Alex Cross - book 3
In the mainly African-American suburb where Cross resides, a vicious serial child killer is on the loose. Meanwhile, an FBI case is handed to him involving a 'Jack' and 'Jill' who are carrying out perfect murders of celebrities. To add to the chaos, Cross is also warned about a CIA agent who has gone rogue. These are truly busy times for Alex Cross in this book. Additionally, he gets to meet Christine Johnson for the first time. However, this installment is not as good as the later books in the series that I've read. It earns a Two Star rating. Out of 12 books read, this one ranks 4th.

2011 read

In Washington, the city where detective Alex Cross lives and works, a couple starts killing famous people, leaving self-made messages at the crime scene under the pseudonym "Jack and Jill." However, this series of murders has raised suspicions in the White House and the secret services, as this is how the President of the United States and the First Lady are code-named. So, Alex Cross is called into the depths of the White House to cooperate with the FBI and the CIA, in case the two killers are simply experimenting and perfecting themselves, with the ultimate goal of assassinating President Thomas Burns. At the same time, six and seven-year-old children are being killed in Alex Cross's neighborhood, but the duo of Jack and Jill steals the spotlight in the media, which angers the child killer and the situation will soon escalate!

This is the third adventure written by James Patterson with hero Alex Cross, and the case is quite interesting, full of twists and surprises. The lead detective in the Homicide Department of Washington and psychologist has already started the investigations into the murders of the children when he is urgently called (and taken away) to the White House. The "Jack and Jill" case is dark, difficult, and elusive. The FBI fears that it is so well organized that there is someone behind it pulling the strings, while the CIA reaches the point of suspecting that perhaps one of the paid killers they use to handle some internal cases of the country has lost control! In other words, an incredible conspiracy is unfolding, which, combined with the atmosphere of fear and anxiety prevailing in the face of the possible assassination of the President, gives the author the opportunity to record, albeit discreetly, the patriotism that distinguishes the average American towards the established order of his country.

The case itself is clever and full of mysteries. Without being named initially (although Jill is revealed), Jack and Jill are presented with great shrewdness and penetration. Their absurd idea, the strange relationship they have with each other, the lack of a pattern and a specific execution plan are what give the reader plenty of excitement until the last page. Yes, Jill is revealed at a crucial point, but this is nothing compared to the true identity of Jack, which is slow to be revealed, as it is the great twist of the story! Things get worse when this duo uses a freelance sniper to muddy the waters around their identities, and the descriptions of the bloody attack on the President during his trip to New York are well-written and vivid. But who is really hiding behind the deadly duo and why they initially targeted the President's execution is something unexpected.

The child killer is equally diabolical as a case, and the author uses a clever writing technique to make it difficult for the reader to determine his true identity. I liked that he started the "miserable" killings almost simultaneously with Jack and Jill, and thus began to become restless and reckless, in order to attract the spotlight. The novel was written in 1996, so the use of the Prodigy network of IBM that the killer hacked to divert suspicion elsewhere and the way his messages to the members of the network were worded reminded me of the facebook community and I almost felt nostalgic for the need that humanity had so long ago for immediate and fast communication.

On a personal level, Alex Cross, who is now starting to get tired of all this violence and dreams of withdrawing from active duty to work again as a psychologist only, cooperates closely with his childhood friend and colleague John Sampson, feels that the frantic paces of the cases are making him lose precious time with his family, is tested emotionally for the third time (since the previous two cases in the respective books did not succeed), this time with the new, colorful principal of his son's school (although she is married!), and learns that the White House chose him precisely because of his significant successes in the Sonnett and Casanova cases. For the first time, his psychoanalyst, Antel Finaly, appears, to whom he rarely goes, and only when he has an absolute need to talk to someone he trusts. His knowledge in psychology is applied a little better in this book, as he struggles to understand the profile of the criminals through their personal spaces, while his battle with the child killer is a well-written piece of psychiatry. Sonnett continues to stalk him and does not hesitate to call him at the end of the book to wish him "Merry Christmas." So I wonder how these two will meet again face to face and how Cross's superiors will evaluate his increasingly growing reputation in solving crimes (this is also one of the reasons why I read the respective series of books in the order in which they were written and published).

"Jack and Jill" in terms of its theme is a purely American thriller, with all the doses of excitement, manhunt, and Americanolatry that such a text requires, and the author knows how to deliver them generously. On the other hand, even in this book, he does not miss the opportunity to mock some things: "Recently I had read a statistic that made your heart turn black, according to which the average American got 70% of his information from the movies and television" (p. 205). Of course, I have two factual questions (e.g., the child killer starts to howl in front of two of his victims and shoots much later on contact, but during this time the author does not write if there was any reaction from the victims, if they woke up, etc., while this man at the end of the book is described exhaustively in an entire paragraph only that does not mention that he wears glasses, something that Cross describes carelessly at some point!), but in general terms I was satisfied with this adventure.

4 Stars.

When we think of conspiracy, the Kennedy murder in Dallas immediately comes to mind. It was a cold and deliberate act that sent a rising crescendo of anxiety through the nation. Similarly, 'J and J' by Patterson is intentionally complicated. Just when you think the story line is becoming clearer, and surely it must at some point, another twist is added. The ending is tense and almost torturous. I simply couldn't put down the last 50 pages.

Alex Cross, the Dragonslayer, and his friend John Sampson, Man Mountain, are stumped by the cruel murders of two little kids who attend the same school as Alex's young son Damon, Sojourner Truth, located in the heart of the projects in Washington, DC. Shanelle Green's body was even dumped in the schoolyard.

At the same time, two limerick-loving crime artists begin a string of outlandish murders. When they kill Natalie Sheehan, a political news personality, they leave a little poem: "Jack and Jill came to the Hill, To right another error, To make it short, Her news report, Was filled with her own terror." The situation escalates, and the eventual target of the two J's becomes clear - the President.

Of course, Alex is pulled into the case. Now he has two cases on the go. Are they related? Patterson has crafted a great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. (Ja2022/Oc2024)

I have a great passion for thrillers. However, this particular one truly disappointed me as it failed to meet any of my expectations.

I noticed that the villains' motivations were not delved into deeply enough. They seemed either unconvincing or overly simplistic. It was as if the villains were simply evil for the sake of being evil, which is far from the reality where things are much more intricate.

I listened to the audiobook version that I discovered in my library. Surprisingly, it was only three hours long. Perhaps the actual book might have been more comprehensive in exploring the story and the characters. But unfortunately, I have no intention of finding out as this experience has left a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall, this thriller was a huge letdown and did not live up to the standards that I have come to expect from this genre.

The third book in the Alex Cross series is an absolute page-turner, filled with non-stop adventure.

As Alex delves into two serial murder cases, he encounters one surprise after another. The story unfolds at a brisk pace, making it an easy and fast read.

What really stands out is the big surprise that awaits near the end. At least for me, it completely caught me off guard and added an extra layer of excitement to the already thrilling plot.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series and can't wait to see what other adventures Alex Cross will embark on in the next installment.

The author's ability to keep the reader engaged from start to finish is truly remarkable, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller.

Damnit, I’ve done it again! I’ve read book 3 before book 2, but I’m not entirely sure it will have a significant impact on this series at this stage.

I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about this book until the last hundred or so pages. I initially couldn't quite put my finger on why. But then, I realized. It’s Alex Cross. Why is he so proficient at, well, everything? However, it’s not in the same way as Lindsay Boxer. At least she comes across as more human. This guy seems annoyingly perfect. He gets involved in every aspect, makes both enemies and friends, is an adoring father, an excellent lover, a top cop/psychologist, and every serial killer’s muse. Am I forgetting anything?

Also, does his mate have to constantly call him sugar? I find that rather stupid.

Nevertheless, I can't fault the action. Jack and Jill, assassinations, murdered children, murdered famous people, psychotic teenagers – this book has it all.

I’ll continue reading this series simply because it’s James Patterson, and he writes short chapters, which makes it an easy read.

REREAD 6/2/2024

When I said that I had read this book but couldn't recall the storyline, that was indeed the case. I remembered books 1 and 2 clearly, but this particular one didn't seem familiar to me at all. Only one aspect stood out, and that was when he first encountered Christine. She was the principal at his kids' school, and they met during a time when kids were being brutally murdered in the most horrific manner. I remembered the part about the kids getting killed, but not the fact that high-profile celebrities were also being targeted by Jack & Jill.

I'm certain that I liked this book, as I usually remember all of his works. I know for a fact that I read this one, but the storyline just isn't coming back to me easily. Therefore, I can only give it a 4-star rating. Maybe upon a second reading, the details will become clearer, and I'll be able to appreciate the story even more.

Alex Cross is a captivating psychological crime detective, surrounded by all the usual intriguing characters. There's Nana, the wise and nurturing matriarch. Damon, full of energy and spirit. Jannie, a charming and intelligent young girl. And Sampson, a loyal and strong ally.

The ultimate serial killers have set their sights on the most audacious goal - the president and the first lady. Meanwhile, as is often the case, the child killings in a black neighbourhood are unfortunately put on the back burner. But Alex, being the determined and just detective he is, recruits a team that has no such prejudice.

This story is an excellent and easy read that grips the reader from start to finish. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next and how Alex and his team will solve the complex mysteries and stop the killers. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns, making it a truly engaging and thrilling read.

I have a great passion for the books written by James Patterson. Among them, I especially love those featuring the investigator Alex Cross. However, this particular story didn't quite appeal to me.

There is a parallel investigation going on regarding two different serial killers in this book. But this aspect failed to excite me. The story didn't have the same level of captivating charm as the previous ones.

I found myself not as engaged as I usually am when reading James Patterson's works. Maybe it's because the plot didn't develop in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Despite this, I still have a lot of respect for James Patterson as an author. I'm sure there are many other great stories waiting for me to discover in his vast collection of books.

Reading all the Alex Cross books to date is indeed one of my significant reading goals for 2018. However, as of now, I have only completed three of them. Nevertheless, I find myself thoroughly enjoying these books. They have a certain charm that keeps me engaged from start to finish. What's more, their relatively compact size means that I can breeze through them quickly. This gives me hope that I will be able to achieve my goal.

This particular installment had not one, but two extremely intriguing crime plots. Typically, I'm not overly drawn to political thrillers. However, in this case, I actually found the Jack and Jill plot to be really enjoyable. It had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages. On the other hand, the Truth School killer was absolutely unsettling. The way the story was crafted around this character sent shivers down my spine.

Both plots were filled with some very good twists and turns. When the真相 was finally revealed for both, there were truly shocking moments that left me gasping. I'm so glad that I did not find this book to be predictable. I absolutely love it when a book manages to surprise me and keep me guessing until the very end. In conclusion, my quick and simple overall assessment is that this is a quick and entertaining day read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery thriller.

You can never go wrong with the Alex Cross series starting with Along Came A Spider. I had read this book over 20 years ago and recently decided to embark on the journey again to complete the series. Alex Cross is an extremely likable character, and his best friend Sampson adds an extra layer of charm. You can't help but be drawn to them and wish you could be their friend yourself! While this book is good, it's not my absolute favorite, mainly due to the light political element it contains. There are multiple killers in the story, and it's truly amazing how Alex manages to keep up with all the chaos. Patterson's writing is of a very high quality and has the power to make you eager to keep turning the pages. I had forgotten just how long these books are, but once you start reading, the pages seem to fly by quickly!

What is up with all this baby killing :-( I am not a big fan when children get hurt. It truly breaks my heart. I love Sampson, his attitude is refreshing and really does complement Alex.

Also, again, why do they always take him off the cases where the baby dies to solve the more *public* cases… I am no policewoman or anything like that but I feel like this is what happens in real life… Just sad.

So we have Jack and Jill who are going around killing famous people and videotaping it. They kill a senator, a mistress and a few others. When they do kill the mistress, no one knows why they do because she seems like a nobody. Come to find out that this woman was actually the President’s side chick… What a hell of a (easy) job to have.

Since Alex is working the public case, he has Samson working the other case. At first they think it was Sumner but then they figure out that there was no way that it can be Sumner especially since he dies by the hand of the real killer.

The jack and jill case gets a crack. They caught jack on tape! Of course it was an inside job...It was Brett and Jeanee… The craziness just keeps unfolding.

As far as the baby killing, it was another baby that was killing the babies! Depression is real and it can lead to such tragic and unexpected events.