Pop Goes the Weasel
by James Patterson
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Book Reviews of Pop Goes the Weasel
Book Review: My first Patterson book
Summary: 4 Stars
Pop Goes the Weasel is the first book by James Patterson I've read. And I'm thinking a trip to the book store (or Amazon.com...) is in order. The main character, Detective Alex Cross, has apparently been around for several Patterson novels. But you don't need to have read any of the previous works to enjoy Weasel--it stands on it's own just fine. The title character, "The Weasel" as the cops call him, is a British diplomat who is into playing a very odd Role Playing Game--a game that he has taken beyond fantasy and into reality--brutal and savage murders of mostly "low life" types.Patterson writes in very short chapters that make convienient stopping places--if you can stop! I found this book difficult to put down. The characters are well developed, the plot has several twists and turns, and it's easy, exciting reading.
The only thing that keeps this book from recieving my coveted 5 Star rating is that I don't think Patterson develops the game well enough. What could have been a *very* interesting plot aspect is just a tad weak. Yes, you know who's playing the game, and who wins in the end, but I would have liked this plot line to be "fleshed out" a bit more. It's a small weakness though.
Pop Goes the Weasel has a bit of everything for aanyone--crime, horror, suspense, romance, humor--it's all in there. An excellent book, by an excellent writer that I for one plan on reading more of.
Book Review: Death Rides a Black Jaguar
Summary: 3 Stars
At one point in the novel "Pop Goes the Weasel", Alex Cross refers to the villain, Geoffrey Shafer, as a "suicidal-homicidal maniac". What a pity it is for the reader that this lethal combination was never really used to its fullest extent. British Embassy employee Geoffrey Shafer fancies himself to be one of the Four Horsemen. Death to be precise. He's on so many different narcotics and stabilizers that it's amazing he actually has the awareness to drive, let alone murder so many people.
My SMALL problem with the storyline is that Mr. Patterson; rather than delve deeper into Shafer's psychosis, spends so much useless time showing us the other members of the Horsemen. The issue of Shafer's diplomatic immunity is thrown in ever so briefly. Tightening the court battle sequence would have made the final showdown between Cross and Shafer a bit more compelling. We're left with a lull in the story immediately afterwards.
The romance between Cross and Christine tends to slow the pace of the story. And the characterizations of the children seem somewhat askew. They do tend to speak far beyond their years. But that's just a tiny nitpick. The novel is a very easy read.
... But, I'll admit, it would be fun to read about Geoffrey Shafer again.
Book Review: Gripping and Suspensful!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first "Alex Cross" book by Patterson I have read and I can't wait to read more - I am "hooked"I found this book to be wonderfully suspenseful and I flew through each and every chapter. It was impossible to "stop" reading - "just one more chapter"!!! That day nothing whatsoever got done that was supposed to!
I love the way Patterson leaves you hanging from chapter to chapter and the suspense of a serial killer was gripping! Knowing who the killer was in the beginning of the book was great in that you were trying to figure out what the next move was going to be and it was always a surprise! The dark, sick, and twisted mind of Geoffrey Schaffer was graphically and excellently portrayed in the book. I was intrigued also by Cross trying to psychologically figure this guy out throughout the trial of murders as Schaffer was playing "the game". The suspense kept masterfully building. I was expecting some show at the end of the book by Geoffrey Schaffer, but never expected that shocker of an ending!! Phew! Give me more Alex Cross!! I would love to see this book as a sequel!
I became a Patterson fan with Cradle And All, and now I am hooked completely! This book will grip you from the outset and will not let you go until the very last page!
Book Review: keeps you guessing until the very end
Summary: 5 Stars
So this is only the second book by James Patterson I have read and I'm completely hooked on it! With this book I felt as though I were actually apart of it and solving the murders right by Alex and Sampson's side. So this is how it goes its Geoffrey Shafer this time and what makes it worse is that he works for the British Embassy. He's in on a game call the Four Horsemen, played by 3 others around the world. So basically he's going around killing just completely random people and throwing the "dice" to find out exactly how they will die, these are referred to as the "Jane Does". I must warn though, this book is way more graphic than any I have read so be aware of that. Shafer is not only a killer, but practically a druggie who gets all his drugs from Boo Cassidy. If you've read Patterson's books you'll remember Christine, well at the beginning Alex proposes and they are to be married, but someone kidnaps Christine while they are vacationing in Bermuda. So now it becomes personal with Alex and he becomes more eager to find this "Weasel" as they call him. So this book is extremely intense and has you guessing until the very end and then some. I would definitely recommend reading it.Book Review: Pop Goes the Weasel
Summary: 4 Stars
This book that I am reading is followed by a series of other books that has to do with murder mystery cases. Where in this book its main character Alex Cross embarked on another case in Washington D.C., which he is trying to find the killer behind all these "Jane Doe Murders". While Cross is trying to find the murderer he comes upon a suspect named Geoffrey Shafer who is a British Diplomat. While during this whole case it ends up being a much harder and deadlier task then it sought out to be. As the case moves on and becomes more challenging for Alex. Alex finally asked his girlfriend who he has been seeing for along time to finally marry him. Eventually and as usual Alex is putting his kids and his fiancé the people he loves most in danger while trying to go after the Weasel, his most dangerous case yet.
I enjoyed the book very much. It was one of the best murder mysteries that I have read. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. It was one of those books that you have the hardest time putting down. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, the James Patterson novels or the Alex Cross series.