I don't care much for James Patterson's books, and I wouldn't read him at all, but I was given quite a few of his novels, and I'm making my way through them. This was one of the more distasteful Alex Cross stories for me.

First, and foremost, Alex Cross is one of THE most boring and unrealistic detectives in fiction I've read, and I've read lots of detective fiction. He and his buddy John Sampson are supposed to be a hunky pair of he-men who women would swoon into swamp mud for. Except that Sampson often calls Cross either "sugar" or "sweet". I have no idea what that's about, and I don't want to know.

Second, I cannot stand Nanamama. She's a bigoted woman who gets away with far too many stupid observations about white people. Just because she can cook doesn't mean someone shouldn't wash her mouth out with the same water used to wash her dishes when she repeats yet another intolerant and idiotic opinion that white people don't care about dead black babies. I don't know to whom James Patterson is pandering with his racist granny... liberal white people or bigoted black people. Whomever... I don't want to read that garbage, and I find it appalling it's repeatedly on the best seller list.

Last, Alex Cross defines himself in this book as "Dragonslayer". Had I not recently seen the reality series Survivor: Tocantins, I would have only been mildly amused at Cross' ridiculously macho description of himself. But now that "Coach" and Dragonslayer and forever linked in my mind, Alex Cross is nothing more than an annoying, irritating joke. ( )

I am not sure about this book as I felt elements of the plot were blindingly obvious, but then I wanted an easy undemanding read, which it definitely was, but I am not sure that Patterson deserves his status as a top writer as I have read better. ( )

Another masterpiece in the Alex Cross series. Alex is drafted to the FBI to help solve the 'Jack and Jill' murder spree. Their final target is the president who must be protected at all costs. At the same time someone in Alex's neighbourhood is killing young children from the local school. Two plots for the price of one! This is an excellent novel with shocking twists in both of the crime scenarios. ( )

This was a really great read. Could not put it down. Page turner. Keep me guessing until the last page. Excellent! ( )

Journal entry 3 by SKingList from New York, New York USA on Saturday, January 22, 2005

Eeeeeh! Neesy knew how much I love Patterson, though I've only read a handful by him. This is near the top of Mt. TBR, but I will not scare myself silly by reading it just before bed like I did with Kiss the Girls!

Thanks, Neesy :)

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Journal entry 4 by SKingList from New York, New York USA on Wednesday, April 13, 2005

I adored this book!
I think it's the best of the Alex Cross series so far, and Neesy, you rock for getting me into Patterson.

Like others in the AC series, this had the balance of two cases, Jack and Jill which of course had more layers than you could ever imagine and the Truth school killer. This also filled in some of the blanks about who Christine was and how Alex met her.

Now to eventually track down the rest in the series. ( )