In her best-selling novel HORNET'S NEST,Patricia Cornwell displayed her intuitive understanding of policemen and women and introduced her readers to Judy Hammer, Virginia West and Andy Brazil.In this fast-moving sequel she again portrays this trio -sometimes passionate, vulnerable or heroic,always professional.

This time the setting is Richmond, Virginia, and Patricia Cornwell takes us even closer to the personal and public lives of a big city police force where corruption, scandal and robberies escalate into murder. Police Chief Judy Hammer has been hired to clean up the crime rate. Reeling from the recent death of her husband, and resented by her staffand the city's establishment, she is joined by West and Brazil on the most difficult assignment ofher career. In the face of overwhelming public scrutiny the trio must bring order and sanity to a city in trouble.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

……

Chapter 36