Along came a spider popped my James Patterson cherry. I usually have a hard time deviating from my favorite authors, but I'm making an effort to explore and find new ones. As a writer, I believe this is the only way to examine different styles and learn from the genius of other authors. I've never seen the movie based on this book, but while reading, I felt like I was watching an action movie the whole time. There were some parts that bothered me a little and I thought could have been omitted. However, I also understand the author's need to advance the plot and provide the reader with the necessary information to understand the story. At times, I felt the writing was a bit wordy, but I'm used to authors with a cleaner style. I liked Patterson's style overall, and I will definitely read more of his books and learn from his writing. Now, I'm going to watch the movie! The one thing that this book could have done without and the reason it gets 4 stars is all the puns and corny cliché lines. I could accept one character having this kind of personality, but many of his characters, including the children, had cliché lines repeated over and over again in the book. The children were supposed to be 13 years old, but it took me a while to realize that because at first, they sounded like 5-year-olds. Every time I heard one of those lines, I couldn't help but roll my eyes because the book would have been much better without the corny lines. But otherwise, it was well done!

The book was indeed well-written, with a great plot, engaging events, and well-described actions. It managed to keep my interest throughout, which was quite impressive. However, I wasn't completely emotionally invested in it. The main reason I didn't rate it 5 stars was because it failed to make me smile. I compared it to Grisham's works, which always manage to take me to that 5-star level. He writes in a similar genre but has the ability to make me smile, whether it's because of the intriguing characters or the exciting moments when the hero is being chased or trapped.

At times, I found myself impatient, eager to get some answers. As a result, the story felt a little slow-paced. I've read other police procedural mysteries that didn't make me as impatient and allowed me to enjoy the journey more.

The narrator, Charles Turner, did a fine job. However, I couldn't help but wish that Morgan Freeman had been the narrator. Since the character Alex Cross is a black man from the south and Morgan Freeman played him in the movie, I kept imagining him while listening. I think he would have been a great choice for the narration.

The story is told in a combination of first person from Alex's point of view and third person for other characters and events. This structure worked okay, but I would have preferred it to be told entirely in third person. When it switches to first person, it almost takes me out of the story as I start thinking about my own perspective.

DATA:

Unabridged audiobook reading time: 12 hrs and 21 mins.

Violence: strong. The killer has a penchant for cutting off body parts.

Swearing language: strong.

Sexual language: none.

Sex scenes: about 8, referred to but no details shown. The couple is a black man and a white woman.

Setting: the early 1990s, mostly in east coast U.S. locations.

Book copyright: 1992.

Genre: mystery suspense police procedural.

Ending: the good guys win, but there are many victims of violence.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Honestly, I had such high expectations from one of Patterson's most renowned books!

Alex Cross is indeed a charming and witty protagonist, and the multiple perspectives are skillfully written. However, this story failed to truly astonish me. I continuously anticipated some major revelation, but alas, it never materialized.

And we simply cannot overlook those cringe-worthy romance (???) scenes. Yikes!

I have amassed the first seven books in this series from various book sales. So, I will surely give Alex Cross another chance. Nevertheless, I think I'll temper my expectations a little bit.

Alex Cross, a police investigator and psychologist, along with Jezzie Flanagan, a Secret Service agent, are investigating the kidnapping of two teenagers. During the investigation, several more people become victims of murder. It turns out that the kidnapper and the murderer are the same person.

Garry is truly crazy. He is a very cunning and intelligent psychopath. A person who is patient in carrying out his evil plan. The character of Garry is very terrifying. The murders are committed according to his emotions.

SH actually read the Alex Cross series before and thought that Alex was a 'white man'. However, when reading this first book, Alex turns out to be a 'black guy'. He is smart and interesting.

The pace of the story for this script is quite fast. There are many terrifying scenes. There are various mixed feelings when reading this script. Anger, joy, heartache, and so on.

When reading almost to the end, SH said 'enough already. He is actually' but suddenly there is another plot twist. The heart hurts again. Indeed, his plot twist hurts the heart.

Along Came a Spider - the debut of Alex Cross. This is Patterson's insightful series that not only met the socio-political changes of the 80s but might have even been part of that movement.

We are introduced to a really great homicide detective, Alex Cross, who is also a great father with a close-knit family. Additionally, there is a very good up-and-coming female Secret Service agent. The story involves project killings that may not necessarily be gang related. These are just some of the ingredients that made this series such a best seller.

It may not be the greatest case in the world, but Patterson's easy-reading storytelling and composition style more than make up for that. His protagonists' characters and how he treats them also add to the allure of the series. Patterson has a way of captivating readers and keeping them engaged from start to finish, making this a must-read for mystery and thriller fans alike.

This is a good mystery thriller that offers a shocking twist. However, to some extent, it is also predictable.

I have been a die-hard fan of Alex Cross for a long time. In fact, it is probably Patterson's best series. I have only been reading his recent works in this series, and each one has managed to keep me on the edge of my seat.

The storylines are always engaging, filled with complex characters and thrilling plot developments. Although there are moments when I can anticipate what might happen next, the overall experience is still highly enjoyable.

The way Patterson crafts the mysteries and builds up the suspense is truly remarkable. He has a talent for creating a sense of unease and anticipation that keeps readers hooked until the very end.

Despite the predictability at times, I still highly recommend this series to fans of mystery thrillers. It offers a great combination of excitement, mystery, and well-developed characters that make it a must-read.

This book was extremely boring.

I couldn't care less about what was happening within its pages.

The constant shifting of perspectives throughout the story made me eager to just get it over with.

It felt more like a chore than an enjoyable read.

I really don't think I'll be attempting Patterson's other books in this particular genre.

Based on this experience, I have little confidence that they would offer anything different or more engaging.

Perhaps Patterson's writing style in this genre just doesn't resonate with me.

It's a shame, as I had hoped for a more captivating and immersive reading experience.

But alas, this book failed to deliver, and I'll be looking elsewhere for my next literary adventure.

Φοβερά καλογραμμένο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα με μεγάλη έμφαση στην ανθρώπινη ψυχολογία και συμπεριφορά.

It is by no means accidental that Patterson always figures at the top of the best sellers.

I have a lot of sympathy for Alex Cross (even if it's a bit cliched at times).

This is his first adventure.

The story is filled with thrilling twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

The characters are well-developed and their motives are complex, adding depth to the narrative.

Patterson's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.

Overall, this is a must-read for fans of the mystery and thriller genres.

Alex Cross was supposed to be an extraordinary detective, with all his sophistication and tragic background. However, contrary to expectations, he didn't prove to be a particularly bright detective. In fact, he solved the case mostly by sheer luck.

Cross was mainly a passive narrator, and the mystery was only solved when others "decided" to disclose the facts. First, the old black woman revealed that she had seen Gary Murphy. Second, the black teen girl, who was initially too scared to speak up, said she had seen someone watching Gary during his crimes. Third, Gary himself told Cross that it was the Secret Service guys keeping an eye on him. Fourth, the FBI uncovered that Cross's lover, Jezzie, was responsible for the second kidnapping.

Moreover, there were numerous clichés throughout the story. Especially towards the end, when Jezzie suddenly opened up and told the truth while the FBI was secretly taping the entire conversation from behind the trees. This entire part seemed completely out of character for her. If she was truly such a psychopath, she should have suspected that Cross was setting her up. By the way, the romance between the two of them was never convincing. In fact, it was rather dumb. For instance, consider this exchange:

I reached out and we held hands. "Thank you, for the way you look," I said. "You look so beautiful."
"I did it just for you." Jezzie smiled. "And I'd like to do something else for you. I'd like you to do something for me, too."
And so we did one another.

Ugh...

I don't think I'll be reading any other books by Patterson. At least not anything from the Alex Cross series. It seems that this particular installment failed to meet my expectations in terms of both detective work and storytelling.

So interesting!

I haven't seen the movie, so this whole plot and the characters were completely new to me. It was truly captivating, filled with some great twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Now that I have finished the Women's Murder Club, I am faced with the dilemma of choosing between Patterson's other series to read next. I'm really leaning towards this one as the first choice.

My quick and simple overall assessment is that psychology and criminal justice are my absolute passions! These were my two majors during both undergrad and graduate school. It's no wonder that I'm so drawn to stories that involve these elements.

I can't wait to dive into the next Patterson series and explore more of the fascinating world of crime and psychology.

In Washington D.C., a terrifying serial killer is on the loose. He is brutally murdering entire families. Detective Alex Cross takes on the case.

Gary Soneji. He is a completely insane type. His life goal is to become the biggest criminal in America. To achieve that goal, he kidnaps the children of two high-profile individuals. This case also falls into Cross's hands. During the investigation, he has to face a terrifying criminal. Can he catch him?

"Along Came a Spider" is the first book in the Alex Cross series by renowned crime writer James Patterson. It is with this book that Alex Cross's journey begins. The story of the book is quite simple. It feels natural like a serial killing novel. However, what makes this book different is the villain Gary Soneji. He is a mastermind, an insane criminal as they say. Whose life goal is to be the best criminal. James Patterson has shone a good light on this character. Through this character, he tries to explore criminal psychology. It cannot be said that the author has been completely successful. There were some flaws. But overall, he has shown it well. Coming to the character of Alex Cross. This is the best part of the book. The author has developed it well. He is an educated, family man and a detective. His work process is also good. He also has a sense of humor. I liked the character. It is for this person that the series will continue.

Patterson's writing is good. The story was also fast-paced. However, in the middle, he has presented an overly dramatic plot. I have read many books about detective intrigues before. Here, one intrigue scene is very cheesy. The weakest part of the book is the twist. I had guessed it a long time ago. However, I still like the series. Thriller lovers can read it. They will like it. At least for Alex Cross.

I have delved into quite a number of Alex Cross books by now. After much thought, I determined that it was high time I delved into the very first one to uncover how this captivating series all began. I am truly overjoyed that I made this decision. As it turns out, I discovered this initial installment to be an outstanding book. It presents a story that is not only fast-paced but also incredibly exciting. From the very first page, it has the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly guessing what will happen next. And then, to top it all off, it concludes with a truly remarkable twist that completely took me by surprise. I was so engrossed that I found myself staying up very late into the night to finish it. I simply could not bring myself to put it down! Altogether, it is a really excellent read that I would highly recommend to any book lover.