Southern Cross: Summary and book reviews of Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell, plus links to an excerpt from Southern Cross and a biography of Patricia Cornwell.

Patricia Cornwell has a sixth sense about the men and women in blue. In Southern Cross she leads us through a story of corruption, scandal, and robberies that escalate to murder. Her setting is Richmond, Virginia, where 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 police force, city manager, and mayor of Richmond, 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 bring truth, order, and sanity to a city in trouble.

Media Reviews

People Magazine [P]uts laughs ahead of logic....Cornwell has done better.   The San Francisco Examiner - Bobby Hess Move over Carl Hiaasen, you have company. Patricia Cornwell, known for her forensic thrillers, has switched to Mr. Hiaasen's world of black humor and nearly conquers it in the hilarious Southern Cross.   The Durham Herald No matter how the explicit language, the graphic details, the unlovely characters, may repulse you, you're mesmerized by her awe-inspiring narrative skill. You'll stay with it, hanging on for dear life, proud of the guts it took to stay the course.   The Denver Post Patricia Cornwell, known for her forensic thrillers, has switched to Carl Hiaasen's world of black humor and nearly conquers it. Judy Hammer, the police chief of Charlotte, N.C., has accepted a year's commission to overhaul the Richmond, Va., police department. It is rich in eccentric characters and raucous language. This is a really funny, satirical takeoff on the murder mystery genre.   Publisher's Weekly It's fortunate that Cornwell has a new Kay Scarpetta thriller (Black Notice) coming out in July, because this second novel featuring southern police chief Judy Hammer is as disappointing as last year's Hornet's Nest.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Cloggie Downunder
Lesser Cornwell
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...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Stryder
Southern Cross-Dont bother
Southern Cross was one of those books that you want your time back after reading it. The story line reaches and stretches to make everything come together. I feel that all of the characters (adult and young alike) have this awkward teenage angsty...   Read More

Review (not rated) by Anonymous
Frustrated
I have read most of Patricia Cornwell's novels and love them. I even like this one, however, there are so many spelling errors (words transposed or sentences not making any sense) that I have had to put the book down. Because of these errors the...   Read More

Review (not rated) by Cari
As another had said, wish I could get my money back after buying and reading Southern Cross. What a disappointment after reading all of P. C's. Dr. Scarpetta books. Just because I bought, felt I had to read it and could not keep an interest. Don't...   Read More

Rated of 5 by billy bob thorton
the plot was absolutely fantastico!

Rated of 5 by Sharon
This book is so different from the Cornwall we've all come to love.The characters and immensely dislikeable and self absorbed. The "black" humour purportedly in the book is not even remotely funny as these characters stumble around in...   Read More

...9 More Reader Reviews

Readalikes

If you liked Southern Cross, try these:

---

---

This is one of 2 readalike suggestions for Southern Cross. Members have full access to all readalikes. If you are a member, please login. To find out more about membership, click here.

Books with similar themes

• Mysteries
  
• Police & Law Enforcement
  
• USA 
  
• South 
  
• N & S Carolina 
  
• 1980s & '90s 
  
• Humor & Satire