Rating: 
Summary: Starting to Slip
Review: The last two Cross novels are a clear disappointment. While "Roses Are Red" seemed contrived and artificial at the end. "Violets Are Blue" is clearly a sequel that extends the absurdities of "Roses...". I hope Patterson reconnects with Cross and soon. A sequel to a bad book only makes it a worse book.
Rating: 
Summary: Suspense which left me catching my breath at every turn
Review: This was one of the most disturbing books I have ever listened to. I truly enjoyed it and I found myself more often then not poised at the edge of my seat trying to catch my breath. The book was well crafted and full of schocking scenes that it caused my heart to beat twice as fast. Every time William and Michael struck, I would begin to breathe faster. they have got to be the worst psychos Patterson has invented yet. one has to wonder what Patterson was thinking while writing this book. The sex scenes were quite arousing until of course it turned into horror but I love that combination. Why does Patterson make his psychos so sexy yet so deadly at the same time. Look at past novels and you'll see what I mean. Lets face it, on a fantasy note, wouldn't you like to spend some time with Michael and William? The thing that was most distressing about this book was the amount of evil directed at Alex Cross. Not only did he have to solve the vampire killings but he had to deal at the same time with the Mastermind from Roses are red. i didn't find the conclusion to that rushed; I think it ended quyite nicely. I really do not understand why this book has gotten such a low overall rating. Could it be that patterson has dared to expose our most darkest desires and has made us uncomfortable? The fact is, these sub cultures really do exist and while I would not join such a group do provide an alternative view point. I really felt for Alex Cross this time; a character who at times I think is a bit too smug for my taste. He truly was at his wits end in this one and I would not blame him if he retired. I hope he does not, I hope there will be another Alex Cross novel just as dark and [seductive] and deadly as Violets are. Come on Mr. patterson visit that dark room in your mind and treat us to another terror filled ride. Highly recommended. The audiobook version especially for its full of suspense building music and two readers really bring the story to life. Buy it folks and prepared to be shocked. I now have all seven novels on audio and I think I will go back and listen to them all over again; but not back to back; my heart would not be able to take it.
Rating: 
Summary: a book with a bite
Review: This exciting book is a lot of fun. There were some episodes that are a bit loose, and unnecessary, such as the attack by the kids in the Sire's house; we never learn how they got there, etc etc. But who cares? The book is a real thriller.But I roared with laughter when I first opened the book and saw the dedication. So Kyle Craig is a real person, Patterson's FRIEND no less! Thanks a lot, pal. I can think of better ways to commemorate a friendship in literature. With friends like this, who needs vampires?
Rating: 
Summary: Decent Read
Review: Overall, a decent story. I always expect alot in an Alex Cross story. Maybe I expected too much. The vampire stuff was kinda interesting, as was Alex and Jamilla. Other good characters like his family and crew from his job, as well as the FBI. Suspense at the end with old foe the Mastermind, wait til you find out who it is. Had me stunned. All in all, I'd recommend it to Patterson fans. As always, I look forward to the next Alex Cross story.
Rating:
Summary: Another Patterson Thriller
Review: Patterson has once again proved himself one of the best suspense authors on the planet. His books are fast reads, page turners in the truest sense of the phrase, and really fun to read. Alex Cross is once again pitted against The Mastermind from Roses Are Red plus other adviseries which test his all his skills. If you are a fan of high octane thrillers I recommend Violets Are Blue or any other James Patterson novel(especially the Alex Cross series).
Rating:
Summary: Save the trees
Review: The biggest waste of paper that could ever exist! 115 chapters for 391 pages!! An obvious ploy to stretch the number of pages by means of 115 pages that had only 1/2 page or less of printed content. The book could have been condensed to 50 pages at most or more mercifully gone unpublished. The content of those 115 chapters was inane. Somewhere in them one would expect to find a plot or storyline but no such luck.
Rating:
Summary: The Patterson ...[mis-leading]
Review: I have been a fan since his first book was published. Personally I always enjoyed his earlier books, they were more meaty. In this book Mr. Patterson proves that no one can write more than one book a year and be good at it. Violets are Blue is a terrible book. Before the book is half over we have figured out who the bad guy is and why. He's writing to a formula and like Robert Parker, with Spenser, his main character has been been lost to the lure of big money, i.e. multiple publishing deals and movies. Mr. Patterson owes his readers and his characters more. All three of his new books are mediocre, this one is down right bad! Save your money.
Rating:
Summary: Not Patterson's Best...
Review: As an avid James Patterson (and Alex Cross) fan, I believe I'll enjoy any book he publishes. However, if this had been the first book I'd ever read by Patterson, I don't know what I'd think. I enjoyed this because I know the characters, the writing style, etc... It was a fine continuation to the Alex Cross series, but as a stand-alone book, I'm not so sure I'd feel the same. Also, I (like many other reviewers) was really bothered by the way The Mastermind's identity was revealed in "Roses Are Red." I think it would have made much more sense for Patterson to write this book more like he wrote "Along Came A Spider," where the READER knows the identity, but must wait for Alex Cross to figure it out. Instead, he wrote it like his fans should've forgotten the killer's identity. It kept making me feel like the book was a big mistake. I wonder what he was thinking writing it the way he did????
Rating:
Summary: Violets are Blue
Review: James Patterson has once again kept me turning the pages of his latest novel featuring Dr. Alex Cross. As I read I noticed much of his writing is straight forward, no flowery language or overuse of deadword words: typical he said she said. Figurative language was not a strong point in Patterson's writing either. His style did include strong sense images though, especially sense image-sight. I especially appreciated the detailed descriptions of the events Cross encountered. The vocab was also not too challenging, but the choice of words was appropriate for the novel. Overall I thought his style was very intriguing and not overshadowed by unnecessary or overwhelming expressions or wordings.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible!!!
Review: I just had to comment on this book again. I read it about 3 months ago and am still amazed that the bad feelings I have for Violets are Blue are still so strong. Vampires are on the loose and are killing people across the country. Cross follows them everywhere. There are plenty of twists but no turns. A lot of stuff happens, and Cross and Co. never can figure out why. But the problem is, Patterson never reveals to the reader any reason to care about the vampire killings. Two things amazed me: how inept the police were in finding the killers, and how Patterson came up with this convoluted crazy stupid plot. Then there is the whole mastermind fiasco. The mastermind is the villian from the book Roses are Red. After reading that, you know who the Mastermind is, so throughout this book, the reader is left to wonder when Cross will find out who it is. Then in the last several pages, Patterson throws in what he probably thought was a clever plot point about the mastermind in tying him to several other crimes, but its not clever if it's not explained. I was left just shaking my head. It would have been cool if it had made sense or been feasible or possible. But what Patterson described was both impossible and ridiculous. I guess in Patterson's world, all serial killers operate with a personal vendetta against Cross. That seems to be the plot in every book.
Patterson is a great writer. I enjoyed 2nd Chance much more than this book. He just needs to work on his plots a little more.
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