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.
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.
What do You think about Southern Cross (1999)?
In Patricia Cornwell's Southern Cross, she told us another dark tale that took place down south in Virginia. For Judy Hammer, she took on the challenge as the new police chief in Charlotte, Virginia, and brought her deputy chief and a rookie police officer to help her deal with the tangled mess she landed in. For the trio, they dealt with police corruption, scandals and swiftly handled a murder on their doorstep with a big-city police department. It was no easy task for them to clean up the police force. While Judy dealt with loss and the brunt of anguish from the local government, a computer virus froze their screens with a blue fish and later with a southern cross, the symbol from a gang. In this fast-paced police procedural thriller, we watch how Judy and her team took care of the mayhem and put them into an organized law and order system.
—Kristen
This is the first book by Patricia Cornwell that I have had the opportunity to read. The writing style is too descriptive and long drawn out. Still, readable.The story is placed in a small town called Richmond in Virginia. Here the woman police chief finds herself in the unenviable position of having to please the residents while dealing with juvenile crime. Here it is a case juveniles committing adult crimes. I never knew the southern heroes of the American civil war are still being adulated. Things haven't changed much since the time of Jefferson!I must read a book or two by the same author before deciding if its worth while!
—Suby
So far I'd only read Cornwell's Scarpetta's novels, which fall under the somewhat intelligent, mostly serious mystery/adventure novels popularized by writers like James Patterson, Laura Lippman, and Nelson DeMille. Southern Cross is a different animal, more like a Carl Hiassen novel in its ability to poke fun at itself and everyone else, and complete with Hiassen-like crazy-yet-sensible homeless man, a good-but-plagued-by-unconscious-discrimination black cop in the South, and some poor soul trying to do good but without the wherewithal to do it. A pleasant surprise, a good beach-read romp, but don't take it or yourself too seriously.Quote: (in a courtroom) "He didn't understand how the truth ever got out if people weren't allowed to tell it because they might get in trouble when they out to be in trouble anyway."
—Amy Malone
