Southern Cross

Rating:
Summary: I can't wait to see the movie!
Review: I love Scarpetta, too. But this was so fun, tongue in cheek and all. She made good points. The ending was riviting, as they say "a real page turner". I could picture all the characters so vividly. Please beg PC to write more of these.

Rating:
Summary: Unpublishable except by an author of Cornwell's stature.
Review: This is an exceptionally weak effort by Cornwell, with no characterization, a silly plot and no meaning. It reads like a first draft. After two books, we still know nothing about Hammer, West or Brazil -- and I don't care enough to want to find out in a third book. I doubt that any publisher would go near this if not for Cornwell's Scarpetta book sales.

Rating:
Summary: The biggest disappointment ever!!
Review: Southern Cross is the biggest disappointment ever experienced by an avid, loyal Patricia Cornwell reader. From the beginning the story rambles and jumps from one character to another in such a disjointed way that it leaves the reader totally confused as to what the writer is talking about and why. The main characters Chief Judy Hammer, Deputy Virginia West and Andy Brazil are in Richmond to reform the city and modernize the police department. The computer system they plan to use as a first step towards modernization becomes a silly joke and the story continues to slide downhill from there. In addition, unlike all the other books by Ms. Cornwell the use of profanity is extreme, some words being repeated so often that it appears the purpose is to fill up space on the page when the story has absolutely nothing to say and nowhere to go. This is the second book written by Ms. Cornwell using these specific characters and it is by far the worse. The previous books with a different set of characters were always 5 star ratings, this one is so far below her normal standards that it rates below a 1 star. I have always bought the latest Patricia Cornwell book the minute it hits the bookstores, I will never again buy one of her books using these characters.

Rating:
Summary: I could not even finish it
Review: This was so bad, neither my husband nor I could finish this. A character named Butt Fluck - c'mon. I liked Cornwall's other books, each one a little less, but this is going to be the last one I buy.

Rating:
Summary: very poor content and plot; worst by cornwell
Review: Entire book was without flow and continuity; this is the "grind one out" book for Cornwell; just write it; they will buy it. Not worth the price or time.

Rating:
Summary: Second chance given, disappointed again.
Review: Cornwell's normal tight, descriptive narrative again breaks down in her attempt to address a need to break the mold, try something new, or whatever this book and Hornet's Nest are about. No doubt that the talent is there--just too much of a departure from Scarpetta for this reader. Where are these characters going?? I can't seem to muster the necessary empathy to CARE what happens to them so it's hard to wade through the muck and mess of Richmond and the South to complete this journey.

Rating:
Summary: Cornwell conducts a twentieth century "siege of Richmond"
Review: Much better than "Hornet's Nest", but totally different genre than the Scarpetta series, which I like better. Her satire is very, very rich, with frankly better characterizations than the Scarpetta series, especially of Bubba Fluck and the Police dispatcher. However, I was overwhelmed because I was trying to understand how the three main protagonists could ever function in the total insanity she projects as Richmond, VA. She must have a strong dislike of Richmond..I guess this means that Scarpetta will never go back there, but continue to work out of DC, or where ever.

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Summary: The new leader in satire!
Review: I loved it! Patricia Cornwell's departure from her straight thrillers has been a wonderful experience. Her satire is somewhere between Kurt Vonnegut, Jr and the tv show "Picket Fences". As a social worker, who works with kids like Smoke and like Weed, I find her information surprisingly accurate, in all details. Because of the incredible accuracy with which she portrays the issues of youth and violence, I would almost be tempted to call this a "message book". "Southern Cross" is a very worthwhile read, but stay away from it if you have no sense of humor and are unwilling to get one!

Rating:
Summary: A MAJOR Disappoinment
Review: I could not believe that Patricia Cornwell could write a book this badly. A novice writer would not have a chance to have such a work published (and justifiably so). There was not one redeeming quality to this novel. Even Niles-the STAR, as far as I was concerned of Hornet's Nest-was relegated to a cartoon role. I am not sure if there could have been any more loose ends at the end. I hope that PC is not becoming bored with her work, or worse, taking her fans for granted. I'd rather she'd subscribe to the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" theory of pumping out books rather than "familiarity breeds contempt." I will be wary of her next non-Kay book; on the other hand, if there is one, it has got to be better than this one.

Rating:
Summary: IT SUCKED
Review: Definitely not worth reading. What was she thinking? It is the worst trash out there!!! She should be totally and utterly embarrassed by this piece of crap! I would find more excitement reading the yellow pages. Never again will i read a non-Scarpetta!!!