I picked this up at a yard sale.

I had never read one of his books before, and for just a quarter, I thought, "Why not? I'll give it a try." I have a penchant for crime books, you see.

The ideas presented in the book were actually quite good. The characters seemed relatable, which initially gave me hope. However, the writing was truly terrible.

Instead of artfully creating suspense, the author simply tells you, "I'm in suspense." It feels so forced and lacks the finesse that true suspense-building requires.

He also goes off on tangents, trying to create the vision of what he wants you to see. But rather than allowing the story to naturally unfold and create the situation, he just blatantly tells you things like, "He looks like an athlete, but maybe like one who hasn't played in a while." Why not describe a tall, muscular, slightly aging man in a more vivid and engaging way?

And it gets worse. Even that wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been thrown in the middle of a shootout. How does this random description help the flow of the story? It just serves to distract me.

There are a million little things like this that irked the hell out of me. The book had so much potential, but it failed miserably. Blech.

It's a real disappointment considering the interesting ideas and relatable characters it started with.

Read April 2013

I am currently engaged in a re-read as part of a challenge.

The Alex Cross series has always been a source of great enjoyment for me. There is something truly captivating about the adventures and mysteries that Alex Cross finds himself involved in. However, I have come to the realization that in order to fully appreciate and understand the depth of the story, I really need to start from the very beginning. Hehe.

By going back to the first book, I hope to gain a new perspective and pick up on details that I may have missed during my previous readings. It's like embarking on a new journey with a familiar character. I'm looking forward to rediscovering the excitement and thrill that this series has to offer.

I believe that starting from the beginning will also allow me to better follow the development of Alex Cross as a character. I can observe how his personality and skills evolve throughout the series.

Overall, this re-read is going to be an exciting and fulfilling experience. I can't wait to immerse myself in the world of Alex Cross once again.

Quando vi o anúncio da publicação do livro, fiquei curioso.

Contudo, descobri que era o 12º da série Alex Cross. Continuo a sentir um certo desagrado pelas editoras que pegam nas séries a meio e não as publicam em ordem.

No entanto, vamos ao livro propriamente dito. Ele conta-nos o percurso de dois opostos. Por um lado, temos o próprio Alex Cross, com a sua vida normal, vivendo com a mulher que ama e seus filhos.

Pelo outro lado, temos um assassino impiedoso que mata de uma forma agoniante, usando um bisturi. A vida de Cross e do assassino está interligada, pois Cross é responsável por investigar os crimes cometidos pelo assassino.

Até que, um dia, Cross está em casa e o assassino entra sem explicação, fala e sai. Dias depois, a mulher de Cross é assassinada enquanto está nos seus braços. A dúvida fica aí: quem terá sido?

Passam alguns anos e o assassino volta a causar vítimas. Cross, então, volta a investigar os casos, um após o outro, pois eles se tornam frequentes. Há um assassino a ser apanhado, um mistério a ser resolvido e talvez tudo isso esteja interligado.

O autor confere a este conto muita acção e movimentação de personagens, mas poucas descrições. Isso faz com que pareçamos estar quase a ver o filme do que estamos lendo, o que torna a leitura muito mais atractiva e acessível.

Gostei do livro e gostaria de poder continuar a seguir esta série. Fico, assim, com um pedido para a editora: por favor, publiquem as séries em ordem.

I didn't see any of this coming at all.

Cross was so much better than Mary, Mary. Thank god!

In this book, Alex is trying to solve a murder. His wife's murder. AND IT WAS SO GOOD. I couldn't put it down. This was definitely a step up from the previous book. The plot was engaging, filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for the next book! I don't really know how else to explain how much I loved this book. I have no words - but I'm also super tired and it's almost midnight ish here.

I don't want to give any spoilers - other than the whole it's about his dead ex wife and everything. Just trust me that this book is so freaking good. Plus, it was refreshing not to have so much other drama going on throughout this book. Like Christine being her annoying self or Nana Mama giving him life long lectures about picking a new wife and such. The focus on the murder mystery made the story more intense and captivating.

I just want more of this Cross from now on. I hope the author continues to write such amazing books with this character. I'm already looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Why do I find myself continuously reading this trash? It's truly a matter of great disappointment. Shame on you, James Patterson!

This so-called "book" is nothing short of an insult to the beautiful world of literature. It lacks the depth, the artistry, and the substance that one expects from a literary work.

The story seems to be a hodgepodge of clichés and unoriginal ideas, presented in a rather sloppy and unengaging manner. The characters are one-dimensional and lack any real development or complexity.

It's disheartening to see such a renowned author produce something of such poor quality. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it has failed to meet even the most basic of expectations. I can only hope that Patterson will return to his former glory and produce works that are worthy of being called literature.

Cross, James Patterson.

This is the 12th book of the Alex Cross saga which consists of about 27 volumes. I know, I know, how do you read the twelfth book of a saga? Well, that's just me. And it was 150 pesos, thank you.

The genre of this book is Thriller. As you know, that attracts me like a moth to the light. The synopsis looked really good and everything was wonderful... until the story began.

The story itself is good. The synopsis is spot-on. There are events in the story, and there are scenes that make you go

I keep saying that I've read my last Patterson, but here I am again. It really annoys me that his chapters are only 2 pages long. It feels like I'm constantly being interrupted. And don't even get me started on the villains. They are more evil than is humanly possible. It's almost comical. But despite all of this, I can't seem to stop reading his books. The reason? Alex Cross. There's just something about him that keeps me coming back. His ethics, his children, his friends, his grandmother - they all make me want to believe that there are still good people in the world.

When the story begins, Alex and Maria are having a conversation about a case she's working on as a social worker. She tells him about a client who has been raped and is too scared to go to the police. Maria is clearly very upset for this woman. But unfortunately, her story is cut short when she is shot by what appears to be a stray bullet. Enter Alex's grandmother, Nana. She steps in to look after the family, but after a while, she's had enough. She's tired of picking up after the kids, cleaning the house, teaching the children, and being everyone's general dogsbody. So she throws up her hands, packs her bags, and leaves. But of course, we all know she has to come back. And when she does, everything seems to fall back into place. The family is happy again, and Alex has made a promise to Nana to quit the FBI and focus on being a psychologist.

Alex is a good psychologist, but he's an even better police officer. His old partner Sampson convinces him to work on a new case - a serial killer, rapist, and vigilante all rolled into one. This guy is seriously messed up. It's hard to imagine that anyone could be that evil. But Alex is determined to catch him and put an end to his reign of terror.

Another great one by James Patterson! His latest work is truly a masterpiece. The story is filled with excitement, twists, and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and engaging, making you care about their fates. Patterson's writing style is流畅 and easy to follow, yet still manages to convey a sense of depth and emotion. I found myself completely immersed in the world he created.

I'm already looking forward to the next one. Patterson has a way of leaving you hungry for more, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. Whether it's another thrilling mystery or a new genre altogether, I know it'll be worth the wait. His books are always a pleasure to read, and I highly recommend them to anyone who loves a good story.

James Patterson's novel, "Cross," was, on the whole, an excellent read.

James Patterson managed to introduce crucial details about all the characters in a concise manner. You might not recall every character's entire backstory, but you were given just the right amount of information to grasp what each character represented. The fact that this book was a thrilling action-packed adventure kept me even more engaged. I despise it when authors drone on about pointless details that have no bearing on the main plot. In this book, there are numerous elements that will maintain your attention.

For instance, Michael Sean Sullivan, also known as "The Butcher" due to his extremely gruesome attacks and killings using a blade, is a serial killer who lures his victims to a hidden location, rapes them, and then brutally murders them. Sullivan is also a mercenary hired to carry out hits on specific targets. Another example is the abundance of other action scenes, such as Michael facing off against mercenaries trying to kill him. It's an ironic twist that he has become the hunted instead of the hunter. These aspects are the reasons why readers are constantly hooked on the book. I think the first time I put the book down was when I reached the 30th chapter.

The advantage of James Patterson's "Cross" is that the chapters are short and to the point. The author's writing style throughout the novel is the antithesis of rambling. If you need to know something about a character, James Patterson explains it clearly. He never provides information that will later prove to be irrelevant. I am the kind of reader who is entertained by pure suspense and astonishment. Although this book was a great read, it also had a few aspects that I wasn't too keen on.

One significant drawback is that all the characters in the story seem to experience disappointment or sadness during their remarkable journey. Characters like Alex, Michael, and the mafia henchmen all lose a life or get injured. Alex Cross has endured difficult times since childhood. His mother passed away, and he became an orphan. As he grew older, his wife, Maria Cross, was shot and killed by "The Butcher" in his arms, which is a devastating event. Near the end of the book, when Alex is confronting the butcher, he is shot twice and falls to the ground. These are some terrible events that really bring down Alex Cross's overall spirit. These tragic events also happen to the villainous characters in the story. Michael Sullivan was a killer who deserved to go to jail, but what he endured was extreme. He was cornered by mafia henchmen and barely escaped with his life, his children and he were shot at while playing in the park, and he is killed at the end of the story. Michael may have been a bad guy, but that's a life too harsh for anyone to live. I feel like James Patterson's storytelling is starting to lose its exciting action-packed feel and turning into a cold and brutal killer's novel. It is beginning to become a depressing murder story rather than an action-packed novel where the good guy (Alex Cross) always wins. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to any readers who enjoy a good mystery/murder story.

This book was truly excellent.

Finally, we were able to discover what actually happened to Maria! In all the previous books, the death of his first wife has always weighed heavily on his mind. So, to finally learn the truth was really like a refreshing breath of air.

The story alternates between the past and the present, revealing how Maria was killed and by whom!!

However, I'm sorry to say that it was a bit anti-climactic for me. Alex was so focused on finding the killer, and when he finally did and killed the butcher, Sampson suddenly appeared and said, "actually I killed the real murderer years ago... just never told you."

I love Sampson, and I know he meant well, but really, dude? All this anxiety and stress to find a killer that you already knew you had killed before? Seriously!

Although I missed the action of the previous books, this was still a good read! It kept me engaged and eager to find out what would happen next.

The author did a great job of building up the mystery and keeping the readers on the edge of their seats.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of drama.

I have perused other Patterson tomes, yet this was my initial foray into the world of Alex Cross. Typically, I prefer to read a series in sequential order. I'm not entirely certain if commencing so deep within the series was an error. I shan't know for certain until I delve into another installment.

I relished the narrative, the palpable suspense, and the meticulous detail. However, at times, all that detail did verge on the gory side. Nevertheless, it didn't deter my enjoyment of the story.

I am definitely inclined to read another Alex Cross adventure. I'm eager to see how the character develops further and what new mysteries and challenges he will encounter. Patterson has a knack for creating engaging and thrilling stories, and I'm looking forward to experiencing more of his work.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery and thriller genres. It's a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Just be prepared for some intense and graphic scenes along the way.

3.5 stars.

Well, I have to admit that the plot is good. However, I do have a slight urge to give a little tug on the ear of the person who recommended it to be read in a book club. Because if you notice, they had us read the 12th book in the Alex Cross saga! And I don't like reading the saga in such a disorderly way, haha. Although it is really understandable.

It seems that James Patterson has a certain natural development in the police and suspense genre. The only problem is that to develop a book of just over 300 pages, he divides it into an excessive number of chapters. He could have lengthened them a bit and not made them so numerous. I've seen books that have 450 pages and are only 30 chapters, and the story is thus a bit more fluid, since here it constantly changes the narration and jumps from one character to another. Still, the fact that he does this allows one to understand under which character the story is now being told, and that prevents you from getting lost. That's right, it can be read in one sitting because of how simple the plot moves.

At times, Cross's personal life was more involved than his professional life, but well... I think it makes some sense since the book is titled "Cross", so it revolves more around him. What is true is that I now want to read the books. Thanks to my friend, he got me involved in another police series instead of a single book. I will look for them from the first one and read them sequentially. It's the same thing that happened to me when I read Brian Freeman and his Jonathan Stride series, starting from the fifth. But there is no doubt that even with all this, I enjoyed this novel.