Rating: 
Summary: DUMB
Review: I don't know why Cromwell even tries to write these series of books. They are just plain DUMB.
Rating: 
Summary: Did author not do appropriate research?
Review: I generally have great respect for authors and all the research they obviously do. However, I lost a lot of respect for Patricia Cornwell when she described a website address in this book and indicated that it meant the site was accessed through a whole slew of other computer systems. In a URL, the first entry indicates the server on which the website resides. All the rest of the entries specify directories and file names on that single computer. This leaves me suspicious of other details which I assume to be based on fact.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible names for the characters!
Review: I got stopped on about 30 pages into the book by the names of the characters. "Butner Fluck"?, "Weed Gardener"?, "Mr. Pretty"?, "Cloud", "Fan", "Fling"?. I love Ms. Cornwall's books, and maybe the plot in this one is good....I can't get that far. The names are too distracting and annoying.
Rating:
Summary: Take Heart, Ms. Cornwell
Review: Take heart, Ms. Cornwell. Your Kay Scarpetta series is so popular your fans have reacted badly to a new storyline and set of characters. I applaud your creativity and courage. I think many of us, (your fans) become so involved with your books we are offended if you do not write what we want. Remember the reaction to Wesley's death? A near riot. Although I thought the "f" word was used entirely too much, you did a good job of making me understand how a kid can be bullyed into becoming involved in a gang. I throughly enjoyed your sense of humor about the south. ALthough some people have been offended by your send up of southern idiosyncracies, I believe that the many southerners who still revere the confederate flag and all that it stands for ( slavery, rascism, intolerance and a slew of other negative words) deserve a little kick in the hind quarters. And now for my personal advice (which I am sure you are dreading); please leave a little more space for positive interpersonal relationships with communication and love.Looking forward to the next Brazil and Scarpetta novels.
Rating:
Summary: I want my money back too!
Review: Dreadful - I forced myself to finish it and am still unsure what it was about. The story line was so poor I continued waiting for another plot to develop - unfortunately it didn't. Do not waste your money or time on this.
Rating:
Summary: I want my money back
Review: I have read all of her books and kept reading knowing it was going to get better. "It didn't"
Rating: 
Summary: Wish it had been better....bit of a disappointment
Review: I am a huge fan of Patricia Cromwell, and understand her wanted to expand other than Kay Scarpetta/Lucy novels, although I like others can't wait until the next novel comes out about them. This book was not up to Ms. Cromwell's standards, and hard to stay focused on. But, I will still remain a loyal fan and continue to read her books.
Rating:
Summary: Totally Misrepresented - Terrible Book!
Review: I just finished reading Southern Cross as I have been a fan of Patricia Cornwell for a number of years and have probably read all of her books. This book was as big a disappointment as I think I have ever read. If you read the excerpt on Page 2,it says.."she casts her shrewd and knowing eye at the men and women in blue, in a story of corruption, scandal and murder." It goes on to say in paragraph two.."....to solve a brutal murder that springs straight from the rotting core of Richmonds heart..." Well, if a juvenile painting a statue and one woman being shot and a "Bubba" who loves the cops makes for all of this, I sure did not find it. Yes, there is prejudice against outsiders wanting to convert the police department to computerized crime prevention and one council member who can't speak english. But for murder and intrigue..no way. I am not even bothering to give this book to anyone..I tossed it. I hope she is not writing books at random and selling them with her name...what a shame. I gave it a one star only because there is not a 0 star rating available.
Rating:
Summary: She just doesn't cut the mustard...
Review: I think it's fine when a writer tries something different. I think it's especially great when that writer discovers new avenues for personal creativity and reader involvement. But there's a problem with "Southern Cross". It is a juvenile and poorly written attempt. It's boring, and after the first few pages, it's repetitive and heavy-handed. Carl Hiaasen does it masterfully well, Patricia Cornwell has a long way to go before she gets a grip on humor and satire.
Rating:
Summary: Southern Cross
Review: Boring, undeveloped characters and uninspired, hackneyed writing are the hallmarks of this book. This was a far cry from, POSTMORTEM. The most interesting, imaginative and readable moments were those involved with the thoughts of pets.
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