Southern Cross (Andy Brazil Series #2)

Still loving the change of pace.

While I liked Hornet's Nest a little more, I still found myself interested in this book. Patricia can do anything, and she adroitly handles a brand new genre: the police procedural. The dialogue is great, like it always is in PC's books, and the cast of characters is colorful and refreshing. Recommended!

Southern Cross Review

Patricia Cornwell addicts the reader from the first word to the very last in the excellent book called Southern Cross. This novel contains fictitious people, but very real places. It involves a gang with weird names such as Brazil, Butner Fluck IV also known as Bubba, Joe ¿Smudge¿ Bruffy, Smoke, Weed, and many others such characters. These gangs have been known to cause mischief for many years. Even their great ancestors were part of gangs that had killed many black people during the Civil War times. During a mission to severely injure somebody, they were ambushed in an alley and two of the gang members were murdered. Weed, who was a very good student making good grades, was caught by a cop, who was on his COMSTAT sweep, because he was running down the middle of the road drunk in the middle of the night. COMSTAT stands for computer-driven statistics because the police force is on alert because many cars¿ airbags are being stolen and sold back to the original owner for more than its worth and this is an illegal motion. These kids are bringing weapons to school without the teachers knowing. Although people say that Patricia Cornwell writes books for women and men would hate, this book would be for them because it involves conflicts and death, if they like it. Because this book involves severe conflicts and death, I wouldn¿t recommend that little children read this. These conflicts in the story would probably occur in the ¿ghetto¿ because murder and smoking take place. I believe this book would be a page-turner if people that like gang-related stories would read it. It will make you think that this would really happen. Could it really?

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The keen edge is missed

This impossible dumb dialogue drips throughout the book like acid. Characters dull and plastic. I find myself being angry with Ms.Cornwell for allowing her formidable talent to be used in this type of "literature". If this had been her first book, I would never have bought another. So your tired of Kay? OK, just keep the keenness of the scalple and forget about trying police procedurals. A McBain your not. You can do it Patricia--we miss your talent.

Missing Kay!

After reading Southern Cross and Hornets Nest I enjoyed the read, but missed 'Kay' Last night I finished 'Isle of Dogs' This was the worst yet. Patricia Cornwell is loosing her touch. Richmond is home for me and while I was away I counted on her descriptions and connection. While she remains true to Richmond areas, leaving 'Kay' out is a big mistake. I am not sure I read her next release.

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who wrote this book?

was i reading patricia cornwell or carl haiisen?

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One more kick while she's down

There's no point repeating the comments of everyone who hated this book. I just want to add that the three main cops in this book are unbelievably stupid. The chief was correct when said she had fouled up everything and should resign. Does Cornwall really believe this trio of idiots deserve to return?

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SOUTHERN CROSS IS A LOSS!!!!!

This is very differnet from the 'Scarpetta' books by Cornwell. I did not like it nearly as well as those. I read the fly page and thought the book was about cleaning up a bad police force. Did not see much of that. It was about a small time hood named Smoke, and his very young gang. Smoke was into doing minor crimes until he kills an older lady. The last few pages of the book then tell how he is caught. I stayed confused a big part of the time and never did understand how the story was about the corrupt police force. Would not recommend you spend you money for this one.

I want my money back

boring, confused, horrible muddled plot. Cromwell can do better.

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Come back, Kay!!

I have read the majority of Patricia Cornwell's books, and enjoyed every one. That is until I read Southern Cross. It is so unlike her earlier books. I gave her the benefit of the doubt that it would get better and I read the entire book. It was not worth it. This book was a sorry follow-up to Hornet's Nest, which I did enjoy. I think she should stick to the Kay Scarpetta books.

Is this the same author?

I've read all of Patricia Cornwell's books, and I have to honestly say this has to be the worst book I've ever read. It drags on and on, with no plot. I can usually breeze through a book in a lofty 2 week period...but this one is so slow and boring it's taken me over a month.

uproariously funny

This is a nice change from the Kay Scarpetti stories.It is so-oo southern;light hearted & easy reading.I found it to be a pleasant change.Hopefully,there are more creative ideas working so we can re-visit these characters.I found myself laughing out loud several times in this book.More , please!!!

Black Humor

From some of the other reviews it seems that some people just don't have a sense of humor. The book is not her usually writting, instead of a serious serial killer story, expect a dark comedy. She takes a pot shot at everybody and hits the nail on the head every time. The most important lesson to be learned from this book is that there are too many people out there hearing things that haven't been said and others who do not pay attention at all. The narrative gets a little disjointed at times. But the cast of characters are tied together in the end. On the serious side, there is a teenage gang leader and the kids he scares into the gang. One note: though very cute, I usually only like talking animals in fantasy novels.

Major Disappointment

I started reading this book(I've read all of the others) and would have thrown it away, but thought, no it will pick up. Well, it didn't, at all. It vacilated back & forth & was very boring. The last 45 pages were adequate but the highlight of the book. Had this been the first book she had ever written, I would never read another. & I am an avid reader. ( i usually read one of cornwell's books in one night.) this one took 4... sorry, but go back to your old style, this is not even in the same league as Hornet's Nest.

complete waste of time

I kept wondering what Cornwell is trying to achieve while I was struggling to finish the book. The style is a total mess, the plot totally boring. It's irritating the the story line jumps back and forth - it's like reading a movie script or somthing. And what's with the cruel-wannabe-funny character names? i just don't see the humor. Don't waste your time in this series Cornwell - I think most of us want Kay back!

Great Disappointment

I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said. It is the worst book she has ever written. If I had read the reviews first I would't have purchased the book. It was a complete waste of time.I would never recommend it to any one. I think she should continue to write about Dr Scarpetta.

Different is NOT bad!

Although I did like the Scarpetta novels more than this one, it was an enjoyable read. YES, it was not the same as Scarpetta, but, isn't that the point? When read without expectations of a 'Scarpetta clone', it is a good, (but not great) novel. I commend Patricia for having the courage to try something different from what she (and her readers) already know works. I hope she keeps Scarpetta, (of course!), but continues to experiment with other efforts.

Terrible! FOUL Language! Very Juvenile plot. Not up to Corwall's ability..hard to believe she is the actual author! Complete waste of $$$

HOW MANY WAYS CAN I SAY 'TERRIBLE'?? THIS WAS HER WORST AND HARD TO BELIEVE SHE ACTUALLY WROTE IT. DEFINITELY NOT A KAY SCARPETTA MYSTERY!! JUVENILE,FOUL LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT !!! IF IT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN SOUTHERN CROSS A(MINUS 3 STARS)!!!

BORING

I am an avid reader of Patricia Cornwell and this book does not come anywhere near any of the others. The characters are dull and lifeless. I wanted to put it down after the first three chapters but because I am a fan I finished it. I have not and will not recommend it to others.

Great Reading

I like all of Patricia Cornwell's books and although I know I am in the minority, my favorite two have been Hornet's Nest and Southern Cross. The style of writing in these two books is better and the plot isn't the same old same old! Good Job, Patricia. Hope we get more like this.

AN ENORMOUS DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!!!!

I thought I was in for a story similiar to the Scarpetta novels, which I thoroughly enjoy. Thankfully, I checked this book out from the library and did not waste my hard earned money on this trash. The story was disconnected, the attempts at humor feeble, and I see no rhyme or reason to the unbelievable names given to the characters such as 'But Fluck', 'Weed', and 'Smoke'. What kind of not so subtle demographic/political/Southern satirical points was Cornwell trying to make with names such as those? One couldn't even sell this book at a yardsale for a nickel.