Rating: 
Summary: Violets are blue, and so is the book
Review: Very disappointing. Story is weak, actually both stories that are going on in this book are. In past books you can't put it down and you read every word, this book you can put it down and you end up skimming some sections.
It seems to happen with a lot of writers, including James Patterson, they start pumping out the books faster and faster and the quality goes way down.
wait for the paperback.
Rating: 
Summary: "...the last one was bad, and this one is, too..."
Review: Readers who became Alex Cross fans after reading the first few books in this series would be well-advised to avoid this one. Mr. Patterson has reduced this formerly well-developed and likable character, along with his family and associates, to the literary equivalent of stick figures. What with the "Masterminds," "Sires," one-dimensional characters, pseudo-vampires, banal dialogue and substandard writing and plot that characterize this book, it is more like a comic book than a New York Times best-selling mystery (and this comparison is a disservice to some comic books--sorry!). The musical name-dropping is offensive, too--somehow I can't picture Mr. Patterson kicking back and enjoying the sounds of Trent Reznor and Erykah Badu. They should charge him a fat fee for using their names. Patterson used to be an excellent writer. The real mystery here is what happened to him? Hope someone can solve this one--in the meantime, I won't be spending any more time or money on his books.
Rating:
Summary: Enough Already
Review: First I want to say I have bought first editions of Pattersons books since "93".
I actually rate this book less than one star. I got to page 47 before deciding it was a waste of my time.
Wide margins and large print have been the norm for his last few books. This man is out of story ideas. His "Suzannes's Diary" was a crock.
I feel that I have wasted my money on his last three publishings. I will not do so again.
Rating: 
Summary: oops, he didn't do it again
Review: Having been totally captivated by Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, Violets was a bit of a disappointment. The plot (vampires) was unbelievable and too much of a reach for me. The new love interest seemed interesting enough, but no deal there. This book just totally lacked the heart-thumping excitement of his earlier efforts. I hope Patterson won't throw out the "detective" with the bath water though. Cross is not ready for retirement.
Rating: 
Summary: Page turner
Review: I haven't read but one James Patterson book which was Roses Are Red. I thought Violets are Blue was much better. It's only taken a few days to read. Any book that I can read that fast is a good book to me. Those that have said not to buy this book should let the reader decide that for himself.
Rating:
Summary: Lackluster!...
Review: and utterly boring. I can't believe this is a James Patterson novel featuring one of my fav fictional characters (Alex Cross). Both plots in this story were lacking and revelations were flat. I give it a generous two stars because I like Alex Cross. I'm glad I didn't purchase and got grom the library instead. I do not recommend.
Rating:
Summary: VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS ONE!
Review: I have read almost every one of James Patterson's books and really enjoyed the Alex Cross series. I was even okay with his really far off premises in some of the others (kid's with wings...was he kidding?!), but this one is really dragging. This entire vampire premise is way out there and the same BS keeps happening to Alex Cross. I can usually plow through his books in a weekend, and I have had this one on my nightstand for well over a month. I read only a few chapters at a clip. This means I am BORED! I am so disappointed with this one. Wait until it comes out in paperback so you won't have to pay as much or better yet, borrow it. Save your money on this one. Maybe his next book will be back up to par.
Rating:
Summary: The Ending Doesn't Save This One
Review: As I was reading VIOLETS ARE BLUE I began to have the same feelings of disappointment I had when I was reading ROSES ARE RED. In both I perservered and finished reading to the conclusion. However, in ROSES ARE RED, the epilogue salvaged the book. Not the case with VIOLETS ARE BLUE. Nothing can save it. There are two disconnected storylines in VIOLETS..., the hunt for vampire killers and the search, confrontation, and identification of Mastermind, Alex Cross' nemesis in several of Patterson's books. Neither storyline was very thrilling or suspenseful. Instead, hunting the vampires seemed like a series of killings described to gross the reader out with brutality, blood and guts. The interactions and final encounter with the Mastermind was also a disappointment. His identity was no surprise and the only question (and hope) is that he will remain dead.Patterson has shown ability in the past, as exemplified by THE MIDNIGHT CLUB. I only wish he would return to the quality of that work rather than the quantity of his recent work. As much as it feels uncomfortable I really cannot recommend VIOLETS ARE BLUE.
Rating:
Summary: Just Shoot Him
Review: Would someone just shoot Alex Cross and put him out of our misery!? Same story, same character, same ending, blah, blah, blah! Just when I thought that Patterson had come up with a new character in "1st To Die" (which I loved) he has to come back with yet ANOTHER Alex Cross novel. If you've read one book in the Alex Cross series, you've read them all. Isn't Nana Mama too old to be taking care of those bloody kids? Put the woman in a retirement home and raise your own family!
Rating:
Summary: Plot IncludesTwo Mystery
Review: VIOLETS ARE BLUE By James Patterson 1/15/02
Two Mystery Stories For One
I have been enjoying books by James Patterson ever since I came across them a few years ago. I have a fondness for the characters Alex Cross, his friends and his family. Alex Cross is a detective with the police force in Washington, DC who is used as a liaison with the FBI and other police forces in the USA. He has solved many difficult murders and has quite a reputation. Alex looses a good friend, a female FBI agent who was murdered in Virginia by the Mastermind who then called him on his mobile phone at the scene of the crime to challenge him. Before he can grasp the whole story; a friend, Kyle Craig, FBI, requests his help to help with another murder on the other side of the USA. This murder was similar to another one that Alex had investigated in DC earlier and that was still open. This book switches very early to a case about a sect of live vampires, and again Alex has been called from Washington D. C. to the west coast to help the San Francisco police with a case of two weird murders there. Alex hopes that he will get a rest from the Mastermind, but of course he doesn't. The Mastermind is right with him wherever he goes. The murders on the west coast had similar aspects to one in DC. The victims in San Francisco and the one in DC had been gnawed on and were hung upside down with apparently a lot of blood drained out of their bodies. The novel has two mysteries interwoven, the Mastermind and the vampires. While Alex is working on the serial murders by the vampires the Mastermind is constantly harassing him with phone call and the threat of additional murders of his family and friends-two of which he carried out. Although this story had a lot of murders in several States and plenty of suspense, it was not as good as a few of his first books or I'm getting jaded, one or the other. Even though, in the end he solves both of the mysteries, crossing the USA several times in the process. The story has a lot of impact with the super vampires and the Mastermind. I like his short chapters and good writing. I think it's worth four stars.
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