Cross |
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James Patterson
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Pages: 448 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0755323173
Pub: Headline
Pub date: 2007-09-06
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 4729
Editorial Review:
James Patterson has a position that is unassailable -- as one of America's most reliable crime and thriller writers, his best-selling status is assured. But it has to be said that he has tested the patience of his long-time readers by the series of books written in collaboration with other, lesser-known writers, in which it seemed that his own participation was the least important element. True Patterson fans will always welcome books such as Cross as the real deal: unadulterated James Patterson, sans collaborators.
Here we have Patterson's favourite protagonist, Alex Cross, in the days when he was making his mark in the Washington, DC Police Department. To his horror, he witnesses his wife being murdered in front of him by an unknown killer. Years pass, and Cross has left the FBI for his former profession as a psychologist. He feels he has come to terms with the events of the past, but then receives a call from his ex-partner John Sampson, requesting a favour in tracking down a serial rapist in Georgetown. Soon, the case presents connections to the death of Alex's wife -- is he finally being given the chance to catch her murderer?
This is James Patterson, doing what he does best: delivering a narrative in which there is not an ounce of wasted fat. Alex Cross is always, of course, a strong protagonist, and the personal element here energises an already kinetic storyline. James Patterson, we are reminded, needs no collaborators. --Barry Forshaw
Reader Reviews:
Formulaic but effective lightweight thriller (0/0 people found this helpful)
'Cross' is the latest episode in a long running series about Alex Cross, a psychologist who's been a police detective, FBI man and now is operating freelance. It's an entirely by-the-numbers thriller. Doesn't miss a beat. It clips along at a good pace, is written in easily accessible English, and builds up the level of threat and tension as the bad guy's vendetta takes shape -- and Alex Cross has to unravel the mystery and solve it.
The bad guy is irredeemably bad (sadist, rapist, murderer, hitman for the mob) while Alex Cross is impossibly heroic (loving father to his young family and loving grandson to his wise-but-spiky grandma). The supporting cast are all present and correct (police detective chum who has Alex's back at the vital moment; love interest where things don't go exactly to plan). Plus Alex Cross suffers the emotional baggage from a previous trauma (could this killer be the same man who killed Alex's wife all those years ago?)
The chapters are kept clipped and brief, and almost all of them end on a mini-cliffhanger so you're compelled to keep turning the pages. Even though I recognise the style and device and don't particularly like it, I found myself belting through the chapters, staying up later than expected; carried along by the drive of the plot.
And that pretty much sums up the effectiveness of Cross. It's not an intellectual or philosophical debate. It's a chase-the-bad-guy flat-out romp. Easy to read. The perfect book for an airplane or train ride. You don't need to have read any of the others in the series to enjoy it.
It's not literature, but it's entirely enjoyable pulp fiction.
6/10
Excellent Read (1/1 people found this helpful)
Alex Cross has been a favourite character of mine for over 10 years now. Having read all the previous Cross novels I found this as good as all the others but just a tad dissapointing.
The book as ever is a page turner, its pace gets faster as you read. The "Butcher" who is the baddie in this one, is as bad as all of the other villans that Paterson has come up with.
The relationship between Cross and his family, friends and colleagues is there as well to extend your knowledge of the characters.
The book builds you up that Cross is chasing after the murderer of his wife. However you find out quite quickly that the "Butcher" did not kill his wife and the dissapointing aspect of the book is that it is only when the loose ends of the book are tied at the end that you find out what happened to Cross's wife's murderer,
Still an excellent read.
Decent (1/1 people found this helpful)
The Alex Cross series is a hugely popular one, and has had several extremely entertaining novels. Particularly early on in the timeline, with books such as 'Along came a spider' and 'Kiss the girls', which are two examples of James Patterson's terrific suspense and story-telling. These books really define the term 'page-turning'.
But the last 3-4 books in the Alex Cross series have been poor: too pedestrian, lacking ambition, and told badly. I was glad to see that 'Cross' is an improvement from these. Patterson has made the story more interesting again. Specifically it is the first book to deal with the murder of Alex Cross' wife, which happens before the books even start. This new angle makes for an interesting story and a decent read.
cross (0/0 people found this helpful)
this was my first actual read of an alex cross novel although i watched the movies along came a spider and kiss the girls and loved them although this may have been because of morgan freeman who now does seem a little old for the alex cross with three small children ! and that brings me to my problem with this book that i COULD NOT get out of my head ! in the book when maria is shot - janelle is 6 months old having been born in the hospital 6 months previously - now it also mentioned she was pregnant when shot - BUT i cannot understand where did the third child ali appear from it has been racking my brains throughout the whole book - i cannot seem to do the numbers - can SOMEBODY explain how he can have a daughter 6 months old - wife shot - and another child appears later - I AM TOTALLY PERPLEXED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1st Time Patterson Reader (0/0 people found this helpful)
Well, what can I say ?? This author was recommended by a friend and I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I really could not put it down. The suspense was endured enough to make me read continuously until I finished the book.
Will definitely pick up another of Patterson's books.
Highly recommended!!
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