Mary, Mary

The first 2/3 of this book is mostly the Alex Cross work life balance crisis. It gets very irritating. The book is uneven and I really don't care about the Alex "Whoa is me, I have to work but don't want to leave my family because they give me crap about it" saga. There are long sections about his custody fight intermixed with quick visits to crime scenes. I think the writers realized they were about out of pages so they crammed the killer search into the last 1/3 of the book.

Patterson's Alex Cross novels are like the very tastiest junk food (and I love junk food). His characters are human and well formed and his plots, while not the most complicated, are meaty enough. Even his short chapter structure makes it easy reading. Mary Mary is quintessential. A serial killer starts in New York, moves to LA and sends emails describing each kill. The emails are from Mary Smith.

My favorite in this series so far. 5 stars. Mysterious, action packed and it didn't fall into all the clichés that was in every other Alex Cross book so far! What a relief to read a book in this series that broke away from the mold. I hope this series keeps evolving and not become predictable.

And, I have to say.... WHAT is up with Christine?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I can't wait to read more.

I liked this story. I liked the less action more research in this novel. I also like the "voice" of Mary Smith. The plot was deceptively simple yet complex. Yet it had me guessing until the end. It was also kind of sad. Talked to loneliness and over worked underappreciated single mother's who need help. As a single mother I can understand the feeling though not the result. I was sure there was more to it than met the eye and I was correct

Mary, Mary is the eleventh edition of the Alex Cross series where he is till a member of the FBI and the agency’s ‘go to man’. Once again Patterson makes you work hard to try and work out how the thriller will end, and it is rewarding. Then there is Cross’ love life in which he is so darn needy!

A murder in a New York movie theatre becomes a triple homicide that should be a doozy to solve for though it remained unsolved. The action switches from New York to Los Angeles and the Hollywood glitterati. A well-known face is murdered on her way home and then mutilated and an email is sent to the entertainment editor of the LA Times describing in great detail the murder. Cross handily is on vacation at Disneyworld in California and the show more whole family is having a great time and Cross is relaxed. Cross cannot help himself and has taken his pager with him. So much so that the Director of the FBI wants Cross to have a look at the Mary Smith Case that that the LAPD is in the process of investigating.

Cross while clocking up the airmiles is trying to hold his family together and he needs to avoid the LAPD-FBI struggle which he knows will happen. He also is well aware that the LAPD does not think his profile of Mary Smith to be correct. Unfortunately, there is only one way to find out if it is correct and that is be investigating Mary Smith and everyone around her. When Cross shakes that tree who knows what will fall out.

Another high-octane white-knuckle ride with plenty of twists. A great thriller. show less

I don't know where to begin!
I could not put this book down, and when I did I was continually fascinated by it and couldn't wait to pick it up again. I'm almost disappointed that I stayed up (way past my bedtime!) to finish it because that anticipating suspense of "What is going to happen next?!" is done and over with.

I *really* enjoyed this book! Every time I did stop reading, even just to flip the page or take a breather, I said a prayer of thanksgiving to God for my best friend who got me into reading! I am *so* glad I realize the joy of reading!

(And as an aside, Alex Cross reminds me so much of "Frank" from the TV show "Millennium", I wonder which character came first ... : ))

Adrianne

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, show more 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. show less