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: HUFF AND PUFF
Review: First off, I think it's pretty pitiful that Stephen King in his EW column had to lower himself to call a fellow writer "dopey." Maybe King's jealous that Patterson is so successful. At any rate, there have been ups and downs in the Alex Cross series, but BIG BAD WOLF has more than enough of good moments to validate the continuance of this series.
What makes this work is Patterson's trademark short chapters; his terse dialogue, and his understanding of Alex Cross and his family and friends. The addition of Christine Johnson coming back to reclaim her son adds an additional emotional tension to the book. Patterson gives Alex some good supporting characters in Monnie, the FBI computer hacker, who helsp tremendously; his long time friend John Sampson, who is going to be a father, and a nice array of despicable villains. The Wolf? Who is he...we have to wait until the next novel. Typical of Mr. Patterson who so floored us when we find out who FBI agent Kyle Craig was. Oh, yes, Kyle's in this one, too, as vile as ever.
I liked this book; for those of you who have given up on him, shame on you.
Rating: 
Summary: What's happened?
Review: I am a fan of James Patterson's. I love his Alex Cross series of books and get very excited when a new book in the series is released, but lately, I've found his books to be less than engaging (even though I'm still going to buy them). After finishing "The Big Bad Wolf," I went back and looked through all my other Alex Cross books, to see just where Patterson's talent and skill started to disappear. I believe it began in "Roses are Red," which also boasted a horrible hanging ending like this novel. And his novels can't really be considered novels much anymore, more like novellas. The type is (created word coming up) gynormous, which allows him to fill 400 pages very easily, when if written in normal style, the work would probably not hit 200 pages. Not to mention the multiple uses of italics to convey sometimes entire paragraphs and the hilarious use of exclamation points!!! I just don't believe I can take an author seriously who relies on exclamation points (!) to convey emotion. Exclamation points (!), to me, have no place in the prose of a work. Use of (!) is acceptable in quotations, but in prose? "Come on!!!" (I put that last sentence in quotations so I could justify myself.) And now we arrive at the issue of plot. Some reviewers have pointed out that the plot of this novel is fast-paced. They can't possibly have read the same book that I did. True, the sections involving the kidnappings, the Wolf, his accomplices, and the other men from the chatroom are engaging and make the reader want to know a little more about the villain, but the sections involving the FBI are slow and drawn out; the one exception being when Alex and his partner are chasing Sphinx, but even then, the revelation of Sphinx's identity is a bit of a betrayal to the reader. (SPOILER AHEAD) If Patterson had planted little clues when Alex met Brendan Connelly, then the reader wouldn't have felt cheated (like I did). (END SPOILER) That tidbit aside, I did think the plot was interesting. Sure, it was a bit far-fetched, but how many plots of mystery and suspense novels aren't? Now I want to address my largest complaint of all, and then, I promise, no more complaints. My biggest complaint? The lagging holes. Okay, I get that the Wolf's this sadistic, insane man who will kill anyone that gets in his way, but could there have been a little more depth to the character? (SPOILER AHEAD) When he's first introduced, he's introduced as the Wolf, and Ari Manning (his name in America), and as Pasha Sorokin (his given Russian name). If all that was true, then why, once the FBI found the Wolf/Ari/Pasha, did he deny everything: him being the Wolf, him even being at the house in the first place? (if I'm wrong, I apologize, but that's what I understood) If he weren't the real Wolf, wouldn't Alex have recognized that it wasn't the real Pasha or Ari or whoever he was when they apprehended the man at the store? And then Pasha, or whoever, says he'll give up the real Wolf, only to have himself blown to bits in a hilariously bad open ending. So, if Pasha weren't the real Wolf, then why did he call himself such? And if he simply wanted to be the Wolf, and pretended he was, then does that mean the reader never actually saw the real Wolf? That's a bit disconcerting, when the real villain doesn't even appear until the very last page. And one more thing, when the Wolf shot at Alex from the limousine and Alex dropped to ground to avoid being shot (somehow he knew), why was that not addressed in the next chapter? I'm sure the FBI would've destroyed a passing limo in which someone was firing a gun at an agent. If the gun were silenced, then why wasn't there any reference to that, and just how did Alex know -- that never was addressed.(END SPOILER -- I know, it was a long one) All in all, though a few parts were disappointing, the book as a whole was pretty good. Never did I want to put the book down and not finish reading it (if only because I feel a need to finish a book once I start it), and I really do like James Patterson's work (the Alex Cross series and the Women's Murder Club series being my favorites -- which leads to another problem: Patterson's work was especially great in "1st to Die" (I wonder if he had a good ghostwriter?) so why can't he continue to do that in the Alex Cross books? I know, I know, I said no more complaining, but I lied.). If you like James Patterson and can forgive his simple sentences and sometimes mediocre writing, then you'll enjoy "The Big Bad Wolf." It's a nice addition to the Alex Cross series; I just hope that the next book will tie up these loose ends with a bit more of a bang than did "Violets are Blue" with the Kyle Craig/Mastermind case. Also Recommended:
Anything by Jeffery Deaver
Anything by Chuck Palahniuk
"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers
Rating: 
Summary: Good thriller!
Review: I enjoyed the heck out of this, probably more so cause I just finished "Sam's letters to Jennifer" and it did nothing for me. While this is not the best Alex Cross novel it was still nice to be back in familar territory! If you like the Cross novels you should enjoy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Alex Cross and the FBI are a perfect match!!!
Review: I have been disappointed with the last few Alex Cross books, and I suggested that James Patterson should retire Alex Cross as he was becoming a superman. Well, in this book there is still some superman to Alex Cross, but seeing Alex in training at the FBI and in a small office and being talked down to was a refreshing change of pace. The character of Wolf was the best villain that Cross has faced off against yet. There are many twists and turns in this one, and that will keep the pages turning. I also enjoyed that Patterson threw in a "family crisis" that really did not revolve around some type of attack at his home. All in all this book was very fun to read. As always with Patterson, if you are looking for great literature, look elsewhere. Patterson's writing style if fast and sort of choppy. This is another of the famous 150 page books jammed into 400 pages. Some people may not enjoy a 2 or 3 page chapter, but I think it makes you want to read that one more chapter before turning off the lights. Overall, much better than the last few Alex Cross novels, and a fun, light, quick read!
Rating:
Summary: could not put this book down
Review: I just finshed reading Big bad wolf by james patterson,
the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat as he was in pursuit of this
devoius character.
Rating:
Summary: The Big Bad Wolf
Review: I really enjoyed this book.Book is exciting and full of
suspense.
Rating:
Summary: Fast moving, gripping entertainment
Review: I thought this novel would be a good in-between read. Usually, I select what I believe to be challenging novels, scholarly fiction.
How I enjoyed this suspenseful tale! Alex Cross is a realistic, dynamic protagonist with a personal life, children and a past to resolve. He is also a student, a new FBI agent who hasn't learned the ins and outs of the bureaucracy. Cross is pulled out of class to hunt down and entrap an international godfather of the Red Mafiya, the Wolf.
The Wolf snatches and delivers beautiful women, and men, from shopping malls and college campuses to be delivered to psychopathic members of a secure internet chat service. Cross has to find these innocent, tortured victims before they are murdered by their captors.
This book caused me to lose sleep many-a-night because I couldn't put it down. This is my first Patterson novel and I guarantee it won't be my last.
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.
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.
|
