theme -- but there's a vulgarity to it that never appeared in other's of hers I've read. I'm sure anyone with a little tougher sensibilities will find it a compelling read.
Richmond, Virginia, is a city rich in Southern history, yet overrun by such modern-day problems as drug trafficking and escalating juvenile crime. Former Charlotte police chief Judy Hammer is brought in to clean up the police force-the most difficult assignment of her career. Now, in the face of overwhelming public scrunity, she must navigate through local politics and prejudices to solve a brutal murder that springs straing from the rotting core of Richmond's heart...
Cornwell has introduced a new leading lady in this book. Former Charlotte police chief, Judy Hammer has been brought back to clean up drug trafficking, escalating juvenile crime and she starts by cleaning up the police force. In the face of overwhelming public scrutiny, she must navigate through local polics and prejudices to solve a brutal murder that springs straight from the rotting core of Richmond's heart.
Quote: "Richmond, Virginia, is a city rich in southern history, yet overrun by such modern day problems as drug trafficking and escalating juvenile crime. Former Charlotte police chief, Judy Hammer is brought in to clean up the police force - the most difficult assignment of her career....."
I spent most of my two days off reading this book.... not only is it good suspense, it's also funny. Thanks Patricia Cornwell
I spent most of my two days off reading this book.... not only is it good suspense, it's also funny. Thanks Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwells novels are a testimony to the singular versatility and narrative power of one of the country's best read storytellers. In SOUTHERN CROSS, she casts her shrewd and knowing eye at the men and women in blue, in a story of corruption, scandal, and murder.
I love this one!
One of the Judy Hammer books. Interesting but not Kay Scarpetta.
This book was very intriguing.
A story of police corruption, scandal, robberies, and murder. The setting if Richmond Va. This is a great thriller.
In their first appearance, Chief Judy Hammer, Deputy Virginia West, and reporter-turned-rookie-cop Andy Brazil battled a serial killer in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now, in Patricia Cornwell's Southern Cross, the trio are dispatched to Richmond, Virginia--via an NIJ (National Institute of Justice) grant--to quell the growing gang problem and modernize the beleaguered Richmond PD. They bring with them a sophisticated computer program for tracking criminal activity and a tried-and-true methodology for reforming Richmond's men and women in blue. Unfortunately, Hammer, Brazil, and West could not have been prepared for the resentment they would confront... or the bizarre cast of characters they would find upon their arrival: Lelia Ehrhart--wealthy (and nosey) chair of the Blue Ribbon Crime Commission--whose heavy European accent renders her English dangerously hilarious; Butner "Bubba" Flunk IV--tobacco industry worker, gun collector, and UFO aficionado; Smoke--the sociopathic leader of the Pikes gang; and Weed Gardener--14-year-old painter turned master graffiti artist.
I enjoy Patrica Cornwell's novels and always look forward to reading anything by her. I found this book delves into the political arena but I also found it a bit difficult keeping the story on track with three main characters.
I enjoy Patrica Cornwell's novels and always look forward to reading anything by her. I found this book delves into the political arena but I also found it a bit difficult keeping the story on track with three main characters.
A slow read, but with good action.
Patricia Cornwell, our Kay Scarpetta creator, has Judy Hammer, a former Charlotte police chief brought in to clean up the police force. Cornwell does her usual informative writing and creates another police thriller.
Like I have said love this author.
Second book in the "Andy Brazil" series from Patricia Cornwell. NOT part of the Kay Scarpetta series.
Great author, good book.
I read all of the Scarpetta books and decided that I'd give the Andy Brazil series a try. I scratched my head when I finished Hornet's Nest. Is she going for slapstick? I liked the characters but the plots were like a comedy wrapped in something I couldn't fathom. Book 2, Southern Cross was even worse than the first. I'll read the 3rd because I'm not a quitter, but I may bang my head against the wall as punishment afterwards.
This was good, but I like the Kay Scarpetta series better.
Not as good as the scarpetta series, but still a qulity read
A different twist with characters from the police involved in the intrigue. A good read
The best!
Not a bad sequel to Patricia's Cornwell's new series character Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer. Just really didn't interest me as much as her Kay Scarpetta series.
classic Patricia Cromwell. Well written and good escape.
Patricia Cornwell steps away from her Scarpetta adventures to explore others in Richmond, VA. Corruption, scandal and multiple crimes. And you start liking a whole new character given by Cornwell.
Great book! I've read all of Patricia Cornwell's books and this fits about moderately with the others. There are some I've enjoyed more and some I've enjoyed less.
Good Book. Not as dark as some of her books, so I liked it better.
I am a Scarpetta junkie completely. I decided that I love PC's novel's so much in that series that I would give the Andy Brazil series a go. Her writing is phenomenal as usual, I am just not a fan of this series. I do not care for the macho bravado on a woman. I feel it's always overdone as women generally aren't that way, it's as if she's trying too hard to be a man. I will always read PC novel's all the way through....but I don't think I will look forward to the women full of testosterone series.
A Patty Cornwell is always good,enjoy.
I have tried and tried to get into Patricia Cornwell books and for the life of me I just can't. I've read the first 6 chapters of this one...and I may still try to finish it. The premise is a little far-fetched... the new chief of police and her right-hand-woman happen to overhear a racially motivated murder conspiracy when their cell phone signal bleeds into their conversation. It really made me laugh when another side-story line about a juvenile delinquent and his protege named the characters "Smoke" and "Weed." That was laugh out loud funny but not really in a good way. If you really like this author, you'll like this book. It's right in line with the way the Kay Scarpetta books are written.
Richmond, virginia, is a city rich in Southern history, yet overrun by such modern-day problems as drug trafficking and escalating juvenile crime. Former Charlotte police chief Judy Hammer is brought in to clean up the police force-the most difficult assignment of her career. Now, in the face of overwhelming public scrutiny, she must navigate through local politics and prejudices to solve a brutal murder that springs straight from the rotting core of Richmond's heart....
I like her work,but I could not get in to this one.
Richmond Virginia, is a city rich in Southern history, yet overrun by such moder-day problems as drug trafficking and escalating juvenile crime. Former Charlotte police chief Judy Hammer is brought in to clean up the police force-the most difficult assignment of her career.
Cornwell has a sense of humor and it's displayed in this book.
As good as her Scarpetta series, with more dark humor. Sequel to Hornet's Nest.
From the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Hornets Nest, Patricia Cornwell, comes an all-new, page-turning novel about big-city police, in a story of corruption, scandal, and robberies that escalate to murder. This time, the setting is Richmond, Virginia, where former Charlotte police chief Judy Hammer has been brought by an NIJ grant, to clean up the police force. Reeling from the recent death of her husband and resented by the Richmond police force, city manager, and mayor, Hammer is joined by her deputy chief, Virginia West, and rookie Andy Brazil on the most difficult assignment of her career. In the face of overwhelming public scrutiny, the trio must find the link between the desecration of Confederate president Jefferson Daviss statue and the brutal murder of an elderly woman.
A testimony to the singular versatility and narrative power of one of the countrys best-read storytellers.
A testimony to the singular versatility and narrative power of one of the countrys best-read storytellers.
Patricia comes through again. Well written and keeps you reading.
As usual, Patricia Cornwell turns out a well written, nicely moving thriller.
A change of pace from her Scarpetta series, this is the second in a series about police officers. Very good book.
Not sure if the author intended the book to be a parody of something or a burlesque of police in general.
Having read several of the authors works I frequently felt that there had to be more than one author due to what seemed to be mood swings (on the part of whoever was writing a particular passage) throughout the narrative.
All in all, not a very entertaining or interesting tale with many (as presented by the author[s]) hard to believe characters stumbling in and out of the "story".
With all that said, the tale keeps your attention if for no other reason than to discover more and more outlandish scenarios and characters.
Having read several of the authors works I frequently felt that there had to be more than one author due to what seemed to be mood swings (on the part of whoever was writing a particular passage) throughout the narrative.
All in all, not a very entertaining or interesting tale with many (as presented by the author[s]) hard to believe characters stumbling in and out of the "story".
With all that said, the tale keeps your attention if for no other reason than to discover more and more outlandish scenarios and characters.
classic Kay Scarpetta
The back cover looks to be slightly damaged from water. Still in good condition though. It was this way when I got it.
