Rating: 
Summary: Sappy and shallow
Review: I actually made it throught his whole book. I was not that worked up about the casual nature with which Patterson and Gross treat the historical realities until I actually finished the book and read the acknowledgements which state that they made 'extreme efforts' to be historically accurate. Puke.The book was pretty weak. I agree with one reviewer who likened it to reading a movie script. It moved along at a brisk if unlikely pace with little character development. I found the characters to be ridiculous. Every commoner has a heart of gold and every noble man is a lecherous jerk? Give me a break. Try to offer some complexity. Please. This book received two stars from me only because if you are looking for a brain dead book to read on vacation this fits the bill. It is entertaining and it does move along. Just don't expect great literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Fun!!!
Review: I've read all of Patterson's books including the Alex Cross series and this ranks as one of the greats. It is a story of the reluctant heroism of the common man, triumph in the face of tragedy, the encouraging power of loyal friends, and the ability to love again. Hugh De Luc is a lowly innkeeper who joins the Crusade with his mind filled with the ideals of war and the cause behind it. However, reality brings with it disillusionment and sorrow as his friends are slaughtered. No longer filled with innocence, Hugh leaves the Crusade to be with his love and wife, only to find his inn destroyed, his wife taken away, and the infant son he never knew murdered. With vengeance in his heart, Hugh seeks revenge. Apparent that the only way to get close to the murderers is to become a court jester, Hugh begins a path toward the final confrontation. Along the way, others join his cause and his quest becomes a battle cry for the entire country. The story was extremely fast-paced like all Patterson novels. This combination of Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, Danny Kaye's Court Jester, and Mel Gibson's Braveheart was thoroughly entertaining and is a must read. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Sappy and Shallow, II
Review: I like historical fiction and had at least moderate expectations that this would be an enjoyable story, given Patterson's acclaim. Well, I should have gone to the bookstore and browsed this drippy yarn before purchasing it online. Cardboard cutouts would have more depth than the characters in this story. As for the setting and time period, 10 minutes of internet browsing would give you what this novel offers. The authors have a nerve to suggest they relied on historical research... If Hollywood makes a movie out of this, then plot, character, and scene development need little additional work with this novel in hand. My recommendation? Save the ~$8 and get yourself or a friend a latte or something.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Brain Candy
Review: I'm a loyal Patterson fan, so I bought and read this book without knowing anything about it all. It took me about 3 sessions over 2 days to get through it. Not exactly high literature, but it was very entertaining. A good story and interesting characters made it a real page turner. True, it is quite violent (but not much worse than other Patterson novels), but come on, it's medieval France. What can you expect? That wasn't really a very gentle time or place in. My only complaint, as with most Patterson novels, is the ridiculously short chapters. Sure it makes for an easier read, but the number of one and two page chapters in this book was a bit extreme. I find it disruptive, especially when a single scene that should fill one chapter ends up taking up five or six.
Rating:
Summary: Bland
Review: Unlike most of James Patterson's works, "The Jester" falls far short of a good read. In a change of pace, James Patterson has attempted to portray a medieval setting of civil turmoil, but the narrative is sadly lacking both in suspense and substance, so powerfully utilised in his Alex Cross series. "The Jester," rather than possessing the same well-constructed character as James Patterson's earlier offerings is curiously one-dimensional. The lacklustre plot is comparatively simple- A simple peasant has his wife stolen while he is away on a crusade, upon his return to the village his is understandably angry. What follows is a stereotypical mess in which he adopts the role of a Jester to infiltrate the castle of Blois in the hope of finding his wife. An interesting initial premise is marred by a well-worn storylins, and the absence of a suspenseful narrative so well constructed in James Patterson's earlier offerings culminate in an uninspired offering that cannot compare with other books in the canon.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating and Intriguing
Review: I wasn't sure I'd like this book, but I did, and a lot! It dates to 1096, in France. It really was a page turner though and added adventure and romance and passion into the whole mix. I was intrigued with the description of events and the time line the book was done in. It really pulled you back in time and painted such a vivid and realistic picture. I feel like I know what it could have been like to live there with lords and lieges and dukes. I definitely recommend it to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Just awful
Review: This is several hours out of my life that I want back! I kept reading it because I've read all of Patterson's books, but this is such a departure, and so badly written, that it was a complete waste of time. You could see the "plot twists" coming a mile away, and it just dragged ON and ON. Ack. Skip this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A light summer read
Review: The Jester, while not a literary masterpiece, was still not as bad as some here have portrayed. This was what I usually call a "supermarket book." I get books like this from grocery store shelves when between better books, and want something that is neither heavy nor a prolonged series like I normally read. The best I can say of this book is that it was entertaining, and took little concentration to complete rather quickly. The plot was the old tried and true David and Goliath story, with some Robin Hood thrown in for good measure. Too bad it was telegraphed like a punch from nearly K.O.'d prize fighter. One reviewer recommended leaving this one at the airport. I disagree. Pick it up in the airport, just leave it on the plane at the end of your flight, so someone else can pass the time with a little light reading. If you're looking for historical accuracy and character developement, read P. O'Brian; if you're looking for mystery, read Christie or Grafton; if you're looking for suspense, read King....don't look for these things here.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fiction
Review: I'm glad I didn't look at the reviews for this book earlier otherwise I may not have bothered reading it. I bought it because it was reduced and I was mildly interested in the idea of a peasant posing as a jester to seek out his captive sweetheart in a hostile noble's court. I'd never read a James Patterson novel before this and although I gather it isn't a typical effort I expect to be looking for his other titles during my next visit to the bookstore. Reduced or not. First of all I don't read a book in order to find fault with it, as some of the reviewers apparently do. Yes the chapters are short and maybe the story is historically ambiguous and what if it is all totally implausible: what is important is that it's fully charged and has so many twists and turns it'll keep you spellbound till the end. Sure, it's not the most challenging book you'll ever read but if you indulge yourself in this unlikely fantasy you may end up realising the most important thing to take from it is the simple entertainment value a good story can bring. If not for the gore I would suggest it would make a good childrens fairytale, not that I'm complaining there, I'm used to books by King, Cornwell, etcetera.
Rating:
Summary: Not typical Patterson
Review: If you're looking for the typical genre of James Patterson bypass this book. However, if you're looking for something a little different that will take you to another time and place, this is the ticket. While it's rather predictable, The Jester provides what we're all looking for from fiction -- a departure from reality.
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