Rating: 
Summary: Below average thriller - over-hyped I suspect...
Review: Having bought this book partly because of the high number of 5-star reviews, I have to admit I was disappointed. I must agree with fellow reviewers that the book is too long and could have benefitted greatly from some good editing. I also found the prose overly simplistic; short sentences and much repetition (of individual words and plot lines) served only to be frustrating. Worse still, the repetition over-emphasised elements of the plot that meant I had guessed the eventual outcome by about a third of the way through. By half-way I simply skipped the rest to confirm my belief. A shame really, because the plot had potential, but was let down in the telling. I also disliked the constant changing between third and first person narrative. I can only imagine that this was done intentionally, but I can't see for what purpose? If it was intended to draw the reader into the personal experiences of Alex Cross then I'm afraid it failed for me. Still, the book was entertaining for awhile, but ultimately disappointing - especially considering how much better it could have been with a little more effort and subtle story-telling technique.
Rating: 
Summary: Read it -- even after you've seen the movie
Review: I read this book after I saw the movie. My friends laughed at me because the ending was already spoiled (for those who have seen the movie, you know what huge twist I'm talking about). BUT the book is very different from the movie in a lot of ways! Some twists and plot details are completely different, and it made the book still very enjoyable, and almost like reading a new story. Of course, the ending twist was still the same, so if that will ruin it for you, don't do it. Not one of the best James Patterson books, (his plots get better and there are a lot of cliches in this one) but still very good. And of course, it always impresses me that a white male can create such a strong, believable, empathetic, and brilliant African-American protogonist, and subtly deal with racial issues in a very sensitive and insightful way -- issues that most thriller writers choose to ignore.
Rating: 
Summary: A taut thriller say the author of $oft Money
Review: If you love James Patterson, you will love this book. The story is well constructed, the characters sparkle. Alex Cross has lost his partner and is back in action with the assistance of a new side kick. But can he trust her? The action is fast paced and the suspense stays with you until the last page. Who is the bad guy? Will Alex lose this partner in his attempt to locate the Senators lost daughter? Who will die and who will survive? Alex Cross is in a race with time, and he does battle with the unique mind of a serial killer as well as a set of bad guys that comes as a surprise in the end. Be ready to begin reading and not stop until you have reached the end. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Along Came A Spider
Review: James Patterson wrote a very exciting and fast paced story. Its the book that started it all, the Alex Cross series. Because this is the first novel in the series and the first Alex Cross story i read, it has to be my favorite. Unlike other books within the genre, this novel has substance and style. One of the great things about this series and Along Came a Spider in particular is the complexity of the story line and the substance of the characters. Unlike most other crime/thrillers this one has a main character with values. I dont know how many times I have read a story about the main character having an afair or doing something immoral. Alex Cross is as true as they come. His family life is nicely depicted along with his friendship with his partner. Alex Cross is such a complete character its hard to believe he isnt a real person. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. The recent movie that came out isnt nearly as good as the book. It really isnt very much like it either. READ THIS BOOK!! Its one of the all time best suspense books out there.
Rating:
Summary: Loaded with suspense
Review: This was the third Alex Cross book I have read and so far it was the best. In this exciting story Patterson creates a suspenseful plot with some extra twists. The main plot is detective Alex Cross searching for a murderer/kidnapper. But Alex Cross has a number of social and political issues that he deals with on a daily basis, an example is being pulled off of the murder case of a black family in the projects to find the kidnapper of some rich white kids. Cross' witty replies are always entertaining when he is confronted by one of his superiors. I also like the way that the subplots in this story came together, it wasn't just filler material. This book left me wanting for more.
Rating:
Summary: "ALONG CAME A GOOD BOOK"
Review: This is the first James Patterson book I have read but it won't be the last. I thought it was very, very good. A little slow in the middle but the beginning and the ending made up for it. Starts with the murders of a family, then two kids are kidnapped. Can they be connected?????? Alex Cross is great as a detective. The mind games with him and Gary are breath taking. Jezzie Flanagan, with the Secret Service, gives you a big surprise. I don't know if Sandford's "Prey" series came first or Patterson's "Cross" series came first, but they remind me of each other. John Sampson is very good as Cross's partner. If you like a good mystery with lots of twist and turns and a good ending you will like this book.
Rating:
Summary: Along Came A Spider
Review: James Patterson is awesome. Once I start one of his books I can't put it down until I'm finished. The Alex Cross series started with Along Came A Spider & I've read every book of his since! If you like suspense, he's the author for you!
Rating:
Summary: Along Came a Spider, by James Patterson
Review: This book was a chilling suspense thriller. I think that it is unique that the author tied in so much history to the kidnapping and the murders. Everything was related to something else. Some of the interesting events that happened in the book was that the kidnapper was also the one committing all the other murders while he was hiding from the police. Another interesting point is the depth the author went into with the psychoanalysis of Detective Alex Cross and the author used Cross to psycho-analyize the kidnapper. I recommed this book to everyone. It is 504 pages, but a fast read. It ties in all genres to one book, but if you aren't a fan of a little gore, this one is not for you.
Rating:
Summary: PATTERSON JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER
Review: An exceptional book which keeps you guessing far longer than many other thrillers. Well written, with, and I paraphrase Mozart, just enough words as are needed. Two children are kidnapped by an intelligent, patient psycopath. Not a truly original plot to begin with, but Patterson turns what you think is boilerplate into a tale containing enough twists to keep you turning pages well into the night! When the kidnapper is thwarted by an accidental death, and the $10,000,000 ransom is never recovered even when the perpetrator is caught, the story begins to turn into a wonderful thriller that keeps the reader clueless until far into the book, something not many authors can achieve. Is our criminal suffering from multi-personality disorder or is he an actor worthy of an Oscar? Where is the surviving kidnap victim? Has love found Alex Cross? Is the FBI baffled or merely inept? Why are the authorities so nonchalent? After they have the kidnapper in custody, why don't they ask "where is the child"? Has Alex Cross been taken in by a cunning, conniving con artist? I won't tell you, but you must find out for yourself. Any true mystery fan owes it to himself to read this book. Are you the sleuth you think you are? Find out for yourself. If you weren't hooked on Patterson prior to "Along Came a Spider" you will be after you've read it. Oh! Do yourself a favor and save money at the same time. Don't bother seeing the movie, spend the money on the book. This is one you do not want to miss!
Rating:
Summary: good, but the are 100+ pages of waste material in it
Review: First I went to see the movie and maybe that's why I found this book has a lack of concise story. First I want to give this book 3 stars but since I start to read his second Alex Cross novel 'Kiss the girls' I found that James Patteson is one of the greatest mystery novelist. The plot is good and reasonable, it has unexpected twists but in the middle of the book after kidnaping, it seemed as Patterson didn't know how to continue the idea he has started with. So there is like 100 an plus pages you can easily skip, but the ending is unexpected and really surprising. It's just somehow irritating as suspense novel is everything but taut in the place where you want to let your dog starve for a day and your finacee is waiting for a ball game just for you, but you are in your own universe. The serial kidnaper is an intelegent person and so the hero needs to be, so this is a good premise which run well in the novel. As it's his first novel, you can see that character of Alex Cross isn't build-up very well yet, so sometimes the hero reacts or behave in out-of-logic manner and in some parts of the book he's not so belivable. Story is well buid, there is enough of suspense and unusual twists. Still, worth of your time and money, just to introduce yourself to the 1st part of great mystery travel to Crossland.
|
