Double Cross (Alex Cross, Book 13) by James Patterson
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Book Reviews of Double Cross (Alex Cross, Book 13)
Book Review: Double Cross
Summary: 2 Stars
Typical Alex Cross in what we've come to expect - ridiculously overreaching genius unkillable (main) bad guy who can not be touched except by Alex. Here is yet another example of the author not allowing his favorite villains to die and we get a double dose this time around.
!!! Spoiler Alert !!!
I've mentioned in other reviews how unrealistic Patterson's actions scenes are, and this one is no exception. Brianna Stone has the drop on Kyle Craig, who does a summersault/spin flip (from a standing start no less - but after all he was in special forces and we all know how magical people become after special forces training), but despite this Brianna hits him - WOW! first time ever that Patterson has allowed one of his own super villan's to have his "action turn" interrupted. Okay, so that is believable, when a trained police officer has a gun trained on you, you CAN'T move fast enough to dodge bullets as has occurred in other Patterson books. But what is unbelievable is that Craig has on a bullet proof vest and we are supposed to believe that neither Brianna nor Alex notice. These are trained police officers, they (at least Alex) are very familiar with Craig and they examine Craig on the ground (not to mention as he is standing there "monologueing" to Alex). But they don't notice the lack of blood nor the HUGE VAST BULKY - looking like he has a life vest under his clothes - bullet proof vest. Obviously I'm exaggerating about life vest size, but bullet proof vests are very bulky and obvious and either or both should have easily noticed. All this is just another transparent ploy to not loose a super villain and have to start over again - but after all, can you blame him? Patterson has gotten a lot of money millage out of Craig and I could see why he'd be reluctant to loose him.
Book Review: Not his best
Summary: 2 Stars
James Patterson is one of those guys who writes and writes and writes. Sort of Stuart Woods, but with a bit better sense of character, and of course more chapters per book than any other author currently in print. He seems to write these things at a pace that's blinding; it seems he even makes Robert B. Parker look slow, back when Parker was still writing. Patterson does occasionally provide a good plot twist or character, but often he doesn't bother; this would seem to be one of those occasions.
So Alex is in private practice as a shrink, no longer connected with the police or the FBI. He is, however, dating a DC cop, and when she's called to a crime scene and the killing seems to involve him, he steps right back into his role as a homicide investigator, improbably but seamlessly. The bad guy is soon labelled "The Audience Killer" because he improbably manages to kill people and then vanish without anyone catching him or figuring out who he is. This is most improbable because he insists on killing people in front of a large group of spectators, all of whom watch without doing anything, and without observing anything about the killer that can be used to catch him.
Meanwhile, Kyle Craig, Alex's FBI nemesis from Roses are Red etc., escapes from the Supermax prison where he's been incarcerated. The escape's a bit improbable, and his flight after even less believable, and he does essentially nothing for most of the book. When he does appear, it's as cartoonish as most of the rest of the story.
At times I enjoy James Patterson and his main character Alex Cross. This story, however, is more of a formula than a novel. While it's not the worst book I've ever read, it's not that good, either.
Book Review: Not as good as his others
Summary: 2 Stars
The Alex Cross series is not meant to be highbrow literature, it is meant to be a page-turning, rollicking ride - enjoyable, but forgettable. Whilst Patterson has still delivered an enjoyable read, I think it is largely due to the great cast of characters that he has created, not to do with the actual plot of this story, which is not as good as some of his others (eg Pop Goes The Weasel, Roses are Red etc).
This story flits back and forth between perspectives, Cross' and the baddies'. During the chapters narrated by the latter, the story loses momentum, and can become bogged down and even sometimes confusing (which is not what one wants from a popcorn book). Still, Alex Cross has the same great, ballsy attitude that keeps on bringing me back time and again.
My main quibble is the frequent sexual innuendo and soft-core pornographic elements. At times through out the book, it felt as though Patterson was looking for any opportunity to his readers cringe at the incessant sexual activity - not because of its existence per se, but because of the incredible, blunt corniness (seriously, he wants to use his 'lightsabre' to penetrate his girlfriend 'good and deep'? Really? Patterson needs to do a stint writing at Penthouse to get this stuff out of his system, then return to the Cross of old).
Overall, it is still an entertaining read compared to many books out there, but not as great as some of the other Cross ouvre - fluffy, forgettable, but fun.
Book Review: come one james!!
Summary: 2 Stars
There aren't too many james patterson novels I haven't like but this one is in another category. If alex Cross is the leading crime fighter in America we're all in trouble. First of all with two sadistic serial killers on the loose and getting tons of media Patterson creates the impression that only three maybe four people are working on this case and one of them is part time, alex cross. He can't even give up his private practice where he is being scammed anyway. If he is such a great detective how come he didn't figure that out, I did. Also in one scene where one of the killers is driving around Washington DC sightseeing at 4 to 6 o'clock am and then he kills someone, In the next scene Bree Stone gets to the crime scene at 2 am??? Huh how is that possible when the crime hasn't happened yet?
I can't recommend this dragon slayer to work in my town to solve crimes or his best buddies who all get captured by the bad guy. Maybe in the next book Alex Cross will actually use some good police techniques.
Book Review: Alexander the Great
Summary: 2 Stars
I gave this book 2 stars because it's not the worst thing I've ever read, but it's close. Even though this book reads like it was written from a recipe, the end result wouldn't have been so bad if the main ingredient wasn't so stale. The main character, Alex Cross, is the typical retired super detective who is semi-reluctantly pulled out of retirement to solve the case no one else in the world can solve and he drives a Mercedes Benz R 350.
Perhaps everyone who isn't Alex Cross in this book has such a hard time solving the case because all they do is stand around and think about how awesome Alex Cross is. Even Alex Cross spends the majority of his time thinking about how awesome he is and driving his Mercedes Benz R 350.
Oh did I mention he drives a Mercedes Benz R 350? He does. Often.