Isle of Dogs: 3 (Andy Brazil) - Softcover

Cornwell, Patricia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0425182908 ISBN 13: 9780425182901

Publisher: Berkley Books, 2002

Synopsis

Patricia Cornwell's novels of big-city police have taken this classic genre to a new level. Now, with this #1 New York Times bestselling novel, she outdoes herself, with a wry tale of life and turmoil behind the blue wall.

Chaos breaks loose when the governor of Virginia orders that speed traps be painted on all streets and highways, and warns that speeders will be caught by monitoring aircraft flying overhead. But the eccentric island of Tangier, fourteen miles off the coast of Virginia in Chesapeake Bay, responds by declaring war on its own state. Judy Hammer, newly installed as the superintendent of the Virginia State Police, and Andy Brazil, a state trooper and Hammer's right hand and confidant, find themselves at their wits' end as they try to protect the public from the politicians--and vice versa--in this pitch-perfect, darkly comic romp.

About this title

Review:

Be aware: this is not your typical Cornwell novel. Not only is there no Kay Scarpetta, but Isle of Dogs is a comic romp, a real departure for this author. It centres around a couple of characters from past books--police chief Judy Hammer and reporter-turned-cop Andy Brazil of Hornet's Nest and Southern Cross--but the plot, style and tone will remind you more of Carl Hiaasen's dark comedies.

The madcap doings get underway when the addled, nearly blind governor of Virginia confusedly launches a speed-trap program on isolated Tangier Island, whose prickly, eccentric residents promptly attempt secession. Cornwell adeptly interweaves other crisscrossing plot lines involving a gang of street-stupid thugs gunning for Hammer and Brazil, an angel-faced serial killer, a kidnapped dog and more. She does miss a few beats: the pacing sags during certain episodes, and at times the writing strains so hard for laughs that instead it draws winces. Nonetheless, Isle of Dogs is for the most part a funny, diverting read and a refreshing departure for Cornwell. --Nicholas H Allison, Amazon.com

Review:

"Move over Carl Hiaasen, you've got company. Patricia Cornwell has switched to Hiaasen's world of black humor and nearly conquers it."--San Francisco Examiner

"Cornwell has coined a new penny."--USA Today

About this edition

• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0425182908
• ISBN 13: 9780425182901
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432