Virgin has the distinction of being James Patterson’s first book to be made into a movie. Granted, it was a TV movie with a budget to match, but it shows a development in Patterson’s pre-Alex Cross career that’s largely forgotten. Virgin was good enough that, in 1990, it was developed into a movie. And, looking at Patterson’s pre-90s books, Virgin is the best. Patterson’s previous book, The Jericho Commandment, centered around one religious conspiracy; this one centers around another. The Roman Catholic Church is investigating two alleged virgin pregnancies amid global chaos. A prophecy (not a biblical one, mind you) suggests that one baby will be the Second Coming of Christ while the other will be the Antichrist.

Published in 1981, Virgin plays on both religious and secular apocalyptism that was popular at the time. The Omen and The Exorcist had both been hits. Patterson delves into this mystery/horror genre with serviceable prose and an intriguing theme. It’s not great fiction, but it definitely feels like it captures the late 70s-early 80s zeitgeist. It’s certainly a better story than the prequel Left Behind trilogy written by evangelical stalwarts Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. Patterson’s pacing moves at a good clip and the mystery is retained until almost the very end. It doesn’t feel like a James Patterson novel and it’s a product of its time, but it isn’t awful.

Patterson re-published this in 2000 under the name Cradle and All (he was in his title-things-as-nursery-rhymes phase), giving it a bit of a current-Patterson edit. It then was published once more under his children’s imprint as a YA novel, which is a bit of an odd decision. The cover art is much better than the previous versions, though.

Not what I expected in a James Patterson Book!

This is said to have been a reimangining of a 1980 book by Patterson; I saw it as a reimagining of Rosemary's Baby with a little Miracle at Fatima thrown in.

The Vatican has discovered two pregnant teenagers, one in the U.S., one in Ireland. The Pope tells a Vatican investigator of the last secret of Fatima, there will be two Virgin Births at the same time; one will be the Savior, the other a child of Satan; then he dies because he has shared the secret.

Why is this secret so important to be told now? Because both of the teens are Virgins....

Quick mind-candy of a read, but I enjoyed all the twists and turns. Loved the modern day spin on the birth of Christ (as a girl no less!) and the addition of the birth of Satan. The ending was a perfect set-up for a sequel which Patterson is famous for in his writing.

Patterson is so prolific I had to read at least one of his books. This one is a fun and engaging read but very fantastical. It held my attention. The prose is evidence of the author's command and ability to keep so many readers buying and reading his books. The book is simply entertainment, like watching a fantasy movie.

This has been on my TBR shelf for awhile - I read almost all of James Patterson's books , this one I was really not all that impressed with - he touchs on religion with fantasy and paranormal ( people suddenly appearing and disappearing) - did seem to keep me reading with the many twist & turns.

This was a great book. Something different from james

*Possible Spoilers*

This was my first James Patterson book and he has written so many books that I really hope this is his worst. If the rest of his books have the same problems this one has then I fear for humanity because he is SO DAMN POPULAR.

I went into this with high hopes because the synopsis sounded intriguing: pretty much Biblical times all over again but with two virgin Marys and one of them may not be having a savior. I still think that could be a good plot for a book that is more developed than a teen romance novel (no offense to teen romance fans.) The characters were so flat that it was really hard to care about what happened to them. This story should be dramatic and epic (Biblical? eh? eh?) and the terrible characters and events that were not fleshed out at all distracted me.

The only person we get first person narrative from, Anne, is an ex-nun who went on to study psychology and personal investigation. Least. Professional. Personal. Investigator. Ever. I get that she's only 23 and academically gifted (and a former nun who was in the convent for her teenage years) so she probably isn't as emotionally mature as the private investigators we usually see in novels - i.e. retired detectives - but she's a bit much. She moves in with the family she's supposed to be investigating and when trying to question a teenage boy she shoves him...that's how to get your questions answered.

While these two virgins are being harassed because they're pregnant there are plagues all over the world happening...and I completely forget they're happening because they're not visited or even mentioned that much. He tries to spice up the bland story he's putting me through by throwing in some explicit language and a few flat antagonists but they all just seem very contrived. Make the swearing and evil feel like they should be there and not like a little kid saying "bitch" and giggling.

I gave this two stars instead of one because the twist in the end took me a little by surprise...but it was also very cheesy because of the least interesting "forbidden" love story it took to make it happen.

I'm so disappointed in this story because it has to much potential. Someone get Stephen King to do a rewrite!

Intriguing mystery of two young teenagers in different parts of the world who are pregnant, but claim they did not have intercourse. The Church is very interested in their background, and, of course, of the impending births. Enter investigators from the Church and a private investigator who just happens to have been a nun. Will one of the teenagers give birth to Satan? Will the other give birth to the Messiah? Are the epidemics, wars, hunger in the world related to these births? Is the ending a cliche'? Read to find out how differently the two teenagers are treated: the wealthy child in the US vs the poor child in Ireland (who happens to go into labor in the barn on hay).

What a story. You are in this one right from when the former nun turned private investigator is hired by the Archbishop of Boston. I don't know what they've done with the real James Patterson, but this one can spin a spiritual yarn with the best of them. Hold on to your reading glasses because this is going to be a bumpy ride. Enjoy.

Children often experience life as magical—but also threatening.
Life is both of those things.
p. 190

Those who were deny the existence of evil—supposedly on a rational basis—are denying what they see in the world, what they hear about, what they think, and feel almost every day of their lives. They are denying what they read in newspapers. Believe me, Kathleen, evil is all around us right now. I know this to be true.
p. 194

“Why couldn’t I have told you such a simple thing?”
“Maybe because it isn’t so simple.”
p. 218

The character strength Anne shows is Authenticity. This is because at first she was sent to see Kathleen sent to decide whether or not that it was the real thing. She slowly grew more attached to Kathleen and believed her more and more. Even though she was supposed to be an objective in all of this she was real with Kathleen.

2 Stars✨

*Readers Warning*
This book contains lots of foul language, mature content and heavy Christian viewpoints/ storyline presence.

After being given this book by my mum, who hasn't read it before, I thought I would try it since the premise was fabulous.

Having never read a Patterson novel, but hearing great things about his works, I was excited to read one of his. I was expecting a strong, flowing storyline, believable characters (despite the theme) and possibly a jaw-dropping, shock filled ending that had been gradually built up with exciting dialogue...

But no. I didn't get any of that. Not one bit of it!

Instead, I read 480 pages from each individual characters viewpoints (that weren't clearly separated, or indeed necessary), a romance between two people that must have been off their heads on communion wine, and writing that was neither exciting nor shocking.

So, all in all, not really happy with the novel, however some parts were good. I enjoyed reading from Kathleen's view but that was basically it.

I hope that, if you decide to read it, you find Cradle and All a much more satisfying read than I did.