Along Came A Spider

by James Patterson

1993

Status

Available

Publication

Grand Central Publishing (1993), 528 pages

Description

Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:Discover the classic thriller that launched the #1 detective series of the past twenty-five years, now one of PBS's "100 Great American Reads" Alex Cross is a homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology. He works and lives in the ghettos of D. C. and looks like Muhammad Ali in his prime. He's a tough guy from a tough part of town who wears Harris Tweed jackets and likes to relax by banging out Gershwin tunes on his baby grand piano. But he also has two adorable kids of his own, and they are his own special vulnerabilities. Jezzie Flanagan is the first woman ever to hold the highly sensitive job as supervisor of the Secret Service in Washington. Blond, mysterious, seductive, she's got an outer shell that's as tough as it is beautiful. She rides her black BMW motorcycle at speeds of no less than 100 mph. What is she running from? What is her secret? Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to have a forbidden love affair-at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji, who wants to commit the "crime of the century," is playing at the top of his game. Soneji has outsmarted the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim? Gary Soneji is every parent's worst nightmare. He has become Alex Cross's nightmare. And now, reader, he's about to become yours.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member teewillis1981

This book is a typical Patterson novel, badly written. Although the plot definitely keeps you turning the pages, I can never get passed the horrible prose!

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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C

I've read over a half dozen of Patterson's Alex Cross novels, and of those I've read this first one is the best. A lot of the reason I kept reading after this one is the protagonist detective, Alex Cross. He's likable and relatable here. He's a black detective and psychologist in Washington DC. One

who doesn't want to leave the old neighborhood and raising two young children with his grandmother having lost his wife. Cross is smart, but most of all, in the first person parts of the novel, he conveys a warmth and a sense of humor.

Otherwise the novel plays out as a fairly standard police procedural thriller, where Cross is faced with a kidnapper of children. Gary Soneji is cut from the same cloth as most fictional psychopaths--scary but brilliant. Cross works with a beautiful female romantic interest in law enforcement (tm), Jezzie Flanagan of the Secret Service.

This is well-plotted and paced and was a very fast read. Patterson is notorious for his bite-sized flash fiction chapters of less than a thousand words that keep you flipping the pages. As I said, I even liked Cross enough to read more books. The second book though, Kiss the Girls, frankly repulsed me, (It dealt--graphically--with a serial rapist) and Alex grew more and more a Marty Stu, even gaining a supervillain obsessed with him in a later book, and the books read more and more to me as if Patterson was phoning them in. This first book though makes for an enjoyable beach or airplane read.

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LibraryThing member literarytiger

This is the first Alex Cross novel and the first one I have read (I always like to start a series at the beginning!) I have always loved the pace of Patterson's novels and this one was no exception. The bad guy was really bad, the good guy was great and the twist was pretty good. I read the last

page, closed the cover, then immediately picked up Kiss The Girls...

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LibraryThing member ct.bergeron

When two children are kidnapped from an elite private school, Washington DC detective Alex Cross is assigned to the case. The kids had Secret Service protection, but that didn't stop their teacher from snatching them.
Gary Soneji is a murderer masquerading as a favorite instructor. He fosters dreams

of being the most feared serial killer of all time. For his command performance he kidnaps the daughter of a Hollywood star and the son of a powerful politician.

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LibraryThing member Katie_H

This is an easy and engrossing read, and it is a serious page turner. The craftsmanship, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired, and the character development is lacking. Patterson introduces Alex Cross, his star character in future novels, as a forensic detective with a psychology

background. This particular story dealt with the case of Gary Soneji/Murphy a serial killer who had kidnapped 2 famous children to gain exposure and notoriety, his goal being to upstage the "Lindbergh Kidnapper." The plot is an exciting and unpredictable ride and the ending is unexpected. The narrative could have used additional editing, as several sections were irrelevant and/or excessive, in particular, the love story between Alex and Jezzie felt overdone and awkward. Sometimes less is more. Also the constant racial commentary did not seem realistic for the era portrayed. Having said all that, I DID enjoy the book, and I'd recommend it as light plane or vacation reading for someone who enjoys the suspense, crime, and mystery genres, though serious literature fans should probably steer clear.

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LibraryThing member siggy99

The first of the Alex Cross series that got me hooked on Patterson.

LibraryThing member Heptonj

I found this an excellent book which kept my interest from start to finish. Alex Cross is a homicide detective investigating the kidnapping of two children from hi-profile families. The main character interaction is excellent and the plot superb. Unusual and sad ending.

LibraryThing member spacedlaw

I know I must have read that book, but my memory has erased any sign of it. Some thriller it must have been...

LibraryThing member kymmayfield

great book!!!!! would definatley re read and recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery book!!!!!!!

LibraryThing member debavp

I finally broke down and decided to read it. I knew it would happen though, the inevitable comparisons between Cross the book character and Cross the movie character. Sure enough, right from the start I was saying "that's not what Morgan Freeman would say". Overall, a basically good start to a

series. I only hope that I can eventually get past comparing Freeman to Cross.

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LibraryThing member Darrol

Not too bad a book. Again, the male detective does not get the girl, but what else is new. The psychology angle makes this book interesting.

LibraryThing member suetan

This was the first of many James Patterson books I have read and I could not put it down, nor any of his other books. Thrilling from start to finish.

LibraryThing member r0ckcandy

This book was recommended to me by my mother. It was the first James Patterson book I ever read and this was the one that made me become a fan of the Alex Cross series.

LibraryThing member yosbooks

Fast-paced. Lots of twists. Great read. I have read other Alex Cross novels but didn't realise that he was black until reading this book.

LibraryThing member porchsitter55

This finely crafted tale was one that held my interest throughout, with strong characterization and a well-woven plot. This is only the third book I've read by James Patterson and he seems to be quite a master at delivering a not-too-heavy, yet not-too-light story line.

Along Came A Spider has just

the right mix of suspense, romance, humor and "heart" to keep the reader interested and keep turning pages.....

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LibraryThing member TerriBooks

The Alex Cross series is very popular, and I usually enjoy James Patterson, so in my quest for easy-to-listen-to audiobooks for my commute I thought I'd give this one a try. I was disappointed. I thought the development of the main character was weak - I didn't understand why he made a lot of his

decisions and took certain actions. Instead of Alex Cross figuring out the solution to the crime, he got started, then went to the FBI who just told us the rest. I think the story could have developed more empathy for the child victims and their parents. On the other hand, it was a fast-paced thriller, holding my interest well. Maybe there will be more development of the character in subsequent books of the series.

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LibraryThing member sexysuzy

i enjoy the alex cross stories this is a good one.

LibraryThing member andyray

i ALMOST put this book into my rejections pages, but something egged me on for the next two chapters. patterson knows his storytelling art, but as a writer he falls short. He is often described as the Jacquelyn Suzzanne of detective novels and I can relate to that. His simplistic, short chapter,

often changting of the point of view, all contribute to hope for me making it BIG someday. As I said, his storyhtelling is ecellent and the page-turner is always one for me (unless i am in chronic depression).

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LibraryThing member riverwillow

I really enjoyed this, even though I had already seen the film which although it is different to the book, gives away major aspects of the plot! I'm looking forward to reading more Alex Cross novels.

LibraryThing member SonicQuack

Meet Alex Cross, the star of a long series of standalone crime thrillers. Alex is well fleshed in his début, without deviating from the central story of a genius, but psychopathic, killer. The plot is unpredictable and the narrative is easy to read and absorbing from start to finish. This novel

deservedly put Patterson on the map, it's a good read, although at times it tries too hard to create the ultimate psycho. Recommended.

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LibraryThing member fufuakaspeechless

Amazing book. Sadly it's all downhill from here. I find this book the best in the series, which isn't to say the others aren't good...this is just the best. A must read.

LibraryThing member mazda502001

This is the first in the Alex Cross series and a good psychological thriller. Full of suspense and a page-turner plus fast paced and exciting.

Back Cover Blurb:
He had always wanted to be famous. When he kidnapped two well-known rich kids, it was headline news. Then one of them was found - dead - and

the whole nation was in uproar.
For such a high profile case, they needed the top people - Alex Cross, a black detective with a PhD in psychology, and Jezzie Flanagan, an ambitious and beautiful Secret Service agent - yet even they were no match for the killer. He had the unnerving ability to switch from blood-crazed madness to clear-eyed sanity in an instant. But was he the helpless victim of a multiple-personality disorder - or a brilliant, cold-blooded manipulator?
As he and the rest of the country watched Flanagan and Cross falling into his every trap, he knew he had made it - he was controlling the deadly game, and he still hadn't made his most devastating move....

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LibraryThing member revslick

I thought about giving Patterson a break because this is the first in his Alex Cross series but then changed my mind. Way too many plot twists a few of which were too improbable. Otherwise, it was a basic chase down the deranged killer novel. I'll give him another chance since he gets some decent

reviews.

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LibraryThing member Ameise1

This is the first of the Alex Cross series. After I've already read several others from this series, I'm really happy that I could read the first one and now being able to understand how everything started. It was a very fast-paced reading and it was gripping until the very last page. I couldn't

put it aside. I love the psychological inside in Patterson's books and this one isn't standing behind.

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LibraryThing member mbertsch

This book got me hooked on Alex Cross. The character is flawed but very human. You could see yourself doing the same things that Cross did in this book.

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