Okay, at the moment, I am engrossed in reading pulp fiction. Many individuals from my classes have highly recommended his novels, and out of curiosity, I decided to find out what all the fuss is about. So far, I have to admit that the writing is not of the highest quality, but nevertheless, it manages to keep me entertained. I did like the movie adaptation, although I couldn't help but find Ashley Judd's portrayal annoyingly condescending.

I have finally reached the end of the book, and I must say it was a disappointment. It seemed like one cliché was simply piled on top of another. I really don't understand why authors feel the need to make women so perfect. Is it perhaps a form of misguided feminism or is it a male fantasy? In my opinion, it leans more towards a male fantasy. However, this stereotyping of the ideal female seems to be a common occurrence in books written by authors of both genders.

I am a strong advocate of feminism, but I have to question the realism of creating a woman who is not only smart, beautiful, kind, hilarious, scrappy, great with kids, independent, logical, but also good in bed. I believe that any narrative should include some plausible neurosis. Otherwise, it is nothing more than a male fantasy, especially when it comes to the aspects of being beautiful and good in bed. It fails to reflect the true nature of any woman who has both talents and flaws.

If it weren't for two particular scenes in this novel, I would have been inclined to award it two additional stars. Patterson may not be a master of prose, and his novels often follow a somewhat formulaic pattern. However, until a few installments after this one, where Alex Cross became almost unbearably perfect and the supervillain psychopaths seemed to have nothing better to do than try to take him down, I found Patterson's detective protagonist quite likable, and the books featuring him were entertaining page-turning police procedurals.

In some respects, this second book in the series is even stronger than the first Alex Cross novel, Along Came a Spider. In this story, Cross becomes deeply involved when his niece is kidnapped. He suspects that it's a case of "twinning," where two serial killers, known as "Cassanova" and "The Gentleman Caller," are collaborating and competing on opposite coasts. Cross teams up with Kate McTiernan, a victim of Cassanova who manages to escape his lair only to discover that it has seemingly vanished into thin air. The forensic psychology aspect is more prominent in this novel, the hunt is filled with suspense, and the twists are cleverly crafted. Moreover, Kate, in many ways, is an appealing and kick-ass heroine. She is a survivor who takes every possible measure to save herself rather than passively waiting for rescue.

However, what mars this otherwise engaging novel is that whenever I think of it, two scenes in particular come to mind, and they are not pleasant memories. One is the rape of Kate by Cassanova. The other is the anal rape of another woman by Cassanova, using a live snake. Yes, you read that correctly. I even went back and double-checked to ensure that I was remembering the right novel. There it is, in Chapter 54, three paragraphs that are seared into my memory.

The thing is, I can understand the reasoning behind both scenes. One is intended to showcase Kate's resilience and bravery, so that we can fully appreciate what she endured. The other is meant to give us a sense of just what kind of monster Cross is up against in Cassanova.

But these scenes are so graphically and explicitly described that, to me, they verge on being pornography of the kind that the two serial rapists are said to read and enjoy, such as The Story of O and School Girls in Paris, among others. These scenes not only overshadow the story but also have a repellent effect.

Rape in fiction is a delicate and risky subject. I'm not suggesting that it should never be used. It is, unfortunately, too often a part of life, history, and crime. However, it is rarely handled effectively, and it is not done well in this instance. Instead, it comes across as a cheap ploy to titillate and shock the reader.

This is the 1st book of my experiment of reading new things.

James Patterson was recommended to me by the local librarian. I had heard of him before, but had never delved into any of his numerous works. The librarian has a remarkable skill of suggesting a book that they believe the reader will enjoy, rather than something they themselves like. With so many diverse reading preferences, it seems more of an art than a science, yet it's truly an admirable ability.

Whenever I consider a book recommendation, I first think about my own thoughts and experiences with the book, hoping the reader will have a similar encounter. Here, I'm highlighting the different approaches to recommendations - yours (what you prefer) versus mine (what I prefer).

As for this book, it was exactly what I needed in my reading life. It was contemporary, engaging, and I was able to pick it up and read it straight through, cover to cover, without any distractions from other books.

Reading this has helped me break out of a reading rut, and it has taught me that I need to focus on reading fewer books at a time. Currently, I have 5 - 6 other books that I'm in the middle of, which is clearly too many for me to handle simultaneously as I wasn't able to finish any of them.

I'll be reading more Alex Cross after this. "Kiss the Girls" is the 2nd in the series - I started here because the 1st one wasn't available at the library. I'll have to track down that first installment and will definitely be continuing with the series. Although I thought there were a few plot holes, which led me to knock a star off, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

If this is what some people consider beach reading, they should drown themselves.

This novel is truly a stinker. If I could scrub clean that part of my brain where the stench of this novel resides, I would. Patterson may pat himself on the back for devising something as clever as an underground lair and the concept of two serial rapist/murderers collaborating. However, every other aspect of this book (yes, I have to call it a book, even though it's more like a doorstop) is goofy, stupid, and formulaic.

Two things are abundantly clear. Firstly, Patterson seems to think Duke is the only university in the piedmont (ugh, how irritating). Secondly, he has no talent for writing love scenes. In fact, I've never been so repelled by the written words of love. Ever. It's as if he took all the charm and romance out of it and replaced it with something dull and unconvincing.

Overall, this book is a waste of time and paper. I would not recommend it to anyone, not even my worst enemy. Save your money and your brain cells for something better.

This second installment of the Detective Alex Cross series presents our main protagonist, Detective Alex Cross, deeply immersed in the thrilling pursuit of not one, but two psychotic serial killers. The author's writing style is truly remarkable, with a layout of short chapters that range from 2 to 6 pages in length. This unique structure adds a sense of urgency and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the entire story.

The storyline unfolds at a steady and engaging pace, filled with gut-wrenching action that never seems to let up. From the very beginning, the reader is drawn into the complex and dangerous world of Detective Cross as he races against time to catch the killers before they strike again. The novel is a true page-turner, with twists and turns at every corner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Overall, this second installment of the Detective Alex Cross series is a must-read for fans of the mystery and thriller genres. The author's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and the story to life, making it a truly unforgettable reading experience.

Wow…..my very first Patterson read, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This is especially so after hearing that people either have an intense love for him or a strong hatred.

The story was absolutely gripping. It had me constantly guessing all the way until the very end. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of his trademark short chapters. However, as I got further into the book, I came to really love those short chapters. They made the reading experience feel fast-paced and exciting.

There is one tiny detail that irritated me quite a bit though. In the book, it was mentioned that someone "clicked off the safety" of a Glock. But the thing is, Glocks do not have an external safety that you can click on and off. When we read these types of books, we already have to suspend some of our sense of reality. But at least the author could get some of the technical details right.

Side note: I had originally planned to start with the very first Alex Cross story, which is "Along Came a Spider." However, since I was reading on a Kindle and not seeing the cover every time I picked it up to read, I didn't realize that I was actually reading the second Cross book until I was about 20% into it. It was a bit of a surprise, but I decided to just keep going and see where the story took me.

This is truly the absolute worst book that I have ever managed to complete.

To be somewhat fair, it can be endured when there is action, which occurs quite frequently. However, every single time James Patterson attempts to pen the words coming out of a character's mouth, it gives you an intense urge to punch yourself right in the face. And when he writes those descriptive, emotional paragraphs, it makes you wish you could punch him in the face instead.

In fact, I actually dog-eared a few pages because the writing was so appallingly bad that I wanted to be able to quickly refer to them for people to demonstrate just how truly awful it was.

Looking for another illustration of how terrible a writer he is? One of his other books is titled "Night of the Machete." I'm not a particularly God-fearing man, but if you do believe in God, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to offer up an extra prayer for James Patterson's soul that seems to be murdering the English language.

This book was truly extremely creepy, yet it had an addictive quality that kept me hooked from start to finish.

I adored the way the author didn't neatly tie everything together and instead brought Sonji back at the end, leaving us eagerly anticipating the next installment.

The only aspect that I wasn't too fond of was that the culprit turned out to be this guy whom we had just learned very little about, if anything, just five pages ago. It almost made me feel as if all that other searching was rather pointless, although the story was told in a captivating manner.

I knew throughout that none of the others could be Cassanova because the author continued to refer to Cassanova as "Cassanova." However, when we discovered that the Gentleman Caller was Will Rudolph, then the author began referring to him as "Will."

The setting of some of the last pages in Outer Banks, NC added an interesting touch to the story. Overall, it was an amazing read that I would highly recommend to others.

Alex Cross is an truly amazing character.

He is complex, intelligent, and has a heart of gold. If you are a fan of other James Patterson books, I cannot recommend this whole series highly enough.

The story lines are incredibly fast paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

I have read many of the books in this series and I have yet to come across one that I didn't like.

Each book is filled with action, mystery, and suspense, making it impossible to put down.

If you are looking for a great series to read, look no further than the Alex Cross series by James Patterson.

Sometimes it's truly spine-chilling how certain authors manage to penetrate the minds of psychopaths. Here is a prime example.

This disturbing novel awaits your perusal. The concise chapters and captivating narrative

will have you racing through its pages in no time at all.

But be cautious of those paper cuts as you turn the pages with such haste.

Authors who can bring to life the inner workings of a deranged mind possess a unique talent.

Their ability to create a world that is both fascinating and terrifying is what makes their works so compelling.

This particular novel is no exception.

It draws you in from the very first page and doesn't let go until the very end.

So, if you're looking for a reading experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then this is the novel for you.

Just make sure you're prepared for the disturbing journey that lies ahead.

4 Stars.

It is extremely challenging to equal or even surpass a highly successful debut. Patterson's "Along Came a Spider," the first installment featuring Alex Cross, can only be characterized in such a manner. As of the last count, it has received 427,000 ratings on Goodreads. However, this second book, "Kiss the Girls," comes remarkably close.

There is a flaw in the pursuit by Cross, John Sampson, and the FBI of two serial kidnappers/killers operating in Durham, North Carolina, and in Southern California who appear to be collaborating. Or are they in competition? I will offer my thoughts on that after this review.

The series has numerous appealing aspects - the affectionate home life of Alex Cross with his two children and his feisty grandmother, Nana Mama, his long-standing friendship with the hulking Sampson, and the intricacies of Alex's relationships with attractive and fascinating women. This time, her name is Kate McTiernan.

The cases he takes on are of the highest caliber. Here, his niece, Naomi Cross, who is attending Duke University law school, goes missing. The question then becomes, "Did Casanova, the one stalking Durham, abduct Naomi?" And then a reporter from L.A. calls, asking if Alex has heard of The Gentleman Caller carrying out similar acts on the west coast. It's truly a great read. (December 2021)

Good luck trying to put this one down after starting it.

From the very beginning to the end, this book will have you sweating with anticipation of what's to come. James Patterson truly does an outstanding job of creating realistic characters and placing them in believable situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat, so to speak.

The story revolves around a detective named Alex Cross, who is called upon to track down two infamous serial killers. Patterson describes them as twin killers, but the question remains: are they really related? You will encounter some of the most gruesome and horrific murders throughout the narrative.

However, the story takes another unexpected turn when Cross's niece goes missing from her college campus. Suddenly, the investigation becomes personal for him.

This book is a quick read and one that is definitely worth your time. If you have a penchant for constant excitement, then this is the perfect book for you. Rest assured, this book will not disappoint!