This is now my new favorite Alex Cross novel!

I thoroughly enjoyed every single aspect of it. Everything in this book just worked seamlessly.

It wasn't as predictable as some of the other novels in the series, and it had a great combination of suspense and romance.

I'm reading these Alex Cross books in order, so we'll have to wait and see if it remains my favorite.

I really loved seeing the different sides of the military and government that were presented in this one. It added a great deal to the storyline, but some of it was truly unsettling.

However, you can't be naïve and think that this couldn't happen in real life, which is exactly why it's so unsettling.

This was an excellent installment to the series!

My quick and simple overall assessment: I can clearly see why it was number one on so many lists. It's a very entertaining book!

Uncovering evidence of a series of suspicious murder convictions, Alex and Sampson are resolute in their determination to infiltrate the closed world of the military. But what exactly is the army attempting to hide? And do the mysterious symbols daubed on the house of the accused imply that there are more malevolent forces at play?

John Sampson and Alex Cross have been close since they were 10 years old. When Sampson requests Alex's assistance in investigating a case that led his friend to death row, Alex readily agrees. The duo encounters resistance as they delve into the military and try to understand why they are so hasty in condemning one of their own.

We follow the investigation into Sampson's old friend Sergeant Ellis Cooper, who has been accused and convicted of murdering three women and is now on death row. From the first few chapters, we learn what happened to the women, and the chapters alternate between Alex & Sampson and others involved in the case.

In terms of action, it begins with a revelation and then follows the progress of the investigation. The chapters are short and concise, which is Patterson's trademark. Some may dislike this, but I have always found it enjoyable. It means you can easily pick up and put down the book, especially when you are working or have other commitments and only have short periods of time to read. We gain more insight into Alex's character. In the previous book (I think, as I don't read them in order), he met Jamilla, and we see her character make a reappearance, along with more of Alex's family life. I do enjoy the Alex Cross books. Although this one had a bit less impact than the others I have read, I still found it enjoyable, and I would rate it 4/5.

I usually have a penchant for railing against Patterson due to the numerous other writers who manage to garner attention by associating with his name. However, this particular story is truly his own, and it is a rather good one at that.

What enhanced the enjoyment of this book for me was its protagonist, Dr. Alex Cross. I have had a liking for this character in the other books he features in, as well as in a few movies that are based on his adventures.

The story progresses smoothly and is a quick read with scarcely any filler. There is just the right amount of backstory to keep the reader informed and engaged, and the other characters contribute depth to the overall narrative.

The plot initially seemed somewhat predictable, but a couple of unexpected twists managed to pique my curiosity and keep me hooked right until the very end.

All in all, this is a truly enjoyable book that I would highly recommend to others.

There's not a great deal that is truly novel in this installment of the Alex Cross series.

Cross finds himself drawn into a complex case that involves some Vietnam-era Rangers. These Rangers have been engaged in a rather nefarious activity of setting up other Army soldiers in brutally violent murder cases.

Simultaneously, Alex is grappling with a significant decision in his life. He is trying to determine whether he should continue on his current path as a detective or perhaps explore other options and do something entirely different.

Patterson, as is his trademark, presents the reader with his usual staccato chapters, which keep the pace brisk and engaging. The story is also filled with the expected twists and turns that have become a hallmark of his writing.

If you're in the mood for a quick read that doesn't require too much deep thought or mental exertion, then this installment of the Alex Cross series might be a suitable choice for you. It offers a relatively mindless but entertaining story that can be devoured in a short period of time.

First and foremost, this is a quick and easy read. I had forgotten to bring a book of my own to Christmas dinner, so I picked this one up at my mom's house on Christmas afternoon while the turkey was roasting in the oven for three hours. I didn't manage to read the whole book that day, what with taking breaks to chat and mash the potatoes. It took about an hour this afternoon to finish it off.

That's quite remarkable considering the book is 387 pages long. However, it's not really 387 pages in the traditional sense. In fact, it's probably closer to two-thirds of that. Here's a typical chapter break to illustrate what I mean:

As you can see from this example, many of the chapter breaks seem rather forced. This particular break occurs right in the middle of a scene. The reason for the break is that without it, the chapter would have been as long as five whole pages! This is not the kind of book that is meant to be read in installments that take longer than the average commercial break between sitcoms.

The chapter headings take up half a page, which isn't overly strange until you start reading and realize that Patterson's "chapters" are extremely short. There are 115 chapters in this text.

In addition, there is a "prologue" before the five "parts" of the book and an "epilogue," each introduced with two blank pages (apart from the text describing the divisions, of course). So, doing the math, we have 387 pages minus around 115 pages of blank chapter endings and beginnings, and minus an additional 14 blank pages for the section dividers. This would make the book more like 260 pages. (258 for those of you keeping track at home.)

Then you have to consider that the pages have 30 lines each and a fairly large font. I have a copy of Tony Morrison's Beloved nearby, and that edition is 275 pages, but with 37 lines and a much tighter font. So, if this book were printed in a more standard font and spacing, it would probably be about a quarter to a third smaller. A quick guess would put it at around 175 - 190 pages. I'm estimating that this book is probably around 70 - 75,000 words.

The cover price of the (borrowed) edition I read was $27.95, and that was in 2002 dollars.

I mention all this because I just read on Mr. Patterson's Wikipedia page that "His total earnings over a decade are estimated at approximately $700 million."

Holy cow! Seven hundred million dollars for churning out 75,000-word bubble-gum books? That's an astronomical amount of money!

Now, I'm not begrudging Mr. Patterson his wealth. After all, I'm sure he does a lot of good things with that money. For example, he set up a foundation with $100,000 in 2005 and then suspended it in 2008. (Also according to Wikipedia.)

Oh, come on!

Wait, he also set up ReadKiddoRead, a website dedicated to getting good books to kids, and his name only appears five times on the front page....

And he's established scholarships and such. I'm sure his kids won't benefit at all from that kind of thing. (Wikipedia is indeed very useful.)

Yeah, okay. Rich guy doing rich guy things. It's 2016. Let's move on.

So, let's get to the heart of the matter.

Alex Cross, Mr. Patterson's lead character in this particular series, is a black man. As a reader, you wouldn't necessarily know this unless it was occasionally mentioned in the text. I can't say if this is entirely sanctimonious or idealistic on Mr. Patterson's part, but I suppose the truth lies somewhere in between. None of the characters in his work are characterized by their ethnicity, except when he inserts foreign language directly into their dialogue. So, when a Vietnamese killer near the end of this installment says

"You want watch? Or go?" the man asked. His voice was surprisingly calm. "You free to go, Detective."

The sudden appearance of this linguistic marker was rather jarring. Patterson avoids this kind of speech pattern for all but the most minor characters, making his work almost deliberately inoffensive. Oh, there are racial epithets and the occasional mention of ethnicity, but these are the literary equivalent of fast food, so you can't expect much depth.

And there's no real reason why you should expect much. This isn't that kind of book.

In terms of the plot, people kill people, and then more people are killed. Eventually, we find out that they started killing people during their Vietnam days. We learn this while they are... you guessed it... killing people.

Taking on the theme of the American conflict in Vietnam at the beginning of the 21st century seems like a relatively safe literary choice, but Patterson does at least attempt to present the military in a somewhat balanced way. Sure, the focus is on the crazy Americans in that conflict, but there are also the occasional good guys who participated. It turns out that the good guys aren't always what they seem, but what can you say? "It was war" is a constant refrain in this book....

How well Patterson is able to portray the military mindset is highly questionable. I never served myself, but I find it very unlikely that anyone who served heroically and honorably would stand up in court and say, "I'm a war hero, for God's sake!" and then punch a district attorney (who, for all he knows, is just doing his job) in the face. There is a lot of clumsy dialogue in this book. So, if you're looking for a nuanced and thought-provoking read, you might want to keep looking.

"What do you think?" my mother asked me before taking out the turkey.

"These chapters are really short! Three... maybe four pages each. I think this is the kind of book you're only supposed to read in the bathroom or something."

And that about sums it up. It's perfectly fine for what it is. And, after all, we live in a consumer culture that thrives on this kind of thin, overpriced stuff. Starbucks. Best Buy. Olive Garden. The $12 socks you buy at Macy's that you can get for $2.50 at TJ Maxx. It's that kind of thing, but meant for a flight from Dallas to Miami (you could probably read two or three on a flight from Los Angeles to New York) or your occasional visit to what my father used to grandly call The Library.

And if you run out of toilet paper... $27.95 is a bit pricey. Get the paperback.

I liked this one a whole lot better than the previous one in the series.

This is supposed to be the "last" case Alex is planning on doing. It's a request from his friend John Sampson to help out an old friend of his.

The story is fast paced, straight to the point and of course, there are brutal murders, in true "Patterson style". The action keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

I also really like the Cross's family part that's included throughout the series. It adds a nice touch of humanity and warmth to the otherwise dark and gritty story. We get to see Alex's relationship with his wife and children, and how they cope with his dangerous job.

Overall, this is a great addition to the series and I can't wait to see what Patterson has in store for us next.

I truly adored this book.

It was an absolute page-turner, with a story that was so gripping that it held my attention from the very first page.

The author's writing style was engaging and vivid, painting a detailed picture in my mind as I read.

The characters were well-developed and relatable, making it easy for me to become emotionally invested in their lives and experiences.

Every twist and turn in the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next.

I found myself completely immersed in the world of the book, and before I knew it, I had finished reading it in one sitting.

This is definitely a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling and captivating read.

I really enjoyed this story.

However, it didn't quite have the same impact or oomph that I've experienced from some other stories.

The so-called "twist" in the plot was rather predictable.

I could kind of see it coming from a mile away.

Nonetheless, there was one aspect that I did appreciate.

That was getting to know Alex a little better.

As the story progressed, I was able to gain more insights into his character, his thoughts, and his feelings.

This made me more invested in his journey and made the overall reading experience more enjoyable for me.

Even though the story had its flaws, I still found it to be an engaging read and would recommend it to others who are looking for a light and easy story to pass the time.

Maybe they'll have a different perspective on the "twist" and find it more exciting than I did.

Who knows?

It's all a matter of personal taste and interpretation.

This is the 8th book featuring Alex Cross, yet it is the first one I have read that involves this character. I will definitely have to read the others.

Alex and his close friend John Sampson are delving into the murder conviction of a man whom John served with during the Vietnam War. As they investigate the case, they discover discrepancies and cover-ups within the military records.

Other similar cases come to light as they search for the truth behind several military personnel, who had previously spotless records, being convicted of heinous crimes and sentenced to the death penalty.

The story takes several twists and turns, offering an interesting exploration of friendship and loyalty, as well as misguided ambitions. It is an engaging read that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more about Alex Cross in the future.

Another great addition to the cross series.

From start to finish, it was filled with non-stop action that kept me on the edge of my seat.

However, towards the end, it did seem to drag on a bit and became a little wordy.

Thankfully, though, it was wrapped up neatly in the end, tying up all the loose ends and leaving me satisfied.

Overall, despite its minor flaws, it was still an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of the series.

The author did a great job of creating a thrilling and engaging story that will keep readers coming back for more.

I can't wait to see what the next installment in the cross series has in store.

I'm truly sorry, but to be honest, I really did not like this book at all.

The only solitary reason why I'm giving it the rating that I did is simply because Sampson got married.

It seems rather odd that such a minor event would be the determining factor for my rating. However, throughout the entire story, there was very little else that managed to capture my interest or engage me on a deeper level.

The characters felt somewhat flat and one-dimensional, lacking in the kind of depth and complexity that would have made them truly memorable.

The plot also seemed to meander along without a clear direction or purpose, leaving me feeling rather bored and unfulfilled by the end.

Perhaps if there had been more interesting and exciting elements in the book, I would have had a more positive opinion of it. But as it stands, I'm afraid that this is not a book that I would recommend to others.

**Title: 3.5 Stars - A Mixed Review**

I recently had an experience that I would rate 3.5 stars.

On one hand, there were some aspects that were really good. The service was prompt and the staff was friendly. They made me feel welcome from the moment I walked in.

The quality of the product or service I received was also above average. It had some nice features and functions that met my basic needs.

However, there were also a few areas that could be improved. The price was a bit on the high side compared to similar offerings in the market.

Also, the ambiance or environment could have been better. It felt a little outdated and could use some refreshing.

Overall, while there were some positives, the negatives prevented me from giving a higher rating. I would still recommend this place to others, but with the caveat that they should be aware of the areas that need improvement.

I hope that the management takes note of these feedback and makes the necessary changes to enhance the overall experience for future customers.