Cross (Alex Cross) by James Patterson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cross (Alex Cross)
Book Review: What's not to like?
Summary: 4 Stars
Alex Cross is a likeable hero. He is in the dangerous business of tracking down pathological criminals, but he's also the loving father of three young children. He has an occasional flirtation, but basically he's still in love with his wife Maria who was shot ten years ago by a maniacal murderer and died in his arms. He's smart and ruthless when it comes to tracking down the bad guys, but he's sweet and loving when with his grandmother and his children. The criminals Alex chases are really bad guys--especially the Butcher who is his opponent in this book. James Patterson writes fast-moving prose in short chapters which seem to fly by. Again Patterson uses his winning formula to create a wonderful hero and an awful villain who parry and thrust in a fascinating cat-and-mouse game. So, what's not to like?Book Review: Yawn
Summary: 3 Stars
The story begins when Alex Cross' idyllic life is shattered by the hit man who murders his wife. Cross had been a cop then, and the story jumps ahead to his career move to the FBI, after which an altercation with his grandmother prompts him to change careers again. In the present, Cross is a therapist raising three children with help from Nana Mama, and only occasionally consulting for the Washington PD or the FBI. He gets pulled into the case of a serial rapist only because he believes it's the same man who murdered his wife. The Butcher was a mafia hit man who had fun mutilating his victims, and the FBI has wanted him for a long time, but he's like a shadow who leaves no trace of himself. In actuality, he's been raising a family in the suburbs, occasionally taking a job or venturing into the city to commit a rape or a murder, photographing his grisly deeds to frighten future victims.
The story ambles along following both the lives of Alex Cross and the Butcher, Michael Sullivan. Sullivan is an interesting character, though his family life doesn't exactly ring true and there are several violent incidents he'd have a tough time explaining to his family that get glossed over and forgotten. Alex Cross is as exciting as oatmeal. The author obviously thinks highly of him, but I found him a bit too much of a great guy. He's one of those people who can whimsically pick and choose from professional careers, and never utters a misplaced word or commits a dastardly deed. And what a dad! He's also the hope and salvation of more than one branch of law enforcement because he's such an incredible detective, but he's so terribly bland about it, I found myself wishing something bad would happen just to liven things up. Also, in an apparent bid to ensure the book made money even if sales were low, Patterson seems to have worked out a deal with Mercedes, singing the praises of their crossover vehicle several dozen times too often. I half expected to see Mercedes in the acknowledgements, or at least find their logo on the cover.
Though I have read a Women's Murder Club book by Patterson and liked it a lot, that same feeling did not translate to this book. Not only was the change between points of view jarring, Alex Cross is a snore. He's easily the most vanilla lead character I've come across in a long time. Patterson has quite a following, and some of his books are good, but this one fell far short of impressing me.
Book Review: don 't read this book unless your ready to be grossed out
Summary: 1 Stars
I never was warned about all the violence and blood and guts there is nothing mentioned on fhe cover or on the reviewsBook Review: great service
Summary: 5 Stars
Received within 4 days of ordering. Speedy service. I will order from this person again. LindaBook Review: solid effort
Summary: 3 Stars
Thsi novel is a solid effort mainly because we get a lot more background about Cross marriage and relationship to his wife Maria but the murderer is pedestrian and the book is rather lame except for the Maria factor