Mary, Mary is the eleventh installment in James Patterson's riveting thriller series of FBI Agent Alex Cross.

Alex Cross has finally got away to a family vacation and having fun for once at DisneyWorld, a rare treat for Agent Cross due to his busy life. Yet, the fun is short lived as a new murderer emerges, called Mary Smith. In the opening chapter, the reader learns of the Storyteller's first 'practice' murders, to this point it is unclear whether or not the Storyteller or Mary Smith are in fact the same murderers.
The murders continue totaling up to a reckless seven or so murders within the first fifteen chapters. Although I have only ever read one other James Patterson books (which was Lifeguard) I believe Patterson is a little reckless with how many murders occur in his books. I remember totaling about fourteen murders in Lifeguard, and that's just a rough total.

Regardless of this I still enjoy Patterson's books, their easy to read, quick to read, the storyline is never too complicated (however absurd) and his characters are well put together...most of the time. Alex Cross, the protagonist in the fifteen volumes of the series is very a mysterious, yet still interesting, character.Little tiny snippets are revealed about Cross' life throughout Mary, Mary and one ridiculous asset of the character, he seems to be undeniabley desirable. I recount about three, if not four partners throughout this book. In the beginning of the novel, Cross is involved with a woman called Jamilla, and Patterson manages to slip in a sex scene (if their called sex scenes in books I don't know but...) yet again.

I feel quite annoyed with how many sex scenes Patterson puts in his books, yeah only one a book, but one a book in EVERY book. Lifeguard had one in the first chapter, Mary, Mary had one in the third chapter I think. In the back of Lifeguard I read an excerpt of Honeymoon and guess what was in the first chapter...

However, I do enjoy James Patterson's books, the Alex Cross series more than any of his others, as his writing style and technique seems to have improved in the Alex Cross series since Lifeguard. I also have the following volume of Mary, Mary which is Cross. I plan to read that soon and somehow find some other of the Alex Cross series, hopefully read them all :D ( )

Although I didn't find MARY, MARY as riveting as the first Alex Cross novels KISS THE GIRLS or ALONG CAME A SPIDER, I was still glad to see Mr. Cross back in action--in his private and professional life.

While on a long-awaited, and definitely well-earned, vacation at Disneyland in California with his family--Nana Mama, daughter Jannie, teenaged son Damon, and three-year-old Alex Jr.--Alex wants nothing more than spend some quality time with those he loves. Yes, the fact that James Truscott, an investigative journalist who has been hounding Alex for months, shows up on their vacation is an annoyance, but nothing that can't be handled. He even gets to meet his current love interest, Jamilla Hughes, an officer with the San Francisco PD, for a little one-on-one R & R. But then his vacation is brought short, yet again, by a phone call from his boss, summoning him to a crime scene at the home of a famous actress right there in L.A.

Detective Cross is inevitably drawn deeper and deeper into a case that he was only supposed to have to give his initial impressions on. Someone is killing famous and wealthy mothers in the entertainment business--someone who claims to call herself Mary Smith, and who sends an email after each death detailing the crime to L.A. Times entertainment writer Arnold Griner.

As Alex gives chase to "Mary Smith", interviewing the victim's families and trying to find any clue as to the killer's identity, his personal life takes a downward spiral--his ex, Christine, little Alex's mother, is suing for full-custody, and Jamilla informs him that she's found someone new. As Alex tries to put his family first once again, he realizes that the job always seems to get in the way--and this case is no different.

In typical fast-paced James Patterson style, MARY, MARY is an engrossing thriller that will have you turning pages quickly to find out what happens next. ( )

I’m on a roll with the Alex Cross series. With Alex having finished his latest serial case, he’s finally on a decent vacation with his family. But you can always anticipate what is coming up next, when Alex gets called to check out a homicide in Los Angeles.

But one murder mystery turns into more as the rich and famous start to die under tragic circumstances. It becomes the case that tests Alex’s family the most, causing rifts between all the loves of his life.

Alex is forced to make choices that compromise not only the case but his personal life, which could leave him unemployed and without family.

This may have been one of my favorites so far. Lots of mystery and intrigue, different from some of the others, but a great combination of the storylines.

Mary Mary is the 11th book in the Alex Cross series. Once again he gets dragged into chasing down a serial killer. He is first asked to look into the case and give advice while he was vacationing at Disneyland with all 3 of his kids and Nana Mama. Someone is murdering high profile people in and around LA, all related to the movie business. I would classify this as an average book for the Cross series. A legal battle is thrown in near the beginning and a lot is made of it and then it disappears and becomes a non-issue once the rest of the story takes hold. An irritating reporter is also thrown in just to keep the waters a little murky. I was fooled until the end about who dun'it other than I knew one person who didn't do it. If you've read Agatha Christie this next line will be a spoiler, the murderer pulled an ABC Murder. You don't see this one very often and it was a pleasant surprise.

Overall it was a decent book and if you like the Cross books you won't be disappointed, but like most of them there are plenty of plot holes and what not, so don't think about it too hard.

I also think the readers did an excellent job. ( )

I needed something formulaic that wouldn't tax my brain too much and friend passed this book to me and this was perfect. I think Alex Cross is an inspired creation, but its a shame that Patterson doesn't do more with him. ( )