Book Review: Cross Fire by James Patterson

I just read Cross Fire by James Patterson. It is Alex Cross "lite." 

Alex Cross is a homicide detective in Washington D.C. His specialty is hunting down serial killers. He really did not accomplish that in this book. He went from murder to murder, never connecting the dots, and just happen to stumble upon the murderers. That was disappointing.

The wickedly brilliant criminal mastermind Kyle Craig returns in Cross Fire. He is the best part of this novel. His character was far more interesting than Alex Cross. However, the ending did not match the rest of the book. In fact, the ending was disappointing, abrupt, and very un-Kyle like.

I recommend the book if you are looking for a quick read without using much brain power - maybe while traveling on a plane or train. It is also easy to put down and finish reading later. There was no suspense that made me need to keep reading.

I hope the next three books in the series pick up the pace again and Alex actually solves the mystery. I'll let you know. 

Book Review: Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

 I finally got my hands on the latest Alex Cross installment (thanks, Julie) - Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson. This one was creepy!

Alex Cross has to investigate the murders of three serial killers. The first murderer is killing tall, pretty blondes, the second is killing young gay men, and the third is killing young pregnant women. As awful as that sounds, James Patterson does a good job of making these murders palatable.

While trying to solve these crimes, Alex lands on a website's hate list and the blogger is stalking him. At one point, the blogger sets Alex up for an assault arrest. Yes, Alex is arrested and must spend a night in jail. The police's top profiler/detective in jail! Alex is then assigned as noncontact status, and he can only answer the phones and filing. Thankfully, Alex manages to continue to work the cases from the desk and eventually is relieved from suspension and back to finding the killers.

Disappointment in a couple of incomplete side items. (1) One of the serial killers installs cameras and microphones in Alex's house. This issue is never addressed again in the book. Alex should have found that killer's laptop and the equipment, but it is never brought back up again. Throughout the book, the serial killer listens to Alex's family life and conversations, but it is not resolved at the end. Just a little something that should have been tweaked. (2) One the serial killers injects Alex with drugs. Alex is taken to the hospital when he collapses. No one believes Alex that the unsub stuck him with a needle, and no one bothers to check his hip for the puncture mark. Instead, they just believe their brilliant psychologist is actually a drug addict. What?! This made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

As usual, two thumbs' up for James Patterson. His books flow easily and are a quick read. I even went back and reread parts of the book, something I rarely do.

Book Review: The Midnight Club by James Patterson

The Midnight Club by James Patterson is a highly enjoyable book. Patterson himself wrote: "The Midnight Club is the novel I wrote just before Along Came a Spider. I'm certain that both Alex Cross and Sampson originated in ideas I had while writing this story. It's one of my favorites, and I believe it could make the best movie of all my novels." I totally agree.

This is by far the best James Patterson book I've read. And, I would put James Patterson in my top five, perhaps by top three, writers. So, the best of his best is pretty awesome.

The Midnight Club is an international organized crime cartel. The three main characters are NYPD Detective John Stefanovitch, best-selling author Sarah McGuinness, and the evil Alexandre St.-Germain a/k/a The Grave Dancer.

Besides killing one of my favorite characters, it's an excellent story with a Hollywood ending - just the way I like it. There are plenty of twists and turns and some unbelievable surprises. More than once I thought, "What?! No way!" Very, very good. Yes, the old cliche "it's a real page-turner," but it truly is. I didn't want to stop reading once I started. I don't do that very often.....Let's see, authors Jonathan Maberry and Andrew Peterson. Patterson is in good company.

Yes, I recommend this book. I recommend this book over the other James Patterson books (if you don't have time to read them all). Highly recommended!

Book Review: The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson

The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King - a Nonfiction Thriller by James Patterson is an interesting book. 

The book is woven into three stories - (1) Modern day as James Patterson researched and wrote his version of the life and death of King Tutankhamen and his only wife Queen Ankhesenpaaten. (2) The life of Howard Carter, the Egyptologist who discovered Tut's tomb in the early 1900's A.D. (3) And, of course, the lives of Tut and Anhke. But, Chapter 1 starts in 1492 B.C. with the death of Tuthmosis I, the first pharoah buried in the Valley of the Kings.

After King Tut's death, the pharoah was Ay (or Aye). After him was Horemheb, former General/Commander of the Army and advisor to Tutankhamun. Horemheb obliterated images of the Amarna queens and kings so much of the 18th dynasty history was lost. Tut's life was probably pieced together by the artifacts and paintings in his tomb.

Patterson wrote a very good story about these Egyptians. The life and death of Tut and Anhke are especially compelling. There is so much controversy about King Tut that scientists and scholars cannot agree to the identity of his mother, whether Queen Ankhesenpaaten was Tut's half-sister, and whether Tut died from murder, accidental or by natural causes. In fact, his age for his reign are questioned. Somebody believe it was 8 years old to 17 years old. Some say not until he was 9 or 10. Whatever...either way, he was quite young.

Patterson does a well enough job with his version of King Tut's story. It's enjoyable, but it's not true history. Patterson's conjecture is plausible enough for a "recommend."

Book Review: The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross) by James Patterson

Don't judge me....but, The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross) is the first James Patterson book I've read. I know, I know!! And, it was fabulous.

I once read a book - other than Dean Koontz - that scared the heebee jeebees out of me. I thought it was by James Patterson, so I've stayed away from his books. I finally tried The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross) only to discover that it wasn't James Peterson, but Jonathan Kellerman. (It was the scariest book about a surgeon turned serial killer. He kept women in cages..... *shudders* Anyway, at Nana's (a/k/a my Mom) insistence, I tried James Patterson and I'm hooked!!

My Kindle spending has been a bit out of control, so I've started borrowing ebooks from the local library. The only problem is that all the books I have on my Wish List are not available. I'll take what I can get. Not all of the Alex Cross mysteries were listed, so I decided to start with The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross), Book 9. In this installment, Alex Cross has left the Washington P.D.'s office and is starting at the FBI. I thought this transition was a good place to start.

It was an excellent book. Interesting, quick-paced, good plot. Unlike some authors, Patterson doesn't spend a lot of time describing a single nook and cranny in a room or building. Thank goodness. It's better reading because it flows easier. Once again, I'm always afraid to give too much detail because I don't want to spoil anything for the next reader.

The only "disappointment," and it was a real surprise,* is that the story does not end with The Big Bad Wolf. That wouldn't be a problem if London Bridges, Book 10 was available from the library. Unfortunately, I'm on the waiting list. Ugh. [*It's only a surprise because unlike a hard copy with the Kindle I can't always tell when the book is ending. The last page is not always at 100%.] Is this a Patterson's trait?? Not ending the story until the next book??

I give it two wow's - Wow. Wow. - so I obviously recommend reading it. I'm on my next Alex Cross book (Roses Are Red, Book 6), again because it was available from my local library. I'll get through them all eventually. But, I've also started reading James Patterson's series with NYPD officer Michael Bennett. Stay tuned.