It was high time to take the plunge and give a Patterson book a try. I am employed in a public library, and let me tell you, his books simply fly off the shelves with astonishing speed. They also rack-up an impressive number of digital downloads.

My initial expectations were rather low. After all, with such popularity, there is always a chance that the quality might not quite match up. And unfortunately, those modest expectations were indeed met.

The story, while it had its moments, didn't really manage to grip me from start to finish. The characters felt a bit one-dimensional, lacking the depth and complexity that would have made them truly engaging. The plot, too, had its predictable elements, which took away some of the excitement.

However, I must admit that Patterson does have a certain knack for keeping the pages turning. There was enough momentum in the narrative to make me want to find out what happened next. But overall, it wasn't the kind of book that I would rave about or recommend wholeheartedly.

Perhaps I just picked the wrong Patterson book. Maybe there are others in his vast collection that are truly outstanding. But based on this particular experience, I can't say that I'm overly eager to rush out and read another one anytime soon.

Really, 3.5 stars.

I figured out one of the antagonists very early on, so there's that.

However, for a first exposure to Patterson, I'm quite pleased.

The story has enough twists and turns to keep me engaged, even though I had an inkling about one of the bad guys.

The characters are well-developed, and I found myself invested in their fates.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see how the story unfolds and if there are any more surprises in store.

I think Patterson has a unique writing style that makes his books easy to read and enjoy.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller.

I'm excited to see what else Patterson has in store for his readers.

This is a re-read for me from 2 years ago.

I had completely forgotten that I had already read it. However, regardless of that, I am extremely glad that I have finally gotten to the Alex Cross series.

I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first time I read it. This is the first book in the series.

I have had several of the books for some time now. I have read a significant amount by James Patterson and have loved almost all of it. So, I anticipated that this book would be just as excellent, and it truly was.

The plot of this one was extremely fast-paced. It really made the story flow smoothly and kept me engaged right from page one.

I didn't find anything in the story that was dull or slow. There were also some rather unexpected events that occurred in this book.

I adored the action and excitement that accompanied this first book, and I'm looking forward to experiencing much more of that in the upcoming books of the series.

I really liked Alex Cross as a character from the very beginning. He has a rational mind, but he does have some flaws, which I love in a character.

I'm looking forward to seeing his development throughout the series. I also enjoyed a few of the other characters, such as Nana Mama, who is Cross's grandmother, and Sampson, who is Cross's partner.

Both of them together truly make this an enjoyable series.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Patterson and has not yet read this series. I also recommend it to those who simply love mystery in general. There is more than enough to keep anyone interested and turning the pages.