Alex Cross #12. What was he waiting for?

On the cover, there was an addendum that said something like.... N1 by the NY Times. N1 in the world, etc.

Read carefully (on the small print of the back cover) "Alex Cross, a multiple #1 bestselling author in the thriller genre". The "gestalt" is messed up.

Alex Cross, the renowned protagonist of this series, is once again at the center of a thrilling adventure. With his reputation as a top-notch detective and a master at solving complex cases, readers are eagerly anticipating what awaits him in this latest installment.

The book's cover boasts of its impressive accolades, including being ranked number one by the New York Times and in the world. But it's not just the external recognition that makes this book a must-read. The small print on the back cover reveals the author's status as a multiple #1 bestselling author in the thriller genre, further adding to the anticipation.

As readers delve into the pages of Alex Cross #12, they can expect to be taken on a wild ride filled with twists, turns, and heart-pounding moments. With the "gestalt" being messed up, it's clear that nothing is as it seems, and Alex Cross will have his work cut out for him as he tries to solve the mystery at hand.

Enfim, Alex Cross #12 is sure to be a thrilling addition to the series, and fans of the genre will not be disappointed.

This book delves deep into the themes of revenge and self-reflection.

Years ago, a tragic incident occurred when Alex Cross's wife was brutally shot right before his eyes, leaving him to raise their kids alone.

Now, Cross has left the FBI. Through his old partner Sampson, he is approached to investigate the case of a serial rapist. Surprisingly, it is discovered that this perpetrator is not only a rapist but also an assassin, regarded as a serial killer due to the heinous acts he commits against his victims/targets. What's more, there is a possibility that this very man could be the one responsible for the murder of Cross's wife.

As always, Cross and his family are vividly and skillfully written, making them come alive on the pages. However, Sullivan, the antagonist of the book, unfortunately, never manages to break free from his rather two-dimensional description.

True to Patterson's trademark, this book is an easy and entertaining read. The short chapters contribute to its fast-paced nature, allowing readers to breeze through it in a relatively short amount of time. It keeps you engaged from start to finish, with its thrilling plot and well-developed characters (except for Sullivan).

Overall, it's a captivating story that combines elements of mystery, revenge, and family drama.

I read this book simply because there was absolutely nothing else available to read. The outside world was covered in 5 inches of snow, and as a result, the library was closed. Fortunately, I discovered a pile of books in the laundry room. So, I made a plan to power through all of them today and tomorrow.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by what I found. Now, this isn't some extraordinary work of fiction, and it does adhere to Paterson's "formula" to some extent. However, it does have some nice human touches within it. It managed to tug at the little heartstrings of my minuscule stone heart just a bit. Although, it could have been even more gruesome for me.

I did appreciate the little twists here and there. They added an element of surprise and kept me engaged. However, the final twist seemed a bit forced, as if it was thrown in at the last minute without much thought or build-up.

I didn't finish the novel because of the bad translation.

It lost a lot, especially in the scenes of the trees and the battles.

The translation failed to capture the essence and beauty of the original work.

The descriptions of the trees, which were supposed to be vivid and enchanting, came across as dull and lifeless in the translation.

Similarly, the battle scenes, which should have been intense and thrilling, lacked the necessary energy and excitement.

As a result, I found it difficult to engage with the story and lost interest in continuing to read.

I hope that in the future, there will be better translations available that can do justice to the original novel and allow readers to fully appreciate its charm.

Though this particular type of fiction has long been one of my absolute favorites, I had not delved into a mystery/crime/detective story for quite some time. I picked up this particular book last year. Right from page one, I found myself not caring for the way the author introduced me to the story. However, after reading a few more pages, I managed to get somewhat into it. Overall, it felt rather forced and simplified.

The characters were interesting enough, but it was as if I was simply watching a movie on TV because there was nothing better available on the other stations.

It did have a few great moments when I actually forgot that I was reading a book (which is always a good sign for me), but the story as a whole never truly allowed me to get close to, or next to the characters. I really wanted to get inside their heads but just couldn't.

It was almost as if the author had said, "I'll kill his wife off in this one, ahhh, that'll hold them." But in reality, it didn't.

Having said all of that, you might get the impression that I completely despised the book. But no... I think Patterson wrote this book more like an author than a storyteller. I could be wrong, but my impression is that he didn't have much affection for the characters he created.

Not to end this on a completely negative note, I did really like how he ended the book. It was excellent. In that one sentence ending, I was already able to get into the head of that murderer.

This is the first Alex Cross book I've ever read. I'm not overly impressed, but the ending did its job and I just might end up with another Alex Cross book sitting on my shelf.

A complaint that I frequently have regarding James Patterson's books is that his most recent works lack character development. It seems as if Patterson assumes the reader is already familiar with the characters from previous books, resulting in flat and lifeless stories. The first half of this particular book, however, resembled his older works. It was filled with those little details that bring the characters to life, revealing who they are and helping the reader identify with them. I was truly thrilled to be reading this part because of that. I was completely drawn into the story, fully engaged by how a series of present crimes are relevant to those from the past, with Alex Cross caught in the middle.

Then, approximately halfway through the book, the quality of the writing took a sharp nosedive. The writing felt hasty, the character personalization decreased to almost nothing, and my interest in the story waned. I no longer felt a connection with the characters, and the story failed to maintain my attention. This was extremely disappointing because I had loved the first half of the book, but the second half received a thumbs down from me. The writing simply was not consistent.

4 stars. This is a great story indeed. Just like in the last book, I'm really happy that the storyline in this one was a bit different. It wasn't as predictable as some of the others in the series. In this book, a lot of things happened. There were unexpected twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters developed in interesting ways, and I found myself really invested in their fates. I can't wait to read more and see what else this series has in store. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story with a bit of mystery and excitement.

I am not a fan of graphic descriptions that involve women being raped and then horribly slashed to death. Such content is extremely disturbing and can have a profound negative impact on the mental and emotional well-being of the audience.

It is important to recognize that violence against women is a serious issue that should not be glorified or sensationalized in any way. Graphic descriptions of such acts can desensitize people to the reality of violence and make it seem more acceptable.

Instead, we should focus on promoting awareness, prevention, and support for survivors of violence. This can be achieved through education, advocacy, and the provision of resources and services.

By taking a stand against graphic and violent content, we can help to create a more respectful and safe society for everyone.

I don't know what has happened to me, but I'm simply no longer the huge James Patterson fan I used to be. Because for some reason, this book just couldn't really convince me.

Although you don't necessarily have to read the Alex Cross novels in order, you do have a clear advantage with this book if you've already read one or two books in the series - simply to be able to better classify the individual characters. Otherwise, especially the Cross family remains very pale and it's difficult to really recognize some emotional connections.

The book is told from two perspectives. On the one hand, we have the first-person perspective of Alex Cross, who is hunting a serial killer. On the other hand, we follow the actions of the "Butcher". These passages are sometimes very brutal, but in this way, we get to know the "villain" in the story well. The two characters really form a very nice and distinct counterpart to each other.

The writing style itself is very流畅, and you can read the book quite quickly through Patterson's typical short chapters. Also, the fact that the perspective keeps changing and we jump back and forth between Cross and the Butcher builds tension.

Unfortunately, in the end, it was the case that there was far too little action for my taste. Although the thriller has quite a lot of content, especially regarding the life and past of Alex Cross, but other than the Butcher constantly murdering, not much really happens. That's why the ending isn't very surprising either.

Overall, the book was quite nice to read, but I'm not exactly jumping for joy. From me, it gets 3 stars!

Cross is not the first volume of the Alex Cross stories, yet it is the first one that I have read.

Unlike other serial books I've perused, Patterson doesn't elucidate what has occurred in the previous volumes. For example, when Alex's wife is slain in part 1, there are only two children, Damo and Jannelle. Suddenly, in part 2, little Ali appears out of nowhere. Alex is no longer with the DCPD but has become an FBI Agent. Then, in part 3, he is a psychological therapist. Did he attend school somewhere to make this career transition?

Alex dates Dr. Kayla Coles in chapter 42, but we don't hear a peep about her again until chapter 67. Basically, we are following the trail of a psychopath, The Butcher, only to learn that he is not the one who killed Cross's wife. How did the Butcher manage to track Marianne and Mena? There are far too many gory incidents. Gino "Greaseball" Biametti is arrested. What happened to the 14-year-old Paulina Sroka from Poland? Was this chapter really necessary? It adds very little to the story. The same goes for Dr. Kayla Coles' story.

Overall, while the book has its moments of excitement and mystery, the lack of clarity regarding past events and the inclusion of seemingly superfluous storylines can be somewhat frustrating for the reader.

The average at peak:

The main characters possess a certain degree of depth, yet they don't go beyond that. The plot is acceptable, but there is nothing extraordinary about it. The final outcome is the one that was expected.

There is some human kindness, a touch of romance, and quite a significant amount of unprovoked violence that are all blended together.

In just a few words, there is nothing particularly memorable about this, except perhaps for its readability.

Consequently, it is the appropriate book for a long subway journey. It can pass the time and keep you engaged during the commute, but it won't leave a lasting impression on your mind.

It's not a masterpiece, but it serves its purpose well enough for those who are looking for a light and easy read while traveling.

And it was mainly because of Caspian