Roses Are Red (Alex Cross Novels)
by James Patterson

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Book Reviews of Roses Are Red (Alex Cross Novels)

Book Review: This is book 5 in a *SERIES*, people...so SHUT UP!
Summary: 5 Stars

First, and most importantly, let me state that THIS BOOK IS THE *FIFTH* IN A *SERIES*. Immediately that dismisses the opinions of all the imbeciles who whine about "not getting it, it's got no beginning or end, blah blah...". Okay, so maybe a book or movie is confusing simply because of the title not being "THE ADVENTURES OF SO-IN-SO, PART 2" or whatever you might prefer, but if you think about it, WHO CARES WHAT THE TITLE SAYS? If there are characters that seem to come out of nowhere, situations that seem to be existing as long as time yet make no sense, or even a scar on someone's skin that doesn't get explained, just remember: even if you haven't read the previous books in the series (which would be a far smarter idea than simply delving into this book as your first one), this book is part of a *series*. Other things have happened.

And as for all the people who have a problem with this book being either 1--too short, 2--too many chapters, 3--too many short chapters, or 4--the prose/points of viewed use are weird, think of it this way: MAYBE this author is trying to use something called "O-R-I-G-I-N-A-L-I-T-Y". You see, this makes for something ENTERTAINING; something new and exciting. James Patterson doesn't waste too much time with ridiculous situations or drug-busts that relate nothing to the case on hand, he doesn't make the characters over-the-top with their own gloated arrogance; he simply makes a rip-snorting, quick and easy read. He wants to have any and every kind of person be able to--and WANT to--read his books. This is a smart thing to do. And anyone who has a problem with short chapters is truely unaware that this is such convenience on their part; some authors have had hundreds and hundreds of pages of simply one chapter; it's truely ridiculous how long chapters can get. James Patterson knows better. He gives quick and easy chapters that you could read at a stoplight (well, maybe not, but you get my drift). He's an ENTERTAINER; not a super-duper Hitchcock-level investigation-plotter.

And finally, what I thought of the book: I cannot even begin to describe how incredible it was. Here we have the story of two geniuses--Alex Cross, Washington, DC police detective trying to solve a series of robbery-murders in his city; and the dark, faceless, otherwise nameless figure known only as the Mastermind, the culprit behind these crimes. As their wit and wisdom engages them in an increasing game of cat-and-mouse, the plot gets so thick and dark--without being confusing nor a turn-off--and what do we get by the end? A shock--no, TWO shocks. Some shocks can "make you jump out of your seat" or "gasp" or "rock the world", etc. This one flips you upside down and smashes your head through the floor! But unlike far too many of the idiotic reviewers out there, I won't give away the ending. You'll have to read the book yourself and find out. And if you were smart enough to REALIZE that this is part of a series, let alone have READ it, I'll just say that the ending is even more shocking then. Oops, too much there.

My conclusion: for new readers, please, do yourselves a favor and read ALONG CAME A SPIDER, *then* KISS THE GIRLS, *then* JACK AND JILL, *then* CAT & MOUSE, *then* POP GOES THE WEASEL, and finally this. It will save you a lot of (stupid) confusion, and will help you care about all the characters far, far more. And as for the dumb readers who read this book and nothing else by James Patterson and thought this was trash because they were stupid enough to read the fifth book in a series, don't complain about it on Amazon.com. If you don't like something, why even bother wasting your time complaining about it? MOVE ON!

Enjoy ROSES ARE RED, and after, read VIOLETS ARE BLUE, then FOUR BLIND MICE. Both are very good additions to the series.

Summary of Roses Are Red (Alex Cross Novels)

"Three-year-old boy, the father, a nanny," Kyle said one more time before he left the party. He was about to go through the door in the sun porch when he turned to me and said, "You're the right person for this. They murdered a family, Alex."

As soon as Kyle was gone, I went looking for Christine. My heart sank. She had taken Alex and left without saying good-bye, without a single word.

The longer and harder Cross and Cavalierre remain on his trail, the bolder and more brutal--and shiveringly close to home--the Mastermind's strikes become. And, thanks mostly to lightning-short paragraphs and a point of view that rappels from the first-person Cross to the third-person Mastermind, the tale progresses at hot-trot speed to a bona fide doozy of a denouement. It'll be over before you know it, so sit back, hold your breath, and enjoy the show. And stay tuned for the next one. --Michael Hudson

Literature & Fiction Books

• Books > Subjects
• Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals
• Thrillers > Psychological Thrillers