I, Alex Cross
by James Patterson
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.00 You Save: $24.99 (89%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of I, Alex Cross
Book Review: Closer to Home
Summary: 4 Stars
Alex Cross has just been notified that a distant family member has been murdered. As he looks into the details of the gruesome death, he finds connections to even more killings and mysterious disappearances. Soon the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place and all signs seem to point to a killer within the White House. Alex Cross has faced his fair share of foes, but never has he gone against a killer who is as untouchable as this madman. Never one to give up, Alex Cross holds nothing back in his quest for justice.
James Patterson brings back his most beloved character in this sixteenth installment of the Alex Cross series. Long time fans will be pleased to know that this latest installment falls much closer to home than recent attempts. Patterson has certainly put Cross through the ringer with countless relationship problems, a myriad of career changes, and even a poorly imagined international romp in Cross Country. This time around we are treated to what hooked us on these novels in the first place: great mystery, strong character development, and the relentless pacing that has become the trademark of Patterson's writing.
While I enjoyed the high profile mystery in this plot, what really sold me were the relationships that are so beautifully explored with the characters we have grown to love. There are some truly heartwarming and gut wrenching scenes that might just catch you off guard, if for no other reason than the glimpse into the eventual reality for Alex that they hint at. Mushy stuff aside, there is still plenty of action and suspense to go around for thrill seekers to devour.
It should come as no surprise to returning readers that this story is peppered with bad language, sexual content, and violence throughout. Readers searching for some "light" mystery reading should keep on searching. However, if you long for a raw, engrossing thriller that will keep you churning pages long into the night, then I, Alex Cross is certainly for you.
Book Review: Draws you in......
Summary: 4 Stars
I was happily surprised that this book was good. I was prepared to be dissapointed because to me, his last Alex Cross book was not that good. But.....I thought this one was well written and it kept my attention quite well. I read it in less than a day.
Alex is celebrating his birthday and gets a call about his neice being found dead. Not just dead....destroyed....her body had been put in a wood chipper in hopes on not being discovered.
As any of you who read Alex Cross novels know Alex resides in Washington DC. This novel revolves around corruptions in high places. DC has a killer that takes sick and preverted to an even more evil level.
High priced Call Girls are churning up and then turning up and Alex has been asked to help find and stop the killings. Since Alex's neice is involved it is more than just another case to him. I must admit that this is a very graphic book and can be hard to take at times. I found myself shaking my head on more than one occasion while reading it.
But it is an interesting read, for sure.
You are also taken into Alex's home life and allowed to experience his and his families pain when Nanna Mamma has medical problems that land her in intensive care. If anyone has ever found themselves at the bedside of a loved one in that condition I think you will be able to relate to just what he is dealing with on that level.....but for Alex, not only does he have to deal with Nanna Mamma's situation, he also has to hunt down a killer who seems to be a ghost of sorts.
I found myself rooting for both Nanna Mamma and for Alex to catch Zeus......that is the name of the latest killer. Zeus. Zeus on the Loose is not a good thing.
Allow yourself to be drawn into Alex's world and I think you will find that it was worth the time you took to read the book. I'm glad I did.
Book Review: The only crime here was that I wasted hours reading this terrible book
Summary: 1 Stars
I give this book a one-star rating only because it's not possible to give it a no-star rating.
I've read amost all of Patterson's books; this will be the last. This book's only distinction was in the grisly nature of the crime; the plot was thin, badly-developed, ended as though he ran out of typing paper, and showed the writing style of a rank amateur.
WIthin the first 30 pages I found myself thinking that there was no proper development in the book; even though I already knew Cross' relationship with his grandmother, the book fell flat on making me feel it. Not only that, but I got the impression that Patterson threw this weak story into a word-processor, spliced in a few family scenes, and collected his fat paycheck. It's a shame that people will buy a book like this without reading a review--that's what I did. Had I known, I would avoided this, relegating it to the pile where "The Lost Symbol" is festering at this very minute.
So the plot cruises along, thinly populated with character development (and that's being generous)--and all of a sudden, the entire case is busted wide open in a blink of an eye. Stupid ending to a terrible book.
A bad book like this not only leaves me unsatisfied, but angry that I wasted time getting to what I hoped would be a logical and satisfactory conclusion. Instead, the book ended more abruptly than a car crash. To add insult to injury, they padded the book's puny size by using paper the thickness of tank armor and adding a teaser for yet another crummy book. The difference this time is that not only will I never buy another Patterson book, but will discourage others from doing so as well.
Patterson needs to send me my money back.
Book Review: True Alex Cross
Summary: 4 Stars
Alex Cross is celebrating his birthday with family when he receives a disturbing phone call. His niece has been found brutally murdered. When Alex goes to identify her remains, he's shocked to learn what's left of her body. Alex takes this case personally as he tracks down a sadistic and ruthless killer.
Alex Cross, without doubt, is my favorite series. I started reading this series in graduate school and continue to look forward to each November for the latest release. I really like Alex Cross, the man. He's intelligent, dedicated, attractive, a family man and professional. Like any other parent, he tries to balance his home life with his work life. Sometimes he succeeds and other times it hurts him to have to disappoint his family one more time.
I, Alex Cross, for me, returned to the Alex Cross books of the past. Last year's Cross Country was a miss for me, so I hoped I would enjoy reading I, Alex Cross. And I was not disappointed. As Alex is hunting down a killer, that may be connected with The White House, he's also dealing with an unexpected crisis on home. I won't reveal the details of his personal crisis to avoid spoilers, but I will say the reader feels compassion for Alex as he tries to handle both stressful situations.
Mr. Patterson did an excellent job with his latest villain. While reading several scenes, I literally squirmed as I pictured what was happening to the victims. And when the killer is finally revealed, I was shocked! I didn't see that coming at all. I, Alex Cross ended perfectly for me. One of my favorite characters has returned to let Alex know he's always watching. The sad part is I have to wait until next November to find out what happens next!
Book Review: This is his best
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is undoubtedly James Patterson at his best. Patterson apparently wrote the Cross series by himself, in contrast to many of his other novels, and he creates in this mystery a tale filled with excitement, intrigue and pathos.
The volume has Patterson's characteristic short paragraphs, but the print is smaller, so readers will need about a third more time every hour to finish the book. But this is good, very good, since this book is very enjoyable.
Cross faces an unusual killer and his strange accomplices who commit bizarre murders, brutality by ex-federal cops, and weird methods of disposal of bodies. He encounters a sex cell where a single evening of sex cost as much as $20,000, and is well worth it.
Readers will enjoy reading the excitement surrounding Operation Coitus Interruptus that involved a host of federal, state and local police, and the consequences of the operation. Readers will wonder until the end about questions, such as: Who is the freakish murderer who bites his victims? Who are his accomplices? How is the White House tangled in the murders? Why is the FBI involved in local murders? What role does the US Secret Service play, the Vice President of the United States, and the President's Chief of Staff? Why does the federal government want Cross off the case? Is there a cover-up?
Patterson is superb at portraying Cross' interaction with his unusually close family, especially Nana, including the kisses, hugs and tears shed on occasions. If his usual depictions of this interaction deserve five stars, he should be awarded six stars for this volume.