I, Alex Cross
by James Patterson
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Book Reviews of I, Alex Cross
Book Review: A slightly better than average Cross thriller, but not one to bring you back
Summary: 3 Stars
I, ALEX CROSS is a just slightly better than average Cross thriller. For starters, Patterson returns to a normal murder mystery, and not some across the world trek against some African warlord like he did in the last Cross book.
Cross is celebrating his birthday with Nana, the kids and girlfriend Bree when he gets a call. His gut tells him not to answer it, but he does anyway. He receives devestating news. His neice, Caroline, a girl he hadn't seen in twenty years, has been murdered. The family is devestated, and Cross is immediately on the case. Thankfully, this book doesn't take the route of the personal family vendetta. Caroline is only one of many victims, and Cross is mystified as to who the brutal killer could be. Meanwhile, the Vice President and the Secret Service are afraid that a killer named Zeus may have ties to the White House, and are desparate to cover it up.
The novel goes from the mob, to prostitution rings to cover-ups at the highest level of Washington. For a Cross novel, this is pretty good. The killer doesn't have a personal vendetta against Cross, which is a plus. It's a straight forward mystery. One thing missing is the scenes from the killer's point of view, which Patterson usually excels at.
If you don't read all the Patterson novels, but try and pick the better ones, then I guess you should consider reading this one. It isn't great, but there is a noted absense of all things that make Cross books not very good. If you've quit reading Patterson, then this one probably won't change your mind. But at least it is something you can read in a few days.
Book Review: Blame It On Zeus
Summary: 5 Stars
In the past few months I have read three of James Patterson's novels: Swimsuit, Alex Cross's Trial, and The Murder of King Tut. I, Alex Cross easily tops all three. It's skillfully written, suspenseful, and even includes a few funny zingers.
Detective Alex Cross's niece, Caroline, is murdered. He learns of her death during his birthday party as his family gathered to express their deep affection for him. Cross spearheads the murder investigation. His family comes together to support him in this difficult time. A key theme in the novel is the importance of family.
A pivotal figure is known as Zeus. This Zeus does not live on Mount Olympus. He's a very wealthy and powerful man who frequents a "gentlemen's club" in Virginia, just outside of Washington. The club caters to rich people with bizarre tastes. It seems that Zeus is a violent man...
When it rains it pours. Cross's beloved grandmother, Nana, suffers from congestive heart failure. Her condition worsens until she is near death. Cross is overcome with concern, but he must press on with the search for Caroline's killer. As he visits a comatose Nana in the hospital, he is inspired by memories of her advice through the years.
There are vicious people in this book who use their wealth and influence to cover up their crimes. There's a wood chipper that is used in a manner not intended by its manufacturer.
Veteran author Patterson weaves these disparate elements together. It all builds to an exciting conclusion. The shocking identity of Zeus is finally revealed. Highly recommended.
Book Review: I, Alex Cross
Summary: 4 Stars
Alex Cross is a well known detective, known for solving difficult cases, but when the phone rings at his birthday party, he finds himself in the midst of his wildest case ever. A case that involves the grisly murder (I'm glad they didn't give more detail than they did) of his estranged niece. The investigation is full of loops and twists and eventually leads him into the highest profile case he's ever had, with ties that see to go all the way to the White House.
This is my first Alex Cross book, and I really enjoyed reading it. He is a fantastic character that many will be able to relate to. The death of his niece isn't the only tragedy he faces in this book, and the way he handles all the blows that come his way was very touching. He is the type of person I would want to have as a friend.
The only complaint I have about the mystery solving itself was there were a couple "hand of God" moments. Things seemed to break in the case at just the right time without any action on Alex's part. This held true especially in the case of the ending, where all leads seemed to die out when miraculously something happened. Up until that point, the crime solving was done quite nicely...calling in old friends, dropping words in the ears of the right people, and good old fashioned foot work.
There were a couple times the story dragged, and this coupled with the final clue, caused it to lose the 1/2 star. I would still recommend the story to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
3.5/5
Book Review: Horrid
Summary: 1 Stars
This was my first James Patterson novel. It is also my last. I would rather rub sand into my eyes than read anything else written by this hack.
The story starts in the first person with Alex Cross being notified that his estranged niece's "remains" have been found, and she has been run through a wood chipper. It proceeds in the third person to reveal that the antagonist has been killing prostitutes, and having his goons take the bodies to a lunatic in a secluded, wooded area close to D.C. who shreds, then buries them. No mention is ever made of how the niece's body was found.
It gets worse, much worse, with among other things the assassination of a suspect, who is in a standoff in a room with HRT operatives who have him covered and Alex Cross who is attempting get him to stand down, by an HRT sniper across the street on a rooftop. There is never any indication of why the sniper fired the shot or who in the chain of command gave the order to take it.
Incredibly the villain turns out to be the President's husband, the "first gentleman", who apparently is able to evade his 24/7 Secret Service security details repeatedly, for hours at a time, to commit the deeds with no one the wiser.
It's a travesty that crap like this can get published, and it's a tragedy that apparently millions of Americans read it.
My advice to readers... try some skilled writers like John D. MacDonald or John Le Carre.
Book Review: Alex Cross is my new favourite superhero (sorry wolverine)
Summary: 5 Stars
Patterson redeems himself (OK didn't really have to hes a always a great author, but seriously? Cross Country not so good) With I, Alex Cross.
The real strength of the book isn't the criminal plot, which is largely driven by narrating from the baddies perspective, who seem to be these two nicknames, Zues and Remy, competing for the sickest f*** in America title.
In fact, even thought I gave five stars the criminal plot is actually pretty terrible. A relative we barely know (OK I haven't read every Cross novel [i'm getting there]) is found dead (and then some). but I'm not really a fan of introducing a character just to make the crime personal, as Cross himself admits he'd be all over it doing overtime even if it wasn't a niece who got done.
Eventually they kinda solve the crime via happening via the plot device of a witness finally spilling something towards the end of the novel, and a witness ex machina, who has apologetic scenes as the beginning to make it seem a little less so contrived.
So why five stars? The book is an easy read, with good humour throughout, the scene setting works well and the shocks in Cross's personal life are enough to carry the book.
For some reason this time I found the obligatory call from Kyle, to be particularly chilling, rather than forced and now realise that all I want is for their final show-down to happen.
Bring it on!