James Patterson initiated his highly successful Alex Cross series in 1993 with the publication of Along Came a Spider. Currently, there are a total of 25 books in this series. PBS included the Alex Cross mysteries in its list of 100 books and series for The Great American Read. This led me to explore an audiobook of the very first Alex Cross book and give it a listen. Wow! I deeply regret that it took me a full 25 years to attempt this series. I was completely enamored with both the character and the book!

Alex Cross is a metro detective based in Washington, D.C. He is in the process of raising his two children with the assistance of his grandmother, whom he affectionately refers to as Nana Mama. She took on the responsibility of raising him after he tragically lost both his parents during his childhood. The situation in D.C. is rather dicey. A poor black family is brutally murdered in their own home. Two children from an expensive day school are kidnapped. Additionally, a teacher from the school meets a violent end. The deranged murderer and kidnapper continues to add more heinous crimes to his repertoire, even going so far as to shoot up a McDonalds restaurant. Cross is determined to locate the kids and apprehend the suspect. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he discovers that this case is intertwined with a great deal of politics and a complex plot that extends far beyond a simple psycho math teacher.

Alex Cross is such a powerful and compelling main character. He has his imperfections, yet he is unwaveringly dedicated to his job. He holds a deep love for his Nana Mama and his children. I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the character's growth and development throughout this thrilling narrative. He has to contend with prejudice, the intricacies of Washington politics, and the red tape of bureaucracy. I particularly like the fact that he is not only a detective but also a psychiatrist. This unique combination allows him to gain insights into the minds of his suspects, and his background proves to be invaluable in the investigation of the kidnapping.

I am most definitely going to read more of this series! Once I began listening to this book, I simply couldn't stop. We are currently in the midst of painting our house, and Alex Cross served as wonderful company as I spent numerous hours working outdoors. It made the time pass by in a flash! The story was truly mesmerizing! I was completely caught off guard by several of the twists and turns. I absolutely love it when a thriller novel manages to surprise me!

Along Came a Spider is the 10th book that I have read from the 100 books listed for The Great American Read. I am extremely glad that this series was included. I can clearly understand why it has been a best-selling series for decades. It is incredibly gritty and suspenseful!

This is the very first book by James Patterson that I have had the pleasure of reading. I may be a bit late to the party....but I am most definitely going to read more of this series, as well as other books by Patterson. Along Came a Spider was exciting, realistic, and an absolute joy to read.

This first installment of the Alex Cross series truly turned out to be a worthwhile investment of my time.

The author's writing was of a high caliber, skillfully crafting a powerful narrative that had me completely engrossed in the storyline from one page to the next.

The plot was filled with excitement and mystery, constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, an unexpected twist emerged, which made for a truly stupendous ending.

This twist not only added an extra layer of excitement but also left me eager to pick up the next book in the series to see what adventures Alex Cross would embark on next.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thrilling and well-written mystery.

It is a must-read for fans of the genre and is sure to leave a lasting impression.

3.5/5 stars.

I simply couldn't get a wink of sleep until I had completed the book. However, once I reached the last third of it, I found myself increasingly bored. At times, I even had the urge to just skim through the pages and have the book come to an end already.

There were indeed a few plot twists that managed to catch me off guard initially. But as the story progressed, I began to see very clearly where the book was headed.

I truly wished that I could have loved the book as much as I did when I first started reading it. Sadly, though, I had to lower my rating by a star because it just seemed to drag on and on, and I gradually grew more and more bored with it. It's a bit of a disappointment really, considering how promising it was at the beginning.

Overall, it's an okay read, but it definitely could have been better if it hadn't lost its momentum towards the end.

This was my very first encounter with the works of James Patterson. The only thing I knew about him was that his name seemed to be attached to a new book almost every three weeks, which led me to assume that his writing might not be of the highest quality. In a way, I wasn't entirely wrong. I had heard that his early work was his best, so I decided to start there. This particular book is the first in his Alex Cross series. I have to say that the story and the characters were decent enough to hold my interest and even made me consider reading at least the next book, "Kiss the Girls". However, I didn't find his writing to be all that spectacular. I'm not entirely sure if it was his writing style or the way Taye Diggs read it in the audiobook (it wasn't a particularly outstanding performance). I'll definitely give him one more chance to make sure, but I never really found myself impressed with his writing. It's very straightforward, and like Dan Brown, he has very short chapters that keep the story moving, but they don't offer much more than just a description of what's happening. It's kind of difficult to explain, but as Justice Stewart famously said, "I know it when I see it." Or in this case, when I read it.

”…Written by an author of over 20 books”

The Hour of the Spider

It is an entertaining thriller with an extremely bad villain and a super-prepared hero, but for a good part of the novel, it doesn't help him from getting into a difficult situation.

There are a lot of movie-like effects perfectly spread throughout the short chapters for a greater "effect" and to hook the reader.

The slippery villain has a lot of alternatives that are hard to believe. This is the worst part for me, as you start to not believe or not be carried away by the action, and this accumulates as you see more and more doubtful things appear.

If you can get past these things, the novel is very entertaining, with a great pace, to pass the time. The characters are nothing special, the villain is not believable, and the protagonist is outmatched for most of the story until the author decides that it's okay, man!

All in all, this is the first of a series of almost twenty novels. I don't know what the following ones will be like, but the author must have had success with this character to have been publishing what are called bestsellers for so long.

This is my very first Alex Cross book, and I'm quite certain it's my first encounter with the works of James Patterson as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it. What made it truly unique was the seamless blend of police procedural and psychological elements. We think we know, or at least we assume we know, who the killer is. In fact, he gets apprehended fairly early on (well, the first time around, anyway). However, it's not as simple as determining whether he'll be found guilty in court or judged insane.

Alex Cross, who is both a detective and a psychologist, had a challenging task ahead of him. It was an extremely tough job on both fronts. He endured hardships along the way but managed to keep his composure for the most part, although it was undeniably difficult at times. Towards the end, the situation was really up in the air, and then some unexpected twists emerged. Dr Cross ultimately solved the case, but for me, it wasn't a happy ending. Moreover, it left ample room for more thrilling developments in the future.

I listened to this book in audiobook format, and the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life.

I was held in a state of suspense for the majority of it.

It truly disappointed me that Alex could be so easily hoodwinked, especially given the level of professionalism he is expected to possess!

This is my very first experience with a James Patterson novel, and while it had its flaws, it may not necessarily be my last.

To be completely honest, I have a greater preference for Jeffrey Deaver.

His writing style and the complexity of his plots tend to engage me on a deeper level.

However, I am willing to give James Patterson another chance and see if future works can capture my attention more fully.

Maybe there are hidden gems within his extensive body of work that I have yet to discover.

Only time will tell if he can win me over completely.

“Entretenido” is a Spanish word that means “entertaining” or “fun.” It is a term that can be used to describe a wide variety of things, such as a movie, a book, a game, or a party. Something that is entretenido has the ability to capture our attention and keep us engaged, providing us with a sense of enjoyment and amusement. It can help us to relax and unwind after a long day, or to pass the time in a pleasant way. Whether we are looking for a lighthearted comedy to make us laugh, an exciting adventure to take us on a journey, or a challenging puzzle to test our minds, there is always something entretenido out there to suit our tastes and interests.

DNF at 34%, I just cannot get into it.

I believe this is my first Patterson novel. I am not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. The story seems to be quite dark and intense, and I find myself constantly avoiding it.

Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. I have heard great things about Patterson's writing, but this particular book is not doing it for me.

I keep hoping that something will happen to make me more interested, but so far, it's been a struggle.

I'm not sure if I will continue reading or just give up and move on to something else.

It's a shame because I really wanted to like this book, but sometimes, you just have to admit that a particular story isn't for you.

We are in front of the author who is a must-read for those who love the police genre, and it is also the best-selling one worldwide (above Stephen King).

Starting with an impactful first chapter, we are faced with a police puzzle that takes you on a dizzying path with a time-sensitive police investigation, with a very agile and easy-to-read narrative; the book forces you to be glued from beginning to end.

It is not a book that delves deep into its characters and even the secondary ones seem weak and predictable; its strength lies in its main character Alex Cross who is the protagonist with a charismatic soul, a solid, strong, emotional and determined character, impossible not to feel liking for him. Its villain is an extremely intelligent and very good at what he knows how to do psychotic killer. The main plot is perfectly constructed to take you on a frenzied path and gradually introduces you into a complicated, twisted and very intelligent investigation,

with plot twists that will leave you amazed and with a very impactful ending.

An important point that it touches on and that is seen throughout the story is the issue of racism since it is a story written in the 90s, highlighting the prejudices that were more marked in that era.

In summary, it is a very good police thriller, and although it does not bring something new to the subject, it makes you fully immerse yourself in the story and enjoy it.

Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1), James Patterson

James Brendan Patterson, an American author, presents "Along Came a Spider", a captivating crime thriller novel. It is the first in the series featuring forensic psychologist Alex Cross, first published in 1993. Alex Cross, a homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology, lives and works in the ghettos of D.C. Resembling Muhammad Ali in his prime, he is a tough guy from a rough neighborhood, yet he wears Harris Tweed jackets and relaxes by playing Gershwin tunes on his baby grand piano. He also has two adorable kids, who are his special vulnerabilities. Jezzie Flanagan, the first woman to hold the highly sensitive position as supervisor of the Secret Service in Washington, is blond, mysterious, and seductive. She rides her black BMW motorcycle at speeds of no less than 100 mph. Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to embark on a forbidden love affair at the worst possible time, as Gary Soneji, aiming to commit the "crime of the century", is outsmarting the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. This novel has been the basis for movies like "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls", with Morgan Freeman playing the role of Cross. To date, twenty-nine books and several short stories in the Alex Cross series have been published. In "Along Came a Spider", when Alex Cross is informed that a member of his family has been killed, he vows to find the killer. Soon, he discovers that the victim is not the only one in this case, and the situation is not as he initially thought.

A quick read with a rather predictable outcome. Patterson, to be honest, is not necessarily that outstanding when it comes to the narrative and creating truly convincing characters. However, I must admit that I really liked the way he presented the villain.

The story unfolds in a somewhat expected manner, yet there are still elements that manage to hold the reader's attention. The narrative may lack some depth and complexity, but Patterson compensates for it with his portrayal of the villain. The villain is brought to life in a vivid and engaging way, making the reader both intrigued and repulsed.

Despite the predictability, the book still has its charm. It's a light and easy read that can be enjoyed in a short amount of time. Patterson's strength lies in his ability to create a memorable villain, which is something that many readers will appreciate. Overall, it's not a masterpiece, but it's still a decent read.