Cross by James Patterson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cross
Book Review: I kind of missed Alex Cross and enjoyed catching up with him!
Summary: 3 Stars
Life is what really happens when you're busy making plans...or something to that effect. That or something close to it explains my feeling of Patterson's Alex Cross and oddly describe my feelings about "Cross" the novel. I have to admit that I had stopped reading the Alex Cross series a while ago because I had grown tired of the same cookie cutter stories. Alex gets a big case...the killer challenges the illustrious Alex Cross to catch him if he can...driven, Alex comes up with a profile of what and who he thinks the killer is...eventually in classic Alex Cross style, he unveils the killer (maybe injured) with the help of his handy sidekick and friend, Sampson (the large yet loveable childhood friend)..all while worrying about his grandmother (Nana Mama) and his kids...and all while still grieving for his perfect, beloved and murdered wife, Maria. And I almost forgot, Alex is usually solving some pretty horrific crimes while discovering that his close friend is also a crazed serial killer who hates his guts (Craig). So, I left Alex, and started to read other series (Banks, Robb, etc) or other Patterson collaborations (which didn't always prove good), and wondered "where did the Patterson magic go? Believe it or not, I found some of what attracted me to the series has returned. I am not sure if it was my break from Patterson's Cross or if this particular novel answered some of those pesky questions that I had formulated over the years and was glad some of the issues were resolved. Like "Why Alex can't have a decent relationship with a woman" (he hasn't gotten over Maria) or why Alex finds himself attracted to women that aren't always good for him. Of course there were still things that kind of annoyed me, like Sampson calling Alex "Sugar" constantly distracted from the dialog. But I put that aside and just didn't think about it too hard, and enjoyed the story.
Now on to the book...."Cross" finds Alex on the trail of the man who he believes (for over 10 years) is responsible for his beloved wife Maria's death. "The Butcher", a psychotic, Mafia hired assassin/hitman (who is extremely fond of a scapel), not only murders for money but enjoys raping women too. A father and husband by day, Michael Sullivan (AKA The Butcher) does what he wants, when he wants and doesn't care what anyone thinks. Matching wits with his past nemesis Cross, Sullivan sets out to get revenge against those he believes have wronged him, while protecting his family in his own way, and maintaining/strengthening his image as a crazed killer. As Alex finally deals with his guilt for not being able to save Maria, and continuously places his life in jeopardy, Alex enjoys his retirement from the FBI and his move back to his practice as a psychologist. He finally gets some closure.
So while I do not think that this is Pattersons most prized novel, I do think that it was an improvement from some of his earlier works. I was glad to see the piano playing, self-sacrificing Alex and the familiar crew once again.
Book Review: If I paid money for this book - I would be upset
Summary: 3 Stars
This book was better than most of the more recent Alex Cross series but not up to the level of the first three. There was no suspense, no thrill. The most disappointing was the ending which seemed like the author had something else to do and just threw in a conclusion.
You have to keep your disbelieve very active for things such as why - did rape victims report the crime if they were going to refuse to describe the assailant - Kayla in serious condition was still in the emergency room when Alex arrived - the villain did not explain to his unknowing wife why his kids and car got shot up in the ballpark that day - Sampson waited more than 10 years to tell Alex about Maria's real killer - Alex Cross was not in trouble when he violated the therapist/patient confidentiality - the villain cut the faces of his victims - did the villain let victims live after showing them pictures of his previous murders - etc. etc.
Book Review: In the middle fo the Cross-hairs
Summary: 3 Stars
I have read most of the entire collection of books with Cross and found this one smack in the middle of his writing. While the story finally brought to an end the death of his wife, the rest of the storyline didn't fare up to the others. I did complete this on one flight , as usual, so it was decent enough to keep me reading. But it lacked the flavor and strength of the others.
The new characters were well defined and believable, but some of the actions by Cross and his family had me wondering why I believed them as characters before. It seems the kids are just too good to be true.
So put this one right in the middle of your reading aim. Not something to pass up and not something to read first. In the middle of the Cross-hairs.
Book Review: It Was OK
Summary: 5 Stars
This was an ok read by Mr. Patterson. I find that he dwells on things from the past too much and does not get on with the story. He seems to just want to fill up the pages with things that have nothing to do with the story line. Just write the story and leave the things out that don't pertain to it.Book Review: This book was engrossing. I read it in 2 days
Summary: 4 Stars
I thought the author did a great job of involving the reader in the mind of a killer. It was such a fast paced interesting book. D.C was an interesting backdrop and the protagonist seems like someone who you would want to know. I read in some reviews that it was "unrealistic" but there's this insistence lately that movies and books have to be part-documentary. I read this book to be be entertained not to wonder if it could be copacetic to a forensic and criminal expert. It is graphic and violent but I think a person attracted to this genre of reading knows to be prepared and it may even be why some people are reading it. I don't feel it's gratuitous. It's necessary to know what the character is up to.