Even when penning his 10th Alex Cross novel, James Patterson didn't flinch from devising an insanely convoluted plot. Maybe he bit off a little more than he could chew and lacked the gusto at the end to tie it up neatly. The story has a few loose ends. But considering the magnitude of this novel, I can't even fathom how many pages it would take to neatly wrap up each and every plot point into a believable conclusion. That being said, I did enjoy the book. I had a great time reading it (as is always the case with Cross books), and it kept me on the edge of my seat while piling on even more pressure to the already enormous stack of problems. This is a solid 3 to 4-star book. Sometimes, that half-star rating would truly come in handy.
In this novel, the chase is still on. The nemesis known as The Wolf is terrorizing the mightiest law enforcement agencies, issuing threats to CIA and FBI members, and eliminating anyone who stands in the way of his glory, money, and absurd demands. If these demands are met, it will be catastrophic. If not, major bridges across New York, London, and France will be blown up without warning until there is nothing left. Cross is back in the hot seat, not only attempting to uncover the true identity of this supposed Wolf but also trying to catch the Weasel, whose slippery tactics have enabled him to avoid facing the consequences. To make matters worse, concerns about Nana's advancing age, his inability to date as frequently as he desires, and the separation from his young son have dampened his spirits at home. This novel isn't the best in the series because some answers were simply omitted, and I was extremely irritated by how many people pretended to be the Wolf. By the time the ending arrived, I wasn't even excited, just exhausted by that one character. I can't disclose more. It's best to read these without knowing too much. However, I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment, titled "Mary Mary," which is said to be fantastic.
London Bridges is the tenth installment in the Alex Cross series. Here, the newly hired FBI agent delves into the case of the mastermind killer known as The Wolf. Once again, Cross is pushed to his limits as he pursues the world's worst villains. Simultaneously, he has to manage his tumultuous love life and pretend to be devoted to his overly neglected and endangered family.
London Bridges, by a significant margin, is Patterson's weakest novel in the Cross series up to this point. Patterson's work has become extremely formulaic. The plot fails to impress, and the characters are rather cliché. Patterson's novel more closely resembles an action cartoon than it does quality literature. After reading it, one almost expects Rocky and Bullwinkle to show up at any moment to assist in defeating Boris and Natasha.
I truly need a break from Patterson. I keep stating this, yet I keep coming back. And the same goes for the rest of America. And that is precisely why Patterson is wealthy and highly successful.