Rating: 
Summary: fast-paced but mediocre
Review: This was the first James Patterson book I've read, and Big Bad Wolf didn't make much of an impression. I'm familiar with Alex Cross from the movie versions and enjoyed reading about his character in this book. Big Bad Wolf doesn't explore Cross as deeply as I had hoped; there's really not too much more than what you get out of the movies. As for the plot of the book, it moves quickly but is not terribly satisfying. What Patterson mostly gets across is a plot of sexual depravity and suggestions for improving the FBI - probably not what readers who buy this book are hoping to get out of it. Comes across as being written quickly, a book that had potential that was not developed fully. Details are consistently kept to a minimum or left out altogether. Big Bad Wolf was OK, but it's not going to encourage me to rush to the store to buy another Patterson novel.
Rating: 
Summary: I Feel Cheated
Review: Although I enjoyed reading the book, the ending ruined the whole thing. I feel cheated. The ending left me hanging like a soap opera. Is this some ploy to get me to buy his next book? I would have bought it anyway, but now, I'll have second thoughts before buying any more of Patterson's titles. I wish I read the reviews before buying this one.
Rating: 
Summary: True Patterson
Review: I enjoyed this book much better than many of James Patterson's more recent books. Alex Cross is working for the FBI in this book and has access to many more resources but at the same time has many more limitations but Alex Cross and his predator known as the Wolf are great characters and had me hooked.
Rating: 
Summary: TERRIFIC DUAL READING
Review: Talk about a top-flight twosome - Peter Jay Fernandez and Denis O'Hare give flawless voice to the latest spine-tingler from ever popular James Patterson. The author of 20 books, Patterson is at the zenith of his powers. The same might be said of the two readers. A New York based actor with numerous Broadway roles to his credit (Jelly's Last Jam, The Merchant Of Venice) plus numerous standout television appearances Fernandez lends eerie suspense to his vocal portrayal. Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare gives another award winning performance with his on-target characterization. Devotees of Patterson may recall that his charismatic hero Alex Cross has a new job with the FBI. Although Cross worked with the FBI many times in the past he's now officially on board - just in time to face one of the most daunting villains imaginable. Well-to-do- men and women have been snatched, perhaps to be sold into slavery. Washington, D.C. streets are no longer safe. As if that weren't enough of a challenge he's about to be locked in battle for custody of his youngest son. With Wolf (the man behind the kidnapings) Patterson has created one of his most unforgettable miscreants to date - a major challenge for one even as savvy and street-wise as Alex Cross. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: Who Swiped the Ending
Review: The Wolf is a Russian criminal, head of the Red Mafiya, who was brought into the States by the CIA and now he wants to be the head don of American Crime. He bribes a guard at a maximum security prison and gets in to meet an American Mafia don, ostensibly to offer a merging of organizations, but he kills the American criminal and breaks all the bones in his body, a Russian Mafiya custom known as zamochit. Alex Cross is a new agent in at Club Fed, what the recruits call the FBI Training Academy in Quantico. He has only been there for six weeks, when the Director of the FBI takes him out of school to help work on an abduction case. Someone is kidnapping women, and sometimes young men too. They are never heard from again and because of Alex's uncanny ability of bringing serial killers to justice, the director wants him on the case. Alex quickly figures out that these are not normal kidnappings. There is no pattern and there is a team involved. These people are being bought, either as sex slaves or something worse. And as Alex is chasing the the Wolf, the Wolf is watching him and that's just about as far as I'm going with this review. Alex Cross has always been one of my favorite fictional characters, but something happened here that I don't understand. Every time there's a breakthrough in the case, Alex is pulled off it and sent back to school, something that not only made no sense, but also something that the real Alex Cross would never stand for. It was disappointing to see Alex knuckle under and it was horribly out of character for him. Also I don't have to worry about giving away the ending of the story, because there was no ending. Mr. Patterson just seemed to give up on the book, or maybe he wrote a super long novel and divided it in half, giving us part one this year and holding out on part two till next Christmas. I don't think that's fair. I felt cheated and this book only gets three stars from me. Reviewed by Vesta Irene
Rating:
Summary: Patterson as usual--this is a good thing
Review: As usual, James Patterson has given us a quick, easy read. And while BIG BAD WOLF didn't quite live up to 2ND CHANCE or ROSES ARE RED, it does have its merits. I completely disagree with the critics who have blasted Mr. Patterson for this novel. Given the sheer volume and quality of his other works, he deserves more respect than this! I've been an Alex cross fan from the beginning and will remain so as long as Mr. P continues to give us great books to read! Also recommended: 2ND CHANCE, ROSES ARE RED, and McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating:
Summary: Patterson's most elusive criminal yet...The Wolf
Review: While this was not the best Cross novel, I did enjoy the suspense behind the Wolf character. Just when it seemed like Alex was finally going to get him, surprise! The guy they apprehended was not the Wolf after all. He seems to be the toughest and most ruthless criminal Alex Cross has faced yet. The next novel in the Alex Cross series always picks up where the previous one left off, so I am looking forward to the next "Wolf" book. I was disappointed by the fact that Christine was awarded custody of Little Alex. I was hoping that Alex and Jamilla would finally get together, but not in this novel! I did miss some of the interaction with John Sampson. Hopefully we'll see more of him in the next novel. I'm not sure why there are so many reviews that were negative. I thought the writing was clear, and I wasn't confused by who any of the characters were. I plan to read 3rd Degree next...I can't get enough of James Patterson's books!
Rating:
Summary: What's Happened to James Patterson?
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the initial Alex Cross novels, but this was a resounding disappointment. Patterson seems to have evolved into an author who no longer cares about the quality of his writing. If you can accept the premise of the F.B.I. recruiting someone from a city police force and immediately jumping them over seasoned veterans to a position of dominance, then, perhaps you will be readily able to accept the many other unlikley aspects of this novel. Rather than contributing to character development, Patterson's subplots involving Cross's family and friends seem manipulative and shallow. His long distance romance is like a teenage view of love and separation. The most manipulative facet of the entire book is the ending which seems to have no motivation driving it other than an effort to get readers to buy the next epsiode when it comes out. It shouldn't be a long wait-it can't take much time for Patterson to type a book of this quality.
Rating:
Summary: The Alex Cross Series Gets New Life
Review: 'The Big Bad Wolf' is the 2003 edition to the Alex Cross series. It is also the best Alex Cross novel in years. 'The Big Bad Wolf' is the story of how Alex Cross joins the FBI and is thrust into a case involving the abduction and slavery of white, usually rich, suburban women. Along the way, Cross is frustrated by the politics of the FBI and faces turmoil at home when the mother of his youngest child returns to D.C. to seek custody. The reason for improvement can be traced to several sources. First, James Patterson actually had Cross do some investigative work. In the last several novels in the series, Cross tended to stumble upon leads and just wait for the 'bad guy' to screw up. In 'The Big Bad Wolf,' Cross puts his doctorate in Psychology to work. In addition, he follows his instincts and follows leads that not every one else had thought about. Second, Patterson seemed to put more thought and effort into this novel. In past novels, Patterson seemed to be living off the reputation of earlier novels in the series, such as 'Kiss the Girls' and 'Along Came a Spider.' More recent novels featured villains that were always one step ahead of the police without any real great tricks until Cross stumbles upon them. In 'Big Bad Wolf,' Patterson created lairs of intrigue from the beginning and lets them unfold throughout the novel instead of just springing them on the reader. In addition, a portion of the story takes place in Dallas, Texas. Since I live in the Dallas area, I was pleased to see that he did enough research to at least get most of the details of the area correct. Third, and this is a very minor spoiler, the 'bad guy' of the novel is not some high ranking government official or someone close to Cross. This theme had gotten redundant in recent novels in the series. This is not to say that there isn't betrayal present in the novel, there is, but its not exactly what you expect. In this regard, the novel is not as 'cookie cutter' as the few previous novels. My one complaint is that while a lot of effort seemed to have been placed in the first 3/4 of the novel, the last 1/4 of the novel seems to have been rushed. I'm afraid this is because he had written one novel, and then he decided to split it into two parts to save himself the effort of writing another Cross novel in 2004. This is only my suspicion, and I hope it is not played out with a lack luster follow up. While good, this is not the best novel in the series. Patterson's first two installments, 'Kiss the Girls' and 'Along Came a Spider,' are still the best, and have proven to be a tough act to follow. As mentioned earlier, this novel harkens back to those in feel and the effort put into it. Not everything was tied up neatly at the end of the novel, and I expect the next installment in the series will continue the story. As with all the novels in this series, it is quickly paced (with three and four page chapters), and it is full of pop-culture references. I recommend the novel for fans of thrillers and detective fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The Big Bad Wolf: A Novel
Review: In this new episode in the life of ace detective Alex Cross, he has just joined the FBI. While still in training, he is called upon to help break up a kidnapping ring. Beautiful, rich, educated women and men across the country are being abducted. No ransom is requested, and the victims often are never heard from again. It appears that an organized crime godfather known as the Wolf is behind the scheme to buy and sell humans. Alex, a street cop at heart, loves the power and technology available via the FBI, but he is impatient with the bureaucracy. Back at home, Alex's ex-girlfriend and mother of his toddler, little Alex, reappears and starts custody proceedings. Then the kidnapping case puts Alex's family in danger. Patterson ties all the twists and turns in this plot into one interesting and plausible story, well read by Peter J. Fernandez and Denis O'Hare. Recommended.
| 
