Southern Cross audiobook

This book was at hand in the best moment!

3,5 sterren- Nederlandse hardcover

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.

why do most of my recent reads feel read already? #dejavulelia's grammatical shenanigans deserve an additional starp149: "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."

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.

Loved this book. I laughed so much. The story was great.

Andy BrazilIn this second book of the Andy Brazil, West, Hammer and Brazil have moved to Richmond temporarily to set up Comstat in Richmond and get a handle on crime. When West and Hammer are on the phone they hear another conversation and think they are hearing a murder being planned which turns out not to be the case. There are also a series of ATM robberies happening that have the police very worried. How West, Hammer and Brazil solve the ATM robberies and discover who has hijacked the comstat computers makes for a good story. Highly recommend this book and the series.

I loved the series of Andy Brazil. I am sad to think that Cornwell will not write any more in this series because of some of the remarks people make. These books are written with a twist of the tongue, a twist on the English language and a twist on human nature and done humorously. This a work of fiction for cripes sake. It does not have to be politically correct and it does not have to take your sensitive nature into consideration thank God. Kick back and enjoy a funny read.

Not a typical Cornwell. Not a Kay Scarpetta novel. This story is about Judith Hammer, a southern Police Chief brought in to clean up a corrupt police force. She ends up on the line, having to solve a brutal murder. I find Ms. Cornwell's portrail of the coroner Kay Scarpetta more believable than that of Judy Hammer.

Don’t let the laughs fool you…Yes, they’re funny, the entire series, but that’s the wisdom of the writer as a creeping way to capture all of ‘local’ humanity in Richmond, Va, and to get into more important matters, and they matter… and still do. A unique way to drive a story, and one that gives one a moment to pause and consider all being said how it gets said.

Un omicidio, un atto vandalico e un sabotaggio informatico. Questi gli ingredienti per un bellissimo romanzo di Patricia Cornwell. Libro molto scorrevole e interessante, non annoia affatto. Consigliato.

I'm continuing my Cornwell re-reads. This is the second Andy Brazil book. I'm not a fan of this world and it's characters, but I did like this book better than the first Andy Brazil book. That said, I'm moving on to Black Notice.

I enjoyed Southern Cross lots - great to read a Cornwell book not written in the first person, and the humour was great too. Surprising really, although maybe it shouldn't be, to read a book that is so different in style from the authors main-stream series books.

Southern Cross (Andy Brazil Book 2)A great detective story that takes place in Richmond, Virginia. Fast paced and captivating. The favorite characters from Andy Brazil Book 1 are in Book 2. Enjoy - I did!

I enjoyed this book, its the first one of Patricia Cornwell's books I have read, I can see why she is a popular writer.If this is one of her lesser rated books then I should be pleasantly surprised but the others.

Very entertaining with a nice touch of humor. Great ending without giving away a spoiler.

A very different series, but still a good read.