The Big Bad Wolf: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: same old, same old
Review: My name is Dr Alex Cross. I am the most perfect life form to walk this earth since the crust cooled enough for oceans to form. I have academic degrees out the bazootie, I am beautiful, more fit than an Olympic athlete, and I play jazz piano on the porch late at night and my neighbors never complain. (I never miss a note) Woman salivate at the very sight of my footprints. When I break wind, crowds rush to savor the fragrance. I have three kids. MIT repeatedly sends delegations of Nobel laureates to kneel and beg my big son to be president of their school, but I feel he should lead a normal teenage life. My daughter is even smarter and more beautiful. Every December we have her stand in the front yard instead of putting up Christmas decorations. People flock from miles around to bask in her glow. My little baby boy is so cute that he has been barred from the DC zoo; last time he visited, two elephants, four giraffes, a hippopotamus, and a whole herd of zebras died of diabetes, he is so sweet. My mother is the greatest fount of wisdom and home cooking that this world has ever been fortunate enough to host; we have séances so spirits can ask her for advice. However, a member of my family is guaranteed to undergo a terrifying, life-threatening disease in each novel, but they always manage to pull through. Whew! That suspense can knock your socks off.

My job is, I'm a cop. My boss thinks I am a stupid idiot and always gets in my way as I ruthlessly track down evil genii (see how smart I am? Did you know the plural of genius?) When I finally track one down, I am apt to beat him to a pulp, shoot him sixteen times through the head, handcuff him, pour acid down his throat, weight him down with a refrigerator full of lead, and throw him in a shark feeding frenzy, but he will come back unharmed in the next novel to continue his depredations, because he is aided by an evil supergenius locked up in an ultra-security penitentiary. They communicate by means of psychic vampires. Those vampires are the most believable part of the whole series. Please keep shelling out good money to buy my putrid books, Lollipop.



Rating:
Summary: Be afraid, be very afraid
Review: Alex Cross is back, and at his best. At the request of the Director, he has joined the FBI. His Quantico training gets interrupted by a case though, involving a string of missing beautiful, rich women, who have been kidnapped with no ransom and are feared to be part of a slave trade. At the core of the evil empire is a Red Mafiya figure known as "the wolf", who's the baddest man on the planet. Will Alex survive the personal dangers involved with stalking the wolf? Will his family?

Like all Patterson books, this one is a lively read, full on rapid fire action in micro-chapters, and laced in sometimes unnatural profanity. For example, at one point we meet a 14 year old computer hacking genius, who upon first meeting our hero, rudely replies to a nice question with a profane remark -- seemed out of character to me. Be warned - Patterson doesn't tie up all the loose ends at the end of this book, as I'm sure he anticipates some elements of this story to flow into future Alex Cross books.

Rating:
Summary: Great Followup on Alex Cross
Review: This book is a great continuation on the story of Alex Cross. For a moment I thought after 4 Blind Mice that was it..but reading about his transition in the FBI gets one to know the character even better and follow him as he accustoms himself to new procedures. Apart from that, The Wolf is one of the best foe's I've met and his way of being leads into the mind of a true psycopath. I can't wait to read London Bridges where I'll get reacquainted with the Weasel and the Wolf. James Patterson promises a definite suspense thriller on that one!

Rating:
Summary: My first James Patterson novel
Review: People have been telling me for years that I should read the Alex Cross books by James Patterson. I don't know why it took me so long, but I'm glad I finally picked one up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the story and the characters a lot. I especially liked Alex Cross. Within a few chapters, he seemed like an old friend.

I'm anxious to read the sequel to this one, but I may have to go back and read all the other Cross books in order. I've got a feeling I'm going to have some fun reading ahead of me!