Call number
MYST PAT
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Little, Brown and Company (2013), Edition: 1St Edition, 432 pages
Description
Detective Alex Cross arrests renowned plastic surgeon Elijah Creem for sleeping with teenage girls. Now, his life ruined, Creem is out of jail, and he's made sure that no one will recognize him--by giving himself a new face. A young woman is found hanging from a sixth-floor window, and Alex is called to the scene. The victim recently gave birth, but the baby is nowhere to be found. Before Alex can begin searching for the missing newborn and killer, he's called to investigate a second crime. All of Washington, D.C., is in a panic, and when a third body is discovered, rumours of three serial killers send the city into an all-out frenzy. Alex's investigations are going nowhere, and he's too focused on the cases to notice that someone has been watching him--and will stop at nothing until he's dead.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Grandy
This was just a sample reading, the first 19 chapters, it was good, about the same for all Alex Cross Books.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member CarmenTS
Always the same with Patterson's "Cross" series. A one day read. Short chapters. Predictable villains. Over the top/too easy ending...and yet I keep reading them. I love Alex Cross. I don't keep up with any of Patterson's other work/collaborations but I can't quit Cross. I just can't.
LibraryThing member kissmeimgone
Once again, James Patterson has made an excellent addition to the Alex cross series. Three serial killers are on the loose, and one may be closer to Alex's home life than would've thought possible. Just how far will the killer go to tear apart Alex's life? A definite page turner that I highly
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recommend.. James Patterson and mystery fans alike won't be disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member skinglist
Typical, generic Alex Cross.
Good story, but this book needed a better editor -- there was way too much from Patterson's co writer and it was very out of character dialog for the Cross family.
The case itself was ok -- I found the "Russel" piece more interesting than Doctor Creem and Joshua because
“This is your other problem. You’ve started to believe your own publicity. Alex Cross, the Dragonslayer. Alex Cross, the Sherlock Holmes of MPD. Alex Cross, the second goddamn coming of Christ! You’re a paper tiger, Alex. A phony! And people need to know about it.”
In some ways the same could be said of Patterson and his book factory.
Good story, but this book needed a better editor -- there was way too much from Patterson's co writer and it was very out of character dialog for the Cross family.
The case itself was ok -- I found the "Russel" piece more interesting than Doctor Creem and Joshua because
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you didn't know where it was going to end up, even once Russell's true identity came to light. What as also a nice surprise was the mention of Cross' brother Blake. I don't recall him coming up previously . The later parallels to Ava were sad, however, but I loved that it was Sampson who broke the news. That Alex didn't find Giudice's listening device concerns me for future books. “This is your other problem. You’ve started to believe your own publicity. Alex Cross, the Dragonslayer. Alex Cross, the Sherlock Holmes of MPD. Alex Cross, the second goddamn coming of Christ! You’re a paper tiger, Alex. A phony! And people need to know about it.”
In some ways the same could be said of Patterson and his book factory.
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LibraryThing member losloper
Detective Alex Cross arrests renowned plastic surgeon Elijah Creem for sleeping with teenage girls. Now, his life ruined, Creem is out of jail, and he's made sure that no one will recognize him--by giving himself a new face.
A young woman is found hanging from a sixth-floor window, and Alex is
Alex's investigations are going nowhere, and he's too focused on the cases to notice that someone has been watching him--and will stop at nothing until he's dead. With white-hot speed, relentless drama, and hairpin turns, FREE ALEX CROSS is James Patterson's ultimate thrill ride.
A young woman is found hanging from a sixth-floor window, and Alex is
Show More
called to the scene. The victim recently gave birth, but the baby is nowhere to be found. Before Alex can begin searching for the missing newborn and killer, he's called to investigate a second crime. All of Washington, D.C., is in a panic, and when a third body is discovered, rumours of three serial killers send the city into an all-out frenzy.Alex's investigations are going nowhere, and he's too focused on the cases to notice that someone has been watching him--and will stop at nothing until he's dead. With white-hot speed, relentless drama, and hairpin turns, FREE ALEX CROSS is James Patterson's ultimate thrill ride.
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LibraryThing member LivelyLady
If I didn't get these books for free, I would not bother. When Patterson began writing, it seems that his books had more dimension. Now, even without a "co-author" he rushes through, not developing the characters or even the story. This has a few separate stories going on simultaneously. The
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characters are flat, like cardboard cutouts. I keep hoping his writing will go back to the beginning. No such luck. Show Less
LibraryThing member Barb_H
Typical Alex Cross book. I listened to the audiobook because I enjoy the voice actor and the sound effects and since I am very familiar with the characters it is easy to follow along. This was exciting and touching.
LibraryThing member Patbilly
Nothing much new about this book except different names, a different twist to the m.o., and a different person chasing Alex Cross. Still, I like the character of Alex Cross and his family and friend Samson, so I enjoyed the read. And I'm still looking forward to the next Alex Cross installment.
LibraryThing member Patbilly
Nothing much new about this book except different names, a different twist to the m.o., and a different person chasing Alex Cross. Still, I like the character of Alex Cross and his family and friend Samson, so I enjoyed the read. And I'm still looking forward to the next Alex Cross installment.
LibraryThing member bookappeal
I haven't read this series in years but some reviewers thought James Patterson was back to good form in this 16th entry so it seemed a good place to jump in. The audiobook was entertaining enough because it moves very quickly - "chapters" that are 2 pages long will do that (over 100 chapters in a
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7-hour audiobook!!) - but there was nothing clever about how Cross investigates. He makes reference to being a profiler in the past but never uses those skills in this case. For a high-profile cover up, the real killer is discovered remarkably easily. Patterson tries to make Cross sympathetic by throwing in an ailing grandmother and it works slightly but Cross doesn't seem to have any conflict - when he's with Nana, he's doesn't think about the case; when he's working the case, he's doesn't think about Nana. And, even though the reader is supposedly inside Cross's head, he keeps his biggest secret completely out of his head (and away from the reader) until the end. The plot is standard fare - sex scandal cover-up involving D.C. bigwigs. Show Less
LibraryThing member peggy.s
Alex hunting for 3 serial killers + lots of things going on in his personal life = a great story! This is a typical Alex Cross book – lots of action to hold your interest. While not a great masterpiece of literature – it was a great book to read on a snowy weekend!
LibraryThing member TomWheaton
Another good Alex Cross read. Even though there were 3 storylines in this book, they were easy to follow. There was a death at the end that was completely unexpected and probably left some readers asking WHY? Will there be another Alex Cross book? Hopefully so.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Read this book in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
LibraryThing member brucemmoyer
It is what it is: Not great literature, but typical Alex Cross fare. If you are into Cross, you will like it. Easy to see why Patterson is a popular author. Entertaining, but hardly cerebral, yet a breezy read great for killing a few hours and trying to guess the finish.
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
Based on the world of thriller fiction, one would think that every third person in the United States is a serial killer. It’s an utterly ridiculous notion that is taken to a new level in this poor novel. Since serial killers have become so ho-hum in thriller fiction, James Patterson had to up the
As ridiculous as this premise may be, the execution was even worse. It became a repetitive snooze fest of people getting killed by the aforementioned killers and Alex Cross coming in to investigate. To break up the monotony, Alex has to deal with some serious family situations as well, and a blogger who is trying to destroy his life—and as a great twist the blogger is one of the serial killers. This isn’t a spoiler sine there was no mystery at all in the novel. All three killers are revealed and you get to follow these horribly unrealistic killers as they go about their dastardly deeds. The bottom line is that I read this novel because Patterson has put out some very good fiction in the past. He’s better than this. I would strongly recommend skipping this novel. There are better options.
Carl Alves – author of Conjesero
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ante by having not one, not two, but three serial killers. Obviously one is no longer enough to keep people interested these days.As ridiculous as this premise may be, the execution was even worse. It became a repetitive snooze fest of people getting killed by the aforementioned killers and Alex Cross coming in to investigate. To break up the monotony, Alex has to deal with some serious family situations as well, and a blogger who is trying to destroy his life—and as a great twist the blogger is one of the serial killers. This isn’t a spoiler sine there was no mystery at all in the novel. All three killers are revealed and you get to follow these horribly unrealistic killers as they go about their dastardly deeds. The bottom line is that I read this novel because Patterson has put out some very good fiction in the past. He’s better than this. I would strongly recommend skipping this novel. There are better options.
Carl Alves – author of Conjesero
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
It is what it is: not great literature, but typical Ale Cross fare. If you are into Cross, you'll like it. There are t, three serial killers, one with a grudge against our hero and a druggie street urchin who's become part of the family. Both complicate Cross' life. Fast paced; lots of action. The
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bad guy you really hate is the one who plays a journalist, then becomes a really, really bad dude in the last half hour. Patterson must have a twisted mind. I liked this one enough to peek at #21. Show Less
LibraryThing member NickHowes
Alex Cross crosses swords with three serial killers, one of whom is stalking him. A plot that draws you in and carried you along with Patterson's signature of short chapters and smooth writing. Excellent entry in the series. I keep seeing Morgan Freeman as Cross.
LibraryThing member abycats
Library book lent me by my sister. Typical James Patterson which says it all. Quick read with no lasting impression.
LibraryThing member sandra.pinkerton83
The characters are so well-written that you get angry at Cross's next enemy.
Pages
432
ISBN
9780316097512