I'm extremely glad that I chose not to watch this movie and instead opted to read the book. There was just something within me that told me it would be great (as is often the case with most books that are adapted into movies), and it truly did not disappoint. I have always loved reading a book from 20 years ago, especially when it comes to the lack of technology described within it.

The killer in this particular story, Gary, was absolutely chilling. Patterson's description was so vivid that it literally had me on the edge of my seat. In fact, at one point while I was reading, my dog barked, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack! The funny thing is, I just can't picture Morgan Freeman as Cross at all. I was envisioning someone more like Blair Underwood or a younger Wesley Snipes, with Cuba Gooding Jr. playing Sampson. But enough about my casting decisions, which are really quite irrelevant.

The characters in this book were wonderfully developed and brought to life. The plot was so fast-paced that it felt like a shock every few pages. It was definitely one of those "I didn't see THAT coming" types of mysteries. Without a doubt, it is one of the better ones. I would rate it a solid 4.5.

Alex Cross is investigating a brutal murder.

Subsequently, at an exclusive private school, the math teacher Gary Soneji kidnaps Maggie Rose Dunne and Michael Goldberg. That dangerous psychopath is named Gary Soneji.

Alex struggles to confront that psychopath - even to the point of blood exhaustion.

This is a fast-paced criminal-themed novel. (The translation by Gramedia is very good.) and it makes us curious about the events on the following pages.

It keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, constantly wondering what will happen next.

The story is filled with suspense and mystery, as Alex tries to outwit the cunning and dangerous Soneji.

With each turn of the page, the tension builds, and the reader is drawn deeper into the thrilling world of Alex Cross and his battle against the forces of evil.

Over the years, I have amassed a rather substantial collection of James Patterson books. However, I always had the desire to commence reading him from the very beginning of the Alex Cross series. I truly don't know what held me back for so long in uncovering the reason behind his immense popularity as an author. But, I am extremely glad that I finally did.

Although I must admit that once I embarked on reading him, I was on a frantic hunt for the remaining books that I was lacking. It is simply impossible not to become completely engrossed and lost in a sleek thriller like "Along Came a Spider" and not yearn for more. The instant I completed the first book, I was already eagerly dreaming of getting my hands on the second one. It was well worth waking up early on Sunday and making a hasty dash to the bookstore for the next installment of Alex Cross's life. I typically don't read a series back-to-back, but my mind and appetite were held captive, and I had no choice but to yield to the allure of another great book.

Let me just mention how effortless it is for this or his other books to be spoiled. I refrained from reading the editorial reviews until after I had finished the story, and it was a good thing too. I felt that some of the astonishing moments were perilously close to being disclosed.

This highly suspenseful tale commences with a kidnapping from the past that serves as an inspiration for future psychopaths. The renowned Lindenberg baby is abducted from his crib and buried alive. This becomes the motivation for Gary Murphy and the evolution of his alter ego, Gary Soneji - a ruthless kidnapper and killer with over two hundred victims staining his black soul. Gary desires to be someone significant. He wants the streets to be filled with terror and the mere mention of his name to cause a buzz. He is also an exceptional planner, with his ideas taking years to formulate and execute without leaving any prints or traces of his true identity. He is the master of disguises and false credentials, enabling him to infiltrate various sectors unnoticed and observe his future victims. Gary decides to put his master plan into action and kidnap two prominent children from their highly protected school. The ransom demanded is in the millions, but sometimes Gary derives more pleasure from the mental and physical torture than from the money. He thrives on inflicting terror on men, women, and anything that crosses his path, especially children. He is thrilled at the thought that the famous Alex Cross is hot on his trail, and he does his utmost to taunt and stalk the man, leaving him with more crimes to solve. Just when things begin to surface, another devious plot reeks of a foul stench, serving as a warning that the case is far from over, adding a real twist to the story. I cannot disclose any more details. This book is best read with as little prior knowledge as possible because so much occurs, and not everything turns out favorably for Cross.

For a five-hundred-page book, this reads incredibly fast. I completed it in just two days, and if my eyeballs hadn't protested, I would have immediately delved into another book right after. It is truly enjoyable to read a captivating book that doesn't let go and concludes with a bang. Now, I understand why so many people read and appreciate Patterson. He is truly awesome.

A reasonably scripted thriller, it has some truly cringe-worthy lines that simply should not have passed the scrutiny of even a high school-educated editor. Alex Cross, a black, working class police detective in Washington, D.C., offers a refreshingly different take on a hero in a procedural thriller. The story progresses at a good pace and is not easily predictable. However, the writing is, unfortunately, rather crappy.

Just like in the Left Behind series – and, to be honest, a lot of other mass-market works – the really poor writing lies in the short turns of phrases that were supposed to bring the characters to life but repeatedly miss the mark. For example, Cross plays the piano on his back porch after a hard day at work, but does it have to be a Bell Biv Devoe medley?

The book was written in 1992 and perhaps was intended to feel contemporary at the time. So, one might argue that I should cut James Patterson some slack. But there are just so many head-slapping, hyperbolic, and laugh-out-loud bad lines that I simply cannot bring myself to commit to reading another installment in the series.

What a fucking HACK! This kind of expression shows a strong sense of dissatisfaction and frustration. It implies that someone or something has engaged in unethical or illegal behavior that has disrupted or damaged a system, process, or situation.

Hacking can take many forms, such as breaking into computer systems, stealing sensitive information, or manipulating data. It is a serious threat to the security and privacy of individuals, organizations, and even entire countries.

The consequences of hacking can be far-reaching and devastating. It can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. Therefore, it is essential that we take appropriate measures to protect ourselves and our systems from hacking attempts.

This includes implementing strong security measures, such as firewalls, encryption, and access controls. It also requires raising awareness among users about the importance of security and teaching them how to protect themselves from potential threats.

In conclusion, while hacking may seem like a clever and exciting way to gain access to information or cause chaos, it is actually a dangerous and unethical practice that can have serious consequences. We must all work together to combat hacking and protect the integrity of our systems and data.

This is the very first book that I have delved into within the Alex Cross series, and without a doubt, it will not be the final one. James Patterson is an absolutely fabulous author, as I'm certain a great many people would concur. When it comes to penning a page-turner, he truly knows precisely how to maintain the reader's interest and keep them turning the pages at a breakneck pace.

"Along Came A Spider" is a book that encompasses everything. There is mystery aplenty, crime that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and a palpable sense of suspense that lingers throughout. Oh, and did I neglect to mention that it's an outstanding thriller? I am positively itching to get my hands on the subsequent book in this remarkable series.

If you have not yet read this book, do yourself a huge favor and please go ahead and read it without delay. I am extremely confident that you will not be let down. You'll find yourself completely engrossed in the story, unable to put the book down until you've reached the very last page.

3 stars

I went through a whole James Patterson phase when I was in high school. His original work, where it’s just him writing without another author, is truly great. There’s a valid reason he achieved such remarkable success over the years. "Along Came a Spider" was never my favorite of his. In my opinion, "Kiss the Girls" and "1st to Die" are his absolute best works. However, when doing a reread, one desires to start from the very beginning.

This book follows the kidnapping of two children, both of whom have extremely influential parents. Alex Cross of the Washington DC police is among the team dedicated to finding them. You don't need to know much more about the plot than that. Considering it was written in the early 90's, I'm highly impressed that Patterson chose a strong, intelligent, and educated black man to be the hero of his series. He addressed the prejudice that Cross faced, as well as the challenges that Cross had worked hard to overcome.

I remembered 3 key plot points, but had forgotten much else, so it was almost like reading a new book all over again. I also became extremely nostalgic when reading this book because my grandmother adored James Patterson. When I was a teen and a college student, we would engage in discussions about his books. Reading this book made me miss her very deeply.

Newer mystery lovers might not be overly fond of this style. It is definitely very different from modern mystery storytelling.

This book truly had a rather interesting plot. The story seemed to hold the promise of taking the reader on an exciting journey. Additionally, the cover of the book appeared to be decent at first glance.

However, that's about where the positives end. What a major disappointment this turned out to be. It really makes one realize just how incredibly good an actor Morgan Freeman is. After all, he managed to drive Ms. Daisy around for two hours in the movie and somehow make it seem not only bearable but actually quite fun. His performance in the movie version of this story made it highly watchable. Sadly, in the case of the novel, he was not around to bring the words to life and act it out for me.

By the way, upon closer inspection, the cover isn't really all that cool. I was just being polite earlier when I said it was decent. In reality, it fails to capture the true essence of the story within. It's a pity that the book didn't live up to the potential that its initial premise and the allure of the movie adaptation suggested.

Overall, it's a lesson in not judging a book by its cover or assuming that a good story will translate equally well in both written and cinematic forms.

What a disappointment!

How can somebody write a book that is so boring? It is truly astonishing. After reading this particular book, I have made up my mind that I will never choose any work by Patterson again. The story lacked excitement, the characters were uninteresting, and the plot seemed to drag on and on. It felt as if I was wading through a swamp of dullness. I had high hopes for this book, but it completely failed to meet my expectations. It is a real letdown, and I am left wondering how an author of Patterson's reputation could produce such a lackluster piece of work. I would not recommend this book to anyone, and I will be very cautious when choosing future books by this author.

I have a great interest in reading more about Alex Cross.

Today, I went to the library and picked up the book "Kiss the Girls".

It really piqued my curiosity and made me eager to know more about the adventures and mysteries surrounding this character.

Now, I find myself in the pursuit of something else related to Alex Cross.

I need to track down a DVD of "Along Came a Spider".

I'm hoping that by watching this movie, I can gain a different perspective and further immerse myself in the world of Alex Cross.

I'm excited to see how the story unfolds on the screen and how the actors bring the characters to life.

It's going to be an interesting journey of exploration as I continue to delve deeper into the Alex Cross series.

I can't wait to see what else awaits me as I search for that DVD and watch the movie.

Reading how it all began with Gary Soneji is a bit strange. But considering that he is mentioned in the third volume and that dies in the fourth, I had to understand how it all started. How Gary became an obsession for Alex.

I like the Alex in the following books more. But this is where it all began for him. So I accepted it as it is, knowing that he gets better later on.

The story of Gary Soneji and how he intertwined with Alex's life is a complex one. It starts with Gary's actions and the impact they have on Alex. As the series progresses, we see the evolution of their relationship and how it shapes Alex's character. The mystery and suspense surrounding Gary keep the reader engaged and eager to find out more. Even though the beginning might seem a bit odd, it sets the stage for the thrilling events that follow.

I’m always extremely skeptical when going into popular suspense series. There are so many out there that promise excitement and thrills but often fail to deliver. However, this particular one truly caught my attention and I really liked it!

The character of Alex Cross is simply fascinating. He is complex, intelligent, and has a determination that is palpable. I found myself immediately drawn to him and his story.

One of the things that I’m most interested in is seeing how Alex Cross develops over the course of the series. Will he face new challenges that test his limits? Will he grow and change as a person? These are the questions that keep me eager to read more.

Overall, I’m very impressed with this suspense series and can’t wait to see what else it has in store. If you’re a fan of the genre, I highly recommend giving it a try!