The latest installment in this series is better than the previous two books.

The story, while centered around a series of bank robberies carried out by different crews but with the same person, known as The Mastermind, pulling the strings, doesn't go overboard. The Mastermind has a nasty habit of eliminating the crews once the job is done. However, his criminal activities don't stop there. He has a diverse criminal career that includes kidnapping, rape, and murder. The question is, can Alex track down this elusive criminal?

On the home front, there's a brief but engaging storyline for Alex's daughter Janine, who falls ill. Christine, unable to get over what the Weasel did to her and further troubled by the news that the Weasel may still be alive after his wife's murder, takes off for Seattle, leaving little Alex with his father. As a result, Alex becomes closer to Betsey, the special agent in charge of the Mastermind case. It seems that Alex's love life is once again facing challenges.

The story is cleverly crafted, although I did spoil a bit for myself by reading the backs of some of the later books in the series, so I already knew the identity of the Mastermind. Nevertheless, it will still be fascinating to see how Alex pieces everything together and solves the mystery.

Generally, I have a preference for books that present complete stories. These stories typically have a distinct beginning, a well-developed middle, and a conclusive end. When I reach the last page, my mind engages in the process of evaluating and digesting what I have read, allowing me to form a coherent opinion. "Roses are Red" by James Patterson, however, departs from his usual narrative style. Most of Patterson's novels commence by captivating the reader and drawing them into his fictional world. He leads them through a series of short chapters filled with non-stop action, much like guiding them down corridors. As the reader embarks on this fast-paced journey through the hall of suspense, they receive fleeting impressions of potential danger from various directions, as if through open doors and unguarded windows. This ultimately culminates in a thrilling climax that quickens the heart and stirs the emotions. When the story concludes, a sense of satisfaction and well-being fills the reader's mind, and the world once again seems like a good and safe place. In contrast, "Roses are Red" is different. It features an extensive and arduous manhunt that spans four hundred pages, only to end where it began (minus a few unfortunate victims). The reader is then left to pick up the thread in its sequel. Despite this unique structure, it still possesses all the elements of a memorable read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to enthusiasts of crime fiction.

Detective Alex Cross is an absolutely magnificent person.

This book is written in an extremely engaging and well-crafted manner. It vividly showcases the complex family dynamics, deep friendships, and the beautiful aspect of love.

Moreover, the element of suspense is masterfully incorporated, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Even days after finishing the book, you still find it hard to believe who the actual killer is.

The unanswered question that lingers is whether Detective Cross will ever manage to figure it all out.

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who has a penchant for suspense and thrilling mysteries.

It will surely captivate your attention from the first page and keep you hooked until the final revelation.

You will be unable to put it down as you eagerly follow Detective Cross's journey to solve the case and uncover the identity of the killer.

So, if you are a fan of suspense, don't miss out on this amazing book.

Alex Cross, a brilliant black Ph.D. Psychologist and a dedicated D.C. detective, experiences a series of heart-wrenching events. First, he loses his understandably nervous girlfriend, which leaves him emotionally devastated. Then, he meets another FBI agent who becomes his suitor, but unfortunately, this person is subsequently murdered.

Throughout the novel, Alex Cross believes that he has found the brutal 'Mastermind' protagonist villain. However, as we reach the last chapter, we discover that he has NOT. The conclusion is truly shocking and completely unexpected.

This classic series offers a worthwhile read that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. You won't believe who the 'Mastermind' actually is! It's a story filled with mystery, suspense, and twists that will leave you breathless. If you're a fan of thrilling detective novels, this is definitely one you don't want to miss.

Yikes!

Where on earth is this story going?

The anticipation is killing me!

I simply can't wait to get my hands on and read "Violets are Blue".

It seems like there are so many mysteries and surprises lurking within the pages of this book.

Every time I think about it, my heart races with excitement.

What kind of adventures will the characters embark on?

What secrets will be uncovered?

These questions keep swirling in my mind, making me even more eager to start reading.

I'm sure that "Violets are Blue" will be an absolute page-turner that will keep me hooked from beginning to end.

I can't wait to lose myself in its captivating world and find out where this thrilling journey takes me.

I am developing a serious infatuation with Samson. I truly want him. Every time I see his name within the story, I find myself getting a little more interested.

This story was a little bit different than the others. It started out with a string of robberies. I am so accustomed to just everyone getting killed that I was shocked that people were actually out to steal things instead. Lol. Although a large number of people do also die, the main objective was the robberies. Or so I thought!

Actually figuring out who the killer is was a bit hard for Alex in this one because of all the moving parts. The FBI is of course called in when everything starts to go down and Alex is teamed up with Betsey. It seems like they are always one step behind the killer/robberies. Turns out that it is the Mastermind who is organizing everything and then having other people do the dirty work. I got a real “Joker from batman” vibe from the mastermind. He was the one behind everything and then he just killed everyone that helped him. No witnesses!

I swear I thought it was that Szabo guy and even though he didn’t really have the means to get all this stuff done, I was sooooo sure of it!

Guess what? It wasn’t him!!! It was fuxing Kyle!!!!!

I can’t believe it! I just … there is no way… How!!! WHY!!!!!

This book was just as good as the other Alex Cross books.

However, in the beginning, the story line wasn't as interesting. It seemed a bit slow and lacked the immediate excitement that one might expect.

But as the story progressed, it gradually got better. The plot thickened, and more mysteries and twists were introduced.

The ending, in particular, was very surprising. It was completely unexpected, and you would never guess who the Mastermind was.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read the first books in the Alex Cross series. The ending will truly shock you all.

I had originally planned to take a break from reading the series and explore something else. But the captivating ending of this book made it impossible for me to resist. I just had to find out what was going to happen next.

Overall, it's a great addition to the series and well worth the read.

ROSES ARE RED is of roughly the same literary quality as a Harlequin romance.

However, it is still the best Alex Cross novel (up to this point) since KISS THE GIRLS.

Finally, we are presented with a bad guy who is actually somewhat interesting and can truly challenge Cross.

In terms of the story, the book is entertaining enough.

Nonetheless, one has to endure Patterson's frequently abysmal writing.

Despite the less than stellar prose, the engaging plot and the presence of a more captivating antagonist make ROSES ARE RED a relatively enjoyable read within the Alex Cross series.

It manages to hold the reader's attention and provides a certain level of excitement, even if it falls short in the literary finesse department.

Overall, it's a novel that fans of the series may find satisfying, despite its flaws.

So, what I really want to say is, “how could you treat me like that, Patterson?” Seriously?

I didn't even get a kiss goodbye or a farewell from my friend. It was just like “this is the end and nothing is happily ever after! There's no kiss goodbye in this one! All I got was a big slap across the face and a ‘see you in the next book’ kind of ending!

This book truly took me on a wild ride.

But then again, it's a work by James Patterson, so perhaps I shouldn't have been all that surprised.

Roses are Red was indeed good, yet I'm not certain if it's my absolute favorite. I've devoured so many of his books, and while this one didn't let me down in the slightest - it's just极其difficult to single out a favorite at this moment. I'm only on book 6, so I can't really exclaim "OMG THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OUT OF THE WHOLE GOD DAMN SERIES" considering there's a plethora of books within this series. I'm determined to read them all, and then, when I reach the final book, I'll somehow attempt to pick my favorite "child."

Now, let's return to this particular book. And yes, this review will contain spoilers.

Roses are Red presents us with a murdering duo of sorts. However, you're led to believe that the person orchestrating these murders is The Mastermind. But is there truly just one individual behind all of this? Who can say for sure.

Alex Cross has his hands full dealing with a series of robberies and gruesome murder scenes, all while also grappling with a mountain of personal issues. Christine is still reeling from a post-traumatic stress situation following the kidnapping that occurred a year ago. They, Alex and Christine, welcomed a baby in the previous book (named Alex Junior), and he gets baptized in this one. But then, something happened that I never saw coming. Christine left. She just up and left Alex, the baby, and their entire life together, and moved to a different state. At first, I didn't really care for Christine, then I foolishly began to like her in the last book, and now I despise her all over again.

Then there's the whole dynamic between Alex and his kids. I don't want to give away any spoilers about them - I was just feeling sad for a chapter or two. Seriously, go read it and cry with me.

Other than that, there's the whole mystery surrounding the mastermind. It actually confused me at times, and I was desperate to figure out how everything was interconnected. And then, the ending completely blew my mind. I was left craving more. I absolutely hate cliffhangers.

I'm so relieved that I have a good number of these books either in my room or on my Kindle, as I don't have to wait to continue reading. I'm going to immediately dive into the next book.

Really compelling!

I just breeze through these books. However, I'm not always content with the conclusions. There was one instance when the identity of the killer was leaked to me. I read the entire book with that knowledge, yet I still couldn't fathom how it was possible.

But the journey of reading is truly great.

Patterson writes in three-page chapters. (I sometimes envision book clubs attempting to discuss Chapter 127 or 93.) This makes for extremely addictive reading.

And so much occurs in the life of Alex Cross.

There are such malevolent criminals.

It is well worth the read.

Overall, Patterson's writing style and the engaging storylines keep me coming back for more. Despite my occasional dissatisfaction with the endings, the thrill and excitement of the narrative make up for it. I highly recommend these books to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or crime thriller.

I've been engaged in rereading all the books within this series ever since I initially read them upon their release.

I recall this particular one and the subsequent book with great vividness. The reason being that the twist within it truly shocked me. Even though I had already read this book before and was aware that a twist was impending, I still found myself taken aback when it was ultimately revealed.

The next book is the one in which Alex Cross manages to figure things out.

I have a deep affection for Alex and his best friend and partner, Sampson. I am truly enamored with how seamlessly they collaborate and the fact that they were childhood friends. Additionally, it's wonderful to know that Nana Mama essentially raised Sampson along with Alex.

In this book, Alex had a new love interest. This was because Christina couldn't overcome the trauma resulting from her kidnapping. She left Alex the baby and departed in order to recover and get well.

Overall, these books continue to captivate me with their engaging storylines and well-developed characters.