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Andy Brazil #2
Southern Cross
Judy Hammer has accepted the challenge of Richmond, Virginia's police department to try and reverse the escalating crime statistics in the city. She brings with her Deputy Chief Virginia West and Andy Brazil, now a full-time police officer. They find a lot of things they are all too familiar with - teenage gangs, a rash of robberies at cash dispensers, street corner drug-dealing, racial tensions, too many people with too many guns and a cardiac inducing lack of parking spaces. They also meet resentment from the established police force and over-high expectations from the city's institutions. Then a computer virus crashes the police computer, freezing their screens with a design of blue fish, and the same blue fish appears on the statue of Jefferson Davis, which a graffiti artist has turned into a black basketball player and a gang called the Pikes claim it is their symbol, which also has links to the robberies. In an incredibly fast-moving police procedural Patricia Cornwell takes her readers on a roller-coaster ride of action and emotion.
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Hardcover
First published January 11, 1999
About the author
Patricia Cornwell
323 books17.7k followersPatricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, in 1990 while working as a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. Postmortem, was the first bona fide forensic thriller. It paved the way for an explosion of entertainment featuring in all things forensic across film, television and literature.
Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cor...
https://twitter.com/1pcornwell
https://instagram.com/1pcornwell/
Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cor...
https://twitter.com/1pcornwell
https://instagram.com/1pcornwell/
Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
June 10, 2012
The second Cornwell book I ever read was Isle of Dogs. I hated it so much that I donated it to the book burning event my friends host annually. Each person is supposed to bring the worst book they've ever read. Isle of Dogs earned that privelege.
Southern Cross was only slightly better than Isle of Dogs, and that's being generous. I'm not much into rednecks, and this book is full of them. Mostly, I hate this type of book, in which a series of completely unrelated folies collide at the end in a very transparent way. In this case, most of the follies come from irritating characters who are too stupid to be in a book. Also, I really dislike when animals are given thoughts. I don't need to read an entire chapter about how the main character's cat feels about her owner.
I would have given this 0 stars, but I was afraid people might think I forgot to rate it.
Southern Cross was only slightly better than Isle of Dogs, and that's being generous. I'm not much into rednecks, and this book is full of them. Mostly, I hate this type of book, in which a series of completely unrelated folies collide at the end in a very transparent way. In this case, most of the follies come from irritating characters who are too stupid to be in a book. Also, I really dislike when animals are given thoughts. I don't need to read an entire chapter about how the main character's cat feels about her owner.
I would have given this 0 stars, but I was afraid people might think I forgot to rate it.
August 11, 2018
I'll start with the best: narrator Karen White was a pleasure to listen to.
This a prime example just throwing some ideas towards a wordprocessor.
-language was not suitable for young adults
-all the characters were sterotypical
-the plot was disjointed as to be irrelivant
-and really, an anthropomorphic substantial character?
This is not literature for anyone that considers themselves educated.
This a prime example just throwing some ideas towards a wordprocessor.
-language was not suitable for young adults
-all the characters were sterotypical
-the plot was disjointed as to be irrelivant
-and really, an anthropomorphic substantial character?
This is not literature for anyone that considers themselves educated.
July 11, 2010
Set in Richmond Virginia, "Southern Cross" is Patricia Cornwell's sequel to "Hornet's Nest" and features the three main characters of that novel, Police Chief Judy Hammer, Deputy Chief Virginia West and Officer Andy Brazil. The story also includes a raft of criminals and border line crims with endearing names such as Bubba, Fluck, Muskrat, Divinity, Smoke, Beeper, Sick, Dog, Pigeon, Weed and Weed's late brother Twister. Plenty of animals featue in this book too with almost more-human names than some of the actual humans. Try Half Shell, Tree Buster, Niles and Popeye.
One of the charms of this book is the easy-to-read and fascinating historical backdrop of the city of Richmond and the state of Virginia. Going back to 1607 we hear about British explorers, local Indians, African slaves, Thomas Jefferson, tobacco and the American Civil War to name just a few.
However, this is a crime book and a sad tale of young no-hoper gang members, middle aged "simple" characters who enjoy nothing more than huntin', fishin' and guns, and middle class citizens of Richmond whose characters are all delightfully painted by Cornwell. Cleverly, the paths of all these characters including our 3 police officers, become crossed in the final few chapters as the story reaches its climax.
This book has a delightful comedy style in one way and yet contains its fair share of murder and violence. The plot is well thought out and presented and should provide plenty of entertainment to new and established Cornwell readers, although those expecting to find a Kay Scarpetta type thriller may well be disappointed.
One of the charms of this book is the easy-to-read and fascinating historical backdrop of the city of Richmond and the state of Virginia. Going back to 1607 we hear about British explorers, local Indians, African slaves, Thomas Jefferson, tobacco and the American Civil War to name just a few.
However, this is a crime book and a sad tale of young no-hoper gang members, middle aged "simple" characters who enjoy nothing more than huntin', fishin' and guns, and middle class citizens of Richmond whose characters are all delightfully painted by Cornwell. Cleverly, the paths of all these characters including our 3 police officers, become crossed in the final few chapters as the story reaches its climax.
This book has a delightful comedy style in one way and yet contains its fair share of murder and violence. The plot is well thought out and presented and should provide plenty of entertainment to new and established Cornwell readers, although those expecting to find a Kay Scarpetta type thriller may well be disappointed.
July 2, 2014
If I could give this disaster of a book zero stars, I'd be tempted. The "plot" is a mishmash of nonsense that depends upon absurd coincidence and supposedly intelligent characters making genuinely idiotic leaps of let's-call-it-logic that none of the people around them bother to question or even wonder about. Because they're so implausibly dim, none of the protagonists are even remotely sympathetic or interesting. Add to this the author's ham-handed, blunt instrument use of language -- by turns cliched, dull, and absurd -- and you have a book with nothing I can think of to recommend it. I haven't read any of Cornwell's other books and after this travesty, I don't plan to.
August 24, 2020
Just to clarify - I did not read this book. I chucked it in a river. 0/5 stars for a book with a confederate flag on the cover, 3/5 stars on my throwing form.
November 19, 2019
This book was at hand in the best moment!
December 20, 2014
Rarely do I not finish a book but this one got put aside.
September 19, 2022
3,5 sterren- Nederlandse hardcover
May 26, 2010
This book is a sequel to Hornet’s Nest and it would be best to read them in order of publication. But if you don’t want read both, Southern Cross makes sense on its own and would be the one to go for. Hornet’s nest is good, but Southern Cross is better. It features the same three main characters, Chief Hammer, Deputy Chief Virginia West and Andy Brazil, now a fully qualified police officer.
The plot involves a planned mass shooting by a character named Smoke, and the efforts of the police to prevent it. The scene is now Richmond, Virginia, and the ‘low life’ elements of that city are well represented, including Smoke and his gang, the Pikes. Smoke has recruited Weed into his gang, though Weed – who has both artistic and musical tendencies – is reluctant.
Another important character is Bubba, who is into all things DIY which, unfortunately, includes firearms. Smoke happens to discover this when he overhears a conversation at a garage and later steals the entire collection.
Although Patricia Cornwell is famous for her handle on forensic pathology – sometimes in extreme detail – there is almost none of that in Hornets nest and Southern Cross. The interest lies in the interaction of the characters. Theses books are still well plotted, it is just that their plots do not depend on forensics.
But what is most amazing about Southern Cross is the humour. Reading the Scarpetta books you would not suspect that the author had a sense of humour, but here it is deployed to such effect you have to wonder why she hasn’t given us more of it.
One example of many is Chapter Five, where Bubba, having a problem with his vehicle, takes it to Muskrat’s garage to have it repaired. Muskrat has the measure of Bubba and doesn’t try to conceal it. He knows that Bubba, as usual, has made matters worse by trying to effect a repair himself. The characters of the two men come out very well in this chapter, and though there is a lot detail concerning vehicles and vehicle repair, it works well. It might have come across as research but in fact it places you at the scene. And the humour runs all the way through.
Cornwell’s handling of detail is worth looking at. Another example occurs when Bubba, having had his guns stolen, goes to a store to buy another. Bubba loves guns, just as he loves the tools he uses for his forays into DIY. The scene is beautifully written too and without the detail his love of guns wouldn’t come across.
It is also worth mentioning Lelia Howell, a well-intentioned but tiring individual with an unusual take on the English language. Dealing with her in real life would be a trial, but reading about her is amusing.
______________________________________________________________
I have read some negative reviews of this book on Amazon suggesting, for example, that it should never have got past the editor’s desk. I find most of these reviews strong on assertion and weak on analysis.
The plot involves a planned mass shooting by a character named Smoke, and the efforts of the police to prevent it. The scene is now Richmond, Virginia, and the ‘low life’ elements of that city are well represented, including Smoke and his gang, the Pikes. Smoke has recruited Weed into his gang, though Weed – who has both artistic and musical tendencies – is reluctant.
Another important character is Bubba, who is into all things DIY which, unfortunately, includes firearms. Smoke happens to discover this when he overhears a conversation at a garage and later steals the entire collection.
Although Patricia Cornwell is famous for her handle on forensic pathology – sometimes in extreme detail – there is almost none of that in Hornets nest and Southern Cross. The interest lies in the interaction of the characters. Theses books are still well plotted, it is just that their plots do not depend on forensics.
But what is most amazing about Southern Cross is the humour. Reading the Scarpetta books you would not suspect that the author had a sense of humour, but here it is deployed to such effect you have to wonder why she hasn’t given us more of it.
One example of many is Chapter Five, where Bubba, having a problem with his vehicle, takes it to Muskrat’s garage to have it repaired. Muskrat has the measure of Bubba and doesn’t try to conceal it. He knows that Bubba, as usual, has made matters worse by trying to effect a repair himself. The characters of the two men come out very well in this chapter, and though there is a lot detail concerning vehicles and vehicle repair, it works well. It might have come across as research but in fact it places you at the scene. And the humour runs all the way through.
Cornwell’s handling of detail is worth looking at. Another example occurs when Bubba, having had his guns stolen, goes to a store to buy another. Bubba loves guns, just as he loves the tools he uses for his forays into DIY. The scene is beautifully written too and without the detail his love of guns wouldn’t come across.
It is also worth mentioning Lelia Howell, a well-intentioned but tiring individual with an unusual take on the English language. Dealing with her in real life would be a trial, but reading about her is amusing.
______________________________________________________________
I have read some negative reviews of this book on Amazon suggesting, for example, that it should never have got past the editor’s desk. I find most of these reviews strong on assertion and weak on analysis.
July 15, 2008
Southern Cross depicts the experiences of big-city police in Richmond, Virginia. Police chief Judy Hammer has been brought in to clean up the force, bringing with her deputy Virginia West and good-looking rookie Andy Brazil.
There is a bad guy, some suspense, and way too many characters. I found myself irritated with a lot of things early on in this story:
1. Tons of characters, most of them minor who don't seem to have too much to do with the plot. The most annoying thing about them are their names/nicknames. Weed, Smudge, Smoke, Muskrat, Twister, etc. Worst of all, Butner Fluck IV. Seriously?
2. Written in the 1990s, it contains numerous pop culture references that are now just distracting. Take the opening line of the third chapter. "Puff Daddy & the Family were rapping on the CD player and air was blowing through a stuck back window of Smoke's Escort."
3. As if there weren't enough characters, the dog Popeye and the cat Niles become characters, too. The author tells us what they are thinking about their human owners.
4. Virginia is a place I'd love to visit, but not after reading this stereotypical description of a city full of rednecks, juvenile delinquents, and stuck-up oldtimers.
I will say the story got better towards the end. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a "funny" crime book? I am disappointed. I've heard good things about this author. Can anyone recommend a book by her that IS good?
There is a bad guy, some suspense, and way too many characters. I found myself irritated with a lot of things early on in this story:
1. Tons of characters, most of them minor who don't seem to have too much to do with the plot. The most annoying thing about them are their names/nicknames. Weed, Smudge, Smoke, Muskrat, Twister, etc. Worst of all, Butner Fluck IV. Seriously?
2. Written in the 1990s, it contains numerous pop culture references that are now just distracting. Take the opening line of the third chapter. "Puff Daddy & the Family were rapping on the CD player and air was blowing through a stuck back window of Smoke's Escort."
3. As if there weren't enough characters, the dog Popeye and the cat Niles become characters, too. The author tells us what they are thinking about their human owners.
4. Virginia is a place I'd love to visit, but not after reading this stereotypical description of a city full of rednecks, juvenile delinquents, and stuck-up oldtimers.
I will say the story got better towards the end. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a "funny" crime book? I am disappointed. I've heard good things about this author. Can anyone recommend a book by her that IS good?
March 12, 2011
I read the 3 Andy Brazil books against advice from more than one person. I wanted to see for myself if they really were that bad. I liked the Scarpetta books (although I thought that the endings of some of those books were too rushed, too contrived). The Andy Brazil books are nothing like those! Hornet's Nest is probably the best of the three, although the characters are shallow and unconvincing and the plot is weak and implausible. There is some humour and some sexual tension which is frustrating for lack of relief. 5/10. Southern Cross degenerates from this. Ms Cornwell seems to be having fun at our expense, but the result isn't really funny or vaguely satisfying. 3/10. Isle of Dogs, well, how much lower can you go? What were you thinking, Ms Cornwell? Or what drugs were you on? This book was ridiculous! I persisted to the end of these books because I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. Not sure why I bothered. Even if one reads these as tongue-in-cheek romps through the workings of a Police Dept, the final book is hugely disappointing. 1/10. Scarpetta fans who pay full price for these books will feel angry and very much cheated. Luckily I bought mine 2nd hand. Readers whose first taste of Cornwell is one of these books will never buy another. Whatever you do, don't pay full price for these books!
December 8, 2022
Defies categorizing - maybe satire?
I have no clue what Patricia Cornwell was thinking here. The title means nothing. The characters are wholly unlikeable (well, maybe Bubba was okay, kind of). And their names are ridiculous. Chief Hammer. Andy Brazil. Virginia West. Then there is Weed, Bubba, Smudge, Smoke, Divinity, Mr Pretty. I could go on, but I'll spare you that.
There are a couple of passages in which pets do the narration. No, really. The story is all over the place and leaves plot holes a mac truck could drive through.
I grabbed this from the library thinking, "I like Patricia Cornwell. Never read this one. Score!" That's not what I'm thinking now.
Don't bother.
I have no clue what Patricia Cornwell was thinking here. The title means nothing. The characters are wholly unlikeable (well, maybe Bubba was okay, kind of). And their names are ridiculous. Chief Hammer. Andy Brazil. Virginia West. Then there is Weed, Bubba, Smudge, Smoke, Divinity, Mr Pretty. I could go on, but I'll spare you that.
There are a couple of passages in which pets do the narration. No, really. The story is all over the place and leaves plot holes a mac truck could drive through.
I grabbed this from the library thinking, "I like Patricia Cornwell. Never read this one. Score!" That's not what I'm thinking now.
Don't bother.
February 14, 2024
OK, dare I say I enjoyed this! Straight up yes its still pretty terrible, but it's a solid story. The character of Weed is so very endearing, and we had Niles narration again, this time accompanied by Popeye, a bulge eyed dog.
I laughed a lot, I liked how the story came together at the end, and I liked the disparate strands of characters we met throughout. It's much better than Book 1 in the series (not too difficult), not a great work of literature but a fun time, especially if you listen to the audiobook.
I laughed a lot, I liked how the story came together at the end, and I liked the disparate strands of characters we met throughout. It's much better than Book 1 in the series (not too difficult), not a great work of literature but a fun time, especially if you listen to the audiobook.
July 8, 2018
why do most of my recent reads feel read already? #dejavu
lelia's grammatical shenanigans deserve an additional star
p149: "appears a spiders basketball uniform was painted on the statue of jefferson davis," hammer explained.
brazil was stunned. he started laughing and could not stop.
"and i'm afraid his race was altered," she went on.
"you mean, he got michael jordanized?" brazil choked.
p158: "he probably alibied his way from there to here and you take it at fact value."
lelia's grammatical shenanigans deserve an additional star
p149: "appears a spiders basketball uniform was painted on the statue of jefferson davis," hammer explained.
brazil was stunned. he started laughing and could not stop.
"and i'm afraid his race was altered," she went on.
"you mean, he got michael jordanized?" brazil choked.
p158: "he probably alibied his way from there to here and you take it at fact value."
September 4, 2020
Σαφώς κατώτερο της σειράς Scarpetta,η δεύτερη ανάγνωση με απογοήτευσε περισσότερο από τη πρώτη,δε βοήθησε και η αφήγηση,2 αστεράκια γιατί αγαπάμε Patricia.
January 21, 2024
Can’t believe I finished it. Total muddle of stories. If I’d read this first, I’d never have picked up another Patricia Cornwell book.
May 3, 2018
Though I found the couple of Kay Scarpetta books I've read passable, I can't help wondering why Patricia Cornwell has been wasting her time turning out grisly detailed descriptions of autopsies, when she can write with such humor, compassion, and understanding of human frailty. I look forward to getting my hands on "Hornet's Nest" and any future books in the vein of these two.
February 7, 2020
Is this by the same Patricia Cornwell?
Not-bad kid gets beaten up by bad kids. Cops get bad kids. The End.
Not-bad kid gets beaten up by bad kids. Cops get bad kids. The End.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2021
I'm cursed with the foible that I need to finish every book I begin, no matter how painful. This was one of those books that emphasized that foible. I felt absolutely nothing about this plot while reading this: no humor, no anticipation, no sympathy. Instead I felt dread at plodding through it and questioned whether any character was going to grow into anything more than a stereotype. The answer was a resounding No. The plot was senseless and the time spent by the characters trying to figure out Fishteria made me question whether they deserved to be paid let alone be part of a police force. The passages with anthropomorphic pets made me groan. I do not plan to begin any more novels by this author for fear of having to slog through another.
May 8, 2008
Although Cornwell has a few very good series, this one is not satisfying. It features two infuriating characters and a cast of stereotypes. The story relies heavily on a character that is a teenager. Additionally, it is clear that Cornwell does not want to kill off any of the characters because they are all necessary/likable in their own ways. Therefore, although the primary threat is built-up as scary, he doesn't even deliver. The reader also knows who he is from early on in the book and so that isn't even a mystery.
April 16, 2018
This could honestly be the worst book of hers I have ever read. Random people who seemed to have no need to be in the story were introduced all over the place, some near the ending of the book for absolutely no reason.
The one character who I basically read the whole book to find out his fate was Weed. If she had focused more on his story this would have been an excellent read.
Sorry Ms. Cornwell but you missed the mark on this one!
The one character who I basically read the whole book to find out his fate was Weed. If she had focused more on his story this would have been an excellent read.
Sorry Ms. Cornwell but you missed the mark on this one!
January 31, 2014
A whole bunch of characters with little plot. If this is your introduction to Patricia Cornwell, it's a really bad place to start.
August 12, 2017
Loved this book. I laughed so much. The story was great.
October 31, 2017
Good thriller from Cornwell.
February 19, 2024
I did not realize this was number 2 in a series and even after finding it out.. I would never have had a clue. It is an Andry Brazil series and I thought he was a secondary character in this book. This book had so so so many characters and most of them did not make any sense except that they were all cliches of what southern people are suppose to be like==== not nice to northerners, weird names like Smoke, Bubba, Weed, Twister, .... , crime , food, The adults acted like spoiled children and the children were lost . There was no one that I felt any empathy for or a liking. I felt sorry for Weed but they still did not develop his character enough
Three cops come to a new town to help improve it. They are resented. There is a " gang" of teens that are robbing ATM's but seem to be escalating. There is two good friends who work at a cigarette company and like to hunt raccoons but are they really friends? There is governor, his weird driver who gets lost, a landlady , a homeless guy. etc
Then every single character comes to gether at the end in some weird parade of comedy of errors that make no sense other than to say... oh that is why that character was in the book.... just to make appear in this scene???
there is a love story of botched adults who act like middle schoolers .
I have no idea if there was a happily ever after .... I do know the bad guy was arrested but not what happens to anyone else.
Three cops come to a new town to help improve it. They are resented. There is a " gang" of teens that are robbing ATM's but seem to be escalating. There is two good friends who work at a cigarette company and like to hunt raccoons but are they really friends? There is governor, his weird driver who gets lost, a landlady , a homeless guy. etc
Then every single character comes to gether at the end in some weird parade of comedy of errors that make no sense other than to say... oh that is why that character was in the book.... just to make appear in this scene???
there is a love story of botched adults who act like middle schoolers .
I have no idea if there was a happily ever after .... I do know the bad guy was arrested but not what happens to anyone else.
January 26, 2020
E' il secondo libro che leggo della Cornwell, e sebbene non rispecchi appieno il mio gusto in fatto di indagi poliziesche, ho trovato questo libro decisamente migliore rispetto al primo (A rischio). La storia parte un pò lenta e ad ingranare ci mette un pò,per fortuna da metà libro in poi diventa più avvincente e coinvolgente.
Una squadra del dipartimento di polizia si trasferisce da Charlotte a Richmond per cercare di riportare l'ordine in città. Infatti negli ultimi tempi l'escalation di reati è arrivata a livelli insostenibili. Un ragazzino con la passione per la banda della scuola e per il disegno si ritrova invischiato proprio in mezzo ai fatti di cronaca nera peggiori. Viene avvicinato da Smoke, teppista della peggior specie che cerca di farsi un nome con reati sempre più gravi. Ha creato una banda, i Lucci, e costringe Weed, il ragazzino, a farne parte.
Sarà una lotta ad armi pari tra il dipartimento di polizia e la banda di teenager senza scrupoli, con Weed preso tra due fuochi in cerca della propria identità.
Una squadra del dipartimento di polizia si trasferisce da Charlotte a Richmond per cercare di riportare l'ordine in città. Infatti negli ultimi tempi l'escalation di reati è arrivata a livelli insostenibili. Un ragazzino con la passione per la banda della scuola e per il disegno si ritrova invischiato proprio in mezzo ai fatti di cronaca nera peggiori. Viene avvicinato da Smoke, teppista della peggior specie che cerca di farsi un nome con reati sempre più gravi. Ha creato una banda, i Lucci, e costringe Weed, il ragazzino, a farne parte.
Sarà una lotta ad armi pari tra il dipartimento di polizia e la banda di teenager senza scrupoli, con Weed preso tra due fuochi in cerca della propria identità.
January 1, 2018
I guess my thoughts will be shorter than the blurb for the book. It was even lamer than the first one. And while I enjoyed some the main characters in the first one and was laughing from time to time; this time I could not make my mind how this book was even published. It is really random ideas poorly developed and poorly connected.
First, this gang, which not a gang but a psycho with some strange plot; then this boy, who is slow, but not slow but a genius, bringing down the whole psycho's plot down just like that; and then this relationship between Andy and West, who are behaving like two teens in their early puberty - not able to communicate single messages to each other... Really strange badly told story with a lot of unnecessary details and detours.
First, this gang, which not a gang but a psycho with some strange plot; then this boy, who is slow, but not slow but a genius, bringing down the whole psycho's plot down just like that; and then this relationship between Andy and West, who are behaving like two teens in their early puberty - not able to communicate single messages to each other... Really strange badly told story with a lot of unnecessary details and detours.
April 8, 2018
What a disappointment! I read Hornet's Nest and could not put it down, so was excited to get the next in the series. Really badly written, poor characterisation. She has taken the same characters (even some of the 'bad guys' seem to have the same names), moved them to another city and churned out another tale, presumably trading on the success of the first.
It doesn't work, the relationship between West and Brazil doesn't work at all; its totally unbelievable how they all have moved to this new venue.
The plot itself was clunky and clumsy.
I was really disappointed.
It doesn't work, the relationship between West and Brazil doesn't work at all; its totally unbelievable how they all have moved to this new venue.
The plot itself was clunky and clumsy.
I was really disappointed.
January 28, 2019
This book was OK... I think I enjoyed it more than the previous one in the series Hornet's Nest but this is no way remotely as good as Patricia Cornwall's early Scarpetta novels. Took quite a while to get into the novel... Lots of scenes with different characters that one foes not really understand how they connect together. It does all come together in the end but was a chore to really get into it. Thankfully it was a relatively short 340 pages. I don't think I will bother seeking out the third and final book in this series.
December 23, 2019
Although I enjoyed the first Andy Brazil book, "Hornet's Nest" except for the ending, I found very little to redeem "Southern Cross". The interesting main characters of Brazil, West and Hammer have been transplanted to a new city. But this time the characters shallow cardboard cutouts with no substance at all. The book is overpopulated with stereotypical characters and the plot is ludicrous. After reading the first book, I wondered why the series only had three books. Now I am surprised that there was a third book.
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