12/34 of this series

An Alex Cross book that delves into the mystery of who killed his wife back in 1993 is truly captivating. As the story unfolds, Cross embarks on a relentless pursuit of the truth. However, to my surprise, the culprit he discovers isn't who I initially thought it was. The twists and turns in the plot keep the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly second-guessing their assumptions. The author does an excellent job of building suspense and creating a complex web of characters and motives. It's a thrilling read that showcases the brilliance of Alex Cross as a detective and the power of a well-crafted mystery novel.

Not bad!

The story line is quite long, which provides several interesting avenues for the plot to continue and further develop.

This gives the author a lot of room to explore different directions and create more engaging and complex story arcs.

Readers will be able to follow the characters' adventures and experiences as they unfold along these various paths.

It also allows for the introduction of new characters, conflicts, and challenges that can add depth and excitement to the narrative.

Overall, a long story line with multiple avenues for development is a great foundation for a captivating and memorable story.

“Guy is supposed to be good. And crazy too. They call him the Butcher.” This mysterious figure looms large in the story. Cross, who is now his own man and no longer an FBI agent, has been offered a chance at closure and revenge by his old partner Sampson. He sets out to track down a brutal assassin, a serial killer, and a serial rapist. As his investigation unfolds, Cross discovers that his bloodthirsty opponent, the Butcher, is also the one who shot his wife in front of him and his kids many years ago.

\\n  “Guy is supposed to be good. And crazy too. They call him the Butcher.”\\n

Cross is not going to win any Pulitzers or awards for literary merit. However, for lovers of fast-paced police procedurals, suspense thrillers, and noir murder mystery genres, it will do just fine. The novel is filled with Patterson’s trademark fast-paced, high-speed, short and punchy chapters. And that’s a good thing. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Overall, it’s a lightweight, definitely enjoyable thriller that’s like brain candy. It’s easy to recommend to those who are looking for a quick and exciting read.

Paul Weiss

This book really made me so upset that I even gave up the idea of writing a review about it in my own language.

I had certain expectations when I picked up this book, but unfortunately, it failed to meet any of them.

The story was convoluted and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth and development.

I found myself constantly losing interest and having to force myself to keep reading.

It's rare for a book to have such a negative impact on me, but this one truly did.

I'm disappointed that I wasted my time on it and will think twice before picking up another book by the same author.

I hope that others will be more cautious when choosing this book and not make the same mistake as I did.

This was one of the relatively faster-paced Cross books that I have read. However, it was also somewhat of a letdown. After eleven previous books that had built up anticipation regarding Maria's killer, this was the ultimate outcome. The ending leaves us with a sense of more to come, yet it feels like a rather lackluster way to conclude that particular chapter of his life.

Another aspect that has me wondering is the probable departure of yet another love interest. Just as in all Cross books, Nana simply cannot die. EVER. Do you hear me, Patterson? You better not dare to kill Nana!

That's really all there is to it.

Overall, I would rate this book between 3 and 3.5 stars. Nevertheless, it is still a great read for fans of the Cross series, and I will most definitely be eagerly looking forward to the next installment.

I have a great fondness for James Patterson's writing style and his unique method of storytelling. The action in his books progresses at a rapid pace, which keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The characters, although not all of them are highly memorable, are either pleasantly likable or convincingly villainous. His latest book, "Cross", is a real page turner as forensic psychologist Alex Cross endeavors to track down the sadistic mafia killer known as The Butcher, the very man who brutally murdered Cross's wife ten years earlier.

However, there is one aspect of this book that really frustrated me. Patterson has a series of Alex Cross books, with "Along Came A Spider" being one of the most well-known and even made into a film starring Morgan Freeman. "Cross" is not the first book in the series, although it is the first one that I have read.

"Cross" begins in 1993 with the happy Cross family - Alex, Maria, and their two small children, with another one on the way. Tragically, Maria is murdered, leaving Alex to raise their son and daughter with the help of his grandmother.

But when Patterson jumps ahead to 2006, Alex suddenly has a third child, a three or four-year-old boy named Ali. The problem is that Patterson never once explains how this child came to be part of the Cross family. I'm presuming that he was adopted, but I really wanted to know for sure. I bet that the story of Ali's arrival is in one of the previous Cross books, but since I haven't read them, I'm left in the dark.

Just a couple of sentences in the book would have easily cleared up this mystery for me. Believe me, I went back through the text more than once, hoping to find those crucial details, but to no avail.

Despite this minor annoyance, I'll probably read more books in the Cross series, if only to satisfy my curiosity and find out where Ali came from. I'm intrigued by the character of Alex Cross and eager to learn more about his adventures and the mysteries that surround his family.

I had purchased several Patterson's mystery novels and finally read the last one. Now, I will pack them up and get rid of them.

They are entertaining and easy to read. However, as police mystery novels with plots, they are one worse than the other. Here, we learn how the protagonist's wife was murdered, more or less who did it. We follow the protagonist's life as various things happen to him, and finally the mystery is solved with a "let me tell you what happened" at the end...

It will be difficult for me to buy another book by this author again.

This is an extremely good book.

If you are into a mystery page turner, then this is the perfect book for you. At first, I was not too interested in reading it. But when I sat down and started reading, I simply could not put it down.

This book definitely deserves a 5/5 rating and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a James Patterson fan.

I thought the way the plot flowed was excellent. It is part of a series, but even though I had never read any other Alex Cross book, I could still easily understand the plot and everything that was going on.

The short chapters make it a great read as they allow for many cliffhangers, which really keep you on the edge of your seat. It also had many connections to my own life, which made me truly want to keep reading.

In the beginning of the book, Alex's wife is brutally killed by a murderer known as The Butcher. Throughout the story, Alex delves into numerous cases in an attempt to figure out who killed his wife and where they are hiding.

Alex also faces trouble at home with his kids, who are unsure about what he is doing. Fortunately, his grandma is there to assist him in taking care of the family while he is out seeking justice for his wife's killer.

I would strongly recommend you to read this book. You will not regret it.

I have heard so much about this author, the highest paid among all "celebrities", that I wanted to give it a try to have my own opinion.

It is a book in the style of typical American series, with a fast pace and not very deep characters, too "easy" to read.

I didn't become a customer at all.

Perhaps for those who just want a light and quick read, it might be suitable. But for me, who is looking for more depth and complexity in a story, it fell short.

The plot seemed to be moving forward too quickly, without enough time to develop the characters and their relationships.

As a result, I didn't feel any real connection to the story or the characters.

Overall, it was a disappointing experience.

After finishing the last book, I thought (and repeated that thought in my review of Mary Mary) that James Patterson was in need of shaking up the formula for Alex Cross. There had been a few too many similarities sneaking into his novels, and it was starting to get in the way of the story.

I am happy to report that the author must have thought the same thing after writing Mary Mary as this one begins to mix it up a bit. Obviously, there is still a murderer to be caught, but for the first time, Alex Cross's character is beginning to grow. He is no longer staying out late and constantly regretting the time missed with his family. There are no more long lectures from Nana Mama about the life he has chosen for himself. And no more does Alex Cross shine above the rest of law enforcement and have to go it on his own to prove that yet again he is the best.

This was simply the start of what I hope is a new direction for the Cross novels and a welcome change up to the routine. What better way to start this change and personal growth than by solving the case that turned him into the 'Dragon Slayer' in the first place? Solving the murder of his wife felt like both a milestone for the character and a fresh start. And I am now genuinely excited to read the next novel in this series.

I understand that Alex Cross will always be a hunter of killers, something that is brilliantly highlighted by the final line in this novel. However, it will be very interesting to see how he acts upon that skill set from a different direction.

A solid favorite character of mine didn't disappoint.

In this Alex Cross book (#12 in the series), we are privy to more intricate details about the tragic loss of Alex's wife. It takes us on a journey that circles back to the present day, where Alex is now working as a psychologist. Sampson and Alex join forces closely in their pursuit to apprehend a serial rapist. They firmly believe that this very same culprit was the one responsible for shooting and killing Maria all those years ago.

The story unfolds at a fast pace, as is typical of this series. The antagonist, a truly disgusting and brutal killer who has the audacity to call himself the butcher, adds an extra layer of menace and horror to the narrative.

Readers are sure to be on the edge of their seats as they follow Alex and Sampson's investigation, eager to see if they can finally bring the butcher to justice and solve the mystery that has haunted Alex for so long.