{"product_id":"southern-cross-andy-brazil-by-patricia-cornwell-3604ad","title":"Southern Cross (Andy Brazil) by Patricia Cornwell","description":"\u003cp\u003eJudy Hammer has accepted the challenge of Richmond, Virginia's police department to try and reverse the escalating crime statistics in the city. She brings with her Deputy Chief Virginia West and Andy Brazil, now a full-time police officer. They find a lot of things they are all too familiar with - teenage gangs, a rash of robberies at cash dispensers, street corner drug-dealing, racial tensions, too many people with too many guns and a cardiac inducing lack of parking spaces. They also meet resentment from the established police force and over-high expectations from the city's institutions. Then a computer virus crashes the police computer, freezing their screens with a design of blue fish, and the same blue fish appears on the statue of Jefferson Davis, which a graffiti artist has turned into a black basketball player and a gang called the Pikes claim it is their symbol, which also has links to the robberies. In an incredibly fast-moving police procedural Patricia Cornwell takes her readers on a roller-coaster ride of action and emotion.  Amazon Review With the phenomenal success of her Scarpetta books, Cornwell set herself something of a problem: how to strike off in new directions with different protagonists. It is good to report that the trio introduced so compellingly in Hornet's Nest, Police Chief Judy Hammer and colleagues Virginia West and Andy Brazil, make an assured return in this up-tempo sequel. The locale this time is Richmond, Virginia, and Cornwell quickly immerses us in the personal lives and politics of a big-city police force reeling from corruption and intrigue. Hammer is there to reduce the crime rate, but is still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband. And when a gang of juvenile killers starts creating havoc, she finds herself dealing with both public scrutiny and the resentments of her staff. While the characterisation and plotting (always Cornwell's strong suits) remain as razor sharp as ever, there is more emphasis on humour, making a piquant contrast to the high-octane action (although some might find the whimsical character names--Smudge, Muskrat, Weed, et al--a tad too Dickensian for this kind of urban thriller). Supremely entertaining stuff, and though some may yearn for the return of her doughty pathologist heroine, Cornwell has demonstrated that she is no one-trick pony. --Barry Forshaw  Review Cornwell peels off every layer of this taut society in a careering crime drama that is full of suspense and excitement and has a shaft of humanity beneath the tough talk and the wisecracks.  GOOD HOUSEKEEPING  some very fine comic scenes.  DAILY TELEGRAPH  this highly entertaining confection shows Cornwell clearly has more than one string to her bow.  IRELAND ON SUNDAY  Always a winner.  NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE CHRONICLE  Book Description Robbery, murder, vandalism, incompetence and not enough parking spaces - just another day in the life of a big city's police department.  About the Author  In 1990, Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d'Aventures - the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Growing into an international phenomenon, the Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.  Today, Cornwell's novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper's identity, cookbooks, a children's book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and three other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano, Andy Brazil, and Captain Calli Chase. Cornwell continues exploring the latest space-age technologies and threats relevant to contemporary life. Her interests range from the morgue to artificial intelligence and include visits to Interpol, the Pentagon, the U.S. Secret Service and NASA.   Cornwell was born in Miami. She grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Express","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41843979812938,"sku":"3604ad","price":7.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0618\/9101\/8826\/files\/3604ad_9191ad23-31c6-4580-ad25-12cb11dae94d.jpg?v=1765622795","url":"https:\/\/www.bookexpress.nz\/products\/southern-cross-andy-brazil-by-patricia-cornwell-3604ad","provider":"Book Express","version":"1.0","type":"link"}