Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell

In the very beginning, we are introduced to several characters such as Popeye, our main character's dog, who is presented as though she can think like a human. Later, we meet Niles the cat, who has the same uncanny ability as Popeye the dog. There are other characters: Bubba (real name: But Fluck, wife's name is Honey), Smudge, Gig Dan, Smoke, Weed Gardener, Divinity, Wally Fling, Captain Cloud, Mr. Curry, Mr. Pretty, Mrs. Fan etc. Police chief Judy Hammer is tasked to clean up the city of Richmond, Virginia in the span of a one year term. She is assisted by Officer Andy Brazil and Deputy Chief Virginia West. As a team, they will clean up Richmond and fix all of the police department's problems.There is, in all this, a murder, but there is never any mystery and this is not really a whodunit.

Not my favourite Patricia Cornwell.