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A review by jimbowen0306
Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell
3.0
Patricia Cornwell is probably best know for her Scarpetta series, where Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner solves crime. This book is set in the same area, but looks at the female Chief of Police for Richmond (Virginia’s capital), as she and her sidekick (Andy Brazil) solve crime.
The story has potential. It looks at the growth of gang culture in Richmond, and watches what happens when a gang tries to set up in the city. There are a number of problems with the story though.
First I’m not sure that Ms. Cornwell knows what to do with the story. Should it be noir, or comedy? It would have read much much better, had it being noir. Comedic writing is a skill, and I’m not sure it works here.
Second, the gang members are in the main… rebels without a clue. Sure there is a murder towards the end, but for most of the book, they’re High School Seniors who are wannabe thugs. they go from holding up people at ATMs to killing people (to facilitate a plan) in a couple of weeks.
Thirdly it felt like some characters were introduced to move the story along, without it seeming to happen organically/naturally.
Finally, I just didn’t rally care for the characters. The Chief of Police is smug and self-satisfied, while Brazil is the only one with a modicum of common sense, which isn’t a ringing endorsement for the reader to like him.
So overall, not the most fun book I’ve read.
The story has potential. It looks at the growth of gang culture in Richmond, and watches what happens when a gang tries to set up in the city. There are a number of problems with the story though.
First I’m not sure that Ms. Cornwell knows what to do with the story. Should it be noir, or comedy? It would have read much much better, had it being noir. Comedic writing is a skill, and I’m not sure it works here.
Second, the gang members are in the main… rebels without a clue. Sure there is a murder towards the end, but for most of the book, they’re High School Seniors who are wannabe thugs. they go from holding up people at ATMs to killing people (to facilitate a plan) in a couple of weeks.
Thirdly it felt like some characters were introduced to move the story along, without it seeming to happen organically/naturally.
Finally, I just didn’t rally care for the characters. The Chief of Police is smug and self-satisfied, while Brazil is the only one with a modicum of common sense, which isn’t a ringing endorsement for the reader to like him.
So overall, not the most fun book I’ve read.