Book Description
The breathtaking suspense of Kiss the Girls and the authenticity of N.Y.P.D. Blue: Welcome to James Patterson's classic superthriller, BLACK FRIDAY. A courageous federal agent, a powerful and resourceful woman lawyer - only they can possibly stop the unspeakable from happening. New York City is under siege by a secret militia group - and that's just the beginning of the relentless terror of BLACK FRIDAY.Originally published in 1987 as Black Market, also by James Patterson. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

It doesn't get any worse
The only reason I finished reading this book was to see if it continued to get worse and worse: it did. This is the most badly written book with the most improbable story I've ever read. The plot is unbelievable, rather like an old Saturday morning Buck Rogers serial. The hero is nearly killed half a dozen times, but if you think that slows him down one iota, you're disillusioned. If this had been the first James Patterson book I had read, it would have been the last. In fact, it still may be. Do yourself a favor. Find another book.

One of Patterson's Worst
I am a huge James Patterson fan. He writes great, snappy books; vivid yarns, fun characters and great dialog . But if "Black Friday" had been the first book of his I'd read, I'd have never picked up an other one.

We should all be very happy that Patterson has learned from his early efforts. Indeed, were I he, I'd pay my publisher to recall and burn every copy. It's that awful.

If you have any grasp of reality and want to remain a Patterson fan, DO NOT READ IT! (I have given it one star because no star is not an option.)

The worst book I've ever tried to get though
I have read 24 Patterson Books including all the Cross and Boxer series. I usually get through a book in a week. Well I've progress for 2 + weeks and have just reach page 300. Where is this book going? I am struggling to keep my attention on what I am reading. It is totally boring. Thank God that this book was not the first Patterson book I read as I would not have read the others that were terrific. I cannot believe this pathetic trash was ever published!

Not as thrilling as other Patterson novels
Maybe I just prefer the Alex Cross novels but I found this book a little hard to get into at first. Definitely not as good as previous reads by Patterson.

Solid Patterson book
I'm probably overrating this book a bit, since I read it after the dreadful London Bridges, and was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. My expectations were low since this book was written in the mid 80s, and I was expecting it to be very dated. Also, I wasn't sure what to expect from a pre-Along Came a Spider Patterson book.

The story revolves around a mass terrorist plot concocted by bitter Vietnam War veterans who want vengeance against the U.S. government and society in general. The way to hit them where it really hurts is by attempting to strike a severe blow towards the U.S. Stock Market, and thus, causing a crash that would severely hurt the U.S. economy. An interesting Pre 9/11 terrorist plot that I very much enjoyed reading. ... Read more

Book Description
As a little girl, Jane has no one.Her mother Vivienne Margaux, the powerful head of a major New York theater company has no time for her.But she does have one friend--Michael--and no one can see him but her. But Michael can't stay with Jane forever, and on her eighth birthday, her imaginary friend must leave her.When Jane is in her thirties, working for her mother's company, she isjust as alone as she was as a child.Her boyfriend hardly knows she's there and is more interested in what Vivienne can do for his career.Her mother practically treats her as a slave in the office, despite the great success of Jane's first play, "Thank Heaven." Then she finds Michael--handsome, and just the same as she remembers him, only now he's not imaginary.For once in her life, Jane is happy--and has someone who loves her back. But not even Michael knows the reason behind why they've really been reunited. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (102)

Finish it...if you can
I read a lot of mystery books and Patterson is one of my favs. But this book just didn't hold my interest.Wouldn't recommend.

Patterson can do better
This book reads like a mediocre Lifetime movie.

Maggie Bradford is a rather cliched character that lives a very surrealistic existence. Quite honestly, she is a fairly unsympathetic protagonist.

Will Shepherd is a fascinating character that keeps this novel from being a complete waste of time. He's a womanizing, crude, violent, worldwide superstar.

While on the World's stage as one of the most well known athletes, he manages to lead a rather turbulent existence that leaves him alienated from the rest of the world. Through bad relationships and a brother he has to blackmail to keep quiet about his dark side, Will is a lost and depressed human being that is incapable of finding peace from within.

He looks to Maggie Bradford to save him from his despair, but he finds that she is not the anecdote for what poisons him. It is at this point that Maggie finds history repeating itself for her and her troubled relationships.

James, James, James, I Didn't Know You Were a Lifetime Fan!
Okay, some of the other reviewers are a bit harsh, but this book wasn't THAT bad.Then again, it wasn't that great either.It's not very original or unpredictable, but it gets three stars because yours truly wasn't bored.You can't really give a book a bad review if it wasn't boring or truly horrible.That said, I'll sum it up for those of you who haven't read it:

Maggie Bradford is, more or less, an overly dramatic version of Carly Simon--you know--the kind of singer/songwriter they'd put in a Lifetime storyline, and Will Shepherd is an English soccer playing psycho version of one of her former flames...let's pick Warren Beatty.Will's a demonic, lecherous, bad tempered creep with homocidal tendencies who thinks Maggie and her music can save him.In other words, he's so vain he probably thinks her songs are about him.Okay, joke aside, I'm surprised this wasn't turned into a Lifetime movie at some point.Pass, and give me the Women's Murder Club instead.

Awesome
I am home recovering from surgery and I have purchased 30 of James Patterson's books after reading Mary Mary on the airplane.I have the DVD's of Kiss The Girls and Along Came a Spider and I had not read any of his books.I am hooked.His short expense filled chapters are wonderful.I encourage everyone to read this author's works, they will not regret it.This book was awesome, I have not been disappointed yet.All 30 are great.I am waiting for Judge and Jury and then I have them all.The Angel series, the Alex Cross and the Women's Club series are just awesome.Get them and read them, you wont be disappointed.

A Real Thriller
This has to be one of the most exciting thrillers I have ever read. Just when you think you have it all figured out, James Patterson comes out of left field with another twist.
I was mentally exhausted by the end of the book!
... Read more

Book Description
After losing one of its own, Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club make a courageous return for their fourth and most chilling case ever-one that could easily be their last. A young girl is killed in crossfire after a routine arrest goes terribly wrong, and Lt. Lindsay Boxer has to defend herself against a charge of police brutality. In a landmark trial that transfixes the nation, Lindsay fights to save her career and her sanity. While awaiting trial, Lindsay escapes to the beautiful town of Half Moon Bay, but the peaceful community there is reeling from a string of unspeakable murders.Working with her friends in the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay finds a link between these killings and a case she worked on years before- an unsolved murder that has haunted her ever since. As summer comes into full swing, Lindsay battles for ... Read more

Customer Reviews (183)

4th of July
Just what I would have expected from James Patterson!This was a great, fun read and I will probably re-read it again!!If you are a fan of Patterson's, then this book is for you and especially if you are a fan of the earlier Women's Murder Club books.Enjoy!

And three becomes four...
After reading 3RD DEGREE, I was saddened by the unexpected and ghastly departure of one of the Women's Murder Club's beloved members. I hoped for someone as sassy and remarkable to take the empty spot that Jill has left behind.Let me say that Patterson and Paetro did just that in the form of the pint-sized shoot-from-the-hip lawyer that Lindsay would have to turn to when she takes a starring role in the courtroom...

Just when Lt Lindsay Boxer was winding down after a typical hectic day, finally getting loose in Margarita-ville, she receives a call from her old partner, a call that would find her battling it out in the court to save her badge and reputation as an excellent cop.What does a cop do when the very people whose life she just saved threaten her life and that of her friend's?This was a question that afforded Lindsay not even a second to make a decision on.Simply put, she has no choice but to retaliate in self-defence, an act that leaves a young girl dead and her brother bound on a wheelchair for life.As the city of San Francisco learns of that horrific night, its people are divided and Lindsay's career hangs in the balance.Like an insect in a lab, her life is dissected leaving Lindsay exhausted and worried for her future.

Hoping to escape the madness that has suddenly descended on her, she retreats to Half Moon Bay only to discover that this quiet little town is not as peaceful as it seems.Though out of her jurisdiction, Lindsay becomes embroiled in the gruesome murders that have plagued the once peaceful town.With no distinct pattern except the similarities with her first - and still unsolved - homicide case, Lindsay finds herself involved much deeper than she should be as the perpetrators turn their attention on her.Could the present be the key to unraveling the past?Will she lose years and years of hard work for defending herself and her partner from two rich punks who thought nothing of shooting innocent people for their sick amusement?

Just like the first three books, 4TH OF JULY is action-packed and full of surprises.Readers will hang on to see how the courtroom drama ends and how the grisly murders that rocked the idyllic Half Moon Bay will turn out.Patterson and Paetro narrated the courtroom scene brilliantly, providing enough suspense to make you wonder how Lindsay's attorneys will handle the prosecutors' damning allegations.And with the perpetrators aptly named The Watcher, The Seeker and The Truth, Lindsay is in for a big fight to save her life as she finds herself seemingly cornered by the trio.

Overall, 4TH OF JULY is a well-written and engaging book that will have the readers leafing through the pages and, for those who have read the previous books, would have you welcoming the newest member of the Women's Murder Club.

Now this is more like it
After reading the mediocre 2nd and 3rd installments in the Women Murder Club series, I almost gave up.But I'm glad I didn't; 4th of July was able to recapture most of the excitement and thrill of 1st to Die.Fairly early on into the story, Lindsay and Jacobi are following a lead on the new string of murders.The victims are killed in a suicide-appearing manner and the words 'nobody cares' are painted at the scene.The two are following the suspect's vehicle, which escalates to a high-speed chase.The vehicle crashes and they go to apprehend the suspects.But things don't happen as they should and shots are fired.Lindsay becomes the target of a wrongful death lawsuit.This drama was a good chunk of the story- which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.It was riveting and interesting to 'witness' the whole process - the waiting, trial, more waiting, and the long-awaited verdict.

The mystery surrounds the series of murders near Lindsay's sister's house, where she conveniently goes to avoid the press.Multiple seemingly-happy married couples are turning up dead.The 'mystery' aspect is the downfall of 4th of July.I suspected early on who was involved and my conclusions weren't that far off.Though, still a much better, interesting, riveting, and involved story than the prior two installments; this story mainly focuses on drama- i.e. Lindsay's court battle and a predictable mystery.Hopefully Patterson continues taking the series in this direction instead of backtracking into the mediocre stories of 2nd Chance and 3rd Degree.I was also happy to find that the profanity had greatly decreased.The greater focus was on the story which was much stronger, especially in human interest, and less so in the mystery.Still a great, rapid paced read.5th Horseman better continue in this same vein and keep up with the excitement.This series had such a strong premise and starting point.It needs to keep going on this strong note and not fall off, otherwise I don't know if I'd bother continuing with it.

Better than 3rd Degree
This was a good book.I had lost hope in the series after 3rd degree, i thought it was lame.But knowing how well all his other books are, I decided to read 4th of July and glad I did.I give it a 4, because I also read the quickie this week and that was a 5!

Is this really a book written by James Patterson?
I used to love James Patterson's books. Bought them all in hardcover and was eagerly looking forward to the next one.

But that was a while ago.

When I first felt he was slipping, I thought it might only be temporarily. He would certainly soon be back in good old JP form, right? Not so. After a few attempts I realized that the James Patterson I used to enjoy so much, seemed to have disappointed for good. My attempt with this book was so bad that I did not even finish it properly. Boring, unimaginatively B-movie story making me think of mass production. Mediocre writing style at best, and the end was obvious anyway.

I have lots of James Patterson books in hardback proudly on display in my antique bookcase where my favourite authors' hardback editions have pride of place. It's a long time since a work by James Patterson found its way there though.

By the way, the co-author he has taken on does not make the quality any better. Or is this the real author??

If James Patterson does not get back to being the brilliant writer of quite long ago, it's goodbye with many regrets. It was fun as long as it lasted. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Roses Are Red, James Patterson's sixth Alex Cross thriller, openswith the District of Columbia detective attempting to mend his nearly unraveledfamily. The year-long kidnapping of one's intended (1999's Pop Goes the Weasel) will dothat to a relationship. Christine, the kidnappee, is amenable with onereasonable condition: that her family's horizon remain uncluttered by homicidalmaniacs. How unfortunate, then, that the joyous christening of their newborn sonis rudely interrupted by the FBI bearing news of several heinous murdersrequiring the attention of detective (and doctor of psychology) Cross.

"Three-year-old boy, the father, a nanny," Kyle said one more timebefore he left the party. He was about to go through the door in the sun porchwhen he turned to me and said, "You're the right person for this. They murdereda family, Alex."

As soon as Kyle was gone, I went looking for Christine. My heart sank. She hadtaken Alex and left without saying good-bye, without a single word.

"Patterson keeps the pages turning all the way up to the jaw-dropping conclusion...this one is not to be missed." (Booklist)Download Description
A brilliant criminal known only as the Mastermind orchestrates a series of bank robberies that are notable for their very precise demands--and their explosive violence when the demands are not met exactly. Detective Alex Cross takes on the case and recognizes that a particular kind of criminal mind is at work. But before he gets near identifying a suspect, the Mastermind pulls off the most outrageous kidnapping scheme in US history--and walks away with the largest ransom ever paid.But the money is not enough. Alex Cross's investigation has gotten under the Mastermind's skin, and he makes it his personal goal to take revenge on Cross's entire team, one person at a time--before coming after Cross himself.Amidst all this, Cross's relationship with his girlfriend Christine is falling apart because of her fears about his work, and his beloved daughter Jannie is hospitalized with unexplained seizures. The pressure rises on every front until an explosive, shocking climax in which the Mastermind escalates his crimes to an unprecedented level, and Alex Cross risks everything to stop him in time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Quick start, great race, poor finish.
DC Homicide Investigator Alex Cross joins forces with FBI to battle wits against homicidal Mastermind.Non-stop action kept me on edge throughout the book.There was one too many twists at the end which did not fit the rest of the book which left the ending somewhat disappointing.It was like watching an exciting competition for a couple of hours only to end in a tie.

Okay- if you say so
This book cruises along like all of Patterson's stuff. Alex Cross finds himself confronted with a murder/robbery spree that just doesn't add up. Eventually, he discovers that a new criminal (imagine that) called the Mastermind is behind this particularily gruesome rash of murders.

So far, so good. I mean this is what you expect from an Alex Cross novel. But how many masterminds are there in this book? Two, three or more?

I just did not see where the ending came from. Having read Violets are Blue first (which is the wrong order) I knew who the real bad guy was, but I don't see the foundation for this conclusion through out Rose Are Red. It almost seems like Patterson changed his mind somewhere along the way and forgot to put the clues in.

If you like Alex Cross, then you know what to expect. I guess that's why I keep coming back for more.

Roses Are Red = Pure Entertainment
Roses Are Red is a "4 1/2" star book based on its sheer ability to keep you engrossed from the first few pages right up until the final words. Keep in mind that if you're looking for good literature and/or a strong narrative, and/or well-developed characters, this book --as well as all of James Patterson's other books -- will probably not be to your liking. However, if you're seeking a book whose story is packed with suspense, thrills and surprises, and whose writng style will keep you turning the pages at a rapid pace, then grab yourself a copy of Roses Are Red. I think you'll find that for as long as you're reading this book you'll be able to escape into the world of Alex Cross and forget about everything except what is going to happen next. While I've been disappointed in several of James Patterson's recent books, Roses Are Red has helped me to forget about the past. Enjoy!

This one threw me for a loop.
I won't bother writing a complete review.I have just a couple of observations to make.There are not to many endings that totally surprise me; however, this was one of the all time best endings yet.My first thought upon finishing this book was, did Mr Patterson have this ending in mind, for a future book, from the very beginning of this series and will the series end with the discovery of who the Mastermind really is?I sure hope not because I love his Alex Cross books, but I can't help but feel that he was leading up to this ending from the very beginning.

I have to hand it to Mr Patterson, this was one of the most cleverest and diabolical endings of any book I have ever read.I have the sequal, but I am going to hold off on reading it for awhile. ... Read more

Amazon.com
That monstrous villain Gary Soneji is back in Cat & Mouse, the fourthbook in James Patterson's series about Alex Cross, a police forensic psychologist, buthe's not alone. In seeming support of the premise that you can never have too much of abad thing, Patterson has thrown a second serial killer into the mix: Mr. Smith, amysterious killer terrorizing Europe while Soneji practices his own brand of evil alongthe Eastern Seaboard. With two killers to track, Cross has his hands full--andPatterson has another hit.Book Description
That monstrous villain Gary Soneji is back in Cat Mouse, the fourthbook in James Patterson's series about Alex Cross, a police forensic psychologist, buthe's not alone. In seeming support of the premise that you can never have too much of abad thing, Patterson has thrown a second serial killer into the mix: Mr. Smith, amysterious killer terrorizing Europe while Soneji practices his own brand of evil alongthe Eastern Seaboard. With two killers to track, Cross has his hands full--andPatterson has another hit.Download Description
Alex Cross is back-and so is a raging and suicidal Gary Soneji.Out of prison and dying from the AIDS virus he contracted there, he will get revenge on Cross before he dies.In addition, we are introduced to a new pair of rivals whose paths cross that of Alex and Soneji.Thomas Augustine Pierce has been chasing his demon, Mr. Smith, since the savage murder of his fiancee.Mr. Smith is a unique monster, with actions toward his victims so insane-so unimaginable-that he is thought of as "not of the earth."Pierce, known in the business as St. Augustine because of his track record for catching killers and his invaluable status to the FBI and Interpol, may even be better than Cross.When things heat up and Alex is in a near-death coma following an attack in his own home, Pierce goes to Washington to help with the investigation.But just as he begins to piece together the mystery of how Gary Soneji could have mortally wounded Cross after he was believed to be dead, he is summoned to Paris with a postcard from Mr. Smith inviting him to a very special killing.The body count is high, the tension the highest, and the two killers on the loose are watching every move their pursuers make.Who is the cat, and who is the mouse?What and where is the final trap?And who survives? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (320)

Dull...Lacks Depth and Creativity.
James Patterson novels can be compared to stupid movies. They're entertaining, but lack any depth and are there to provide you with a few hours of entertainment. Patterson novels are written hastily and hastily assembled. They contain usually over 100 chapters and can be read in a couple of hours. I've always liked his novels though. "Kiss the Girls" and "Cross" and "Mary Mary" and all the others have been entertaining enough. The problem with "Cat & Mouse" (which followed "Jack & Jill") is that it's just kind of dull. I've never read a book by Patterson that was dull, but this one was quite dull. Gary Soneji is a great villain, but here he didn't hold up, and it seems to me that Patterson didn't have a coherent storyline worked out in his mind when he began writing the novel.
The story is basically about Gary Soneji seeking revenge on Alex Cross for imprisoning him. Soneji goes on a rampage preceeding his final attack on Cross and Cross' entire family. Meanwhile, a serial killer called Mr. Smith is murdering people in both America and Europe; both villains lack any depth (go figure) and I agree with the people on here who have pointed out that Alex Cross continually looks like a one-dimensional character. His relationship with Christine in this novel lacks realism and, the oddest thing about this novel, is that it simultaneously feels rushed and overly long. Like Patterson just wanted to finish it, but didn't know how so he prolonged it for as long as he could. The novel is not terrible, but pick up a different Patterson novel because this one is simply not worth your time (and the synopsis on the back of the novel is completely inaccurate by the way).

GRADE: C

Just a very short question??
I realize that I just did a skim reading of this book..but somehow
missed something..Did it explain HOW Gary removed himself from a Maximum
security prison?? I may have missed it. Overall, this book was BAD!

Why cant you give a "zero star" rating? *May contain spoilers*
This book has driven me to leaving my first review ever. Ok...I have not read any other Patterson book, so maybe I just don't get it or whatever. But, this book still makes me want to use it as toiletpaper. For one thing, it seems as though the timeline is being accelerated with some kind of time machine that was mistakenly left out of the plot. Series of events transpire seemingly instantly that one would think would take up a few days' worth of time in the storyline. I am no self-proclaimed master of literary mechanisms, but it seems in my amateur opinion that there a lot of inconsistencies and continuity problems. Also, there seems to be some kind of homoerotic thing between Cross and his partner that I just can't understand. And another thing, when Alex Cross gets shot, he is miraculously able to continue the manhunt in no time at all (for those who have read it, I realize his injuries were down-played to pull a fast one on the perp...but I don't care if you are Alex Cross, you wont be up and at it as fast as he was after getting two slugs shot in you). And another thing, after Cross is shot and he and his partner are staking out a man who can anatomically deconstruct a person in seconds and then disappear like an Austin Powers villain, they have one of their frequently recurring homoerotic conversations followed by them breaking into an in-car dance celebration that I can only envision as something coming straight out of a Naked Gun movie. And another thing, as previously mentioned by other reviewers, there is NO police work being done it seems. They just get messages from the killer and scurry over to where he supposedly is and stand there waiting for a dead jigsaw puzzle of a corpse to show up so they can blame it on an alien and discuss ways to let the killer get away again. I don't know what else to say. I do not like this book. I haven't even finished it yet, but I had to write my review before I went crazy. At the moment the plot is in a downward spiral of repeticious events that is going to drive me to madness. I only have 40 pages left so this big ending better be a doosey.

Disappointing read
This was the 1st book that I read out of the "Alex Cross" based novels. Perhaps one needs to read the others before this one, however I doubt that it would change the outcome of this review. The plot dragged on like an old record. It was a struggle to finish. There is an interesting twist of events, however the sluggish journey to that twist is too long. The twist that could have been really great was almost matter of fact. Literally one minute the reader is bored stiff, then out of nowhere it's solved and over, seemingly with in pages of the end of the book. Very dissapointing read.

Cat and mouse
great book, loved it, loved it. more of James Patterson i'm his fan for sure. Rebieanna ... Read more

Book Description
Alex Cross was a rising star in the Washington, DC, Police Department when an unknown shooter gunned down his wife, Maria, in front of him. The killer was never found, and the case turned cold, filed among the unsolved drive-bys in D.C.'s rough neighborhoods. Years later, still haunted by his wife's death, Cross is making a bold move in his life. Now a free agent from the police and the FBI, he's set up practice as a psychologist once again. His life with Nana Mama, Damon, Jannie, and little Alex is finally getting in order. He even has a chance at a new love. Then Cross's former partner, John Sampson, calls in a favor. He is tracking a serial rapist in Georgetown, one whose brutal modus operandi recalls a case Sampson and Cross worked together years earlier. When the case reveals a connection to Maria's death, Cross latches on for the most urgent and terrifying ride of his life. From the man USA Today has called the "master of the genre," Cross is the high-velocity thriller James Patterson and Alex Cross's fans have waited years to read--and the pinnacle of the bestselling detective series of the past two decades. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (226)

An almost... but not quite good story
The book has its thrilling parts... but not always.
The plot could be predictable... if you pay attention to it.
The grieve of Maria is fine... but harping.
The love of his kids is beautiful... and just that.
The very end of the book is... fairly good.

Loved it
James Patterson never ceases to entertain. I am kind of getting sick of all the girlfriends but the plot and characters are thoroughly entertaining. As usual, a great read.

ok read
Not a book I enjoyed because I don't care for murder and graphic descriptions of such.Too gorey for me but I read it for our book club so I was committed to finishing it.Surprises abound throughout!

Cross vs. The Butcher
Alex Cross is retired from both the Washington D.C. police department and the F.B.I., yet he's still on the trail of yet another vicious serial rapist-murderer.The difference is that this time, he may be after the man who murdered his wife years ago.In James Patterson's twelfth Cross thriller Alex is trying to settle into a stable domestic life for his family.But like Michael Corleone, he keeps being pulled back in.Michael Sullivan, the mob hitman known as The Butcher because of his fondness for blades, is just another psycho in the mold of Gary Soneji, Kyle Craig and The Big Bad Wolf; nothing new.Still, like all of James Patterson's books, it is a fast paced thriller that can be read in a day.The minuses are that along with the extreme level of sexual violence and deplorable misogamy, it is another case of been there, done that.Patterson has an interesting pattern.When his books are good, they're real good.When they're bad, they're real bad.I don't understand.

oh how i love mazon.......
i have never has any problems with my book orders. they have always been quick at shipping and always are in touch with me the whole time.
thanks amazon ... Read more

Customer Reviews (226)

An almost... but not quite good story
The book has its thrilling parts... but not always.
The plot could be predictable... if you pay attention to it.
The grieve of Maria is fine... but harping.
The love of his kids is beautiful... and just that.
The very end of the book is... fairly good.

Loved it
James Patterson never ceases to entertain. I am kind of getting sick of all the girlfriends but the plot and characters are thoroughly entertaining. As usual, a great read.

ok read
Not a book I enjoyed because I don't care for murder and graphic descriptions of such.Too gorey for me but I read it for our book club so I was committed to finishing it.Surprises abound throughout!

Cross vs. The Butcher
Alex Cross is retired from both the Washington D.C. police department and the F.B.I., yet he's still on the trail of yet another vicious serial rapist-murderer.The difference is that this time, he may be after the man who murdered his wife years ago.In James Patterson's twelfth Cross thriller Alex is trying to settle into a stable domestic life for his family.But like Michael Corleone, he keeps being pulled back in.Michael Sullivan, the mob hitman known as The Butcher because of his fondness for blades, is just another psycho in the mold of Gary Soneji, Kyle Craig and The Big Bad Wolf; nothing new.Still, like all of James Patterson's books, it is a fast paced thriller that can be read in a day.The minuses are that along with the extreme level of sexual violence and deplorable misogamy, it is another case of been there, done that.Patterson has an interesting pattern.When his books are good, they're real good.When they're bad, they're real bad.I don't understand.

oh how i love mazon.......
i have never has any problems with my book orders. they have always been quick at shipping and always are in touch with me the whole time.
thanks amazon ... Read more

Book Description
In Los Angeles, a reporter investigating a series of murders is killed. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a beautiful medical intern suddenly disappears. Washington D.C.s Alex Cross is back to solve the most baffling and terrifying murder case ever. Two clever pattern killers are collaborating, cooperating, competingand they are working coast to coast.Download Description
"We begin with Alex Cross, the detective introduced in ALONG CAME A SPIDER. He's back, and this time it's personal. Alex's favorite niece, Naomi, a beautiful young woman, disappears from school at Duke University. The trail of evidence points to Wylie, a serial killer who takes sexual perversion to new heights.Wylie works in the Chapel Hill and Durham area of the South; his partner in depravity, Rudolph, finds his women in and around southern California. They are both serial freaks who have learned that there's strength in numbers. KISS THE GIRLS is about a secret sexual obsession of many men, and the nightmare of every woman in America. It is about a killer who takes women off the streets, who possesses them, subjugates them, keeps them captive, and murders many of them for ""disobedience.""Alex Cross encounters in the new South the most horrifying serial criminal in history. Eventually, it is believed that hundreds of women disappeared over a ten-year period. KISS THE GIRLS -- it's a roller-coaster, so hang on!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (343)

Over the top
As is the case in nearly all James Patterson's novels, the villains are over the top here--geniuses, handsome devils, phi beta kappas--and the crimes they commit over years are well beyond belief.There are no crimes in real life to compare with those in this book or in other Alex Cross novels.Not even Jeffrey Dahmer or Jack the Ripper could compete with Casanova and his sidekick, The Gentleman Caller.

And Alex Cross, the psychologist police detective, is perhaps just a little too good in places and a bit naive, even blind, in others.Coupled with his character flaws are more serious plot flaws.Casanova has captured a good many women and is holding them in a cellar at a remote rural area.He parks his car some distance away and visits regularly to have his way with them.But when Cross goes looking there, he finds no path, and there surely must have been one with all the foot traffic in and out.Another flaw:Casanova gets some nasty karate kicks when he captures one victim, bone crushing kicks to the face, as they are characterized.Would there not have been clear signs of his injuries next day when he resumes his public persona?Didn't anyone notice that his nose was purple and bent sideways?It seems to me that the laws of physics apply in fiction, the same as in real life.There are other flaws as well, but two will suffice here.Certainly there are many readers who like crime fiction that goes far beyond reality, but for me it just gets funny, rather than scary, when the laws of nature are abrogated.

I have to add one observation with respect to this book and other Alex Cross novels:it is very dangerous for any woman to become closely involved with our hero.Such women get shot, raped, cut, traumatized for life, kidnapped, tortured, electrocuted, etc.Cross's love affairs are not to be envied, despite the fact that he keeps meeting gorgeous and willing females.Perhaps he should consider celibacy for the sake of society.

great book!
Maybe the best of the alex cross books! Women may not want to read this one, most that I know are too afraid to read this one. It is very good, far better than the movie. I saw the movie first and still loved the book. If you want to get into James Patterson books, start here (although along came a spider comes before this book)

An outstanding Read
Kiss the Girls is a roller coaster ride of twists and turns.Considered by most to be the best Alex Cross novel, Kiss the Girls is definetly worthy of that title.

Alex Cross is sent to North Carolina to investigate the kidnapping of his niece, Naomi Cross.Severel women have been kidnapped by the psychopath Casanova.One of them, soon-to-be docter Kate McTiernien, escapes from Casanova's hideout.Kate and Alex track Casanova down, and the revealation on who Casanova will shook you.

Mystery
Alex Cross the Great read.You should read the books in order of when they were written.They are always fun and fast moving reads with Alex Cross the supper cop or what ever he is or detective psychoanalyst.If you like a good mystery don't miss the Alex Cross books.This is an early book

A good read.Ignore the critics' nit-picks.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is true that there are some very graphic descriptions of violent acts involving female victims. Graphic descriptions of violent acts are not rare in books of this genre, and I don't see the complaints if the victims are men. So, if you have a serious problem with violence against women this book is probably not for you.

The real hero (heroine) of the book is, in my opinion, Kate McTiernan. She is a tough, smart, determined woman who insists on pursuing, along with detective Alex Cross, the killer who had tormented and almost killed her. Of course it is unrealistic (as some reviewers complain) to suggest that a slim young woman, even one who is highly trained as a fighter, can get the better of a big young man who is also a well-trained fighter. But, it is possible and I have learned that, no matter how unlikely, most things that are possible do happen sometimes.

Other reviewers describe the story line, perhaps in more detail than is desirable, so I will not, other than to say it is a complex mystery story of kidnapping and murder.

Here, I would like to comment on some of the sarcastically phrased criticisms I have read on these pages. As I read them, I had to wonder if the critics were very young or just don't observe the real world very closely. For example, one critic stated that the ductwork in a house (a fifteen-room house in this case) would not accommodate a tall, slim man. No one, the critic states, has a two-foot air duct opening in a bedroom. Well, I don't have a fifteen-room house, but I do have a 40-inch wide by one-foot high air duct opening in my bedroom. That provides an opening area that is just slightly less than a 2-foot square opening. Fifteen-room homes have some very large ducts. There are comments about cops not doing "obvious" things, like shooting out tires or getting dogs to sniff out the killer. But, these things don't always work in the real world. There have, also, been real-world cases of abductors who have kept several young women captive (creating, in effect, a harem) for extended periods of time.

I agree that the ending is weak, but the story is good enough to overcome that defect.

As for the movie: I don't know why they even try to make movies from books like this - or most of the books by such authors as Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, and Stephen King. There are scenes humans can create very well in their minds (assuming TV has not destroyed their imaginations) that don't translate well to visual imagery. Obviously, the scenes of violence (against women) have to be reduced or deleted entirely. Like them or not, those scenes are an integral part of the story. And Morgan Freeman is not the right actor for the role of Alex Cross. Don't waste your time with the movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The Women's Murder Club pits four San Francisco women professionalsagainst a serial killer who's stalking and murdering newlyweds in bestsellingauthor James Patterson's newest thriller. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspectorwho's just gotten some very bad news. She deals with it by immersing herself inher newest case and soliciting the personal as well as professional support ofher closest friend, who happens to be the city's medical examiner. The twowomen, along with an ambitious and sympathetic reporter and an assistant DA,form an unlikely alliance, pooling their information and bypassing the chain ofcommand in an engaging, suspenseful story whose gruesome setup is vintagePatterson.

"What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?" the killer muses to himselfearly in the narrative. "Am I capable of doing it? Do I have what it takes?"Answering his own question, he embarks on a murderous spree that takes him fromthe bridal suite in a Nob Hill hotel to a honeymoon destination in the NapaValley and thence to a wedding reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame andMuseum in Cleveland, Ohio. Dispatching his victims on the happiest day of theirlives, he purposefully leaves enough clues for his distaff trackers to discoverhis identity and put him behind bars. But just when the women think they've gotthe case all wrapped up, the killer turns the tables on them in a bloodydenouement that even the most discerning reader won't see coming. Patterson,author of the popular Alex Cross mysteries, promises future adventures for theWomen's Murder Club, which may give him an opportunity to develop his heroines'characters more completely and win new fans among those who prefer theirdetectives in high heels and lipstick. --Jane AdamsBook Description
A #1 New York Times Bestseller A Publishers Weekly Bestseller A US Today Bestseller

Imagine a killer who thinks: "What is the worst thing that anyone has ever done?" - and then goes far beyond. Now imagine four career women banding together to track down the demented murderer, who preys on San Francisco newlyweds. In this thrilling series debut, the four women - a police detective, an assistant D.A., a reporter, and a medical examiner - develop intense friendships even as they pursue a killer whose twisted imagination has stunned an entire city. Working together, they have the mettle to follow the leads to an impossibly heart-stopping confrontation with the most terrifying serial killer ever imagined.Download Description
Four women--four friends--share a determination to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each one holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving each other a hand. The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered--before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out to be devastatingly wrong. Full of the breathtaking drama and unforgettable emotions for which James Patterson is famous, 1st to Die is the start of a blazingly fast-paced and sensationally entertaining new series of crime thrillers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (521)

Excellent Series Kick-Off
Lindsay Boxer is a homicide detective in San Francisco.Lindsay is normally pretty tough, but when her doctor tells her she's got a degenerative blood disease that could kill her, it knocks her for a loop.Added to that is a new case she draws where someone is murdering newly married couples on their wedding night.She has to have a nosy reporter named Cindy removed from the scene, and winds up driving back to town with her.To her surprise, Lindsay finds she really likes Cindy, and invites her to lunch with her best friend Claire, who happens to be the assistant medical examiner.Lindsay and Claire have always discussed cases they work on, and Lindsay thinks her investigation can only be helped by including Cindy and getting her reporter's take on the case.Cindy isn't the only one new to Lindsay's world, though, as Lindsay also draws a new partner for the honeymoon killer, a "marketing man" from the mayor's office, Chris Raleigh.To her consternation, Lindsay finds herself attracted to her new partner, but is afraid to pursue a relationship with him, not only because they work together, but because she might be dying.As Lindsay's case progresses and she focuses in on a suspect, Lindsay has occasion to talk to Jill from the prosecutor's office.She likes Jill, and by adding Jill to her lunch club, the four women will have all aspects of the investigation into the honeymoon killer covered.They decide to call their little group the women's murder club.

This is not a story about women taking lunch, however.It is a well-drawn mystery that bounces from Lindsay's first-person perspective in some chapters to a third-person view that often includes the killer's thoughts.The story is about the investigation and how the mystery is solved, the lunch aspect simply adding some flavor and character depth.After reading other, over-the-top cop stories lately, this was a refreshingly "realistic" book about a cop who's dedicated to her job, yet still has a life outside the precinct and actually gets some sleep.There were plenty of twists and turns to keep it moving, too.It's certainly no mystery why James Patterson's books are so popular.

Wow!
I have just finished the final chapter in James Patterson's 1st to Die and all I can say is...Wow! He had me following every aspect of the mystery and I found myself trying to figure out who the culprit was right along with the girls. I found it hard to put down and I was intrigued literally up to the very last word of the very last page. This is the first book I have read by Patterson and I plan to continue the series up until the end.

1st To Die, A Review by SpeekNDaTruuf
1st To Die 462pgs.
by James Patterson
Review by SpeekNDaTruuf

Where can you find four successful women at the top of their game joining forces to find a serial killer? James Patterson's 1st To Die! Ever since reading Roses Are Red by Patterson, I've been a fan of his, and he didn't let me down in this novel, either. So, who are these four successful women?

Lindsay Boxer. Homicide Inspector. Cindy Thomas. Crime Reporter for local newspaper The Chronicle. Claire Washburn. City Medical Examiner. Jill Bernhardt. Assistant DA.

Inspector Lindsay Boxer is called to the scene of a crime, a hotel where a newlywed couple has been brutally murdered on the night of their wedding. Thus begins the hunt for the killer. Boxer calls upon City Medical Examiner, Claire Washburn, to assist with the investigation. Meanwhile, Chronicle crime reporter, Cindy Thomas, is sneaking into the hotel, scoping out the scene. She gets busted, but Boxer admires her "moxy." Further into the investigation, Boxer, along with her department, stumble across a possible "killer," but there are legal statutes in place, so who does she consult? Jill Bernhardt, assistant DA who's used to putting the "bad guys" behind bars.

I loved reading this novel. There were four heroines! Am I feminist? Not really, but it is good to see four women playing the role of lead characters. And not only that, but they are also relatable. I've often found the bond between females interesting; catty, but still interesting. This gave me hope that not all women thought solely about sexual and romantic endeavors, that some women actually saw a "bigger picture," and worked towards that, encouraging and uplifting each other along the way. There's hope for womankind yet!

Now, most people will agree with me when I say that women are smarter than men. I think it's a proven fact... and, apparently, so does James Patterson. But not to be outdone, there are some interesting male characters in this novel as well.

Captain Chris Raleigh, handling public affairs, has been assigned as Boxer's new partner, casting Warren Jacobi, her wise-cracking, sexist partner into a smaller role. Still, Jacobi finds a way to add a few "funnies" here and there throughout the novel. And who can overlook Phillip Campbell, the killer in this novel. Yes, Patterson even takes us into the mind of the murderer, and what you find out may just surprise you!

For creating such memorable characters (and a series on ABC to boot, might I add), I have awarded James Patterson's 1st To Die THREE AND A HALF STARS.

I liked this book, however on thing ruined it for me
I found this book enjoyable enough.It was quick paced and mostly kept me guessing.However, one "clue" was so ludicrous that the entire book was ruined.Without giving anything away, I would just like to tell Mr. Patterson that "boys" can most definitely "get them".

Women's Murder Club - 1st To Die
I sort of stumbled into this series by James Patterson from another direction. I began watching the new TV series and after a few episodes, I was hooked. I, therefore, ordered the first of the books and now I'm hopelessly hooked on both the books and the show! Warning, though, the characters in the book and the show are rather different in description and attitude,(they have the same names, however) but that does not take anything away from either.

This an absolute first-rate murder mystery, which will leave you guessing right to the last page. The last 100 or so pages just fly by, as you're trying to keep up with the Club.

My advice? Buy it, read it, watch the show and enjoy every suspenful second. 'Nuff said ... Read more

Book Description
A missing little girl named Maggie Rose. A family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C. The thrill-killing of a beautiful elementary school teacher. A psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who calls himself the Son of Lindbergh. He is so terrifying that the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police cannot outsmart him-even after he's been captured.Gary Soneji is a mild-mannered mathematics teacher at a Washington, D.C., private school for the children of the political and social elite. He's so popular that the kids all call him "Mr. Chips." And he's very, very smart. Growing up, he always knew he was smarter than the rest of them-he knew that the Great Ones always fooled everybody. He kidnaps Maggie Rose, the golden-haired daughter of a famous movie actress, and her best friend, Shrimpie Goldberg, the son of the secretary of the treasury, right out from under the noses of their two Secret Service agents. But Gary Soneji is not surprised at his skill. He's done it before. Hundreds of times before.Alex Cross must face the ultimate test as a psychologist: how do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath? Especially one who appears to have a split personality-one who won't let the other half remember those horrific acts?Soneji has outsmarted the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim?Download Description
Gary Soneji is every parent's worst nightmare. He calls himself "the son of Lindbergh." His family and colleagues know him as a mild-mannered, unassuming guy, and would find it impossible to imagine him as a psychopath, a serial murderer, and now, the perpetrator of the most notorious kidnapping of the century. Only Soneji knows himself as the killer of countless victims and as the merciless kidnapper of Maggie Rose, the golden-haired daughter of a famous actress, and Shrimpie Goldberg, the young son of the Secretary of the Treasury. The unenviable task of tracking down Soneji has been assigned to Alec Cross, a black Washington, D. C., homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology and a soft spot for the mysterious, seductive, blonde Secret Service supervisor who has also been drawn into the case.Suddenly, everything in Cross's personal and professional life has become explosive. As a man, Cross must deal with the conflicts and dangers of a forbidden love affair.As a psychologist, he must face the toughest test of his career: How do you outsmart a brilliant psychopath, especially one who appears to have a split personality--one who won't let the other half remember those horrific acts?So far, Soneji has eluded the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (321)

Patterson
Another great James Patterson book.....he keeps you on the edge of your seat and it is hard to allow anything else in your daily schedule until you read the entire book............

Alex Cross
This was the very first novel that I read from Patterson.I am glad that I picked this book because I may not have become hooked on his Alex Cross series.This book is outstanding, and introduces you to Cross.

It grips you as you read about Alex Cross's world.Page turner is not the word for this book.There is no words to describe it.If you have never read any of Patterson's book, then, I recommend this to be your very first book.You will be hooked on him after you read it.You will also find yourself picking up the next Cross series, then the next, then the next, etc...

Sincerely,

Tracy B. Evans
Author of Fatal Kidnapping

great novel
Great suspense with good charecters. Extremelly fast paced which is classic patterson. This is one of the better alex cross novels.

james patterson: Along came a spider
This is the first book that I've read by this author, and most definitely the last. It is completely devoid of any craftsmanship;the plot is unbelievably sloppily laid out;the characters are one-dimensional.

Not Free SF Reader
This book is one of a series, it appears.A highly competent investigator has to track down a killer of the serial variety, who, is most definitely crazy.

There is also a female FBI agent involved, and it appears that she is most likely more than a little bit dodgy, as well.A dick, deaths and a dodgy dame.


... Read more

Book Description
There's one last chance to save the world in the third book in the Maximum Ride series, SAVING THE WORLD AND OTHER EXTREME SPORTS.The time has arrived for Max and her winged "flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution"--a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them--but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (70)

It's OK
This one is not as good as the first two, but overall, not a bad book.Easy read.

Another Maximum Ride
Another Maximum Ride release, "Saving the World...." brings Max and Fang to the brink of confessing their love for one another.While dealing with this issue, it was -- naturally -- important for Max and Fang to save the world.To destroy the evil-mad scientists who were preparing to reduce the world's population by one-half and to keep the flock together.

While the Maximum Ride series is designed for the preteen (maybe teen) reader, it is actually a lot of fun for anyone.An esteemed author with the mission of truly writing something that would engender excitement to a young person while still being easily readable ... Patterson holds to a creative style of writing with a positive message.

It might be a little too much "tree-huggish" even for a youngster.But, still, it's a slam-bang roller coaster adventure with Max and the gang of ... ummm .... bird-kids and talking dogs ... I think.

Has a good beat.Easy to dance to.I give it at least a 90.

Densel Myers
Yukon, Oklahoma

Absolute Junk, A Poor Excuse for Marketing Kiddie Junk
More than half the book is actual blank pages.There is no story to speak of, except "wouldn't it be cool if I could fly like Max?" Huge gaping inconsistencies in the tale, and it is repetitive to the point of nauseating. It shamelessly tries to drive you to web sites that can generate more money for this loser project.No redeeming qualities, I wasted a week of my life hoping for some salvation in the end.Boy was I fooled. I'm no snob when it comes to books, but it's an insult to 9 year olds to say this would be good for them.Shame on you Patterson, I will not read you again because of this insult to readers of all ages.

Maximum Ride has Minimum Plausibility
Adults will find the third in the Maximum Ride series, the immodestly titled, "Saving the World" disappointing.Although some reviewers have chosen to favorably compare James Patterson's DNA enhanced flying kids series to the Harry Potter series, this reviewer says: No Way No How.J.K. Rowling gave us a complex society of wizards and witches.Everything was carefully thought out, from the dragon feather in Harry's wand, to the temperamental goblins who ran the bank where Harry's long dead parents had stashed their fortune for him (money is just one of the things the kids always have access to that Patterson doesn't seem to have explained - unless it was in an earlier book in the series).In contrast, Patterson gives us genetically enhanced kids without going into much detail as to how this was done - unlike, say, Jurassic Park - unless, again, this was covered in an earlier book.It seems to be the work of, as the heroine Max is fond of saying, "Mad Scientists."Can you imagine Rowling dismissing Lord Voldemort's similar plans to take over the world as the work of "Mad Wizards?"No, she had more respect for her reader's intelligence than that.Voldemort's plans to assume power had a carefully crafted, meticulously macabre aspect to them, and his power was unasailable, except ultimately by Harry himself, and even then, almost by accidents stemming from Potter virtue than from magic.In contrast, Patterson actually expects us to believe that a team of Mad Scientists (there's that term again) could form a multinational corporation, apparently without scrutiny of any kind except by various high-level politicos who go along with the dream of genetically "re-evolved" humans uncritically, even though the Mad Director's dream include annihilation of half - or more - of humanity as well.They do all this in largely unprotected factories - they have to be largely unprotected or else how would the seven member "flock" be able to enter and escape from them, repeatedly, while foiling Itec's dasteredly plans?Patterson talks down to his tween readers.Rowling never does.Since this is not a review of Rowling's work, I'll just say she gave us worlds; Patterson gives us flying kids in our world, and as such they fall flat.Flat is a way to describe their personalities too; aside from Max - whose singular trait is a smart-alecky attitude, only Total, the talking Scotish Terrier, seems to have much personality.The other kids have abilities - or disabilities, in the case of blind Iggy, who is, inexplicably able to fight and fly without any apparent trouble, just like the others - but they don't have much character.Perhaps if I had read the first in the Maximum Ride series I would have had more sympathy for Max and the gang, whom we are led to believe have had a pretty rough childhood so far, but as it is, Max's relating to the reader in the first person her troubles, doesn't allow us to feel them for ourselves as Rowling did in the Potter series.One feels sorry for Harry long before we know he has powers, due to his living situation with the Dursleys, and when his powers become gradually apparent, we are glad because they promise a way out for *him,* not because he can use them to Save the World - though, ultimately, that is what he will do.Another contrast between these two authors is that Rowling, while focusing on the kids, still has a firm place in the world for adults - as teachers, beloved, or feared, parents etc. - while Patterson sees the adults as either evil and too dumb to realize their plans could never work - if for no other reason than that a world suddenly devoid of half its population would be so chatoic as to be not worth being Grand Empreror over, (or whatever title the Mad Director ultimately envisioned for herself) - or the adults are simply too dumb to realize the evil plans exist.Is this how tweens see adults?Really?
True, a certain set of tween readers, mostly boys, I think, will enjoy the action uncritically, and judging by the numbers, they are already buying this book in large numbers (Full discloser: my two volume novel, Neitherworld Neitherworld Book One Akiiwan (CreateSpace Version) Neitherworld Book Two Ishpiming is so NOT selling in these numbers), but I calls 'em as I sees 'em.Saving the World is a low altitude thrill ride.

truth about series!
Not many of you will know that Patterson published books 1 & 2 twice!When the initial series became a hit, he sold the movie rights, and then completely rewrote the series, changing crucial parts and in many readers opinions, not for the better!Patterson employs other writers on many books so let the buyer beware! ... Read more

Amazon.com
Likened to a "young Muhammad Ali," Alex Cross, the Porsche-driving profiler, doctor, detective, and father of two has seen his fair share of vicious killers. From a bloodthirsty butcher who came after his family (Cat and Mouse) to a devilish duo working cross-country (Kiss the Girls), Cross has managed to outmaneuver all of his enemies. Until he meets the Weasel.

A series of killings in the forgotten, crime-infested ghettos of southeast D.C. has sent Cross and his 6'9" 250-pound partner, John Sampson, in search of the "Jane Doe" killer. However, their racist, tyrannical boss George Pitman orders them to stay out of the southeast and investigate the high-profile murder of a wealthy white man. Cross already has suspicions that the murders are linked, but when Sampson's ex turns up in an abandoned southeast warehouse kicked to death, the two detectives carry on with their original investigation. Meanwhile, Cross's longtime love, Christine (Cat and Mouse), has taken prominence in his life, and it looks as if the two will finally get hitched--with one glitch: Cross puts everything he loves in jeopardy as he obsessively goes after the Weasel.

Akin to a slick Hollywood action flick, Pop Goes the Weasel doesn't have time for meaningful character development or thoughtful moral analysis. And it doesn't need to. Its winning formula is based on short scenes (chapters average about 3 pages), addictive plot progression, and mean dialogue: "Sampson sighed and said, 'I think her tongue is stapled inside the other girl. I'm pretty sure that's it, Alex. The Weasel stapled them together.' I looked at the two girls and shook my head. 'I don't think so. A staple, even a surgical one, would come apart on the tongue's surface.... Crazy glue would work."--Rebekah WarrenBook Description
Likened to a "young Muhammad Ali," Alex Cross, the Porsche-driving profiler, doctor, detective, and father of two has seen his fair share of vicious killers. From a bloodthirsty butcher who came after his family (Cat and Mouse) to a devilish duo working cross-country (Kiss the Girls), Cross has managed to outmaneuver all of his enemies. Until he meets the Weasel. A series of killings in the forgotten, crime-infested ghettos of southeast D.C. has sent Cross and his 6'9" 250-pound partner, John Sampson, in search of the "Jane Doe" killer. However, their racist, tyrannical boss George Pitman orders them to stay out of the southeast and investigate the high-profile murder of a wealthy white man. Cross already has suspicions that the murders are linked, but when Sampson's ex turns up in an abandoned southeast warehouse kicked to death, the two detectives carry on with their original investigation. Meanwhile, Cross's longtime love, Christine (Cat and Mouse), has taken prominence in his life, and it looks as if the two will finally get hitched--with one glitch: Cross puts everything he loves in jeopardy as he obsessively goes after the Weasel. Akin to a slick Hollywood action flick, Pop Goes the Weasel doesn't have time for meaningful character development or thoughtful moral analysis. And it doesn't need to. Its winning formula is based on short scenes (chapters average about 3 pages), addictive plot progression, and mean dialogue: "Sampson sighed and said, 'I think her tongue is stapled inside the other girl. I'm pretty sure that's it, Alex. The Weasel stapled them together.' I looked at the two girls and shook my head. 'I don't think so. A staple, even a surgical one, would come apart on the tongue's surface.... Crazy glue would work."--Rebekah WarrenDownload Description
Things are looking great for Alex Cross.He is in love with a very special woman, and even a series of ghastly murders he's investigating can't diminish his happiness.Cross's pursuit of the killer quickly produces a suspect-a British diplomat named Geoffrey Shaffer.However, proving that Shaffer is the murderer is a difficult challenge.The diplomat engages in a brilliant series of surprising countermoves, in court and out, and Cross and his fiancee become the targets of a deadly cabal of killers masterminded by Shaffer.Pop Goes the Weasel is James Patterson at the peak of his power.It's his most dynamic and powerful psychological thriller to date.Here is a villain no reader will forget, a love story of great tenderness, and a plot of relentless suspense and heart-pounding pace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (359)

Patterson, puh leez
I read Kiss the Girs, a serial killer.Then Spider, aha, another serial killer.Now Pop Goes the Weasel, well he popped and we got that krap all over us.This book is for those who have a choice, Nancy Drew or Pop Goes the Weasel.Patterson uses quantity instead of quality.Forget this one.

great read
This is a great book, fast read. Thanks again James Patterson, and thank you Amazon for a good price and your usual fast shipping

Couldn't hold my interest
I skipped most pages of this book and I dont' feel like I missed anything.The weasel would kill someone and that would be that, no character development of the victim.I'm done reading the Alex Cross novels.Lifeguard was great, you would have thought a different author wrote it.

Another flawed plot
Shafer, The Weasel, is another of James Patterson's sadistic, super-intelligent killers who is way, way bigger than life.If you can accept such villains, this isn't all that bad, although it does drag a little in the middle and doesn't come to a very satisfying finale.Super villains are a staple of a certain type of fiction:There are Fu Manchu, Lex Luthor in Superman, Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon, etc.But those are campy fun or comin book nasties, and we can accept them for that.Mr. Patterson crosses the line from comic book and would have us to accept the realism of The Weasel and his ilk.It doesn't work.

The totally un-necessary flaws are also what drag this down.At one point, Cross arrests The Weasel, after he has murdered a police officer.The Weasel has the victim's blood on his trousers.At the trial, the defense attorney implies that it was Cross's blood.A simple DNA test would have shown that the blood on Cross was his own, and that the blood on The Weasel was not Cross's but rather the victim's.

The second and third flaws:at the trial of The Weasel, the defense case seems to have been presented before the prosecution's.Most readers of this book will know that couldn't be.Moreover, Cross was called first by the defense attorney, with no mention that Cross was a hostile witness, although he is a policeman and was the arresting officer.Apparently the prosecution never called him at all--although they surely would have.But then the prosecution did not present their case first, which muddles everything.

Writers have some latitude in re-arranging facts for dramatic purposes, but not to this extent.Readers today are too savvy as a result of Court-TV and the many programs about forensics, DNA, etc.

This is pretty much standard fare for a Patterson/Cross novel.We are told a great deal more about Cross's love life than is significant or than I cared to know.His love life is not to be envied since his significant others keep getting in big trouble.We are also over-exposed to his so very cute kids and Nana.

Perhaps if the author spent a little more time on writing the books, some of the problems could be avoided--but who am I to advise him?His formula serves its purpose:as many books as he puts out each year, they become best sellers and make him rich.Literature his books are not:cash cows they are.Even Shakespeare can't spend his grand reputation.

Pop Goes the weasel
Another great Patterson Book. The weasel is a fantastic villian.If you read this one you will want to read more of the cross series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

I thought I would ignore the reviews on here...
too bad I didn't. If you want to start out reading James Patterson, this would be a bad place to start. It's nice too read to see how Mr. Patterson has come as a writer. The story is unreal and crazy, in a really bad way. He does do a good job of describing everything to you, but that's about it.

Ugh!

There are some funny parts though, like when he spends 2 pages describing the setting, so that they characters can say two lines.
...

I repeat, DO NOT BASE YOUR OPINION ON JAMES PATTERSON WITH THIS BOOK.

Boring and Flat
I like James Patterson's later novels, but I think he made a mistake by re-issuing some of his earlier books under new titles.SEE HOW THEY RUN, which was Patterson's third book, was originally titled the JERICHO COMMANDMENT and was originally published in the late 1970s.This plot deals with a terrorist plot involving the Olympics -- I won't say more than that, because it would spoil certain twists in the plotline (many of the reader reviews do exactly that, so be wary of reading them!).

Unfortunately, SEE HOW THEY RUN has really thin characterization and a meandering plot that doesn't really excite or satisfy the reader.I also wasn't thrilled to see the Holocaust used as a cheap plot device, which is essentially what this book boils down to.

Patterson, like most writers, got better with time.My advice is to skip this early effort and focus your attention on the Alex Cross series and Women's Murder Club series, which are far superior to this misfire.

See How They Run
James Patterson is such a gripping writer. I couldn't put the book down. There's always a surprise somewhere waiting to jump out and get you.

not impressed
too slow--this book was not enjoyable.The story did not flow well.

*sigh* what is going on?
I love Patterson; however, this book is so full of inconsistencies, false "facts", missing links, crazy mysteries and unfinished story lines, that I simply cannot recommend it to anyone. While, the general idea for this book's plot may be interesting (even though apparently it's highly controversial to some people), the author made it boring, flat, and not believable at all.

At times it almost seems as if Patterson were writing 3 or more books at once and he went back and forth between them whilst forgetting which one he is writing at the moment.

In my opinion the worst thing about this book is not the plot, not even all the things that made no sense, but the absolute lack of depth of the characters. These people seem absolutely unreal, which bothers me to no end.
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