Rating: 
Summary: Have I read this before??
Review: Right from the start of this book everything seemed familiar..and I don't mean just the characters. Although Alex Cross is an interesting subject Patterson should change the plot of this detectives life/work more from book to book or move on. This book even refers to "Along came a spider" and the simalarities of the "bad guy" in both. I am a fan of Patterson's but I'll be sure to read the inside of the cover more carefully before buying next time.
Rating:
Summary: Cat and Mouse doesn't make it, but Dr. Alex Cross is great!
Review: I have read all of Mr. Patterson's Alex Cross stories and have enjoyed following this psychologist/detective character with relish.When Cat and Mouse hit the stands, I rushed to read it, expecting another well-written, mind-teasing, heart thumping whodunnit, go catch 'um story. I was disappointed, to say the least. This book was well-written and quite descriptive, particularly in the blood and gore parts. (that part didn't really bother me though) It is the story itself that is lacking. Please, enough of Gary Soneji. I couldn't believe he was again in another Cross story. It is becoming redundant and predictable Ok, Ok, Gary just hates Cross enough to give him a cat as psychological torment, break into his house, stalk his family and kill folks in train stations. But, somehow in this one, with Soneji again, I got tired of being scared of him. You know what I mean? Mr. Patterson tried to give us a little more mystery with the Mr. Smith angle. Good try, but not quite. The supershort chapters about Mr. Smith's bloody doing's are non-sequiturs and the end doesn't quite tie it all together neatly. Really, the "please stop me" storyline is played out. On the bright side, as a Washingtonian, I love Dr. Alex Cross's character. As a resident of much-maligned southeast Washington, D.C., I am thrilled that Mr. Patterson has chosen my stomping grounds as his. I am overwhelmed with pride at the strong, positive black images Dr. Cross, his partner, John Sampson, and Mama Nana portray. Bravo! Mr. Patterson in capturing these aspects of normal black life in the 'hood and weaving them into a story for mainstream audiences. We don't all sing rap music, talk ying yang in "black english", live on welfare, fail in school, and sell drugs. All of the characters in Cat and Mouse (and previous Patterson stories) show positive lifestyle images as well as the challenges faced in inner-city life. That is the reason I gave the two stars. Unfortunately, without the power of Alex Cross's character, this story's content and my entertainment level vis-a-vis my disappointment level for Cat and Mouse would have earned this book only one star. While I own the other Patterson books, I am glad I read this one in a library and didn't spend any money on it. I'll still look out for the next one, but... at the library first.
Rating: 
Summary: A THRILLING BOOK BUT...
Review: This is the second novel by Patterson I've read so far. The first one was JACK and JILL and I enjoyed it very much. CAT and MOUSE was quite good. Suspense and mystery (as well as gore) can be found in this book and make it a real page-turner. I've decided to rate this book 4 stars because I was disappointed by the dull description of our "local hero" Alex Cross and his family. They are simply too perfect to be true, the real "american loving family". Alex Cross is always right, nice and an astonishing loving father. Moreover, the dialogues between cops in this book are bizarre. Do all the cops talk about their look, the size of their ass and call each other "sugar" when they spend some time together? Besides these "minor details", this book was thrilling.
Rating: 
Summary: Wet, Tacky, Shallow
Review: Vomit, vomit, vomit. Hero cop Alex Cross is the wettest nineties man ever. In fact, the real mystery is that he in fact Oprah Winfrey in disguise! When he hangs out with other cops, they talk: -about their sensitive sides, and how good it is to let your feelings show -as if they were schoolgirls -about their tight asses (do I look fat in this?) Cross (in first person) tells you how he undresses his girlfriend, mentioning her "demibra" (would Dirty Harry know what that is?). He describes the brand name of everything, including her perfume. In fact, everything is about brands. Is advertising exec Patterson getting paid every time he mentions a brand, or is that just how he views the world? Even "Harvard" is overused to brand characters. Where does a cop get all this money to throw around? Cross is so perfect he is boring and unbelievable -- he couldn't be on the take. The whole family is too perfect. It's clear that Patterson is a part-time, executive writer. The two page chapters must be churned out between meetings or in the back of a cab. Often he comes close to repeating scenes, using similar language to tell you the same things about the characters. Where's his editor? Patterson can't write the climax to his most important scenes -- they peter out in a rush. The reader finds out who Mr. Smith is by being told, rather shown. USA Today says that Patterson is one of the greatest crime novelists ever, but USA Today is a glorified comic strip....
Rating:
Summary: Read this if you love graphic gore and little else.
Review: The premise of this one sounded intriguing. I found out that this is the book to read if you want to know what a body looks like after the facial skin is torn off--you get the idea. The shock value of frequent disembowelment and dissecting of victims was what was relied upon by the author to hold your interest. I could think of real page turners that are written without all the gore. I didn't find the "hero" likable or interesting, just muy macho. I give this one 2 stars because the author can make you visualize the explicit details quite well.
Rating:
Summary: Graphic Gore and little else
Review: The premise sounded intriguing but didn't deliver. I found this is the book to read if you want to know what a body looks like after the facial skin is torn off--you get the idea. The shock value of frequent disembowelment and dissecting of victims was what was relied upon by the author to hold your interest. I could think of real page turners that are written without all this gore. I didn't find the hero likable or interesting, just muy macho. I give this one 1 star because the author can make you visualize the grossness of the murders quite well.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok, but check out the other 3 previous to this one.
Review: It was alright, but it didn't hold a candle to "KISS THE GIRLS".
Rating:
Summary: Not the best of the four Cross books
Review: I've read the other three Alex Cross stories and this book did not pack the same punch as the others. Note to potential readers: While you do not have to do so, I really believe it helps to read the books in sequence.
Rating:
Summary: Abysmal.
Review: As a rule, I finish every book that I start. Thanks to this book,I may change the rule. This author stole 6 hours of my life from me that I will never be able to get back. A "must miss".
Rating:
Summary: incredibly suspenseful
Review: This is my first J. Patteson book. I must say I was hitched from page one. I was compelled to read it every chance I got and could not put it down until I finished it (to my husband's gread dismay!) I finally finished it last night. However, I just did not "get" the end. "Who"'s got Christine? What has happened to her? I did not sleep thinking about it. I must be obtuse, but if there is someone out there who can help me, before I lose more sleep over this (not to mention a husband!), that would be wonderful! Is it definitely a great read, but be prepared to put your life on the back burner for a while!
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