Along Came a Spider by james patterson

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The truth is that it seemed extremely boring to me. To the extent that I rushed to finish it in order to be able to go and vote in the PASO.

I was reading it very superficially because I wanted to know how it ended but, to be honest, I didn't care at all.

It starts well but then in the middle it's a mess. It was more about the love relationship than the thriller itself.

Clearly I'm in the minority or perhaps I have to avoid books written in the 90's.

Maybe I'm just too impatient for this kind of story. Or perhaps the writing style of that era doesn't resonate with me. Whatever the reason, this book just didn't do it for me. I found myself constantly looking at the page number, hoping it would end soon.

I had high expectations at the beginning, but they were quickly dashed. The plot became convoluted and the characters didn't seem fully developed. It was a disappointment overall.

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CaptainKenshiro

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Along Came a Spider

Alex Cross, Book 1

I Picked Up This Book Because:

I have a great desire to watch the show, and naturally, I understand the importance of reading the original source material first. It's like laying the foundation before building a house.

Media Type:

Audiobook

Source:

HC Public Library

Dates Read:

12/1/24 - 12/3/24

Stars:

3.5 Stars

Narrator(s):

Taye Diggs

The Characters:

Alex Cross: He is the central character, a complex and multi-faceted individual.

Jezzie Flanagan

Gary Sonji, Solomon (or maybe Sampson, Alex’s BFF), Nana Momma, Alex’s Kids

The Story:

Writing: The writing is of good quality. It is fast-paced, filled with numerous storylines that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The tone is dark and gritty, almost leaning towards urban fantasy. It creates a vivid and immersive world.

Overall Interest: This is a book that demands your full attention. If you don't pay close attention, you will quickly get lost in the web of plot twists and turns. They are non-stop, and to be honest, I don't think I was able to catch all the subtleties and nuances of the story.

Length of Reading Time: Although it is a long book, it is definitely worth the time investment. The story is engaging enough to keep you hooked from start to finish.

Re-read-ability: For me, personally, I don't think I would re-read this book. Once was enough to experience the excitement and drama.

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itsmeganechan

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I truly relished this initial book in the Alex Cross series. It's not hard to fathom why it has achieved such popularity. I'm extremely glad that I ultimately decided to pick it up, and I'll be delving into the subsequent installments of the series shortly. What I adore is that I remained oblivious to several of the twists until moments before they unfolded. Even when I harbored suspicions, I couldn't be entirely certain that events would transpire precisely as they did.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing and second-guessing. The plot was so intricately woven that it was a joy to try and untangle.

Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase

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Nightships

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Das war eines der am schlechtesten geschriebenen Bücher, die ich je gelesen habe. Und damit meine ich nicht nur den Plot.

Der Plot war so, wie man ihn von vielen anderen Thrillern kennt: Ein Psychopath entführt Kinder, und die Polizei jagt ihm hinterher. Nach diversen unrealistischen Plottwists ist es nicht mehr klar, wer gut und wer böse ist. Nun, jedem seinen Geschmack. Für mich war es jedoch abstrus, nur mäßig spannend und hatte für meinen Geschmack zu viele Ungereimtheiten.

Was wirklich schlecht war, war die Sprache. Patterson schreibt offensichtlich für Leser, die die Bedeutung eines einzelnen Verbs im Satz für überwertet halten. Er verwendet kurze Sätze in kurzen Kapiteln. Oft sind es nur hingeworfene Begriffe, als hätte er schon 1992 gewusst, wie man auf Twitter postet.

Dieser Stil ist für Leser gedacht, die es langweilig finden, wenn eine Person ausführlich in die Geschichte eingeführt wird. Sie wollen eine rasante Handlung und empfinden diesen abgehakten Sprachstil als flüssig und dynamisch. Allerdings wird das Buch so geschrieben, als wäre es ein Artikel in der Yellow Press mit klischeehaften Dialoge von wenig ausgearbeiteten Charakteren.

Ich lese gerade parallel einen Stephen King. Der Unterschied in der Erzählfertigkeit könnte kaum größer sein. Und trotzdem führt so eine Romanproduziermaschine wie Patterson die Bestsellerlisten an. Das muss doch für talentierte Autoren extrem frustrierend sein.

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RedClanQueen

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I watched the film a long time ago, even before I read the book. At first, I was really astonished by the significant differences between the film and the book. Then I started to wonder why they made those changes for the film version. The book boasted a far superior storyline, with deeper and more complex characters. It seemed that it could have been easily translated into a great film.

As is usually the case, the book turned out to be better than the film. Without a doubt, it deserves 5 stars.

I think the filmmakers might have made some compromises due to various reasons, such as time constraints or the need to appeal to a wider audience. However, in doing so, they sacrificed some of the essence and charm of the original book.

Nonetheless, both the film and the book have their own merits. The film can provide a visual and auditory experience, while the book allows the reader to immerse themselves in the detailed descriptions and the author's unique writing style.

In conclusion, although the book is better in my opinion, the film can still be enjoyed as a separate entity. It's always interesting to compare the two and see how the story is presented in different ways.

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AbrahamGlg

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

5 Stars. I simply couldn't put this book down. It's truly that outstanding. What an amazing debut!

Dr. Alex Cross, a black psychologist and police detective, along with his life-long friend John Sampson, also a detective, are deeply engrossed in investigating yet another brutal homicide that has occurred in the projects of Washington DC. Just as they are making progress, news arrives that two young students have been kidnapped from an up-scale private school.

Why should they abandon their urgent case and collaborate with the FBI and the Secret Service? It seems unfair, but one of the fathers happens to be the US Secretary of the Treasury, and Alex is reluctantly pulled into the new investigation. Later, he is just as unjustly pushed aside.

This is the first time we are introduced to Cross, one of the great fictional personalities to emerge in the mystery - thriller genre in recent years. The story is a real page turner, perhaps because author James Patterson presents us with one of the most despicable criminals ever encountered, Gary Soneji.

Then there's Secret Service Supervising Agent Jezzie Flanagan. She's not just a beautiful face; in fact, her relationship with Cross adds a steamy element to the story. There's even a reference to the infamous Lindbergh baby kidnapping in 1932, which continues to be a topic of controversy to this day.

Can you read 500 pages in one sitting? I sure needed a long weekend to devour this thrilling novel. (November 2017)

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matt___h__

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This story's top rating is truly well-deserved.

It is based on multiple aspects that make it a remarkable piece of work. Firstly, its pace is engaging, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The sharp writing adds another layer of excellence, with every word carefully chosen to create vivid images and evoke strong emotions.

The various plots within the story further enhance its appeal. They are intertwined in a way that keeps the readers guessing and interested in finding out what will happen next.

Finally, the conclusion ties everything together neatly, providing a satisfying end to the journey.

Charles Turner's narration is outstanding, bringing the story to life and making it even more enjoyable to read. With all these elements combined, it is no wonder that this story has received a rating of 9 out of 10 stars.

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medea096

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

3.5 stars

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a moderately good experience. It's not quite a perfect 5-star rating, but it's also not a mediocre or disappointing one. There are aspects that are definitely commendable and enjoyable. However, there may be a few areas that could use some improvement or refinement. It could be that the service was generally good, but there were a couple of minor glitches or delays. Or perhaps the product had some great features, but there were a few small flaws that detracted slightly from the overall experience. Despite these small drawbacks, a 3.5-star rating still means that the overall impression is positive and that there is potential for even better things in the future. It gives a sense of satisfaction while also leaving room for growth and improvement.

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Alex Cross #1

Along Came a Spider

james patterson

This edition

Alex Cross

Gary Soneji

Gary Murphy

Kyle Craig

Regina Nana Mama Cross

Jezzie Flanagan

More editions

About the author

james patterson

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