Firstly, I would like to point out that James Patterson is my favourite author.

Obviously, that’s not based on this book. I happened to come across this book and thought that I should read the first ever book written by my favourite author.

My hopes weren’t high, but I’m so shocked at how much I disliked it. If it had been written by any other author, I would not have finished it and would therefore have given only one star.

I pushed through it out of curiosity and also in the hope it would get better. However, it didn’t.

I found the whole story boring and confusing. James Patterson’s novels usually start off exciting and remain that way throughout with so many shocking twists that leave you stunned.

This book had none of that. It is hard to believe it was written by the same author as the Alex Cross Series.

I’m so glad this wasn’t my first book by him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have read any of his other amazing novels.

Overall, this book was a disappointment for me as a big fan of James Patterson.

I hope his later works will return to the high standards that I have come to expect from him.

Quite possibly, this is the worst book I have ever had the misfortune of reading.

For a story, there are two fundamental requirements. Firstly, it must have a coherent plot, and secondly, the writing style should be such that the reader can easily follow along. Regrettably, this book fails on both these counts.

The story jumps around haphazardly, making it extremely difficult to keep track of what is happening. Even after finishing the book, I'm still not entirely sure what actually took place.

It starts off relatively well by introducing us to a character who claims he can provide evidence that a hit man committed a murder, despite there being video evidence suggesting someone else was the culprit. However, after this promising beginning, the story takes a nosedive.

It never bothers to explain whether it was indeed the title character who carried out the assassination and, if so, how exactly he managed to frame someone else.

I'm a huge fan of Patterson and have read a significant portion of his work. I had been eagerly anticipating reading his first novel for quite some time, only to be left deeply disappointed.

If there is one positive aspect that can be gleaned from this book, it is that James Patterson's storytelling skills have improved significantly since he wrote this early work.

Ha, the jokes on me. I recently had the amazing opportunity to see James Patterson in person. During his discussion, he was cracking jokes in a really fun and engaging way. At one point, he was asked if he had a favorite or best book. And his answer was quite unexpected. He said it was his very first book. Naturally, I felt a sense of obligation to read it. Oh my goodness, let me tell you. He has definitely come a long way since he was 26. Thank goodness for that. This book was truly a disappointment. It was so disjointed that it was hard to follow. The story didn't flow smoothly at all. There was nothing in it to keep me interested or carry the narrative along. In fact, it was so boring that I really struggled to finish it. I don't think I'll bother to look for other early works of his. It's safe to say that this experience has made me realize that an author's early works may not always be their best.

I'm an extremely BIG Fan of James Patterson's Alex Cross series, and so is my Godmother Judy. I've read each and every one of them! As I stated in my previous book review on Walter Mosley's Black Betty, Judy and I discuss Alex Cross as if he were a real person. We also attempt to figure out how James Patterson, who is very white, has such profound insights into the life of African-Americans. It's an ongoing theme in our Patterson book discussions. I would absolutely love to have lunch with him one day and gain some up-close insights.

Well, Judy persistently tried to get me to read Patterson's first book, The Thomas Berryman Number, which was written in 1976. I finally picked it up last week and adored, adored, adored it! If you're a fan of Patterson's Cross series, this is an absolute must-read. Once again, Judy and I had the same discussion about Patterson when we talked about this book. "Is he really a black man, passing for White?" we asked jokingly. Was the love of his life a black woman and so forth. You should hear us; we're H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!

The Thomas Berryman Number clearly indicates that Patterson was a budding mystery writer. It also foreshadows his Alex Cross Series. Not the character, but definitely the African-American themes that run throughout the series. I find The Thomas Berryman Number interesting because the Cross series didn't emerge until 1993, 17 years after this book and many other books prior to The Cross Series.

In a nutshell, the book was excellent. It starts off slowly, but it certainly picks up pace. There's a great deal of suspense and you'll want to keep reading until the very end. The mayor of Nashville is a black man and he is assassinated. Thomas Berryman is the assassin and the story is told through the eyes of a reporter writing a book about the murder. It was a bit complicated during those first 15 - 20 pages but I soon figured out what was going on.

The storyline is a good one, and for sure the book gains momentum. The real beauty of this book, however, is that we can see where Patterson began and for his avid readers, where he ended up.

The book is over 20 years old, but I got my copy from used books on Amazon... Happy Reading until next week! Don't forget to check out today's Tea Review! http://www.raelewisthornton.com

I'm truly astonished.

I've never delved into a James Patterson book previously. Given this one and being in a lull between my own reading materials, I thought I'd take a stab at it. It surely must be excellent, right? After all, he has sold more books than anyone in history. And this is his very first book, presumably the one that catapulted him to stardom. As an author myself, I was eager to discover how he managed to captivate the attention of an agent or publishers with those initial, pivotal chapters.

Then I began reading. From the outset, I grappled to fathom what was transpiring and to whom. I found myself rereading the same sentences multiple times, attempting to make sense of it all. I also found the format rather challenging. The space between paragraphs, the absent commas (which didn't aid my comprehension of the events), and the really peculiar observations that were inserted like bullet points and seemed out of place.

By page 16, I had determined that this book wasn't for me. I have a stack of books waiting to be read and wasn't about to squander any more time on this one.

I'm certain Patterson is successful for a reason, although I can only surmise that it's despite this particular book. It will be some time before I pick up another of his tales.

This book is truly a stinker.

It is astonishing to me that it竟然 won an Edgar.

Apparently, when the award was being decided, Edgar had his head up his caboose.

I firmly believe that instead, he should have had a clothes pin on his nose to block out the stench of this lousy book.

I have a great love for James when he is on his game and producing excellent works.

However, in this particular case, he had absolutely no game at all.

The quality of this book is so poor that it makes me question how it could have even been considered for such an award.

It seems that there must have been some sort of oversight or misjudgment during the awarding process.

Overall, this book is a disappointment and does not deserve the recognition it received.

This is my first encounter with a James Patterson novel. Now I understand that he is one of the best-selling and widely recognized authors. However, that doesn't necessarily mean all of his books are excellent.

The Thomas Berryman Number was his very first novel. I'm not about to pass judgment on his entire body of work based on just this one book. But I do have to wonder, "How on earth did this book win the Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1976?"

This book is simply boring. On the back cover, they use words like "classic," "gripping," and "unforgettable." But it is none of those things. If I had the option, I would give it a half star. I will definitely be reading more of Patterson's works. But if someone tells me that he is phenomenal, I will ask them if they have ever read anything other than the Alex Cross series and then recommend that they read The Thomas Berryman Number.

Perhaps they will have a different perspective after experiencing this particular novel.

No idea what I just read. It seems rather confusing and lacks a clear direction.

However, when it comes to James Patterson, I’ll always stick with the Alex Cross series. The Alex Cross books have been a favorite of mine for a long time. Patterson has a unique way of creating engaging and thrilling stories that keep me on the edge of my seat.

The character of Alex Cross is well-developed and complex, making him easy to root for. The mysteries in the series are always challenging and full of twists and turns. I love how Patterson weaves together different storylines and keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

In conclusion, while I may not have understood the article I just read, I know that I can always count on James Patterson’s Alex Cross series to provide me with an exciting and enjoyable reading experience.

I am an extremely huge James Patterson fan.

So, when I got the opportunity to read this book, I was very excited.

However, it turned out to be a big disappointment.

The story seems to be all over the place.

If you were to ask me what the book is about, I truly don't know what to say.

There are just too many things happening simultaneously.

One chapter has no connection to the other.

It's really a jumbled mess.

I am glad that I have read his other wonderful books before, otherwise, based on this experience, I would never read his book again.

Seriously, don't waste your precious time on this one!

You'll be much better off choosing something else to read.

Terrible! Don't waste your time.

To my knowledge, I've only read 3 other books by this author. I'm the kind of person who reads everything I can get my hands on from my favorite authors. But after that, I've been constantly looking for something different.

My niece is a big fan of James Patterson books, so I thought I'd give it a try. I read The Summer House which a friend loaned me and actually enjoyed it.

Then, they loaned me a really strange book. It was a combination of 2 different short books within the same binding. The Jailhouse Lawyer was just okay, but the other book written by Nancy Allen, Power of Attorney, was even better.

The first book from this author that I ever read was a Maximum Ride book, and it was very strange.

After this second strange experience, I'm really not sure whether I'll ever try another book by this author. I know he is very popular, so there must be some really strange tastes out there or he is writing some good books. However, I just haven't found too many of them so far.

This book commences with three murders that occur in the south.

A manhunt is promptly launched in an attempt to apprehend the culprit.

A reporter emerges as the key figure who endeavors to uncover the truth about this mysterious individual.

The narrative is engaging, presenting a good story that can be read at a brisk pace.

Moreover, the book features a few well-developed characters.

These characters add depth and authenticity to the plot, making it even more captivating for the readers.

Overall, it is a thrilling and enjoyable read that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

Whether you are a fan of mystery or simply looking for a good book to pass the time, this one is definitely worth checking out.

I firmly believe that this was his very first endeavor in writing fiction.

All that I am able to state is that had I perused this book prior to "Along came a spider", I would most assuredly never have evolved into a devotee of James Patterson.

The significance of this initial attempt cannot be understated. It serves as a foundation upon which his subsequent works are built.

Perhaps it was in this very first foray into the world of fiction that he honed his skills and developed the unique style that would later captivate countless readers.

Nevertheless, for me, the impact of reading this book before his more renowned work was profound.

It made me question whether I would have been drawn to his writing at all had I not had this particular experience.

In conclusion, this first attempt at writing fiction holds a special place in the history of James Patterson's literary career.