One thing about library borrowing is that it offers a wonderful opportunity. You can check out books that you would never think of buying. It's truly a liberating experience.

If there aren't any good ebooks available, it gives you a chance to explore books that you might not have read otherwise. For example, a book like Along Came a Spider by James Patterson.

Now, I'm well aware that popular fiction is popular for a reason. However, those authors who continuously pump out book after book, with each one being so similar to the last, can become rather tedious. That's why I tend to avoid these types of books. My favorite books are usually those that I would encounter in an English Lit class at university, not at a drugstore.

On the surface, I might seem like a snobby elite. But the truth is... I'll devour a James Patterson book just like anyone else.

At least that's what I discovered when I decided to read Along Came a Spider.

I decided that my first James Patterson novel should be the start of a series. So, I put on hold Along Came a Spider, which is the first in the Alex Cross Series, and 1st to Die, from the Women's Murder Club series. I thought that my life didn't have nearly enough murder and mystery, so a little bit of that in book form couldn't do any harm. Along Came a Spider was the first book to become available.

This book was actually an excellent read. It was filled with suspense and kept me guessing until the very end. I must admit, I started to pick up on the plot twist quite early on.

James Patterson has written an engaging crime novel that makes the reader question. After all the whodunit questions, the reader is faced with a moral dilemma - where do our sympathies lie? Why do I, as a reader, feel differently about one villain than I do about another? Why is one morally reprehensible while the other evokes sympathy? Am I, the reader, condoning terrible behavior? Am I complicit?

I truly love it when a writer can do more than just write a plot. James Patterson clearly shows that he can write a great story, but when he is able to make the reader question their own complicity, then I know that I have read a great book.

This book was so bad.

It wasn't bad in the sense that it made you angry and want to throw it into a fire. Instead, it was bad in a Nic Cage movie kind of way. It was so unapologetically terrible that it was both unintentionally hilarious and strangely entertaining.

You have to finish it, even though you keep asking yourself, "What am I doing with my life right now? I only have a limited time on this earth, and yet I can't stop reading this."

If you pay attention to the plot, you'll have numerous questions by the end. For example, wait, why do they think he might have a split personality if his actual full-time job was a teacher at a private school but he's telling his family he's a salesman? That seems pretty deliberate. Or what the fuck happened to the ten million dollars though? And then there's my favorite insane moment: who the fuck erected a burning crucifix on the cabin property, and why is it literally NEVER ADDRESSED AGAIN?

This book is a chronicle of ridicule. The main detective, Alex Cross, is supposed to be a psychology genius, and his nemesis, Gary Soneji, is also supposed to be a genius. However, neither of them does or says anything that justifies this description. They're both just average, normal guys.

Oh yeah, and James Patterson is kind of cute. He's a white dude trying so hard to write a Black detective. It's not even offensive; it's just that you can tell he's really trying and doing his best, but it's a bit of a bumbling effort. Like, bro, just relax. It's okay. You don't have to remind your audience 800 times that Det Cross is a Black dude. We get it. It's totally fine.

And I can't really hate on Patterson, even if this was a rage-inducing shit book. He promotes reading so hard for young people and has written several books for children. He just seems like a really enthusiastic guy who is super into literacy.

Anyhow, if you want the mystery/crime/thriller novel equivalent of a bad Nic Cage movie, read this shit.

I finally did it. I read a book by James Patterson. As a librarian, I had this feeling that I couldn't go through my entire life without experiencing the works of such a widely beloved author. Even though I had a hunch that I might not be a huge fan. Well, it turns out my suspicions were right. But you know what, at least now I don't have to wonder anymore. I would say that I've read enough of Patterson for now. However, there's still this tiny part of me that feels compelled to read one of his more recent books at some point. Why? Because I'm completely baffled that he has managed to maintain such a highly lucrative career when the writing in "Along Came A Spider" was, quite frankly, not good. Not good at all. There were so many clichés, the romance was cringe-worthy, the dialogue was stilted, and there were ridiculous plot holes all over the place. It's really hard to overlook all of this.

Knowing that I probably wouldn't read anything else in this series, I decided to read some brief summaries of future Alex Cross stories. And holy guacamole, this book seems almost tame compared to what's coming up. It's like a soap opera for thriller readers. But that's where I'll stop. I understand why people are drawn to these kinds of stories. And I would never try to persuade a library patron to avoid James Patterson if that's who they really want to read. His stories clearly resonate with a lot of people, and I'm just not one of them. My favorite mystery writers are Tana French and Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling), and their styles are completely different from Patterson's. They feature more polished writing, and the characterization is absolutely crucial to the plot. I guess it just goes to show that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to reading.

Okay, I was truly disappointed by this novel that I listened to as an audiobook while working on my computer. James Patterson is indeed one of the most popular authors out there. Although I didn't anticipate him to be a literary genius, I did expect him to be a proficient storyteller. However, I was severely let down.

The plot had numerous twists and turns, and I'll concede that. I did have the urge to continue reading (or rather, listening) to discover how everything would unfold. But I was unimpressed by his dull, alternating first-person/third-person narration and his unremarkable dialogue. I'm aware that this book wasn't intended to be humorous, but there were moments when the characters laughed, and I couldn't help but wonder, Why are they laughing? There's nothing even remotely funny in this novel. In daily life, people say amusing things all the time, and since this novel spans several years, one might think I'd get a chuckle or two from the audiobook, but that wasn't the case.

I also wasn't impressed by the characters in this book. Being inside Alex Cross' mind is extremely boring, regardless of the exciting events happening around him. I disliked Jezzie almost from the moment she was introduced in the novel. What kind of name is "Jezzie" anyway? Is it supposed to be short for Jezebel? Who would name their child that? Is Patterson using this name as a biblical allusion to give depth to his otherwise straightforward narrative? If so, it's rather weak. The character of Soneji/Murphy was probably the most interesting and well-developed, but I think that's the nature of this type of character. The only character I felt any affection for was Sampson, who was the closest thing to a funny character in the entire book, but he was more cute and endearing than truly funny.

Regarding the plot of the novel, there were approximately ten too many twists and turns, which made the last half of the book drag. The pacing of the novel is quite slow. By about two-thirds of the way through the novel, I was thinking, Are you kidding me? Is this novel ever going to end? Patterson definitely doesn't like loose ends as he tied up every single one of them, which I found highly irritating rather than satisfying. In some ways, I can understand why this novel was made into a movie (although I will never watch it). While listening to it, I found myself imagining Denzel Washington (circa 1998) as Alex Cross, Katheryn Winnick (from Bones) as Jezzy, Grizz Chapman (from 30 Rock) as Sampson, and Kevin Spacey (circa 1998) as Soneji/Murphy. (As much as I love Morgan Freeman, he was at least 10 years too old for the role of Cross.) I think it was almost written like a movie script, but a script for a not very good movie. I debated between giving this book one or two stars and ultimately gave it one star because, by listening to it on audiobook, I was able to finish it, but I don't think I would have if I had been reading it.

What an interesting story!

First of all, and probably most obvious to anyone who has read or is planning to read, it is totally different and way better than the movie adaptation. I started reading this yesterday and I just finished. I couldn't put this down. For this being my first James Patterson novel, I was very pleased.

My long term goal is to complete all of the Alex Cross books in the next few years, I guess. It's a great start so far. The story is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Patterson's writing style is easy to follow and makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of the action. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller. It's definitely worth the read.

James Patterson is an author who knows how to write a story that keeps readers coming back for more.

His books, like the one about Alex Cross, are filled with excitement and plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The small chapters make it easy to read, even if you have a short attention span.

And if you like to read before bed, forget about it. This book will have you so engaged that you'll feel like you're sitting up in a leather chair by the fireplace, smoking a pipe.

Even if you don't smoke a pipe, you'll be speaking with eloquence after reading a Patterson book.

And if you like to see someone get busted big time, Patterson's books are full of action and drama.

If you're a fan of reading and want to experience something new, check out James Patterson. His books are a great introduction to his unique writing style.

A perfect crime-thriller story.

I was about to state that it began well, but then I realized that it was merely because I thought the beginning was the least糟糕的 part. I mean, if you desire to read a story with incredibly cringe-worthy romance lines, pointless and unnecessary racism, and a script that only enhanced the unrealistic nature of the characters, then by all means, waste your money on this book.

The beginning held my interest for a while as I believed it had a rather decent storyline (perhaps the only good aspect of this book). However, then came the middle, where almost nothing remotely interesting or essential occurred. In my opinion, Patterson should confine himself to writing crime and exclude all elements of romance from it; half of the book was filled with romance. If he knew how to write romance, let alone crime, then I really wouldn't mind as much. But the lines... Oh god, the lines! I couldn't believe their cheesiness and laughability. His romance writing is like that of a parent attempting to "relate to the kids," and he's just embarrassing himself and truly shouldn't do it.

Even if all the romance were removed, the racism would have downgraded this book anyway. I mean, sure, I wasn't around in '92, but even I know that it wasn't this bad. Probably in every other chapter featuring Alex Cross, you'll encounter some sort of racist remark or observation that really didn't need to be there. Alex rambles on about how the world will never accept an interracial couple and how everyone is discriminative towards black people, but I think it's actually him who comes across as racist. At the beginning, you can't help but notice how bluntly he points out the color of his friends and other characters. Patterson should really go back to school and pass his history lessons.

Next, the unrealistic characters. Everyone, in one way or another, simply didn't feel real, and I think that was definitely due to the script. Once again, I'll single out Alex. Absolutely NOTHING he says would be applicable to the real world. Not once in this did I think that someone in real life could truly identify with him.

My expectations of Patterson have really plummeted because of this. So I'm really not anticipating much as I proceed to read 1st To Die, since I purchased it at the same time as Along Came A Spider. If I could award this half a star, I would. How this managed to become a number one bestseller is probably the biggest mystery of the book.

For some reason, Amazon refused to post this review, and I can't see why. If anyone can figure it out, let me know.

Along Came a Spider is the first in the Alex Cross thriller series and revolves around Alex, a Washington D.C. detective with a background in psychology.

My Take
This is one of the few stories in which the movie adaptation is better. It wasn't until almost the end that the book started to more closely resemble the movie. I usually hate it when a movie leaves out so much of the book, but in this case, Patterson (or his editors) should have tightened this up. I do wish they'd left the main characters alone, as much as I adore Morgan Freeman. And, yes, the movie adaptation was much more dramatic for the changes. Just don't read it and think it will be the same.

I like Alex. He's a realist and a caring single father who loves his kids, and they all live with his wise mother. She's tolerant of Alex's choices but doesn't let him get away with a thing. It helps make Alex more of a real person and pulls me in. And, yes, I suspect all this background is what helps make the book so much longer.

It's an interesting start, one of revulsion as we look into the mind of the man who truly masterminded the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby back in 1932. A mind that highly resembles Gary Soneji's, and it's scary how well Patterson gets inside it. I'll never understand how people like Soneji think, how incredibly selfish he is. I know, selfish is such an inadequate word for what a horror Soneji is.

It's almost halfway through the book before we finally get to the good parts. A horrible beginning exploration of Soneji/Murphy's personalities that makes you question everything. I didn't care if Soneji would get the death sentence; he deserved it. Yet, you feel for Murphy and hope he can get help. Then Patterson introduces a new angle to it. A terrifying question with which Patterson teases us.

I find it interesting that while Patterson pokes at the prejudice angle against blacks, that the true emphasis seems to be on the politics. Making everyone look good without caring about true justice. It's not to say that Patterson doesn't portray life in the projects, but it's more about selfishness, jealousy, and I don't know, paranoia? A fear of exposing one's dirty linen?

Why is it that keeping critical information to your own agency is so "important"? If they would share what they knew, so many more crimes could be stopped. What is it with human nature that the agent/officer/detective who arrests the perpetrator is the one recognized? Why don't they recognize everyone who had crucial input?? Arghhh.

The Story
It was that article. Alex thinks it was the title that drove the upper echelon nuts … "The Last Southern Gentleman" …

While Alex sympathizes with the kidnapped children's parents, he's angry that the police, the FBI, the Secret Service, and everyone else are ignoring little Mustaf's murder.

Meanwhile, it's a hunt for the kidnapped children and Gary Soneji, a brilliant sociopath.

The Characters
Dr. Alex Cross is the Deputy Chief of Detectives, a homicide and major crimes detective in charge of S.I.T. with a doctorate in psychology and a skilled hostage negotiator. Nana Mama is Alex's seventy-nine-year-old grandmother, Regina Hope, who still does volunteer work after she retired from being an English teacher. Maria is the wife whose death he still mourns. His children are the four-year-old Janelle and six-year-old Damon.

WASHINGTON D.C.
Washington D.C. Police Department
Officer Butchie Dykes and his partner discovered the Sanders' crime scene. George Pittman is the chief of detectives, a real jerk who has it in for Cross, a.k.a., "The Jefe, the Boss of Bosses, Il Duce, Three Pits, George Porgie…" Lieutenant Don Manning is one of Pittman's. Fred Cook is a failed Vice detective now working as Pittman's administrative assistant. He really suits Pittman's personality. Ack. Christopher Clauser is Alex and Sampson's captain.

Special Investigator Team (S.I.T.) is…
…"supposed to be an opportunity" for its eight black officers to go on to better things. Alex is in charge. Senior Detective John-John Sampson has been Alex's best friend since they were nine. Detective Rakeem Powell is another man on the team.

Secret Service
A workaholic, Jezzie Flanagan has a law degree and uses her motorcycle to relax. She's also the immediate supervisor of the Secret Service agents who guard anyone not the President. She lives with her retired mother, Irene Flanagan, a killer bridge player. Dennis "the Menace" Kelleher is her bully of an ex. Victor Schmidt and Jeb Klepner are more agents. Charles "Jolly Chollie" Chakley and Mike Devine are the Secret Service agents assigned by Jezzie to protect Michael.

FBI
Agents Roger Graham, Reilly, Gerry "Digger" Scorse (Alex's friend), Marcus Connor, Kyle Craig, and McGoey are all involved in the case. Pete Schweitzer and Todd Toohey are some of the crime scene techs. Harold Friedman is a technical officer. Special Agent Bill Thompson is from the Miami office. Kurt Weithas is a deputy, the number-two man at the Bureau.

Carl Monroe is the "jolly, hail-fellow-well-met" mayor. Don't trust him.

Martin Bayer is a reporter with the New York Times. Joseph Denyeau was the pilot in Florida. Richard Galletta is a lawyer with the Justice department.

Maggie Rose Dunne is nine and the daughter of Katherine Rose, the movie star. Maggie's father is Thomas Dunne, a prominent entertainment lawyer who had been heavily involved in environmental causes, is now the director of the Red Cross.

The Washington Day School in Georgetown is…
…a prestigious and very expensive school. Michael "Shrimpie" Goldberg is Maggie's best friend, a brainiac, and the son of Secretary of the Treasury Jerrold Goldberg. Fellow students include Luisa, Jonathan, Stuart, Mary-Berry, and Brigid.

Ms. Kaminsky is the music and visual arts teacher. Mr. Guestier, a.k.a., Le Pric, teaches languages. Vivian Kim. Emmett Everett is the school porter.

Gary Soneji, a.k.a., Mr. Chips, teaches math and computer science and is the grand master of Nintendo video games — he's also a sociopath who considers everyone not him as stupid. His alter ego is Gary Murphy, a loser who knows better than anyone for whom he works. Missy is his long-suffering wife. Roni is their daughter. Marty Kasajian is Missy's brother and employed Gary as a favor to his sister.

Simon Conklin is a boyhood friend of Soneji's. Anthony Nathan is Soneji's lawyer. Federal Judge Linda Kaplan denies every defense request. Mary Warner is the prosecutor.

Jean "Poo" and her two children: fourteen-year-old Suzette and three-year-old Mustaf Sanders are murdered. Willie Mae Randall Scott had been a witness to a possible suspect; Quillie McBride is her friend. Nina Cerisier had been a Suzette's best friend and her family were their neighbors.

Jimmy Moore runs the soup kitchen at St. A's where Alex and Sampson volunteer. Bobbi is her new name. She frequently dreams of escape.

Salisbury P.D.
Lieutenant Edward Mahoney is in charge of the river scene.

Crisfield P.D.
Officers Artie Marshall and Chester Dils find the original holding place.

Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
State Troopers Mick Fescoe and Bobby Hatfield were headed into McDonald's for lunch.

Lorton Federal Prison, Virginia
Dr. Marion Campbell is the warden.

Fallston Prison
Dr. Wallace Hart is chief of psychiatry. Robert Fishenauer is a floor supervisor whose greed does him in. Laurence Volpi, Phillip Halyard, and Stephen Kessler are guards.

Bolivia
The Patinos are farmers.

1932, New Jersey
Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, adore their son, Charles Jr. Bruno Richard Hauptmann is the man the real kidnapper framed.

The Cover and Title
The cover is beautiful with its sunrise of gradated purple into pink into yellow backdrop for a house that's all lit up. It makes you wonder why the family is up this early at which point you notice the spider dangling from the "D" in "Spider", hovering over the house. The title is huge in an embossed white font with the author's name in an embossed yellow at the bottom. I love the series information at the top.

The title is about the execution of the plan and the most unexpected tangled web it becomes when Along Came a Spider.

My 'out-of-my-comfort-zone' 2020 book was truly an interesting read.

My husband recommended it to me, thinking it would be a great way to pass the time during a long 12-hour car trip, and boy, was he right!

The book was a bit dated, there was violence, bad language, and even some rather silly sex scenes. However, it was a thrilling story that really made the miles fly by.

As I read, I found myself completely immersed in the plot, forgetting about the long journey and getting caught up in the excitement of the story.

It was a refreshing change from my usual reading material, and it showed me that sometimes it's good to step out of our comfort zones and try something new.

'out-of-my-comfort-zone' #20for2020reads

I absolutely loved this. I'm currently making my way through the collection. I started with "Kiss The Girls," which was brilliant, and then moved on to this one.

Both of these books are so much better than the movies, and the movies were really good to begin with. I'm truly loving this series.

I will now try to read the rest of the books in order. I can't wait to see what other精彩 stories and characters await me.

This collection has really captured my attention and I'm completely hooked. It's amazing how the written word can bring these stories to life in a way that the movies just can't quite match.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller. You won't be disappointed.

I am truly happy to have finally met Alex Cross!

And indeed, I am now completely and hopelessly hooked on this series. I have promptly added the rest of the books in the series to my reading list.

This particular book is an outstanding blend of a captivating plot and well-developed characterizations.

I must admit that I was a bit taken aback by the strong emotional aspects that the book presented.

The pace of the story was perfect, neither too fast nor too slow, and the tone was just right, creating an immersive reading experience.

And that surprise reveal towards the end... it was simply wow!

The book is extremely well written and delivered, with every word and sentence carefully crafted to keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a must-read for all mystery and thriller enthusiasts.

I am already looking forward to delving into the next installment of the Alex Cross series and seeing what adventures and mysteries await.