Rating: 
Summary: Pure Work of Art
Review: This book was great. I loved it. I loved the history in it as well as the characters. I just couldn't stop turning the pages. A definite winner.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Yet!
Review: For all of you that are yapping about it not being acurate and blah blah, who cares? It is a wonderfully creative story full of twists and suprises. It does not have to be acurate.. It is fiction, meant for entertainment and I really enjoyed it. I cannot believe that people are getting mad about this book. It has to be one of the best books that I have ever read.
If you can look at a book of fiction for entertainment value instead of non fiction fiction, and want a book that will keep you reading non stop, this is the one for you! The the last 6 words of this book will just move you.. It did me. What a wonderful ending. This is a great work of fiction. Don't read it if you don't like adventures in a medival setting.
Rating: 
Summary: Jester lays an egg
Review: James Patterson keeps going downhill. Andrew Gross as his co-writer does nothing to help. Roses are Red was the last Patterson novel that was halfway decent. Violets are Blue was horrible, but The Jester is even worse.I love historical fiction, especially if it is well-researched and authentic. This book is neither. The anachronisms and especially the modern slang make this novel a boring and poorly-written piece. It's never explained how these medieval characters determine how the artifacts they bring back from the Crusades are authentic. You are supposed to have faith, I guess. For a well-researched and page-turning medieval action thriller, get Michael Crighton's TIMELINE instead of this dud.
Rating:
Summary: Not Patterson's Work
Review: I too wholeheartedly agree with the five star ratings given to the most refreshing piece of writing to bare James Patterson's name in a long time. I was hesitant myself to start it as the title implies a Medieval setting, which is not my cup of tea. But, after reading Timeline, this too proved that my judgement was wrong. The writing is indeed excellent and the characters colorful and realistic. The story as well was brilliantly conceived. Only one thing bothers me though. This book very inconsistent with Patterson's recent work. I came to the conclusion quite a few books ago that his focus of late is to crank out a book a month to keep the cash coming in. There could be no other excuse for his last "out of genre" foray (When the Wind Blows), which far and away was the worse novel I have ever read (including that crap Koontz writes). That one fared so poorly that I am convinced that he should stay close to his element. Even the last Alex Cross novel I read (Four Blind Mice) was so ill-conceived and hastily slapped together that for the first time I really didn't care at all about the Cross characters and was in no hurry to finish the book. No, I believe all of the credit should go to Andrew Gross, who I would bet penned the entire novel using merely Patterson's short chapter style and name recognition. Patterson hasn't written this well since he was hungry and I don't believe he ever will again. Good work Andrew!
Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Classic
Review: To be genuinely moved by a book is a rare thing for me; in all the years of reading and the hundreds of books I've read, this one was one of a handful that has touched me deeply. First of all, it has everything anyone could want from a book: action, adventure, drama, comedy, romance and tragedy. It is perhaps the most complete novel I've read since Dances With Wolves. The writing was fluid and concise; the plot was full of twists and turns. The characters are unforgettable--the heroes lovable and the villains intensely hateable. It is a story that has the romantic appeal of Robin Hood or the Three Musketeers, yet more human, as none of those others suffered the things Hugh De Luc did. This story grips you from the start and never lets go,
allowing very little breathing in between. It is admirable to see an author break from tradition; shows courage, and I think more should do so. Patterson goes way out of his element of Alex Cross crime thrillers; and I am eternally grateful that he did.
Rating:
Summary: Tried but just couldn't continue
Review: I tried to finish the book but just couldn't. With so many good books to read and so little time, it just wasn't worth it. I am really surprised at all the 5 star reviews. I have read all of Patterson's books and this one and Beach House are definitely the worst.
Rating:
Summary: Patterson outdid himself!
Review: I am not much of a fan of books that deviate from the author's typical style, but I was so surprised and genuinely LOVED this book. The characters were well developed, and the Sophie-Emily-Hugh "love triangle" was captivating. Jester combined the best of Patterson's writing: mystery, suspense, great characters, and at times heart-wrenching emotion. I can't rave about this book enough!
Rating:
Summary: The Audio book was AMAZING
Review: You can see from other reviews the gist of the story. I just wanted to comment that the narration of Cary Elwes in the audio version was unbelievable and gave this book life. Of course, some of the humorous parts seemed funnier because I was picturing the Princess Bride, but he made the story play out like a movie. I'm pretty sure this would be one of the best books I've read if I actually read the hard copy version, but with this narration - it is definitely one of the best I've read (or listened to). It will make your commute fly-by!
Rating: 
Summary: Yet another great novel.
Review: On more than one occasion, James Patterson has wrote with Andrew Gross. "The Jester" has a classic storyline; a man is searching for his lost love. On his return from the First Crusade, Hugh De Luc finds his son murdered and his wife kidnapped by a duke. Hugh becomes a jester in the duke's court in hopes of finding his wife. The book does have a few flaws. Throughout the story, the characters' use of language is unnoticeably...modern. Even with its flaws, together these authors have created another novel you can't put down.
Rating:
Summary: Jestercide
Review: As a lover of historical fiction, especially anything
set in the Middle Ages, I was eager to read Patterson's
venture into this genre. Now that I've finished it, I
must say, "Stick to mysteries, James. You're out of
your depth here". A few factual errors don't bother me. The occasional
anachronism I can forgive. But this book is full of
both. Equally important, it is too under-researched
to convey the feel of this past world to the modern
reader, which good historical novels always do. Oh,
he makes a stab, but it's mostly based on a cursory
look at the history books and a thesaurus. Just his
comments about re-building an inn and the furniture of
an 11th century castle reveal his ignorance. If the book had presented vivid and *original* charac-
ters in a surprising, twisty and unprecedented plot, it
might have been worthwhile. But other than the 'jester'
angle, everything had been done before and better. Worse,
I could predict almost all developments down to the final
'surprise' of the origin of the hero's love interest.
Please. A best-selling writer should be able to do
better.
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