Rating: 
Summary: Patterson simply stinks these days
Review: I don't know why I bought this book; I've been less and less happy with Patterson's work. It's getting repetitive, the 8-million-chapters thing is just laziness for actually developing a story and/or characters, and his skills appear to have deteriorated beyond hope.But I bought it anyway, read the whole thing, and then did something I almost NEVER do. I chucked it straight into the trash. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this book. If you've liked his stuff in the past, you will almost certainly be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: That this author can sell books shows just how far we have fallen in the literary world. Poor plot. Poor characterizations. Poor everything. He should take up garbage hauling as he assuredly knows how to produce it.
Rating: 
Summary: Definite page-turner
Review: This is a page turner. I really don't see how anyone would be disappointed in it. I won't review the plot because the others on this site have already done that and you don't need it from me. I'm always looking for something to criticize, and it's not easy to find in this book, but here goes. Every book and movie you see has an obligatory love interest. So does this one. Why is it that every time we have an adventure in our lives we also happen to run into our soul mate? It's a convention that I am frankly sick to hell of. The gods of publication have determined that there shalt be a love angle in every story. King Lear didn't have a romance angle and it was still a pretty good story. Brothers Karamazov was a little short in that dept if you ask me, and it still wasn't a bad book, was it? Don Quixote didn't really have a romance interest either, though it had a silly old man deluding himself over a woman he didn't know. I wouldn't call that a romance. So I wish the publishers and authors of today would occasionally cut that aspect out of the "formula". Another convention that annoys me is that I know well enough who's going to win. It will be close, the hero will be in a whole lot of trouble, will almost lose, but something good will happen in the end to save him from his predicament. Yes I know we are rooting for the good guy, but let's face it, were you ever really concerned that Captain Kirk would get killed by a Klingon? Or that the ending would be less than total victory? It's satisfying this way but it's too formulaic. And the way our good guys and bad guys are defined for us. In this story the author uses certain methods of defining that. For example, the bad guys are Vietnam wartime atrocity guys. Gee, duh, that's controversial. Are we in favor of wartime atrocities or against them, let me see........ One good guy is defined as a minister. One good guy is someone who prevented a war crime, saving a civilian from a sadist. Gee, that's awfully controversial. Do we really want to root for someone who would save a civilian from a sadist? These kinds of quick, scribbled character portrayals to define whether we should like a guy or not are just too obvious, just little formulas quickly shaken off the pen of creativity. This type of thing comes with the genre. It's like reading a murder mystery by Mary Higgins Clark or most anyone else and knowing in advance that the killer will not be the suspicious looking guy, it will be the guy in the suit. Your best dressed character is surely the bad guy. Alright already. Down with cliches! Death to cliches!
Rating:
Summary: Suspensful yes, the best he's produced, no.
Review: I have read some better books by James Patterson, but this one still has a twists to it's plot, just not as surprising as a few of his past books. In Four Blind Mice, Cross has to solve gruesome murders by three ex-Vietnam men. But who is the "fourth blind mice" and why does Cross continue to get mail from a source know as Foot Solider, is it Kyle Craig? Meanwhile, Patterson introduces us to another woman in Cross' life, but his new relationship is shallow and not as meaningful as his other relationships. Patterson also widens the character of Alex's best friend, Sampson. His life is brightened by a new found relationship which surprised me at the end. Through the loves and the murders, Patterson is also confronted with a new job. As well as the burden of leaving Nana Mama at home with an illness she has now acquired. All in all, with the suspense and the short chapters flying through the book was not hard. Although it wasn't the best book I've read, I would still recommend this book to those who are and aren't James Patterson readers.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT...FOUR BLIND MICE!
Review: Four Blind Mice was my first of James Patterson's book, and I can't wait to read many more. This book includes the ever-present murder detective, Alex Cross, and his partner and friend John Sampson. This one like I assume all his others, is very suspenseful and had me guessing until the very end. Basically the story is set up as many Army men who have clean records are being framed for murders they claim not to commit. Just a couple pages in the book it says flat out who the killers are: Starkey, Harris, and Griffin, the "Three Blind Mice," who've been pals since their Army days. So the story is about Alex and Sampson finding out who the killers are and why in the world they would do such a thing. They encounter many threats on their life as they realize the Army is behind this and is consistently telling Alex and Sampson to leave and forget things. There persistence in finding justice finally led them to the truth, but not without costs. I always thought I had things figured out, but there was always an unexpected twist in the plot that threw me off and kept me from ever putting it down. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense and murder books.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat substandard for an Alex Cross novel
Review: OK, maybe the "bar" has been set a little higher for Alex Cross novels than "Four Blind Mice" is able to reach, but having read them all, I was just a little disappointed with Patterson's latest effort. Reading "FBM" is not unlike eating a bag of potato chips, satisfying, at least in the short haul, but filled with empty calories. Fans of the Cross series will definitely want to read this book, if for no other reason, than to stay current with the lives of Cross, his kids, Nana Mama, Sampson and Cross's new flame, Jamilla. As usual, the mega-short chapters are present and like all of the other Cross novels, the reader will fly through this one as well. The plot revolves around three reactionary, ex-Vietnam veterans who have been on a serial killing spree for a number of years. When the "Three Blind Mice", as they call themselves, frame a good friend of John Sampson for murder, both Cross and Sampson try and come to the rescue. As our protagionists get ever closer to chopping off the tails of the "mice", Patterson throws in a few plot twists that strengthen the story. Cross's arch-enemy, Kyle Craig, even makes a cameo appearance. Along the way, Cross agonizes over a possible job change and dealing with his ever-deepening relationship with Jamilla. By all means don't think that I am dissatisfied with "FBM". It's just after this 8th installment, I'm beginning to wonder if Patterson himself isn't becoming a little bored with the Cross franchise. I hold great hope for the next installment of the series, "The Big Bad Wolf" which is due out sometime in the Fall of 2003. Let's hope that Patterson instills some new life in the Cross series and "The Big Bad Wolf" gets on my "can't wait to read it" list! RECOMMENDED (especially to "completists" of the Alex Cross series)
Rating:
Summary: An amazing writer to be sure!
Review: In FOUR BLIND MICE, Alex Cross is after the assassins who are framing others for the murders they are commiting. James Patterson is an amazing writer that has mastered this thrilling genre. If you have not had the chance to check any of his wonderful books out FOUR BLIND MICE is a fantastic place to start. I promise, this is one writer that will have you glued to your cozy chair all night long! (Highest Recommendation!)
Rating:
Summary: good typical patterson....
Review: maybe a little better than his other recent stuff, this was typical....good, fast, had potential to be great, reminds me of word of honor on a smaller scale....
Rating:
Summary: Excellence As Usual
Review: I am not going to go into the plot of the book since it's been reviewed several times. I do however want to address the review from the person who goes by Hizon. The way he portrays African Americans in his books is not sterotypical. Soul food is very much a part of the culture. And there is nothing wrong with the way he portrays it. Ingnorance is bliss I suppose, and you seem to have plenty of it for only giving this book 1 star. Aren't you in the Philippines?? Not a huge African American population there I would think? Considering they are African AMERICANS! Hard to talk about something when you aren't in the right country in the first place. Learn before you speak. I am looking forward to the "The Big Bad Wolf" when it comes out in November. I can't wait. I have ready every Alex Cross novel and both "1st to Die" and "2nd Chance" all excellent. His is probably the best supsense writer of our time. I recommend the book to all.
Rating:
Summary: Full of Holes, But Fun
Review: If you are expecting an Alex Cross novel on the caliber of something like Roses Are Red or Jack and Jill, put down this book and go no further. If, however, you are an Alex Cross groupie like me and you'll read all about him no matter what, this book will entertain you despite the flaws in the plot. As the book opens, Alex is still pondering his future. Does he remain as a homicide cop? Does he join the FBI? Does he quit the crime game and become a straight psychologist? All of this soul-searching is very familiar to regular readers of the series--and it's getting a tad old at this point. No matter, though. Alex is such a likeable person, we're rooting for him anyway. So when his dear friend Sampson shows up with just "one more case" for Alex, we nod knowingly. Soon, Alex and Sampson are embroiled in a series of ghastly murders that are seemingly unconnected--except that innocent men, most notably one of Sampson's dearest army buddies--are taking the heat and going to Death Row. Each has been set up--or says he has--complete with planted murder weapon and DNA! The reader knows almost immediately who is really doing the murders, but Sampson and Alex and nonplussed. Hence the story. Before long, we learn more than we ever wanted to about long-ago atrocities in Vietnamese villages; the vagaries of some members of the U.S. military; and the secret underground that can't let go of the past. Does it all make sense? No. Does the conclusion solve all the loose ends? No. But we have plenty of Nana Mama, the kids, new love interests for both Sampson and Alex--and a need to read still more about Alex Cross, loose plot or not. Definitely three and a half stars, and a fun read.
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