Rating: Summary: Good God! What have you done James? Review: Along Came a Spider was brilliant. Kiss the Girls was good. Jack and Jill was okay. Notice the pattern. Cat and Mouse follows the tend and ends up being a terrible novel and hence explains the poor rating this reviewer gave (1 measly star). Cat and Mouse follows the adventures of Alex Cross, the black detective/psychologist, who has a knack for bringing down incredibly stupid serial killers and go about their disturbing fetishes with the most absurd of motives. Below I will list some of the mistakes with this novel: - The character of 'Mr Smith' is totally unbeilable, and his motives are never fully explained - When the Cross family is brutally attacked, why didn't Soneji's pal just kill them all I can go on forever, but I just don't have the time. Two mistakes should be sufficient. Anyway, I sure hope Patterson writes better novels because I seriously can't be bothered writing more reviews.
Rating: Summary: Very Good -- A Must for Fans of the Alex Cross series! Review: This Alex Cross novel features the return of the evil Gary Soneji (from the first Alex Cross book in the series, "Along Came A Spider"). This is not simply a rehash of Along Came a Spider. It has many twists and turns and some new characters. In this instance, the sequel is as good as the original. Also, this is the novel in which Alex Cross gets a love interest, giving an added dimension to this fourth book in the series.
Rating: Summary: Not the best in the series, but still a page turner.... Review: Cat & Mouse marks the fourth installment of James Patterson's Alex Cross series. Like the previous novels in the Cross saga, our hero tracks down a serial killer using his skills as a psychologist with the Washington Police Department. This time, Cross is lured into a game of "Cat & Mouse" with his old nemesis Gary Soneji from the first novel in the series. Soneji has finally decided to take his revenge on Cross for foiling his plans to committ the ultimate crime years ago. Soneji gets Cross's attention with a string of violent murders. In addition, we follow Thomas Pierce, an investigator with the FBI, as he tracks down another serial killer described as "The Alien" and "Mr. Smith". This killer has earned his nickname based on the sheer inhumanity with which he kills his victims. Circumstances cause Cross and Pierce's paths to "cross" and they end up working on each other's cases, for reasons other than what you might expect. "Cat & Mouse" addresses a minor failure of the previous novels. At times in "Jack and Jill", Cross didn't actually do much to unravel the mystery of the killer. In "Cat & Mouse", he actually puts his skills to use in tracking down Mr. Smith. However, while chasing Soneji, we are just presented with evidence from previous novels, and not much new that required Cross to actually investigate. Many readers are turned off by Patterson's switching point of view in this series. Most chapters involving Cross are told from first person perspective, and those that involve the killer or others are usually in third person. I personally like this, because I think Patterson gives Cross some great lines that are revealed in Cross's internal dialogue. In "Cat & Mouse" we actually get a section in which Pierce's chapters are told from first person. This is a nice twist, and a bit of a red herring for those trying to figure out what is going on. My only other complaint is that I felt Soneji wasn't dealt with as well as he could have been. The conclusion to his involvement in the novel was kind of a let down after the build up it received in the previous two novels. Overall, this isn't the best novel in the series, although Cross becomes a little less indestructible, and a little more human than in the previous novels. The outcome is not as difficult to figure out as well. I actually figured this one relatively early, despite the red herrings and twists Patterson threw in. However, Patterson's style really keeps you turning the pages. Its a quick read and a lot of fun.
Rating: Summary: Hoping for something deeper Review: I liked Cat and Mouse, but I kept hoping for something more, more depth of character I guess. As another rater wrote, these characters are too good to be true and much too perfect to be real. On the good side I liked the twists and turns of the story and I was kept guessing about who Mr. Smith was right up to the point where I found out who it actually was. I also liked the relationship that was starting to build between Cross and Christine. I'm old softy and I love when the main character seeks and finds true love. I also liked the banter between Cross and John Sampson. All in all I thought it was a good read, though not the best.
Rating: Summary: Definitely my Favorite Author Review: This was the second time that I read Cat & Mouse. It was just as enjoyable as the first time. It was an exceptional suspense novel and a definite page turner. I have yet as to find a James Patterson novel that I have not thouroughly enjoyed. Looking forward to reading Cat & Mouse a third time.
Rating: Summary: Patterson puts Cross into action AGAIN.. Review: In this suspense filled plot, Alex Cross goes after Soneji and Mr. Smith. The pages are once again filled with alot of action, some places did capture me and I couldnt put it down until that chase or fight or some other plot was over. I couldnt help but notice though, that the way Patterson was developing his characters sounded more like a movie script than a book at times. But still it's James Patterson, it's Alex Cross and it's definitely worth the read!
Rating: Summary: No redeeming qualities Review: This is the worst book I have read in some time. The writing is pedestrian, the characters are shallow and the the plot is ridiculous. Otherwise it was worth what I paid. ( I found it)
Rating: Summary: Good but not the best Review: I this is the 4th of the Alex Cross series and I must say it was just a step below the previous 3. I think James Patterson is an amazing author and I can't see how he keeps coming up with these crazy stories ~ but he does! It has a few twists and turns as you read along but not as many as the previous books. This is the 3rd alex cross novel in a row with a cop turning bad and I felt that that was a little repetitive, but all in all a great book. If you haven't already, read the previous books in the Alex Cross series... IMHO, Kiss the Girls is the very very best
Rating: Summary: Not bad...an average Patterson's thriller... Review: it's a book for late lazy sunday afternoon when there is no football on t.v.
Rating: Summary: Great at First...Then it stinks Review: At first, I thought this was one of the best books ever written. I read the book constantly for the first day that I picked it up and all of a sudden it got to be the worst book I had ever written. Patterson reveals who Mr. Smith is, with about 150 pages to go and then the entire thrill of the novel is gone. The case of Gary Soneji does carry the book. I give the first half 5 stars and the second half 1 star. So that gives me three stars. His next one (Pop goes the Weasel) is much better.
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