Rating: 
Summary: Violets Are Blue
Review: This is a terrible book that I kept wishing would get better, but only got worse as the plot tedium wore on. For starters, the title "Violets Are Blue" has absolutely nothing to do with the plot, the characters, or the action and the title (or the context of the title)is never mentioned once. Call the book "Mastermind", or "Vampires", or "Mass Murderers", but "Violets Are Blue" never applies here. And the plot and the whining of Alex Cross that he keeps getting weird phone calls from the Mastermind that can't be traced despite the full electronic technology of the FBI is silly. By the way, someone has been committing gruesome murders for eleven years with the distinct modus operandi of hanging victims upside down and drinking their blood. Not to mention white bengal tigers (two in the beginning but only one is killed in the end. Where is the other tiger?) who bite their prey to kill on command but never feast? And goulish teen-agers by the hundreds across the country who revel in blood, gore, killing, and mayhem circus acts? In the end, the vampire murders are unrelated to the Mastermind character that has been stalking Cross (we are told) for years and turns out to be his best friend in line to become the Director of the FBI. Huh? The Mastermind is also a mass murderer in his own right who's killed a number of Cross's female detective partners in the past. In short, none of the story hangs together, there is no cleverness, no plot twists, and nothing to recommend this novel. Unless, of course, you're really into macabre, fifty or so vicious murders where the victims have their throats slashed, are tortured, hung to death, or bled upside down in a purported feeding fenzy.
Rating: 
Summary: Violets are Blue
Review: Another book to keep you on the edge of your seat! A must read page turner
Rating: 
Summary: Sad Disappointemtn
Review: Wow, was this istallment in the Alex Cross murder mystery noves by Patterson a huge, disjointed disappointment. Having enjoyed the last novel so much I have been eagerly awaiting this book for a long time. I love vampire lore, but this pathetic poorly displayed attempt at the "modern" vampire theme is pooly written and way beneath Patterson's previously written novels. It's predictable and boring. And Alex Cross has turned into a wimp. He rambled and whined and didn't come up with a crime solving idea in the entire story. For the detective who has gotten involved with his female partners or characters in every other book, the idea of just staying friends with his female partner to soothe his wounded ego is way out of character. As for the Master Mind's identity. Patterson insulted all of his fans by telling on the last page of the last book and thinking no one would remember it. Maybe the author has run out of gas and if this is all he could come up with, it's time for him to throw in the towel. For those who are put off by this weak plot and flat character novel; the earlier Alex Cross novels were excellent and I would definitely recommend them to anyone who loves a good murder mystery series. I will miss Alex Cross, but I guess he's all dried out.
Rating: 
Summary: Glad to have the real Patterson back
Review: The Alex Cross books are the reason to read Patterson. In Violets are Blue, Alex returns along with wise old grandmother and children who worry about him as he leaves them behind to solve a murder that seems to be the worst yet. The investigation this time seems to be the work of vampires...victims all have bite marks, and their blood has been drained out of their bodies. Alex finds himself investigating vampire cults in California even as the MASTERMIND contiues to stalk him in Washington. There are plenty of hints about the identity of the Mastermind as the book unfolds. The pace is fast and the suspense is good. It is apparent early in the book that we will finally know who the Mastermind that has known Alex's every move is. With his identity revealed, that is the end of the mastermind, but Violets are Blue introduces a new girlfriend for Alex who will hopefully return in the next Alex Cross book.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid but not of Patterson ilk.
Review: Many times when authors use a character ad infinitum in a series of books, the plots become old and tainted. Cussler continues to use Dirk Pitt, Ludlum (to a lesser degree) capitalizes on Jason Bourne, and Patterson, of course, uses Alex Cross. In Patterson's case, he wrote two books in between the latest Cross novels (Diary for Nicholas and 1st to Die) so perhaps the reader would benefit from a fresh perspective. Yes and no. (If you haven't read "Roses are Red" and intend to do so, I suggest you stop reading the reviews for "Violets are Blue." You'll thank me later.) In the latest iteration of Alex Cross' life, we find Alex whisked off to California to investigate some very bizarre, vampire-like murders. The bodies of two joggers were found in Golden Gate Park....hung by their feet and drained of blood via bites. Vampire bites? Alex's FBI friend(?), Kyle Craig calls Alex and asks him to join the investigation team. Upon arriving in San Francisco, Alex finds a pleasant surprise in Detective Jamilla Hughes. Alex and Jamilla run the traps on the few leads available. However, even as they are investigating the Park murders, several other murders occur in California and now, in Las Vegas. It becomes quite obvious that the murderers are on the move and several steps ahead of Alex. Concurrent with his murder investigation, Alex receives continual cell phone calls from the Mastermind (Alex's nemesis from "Roses are Red.") Ultimately, Alex heads back to D.C. dejected as to his lack of progress in this highly unusual and complex case. As the parasitic vampires move from the West coast to the East coast, Alex is plunged into the seemingly paranormal world of vampiric norms. Alex learns much more about the tilted netherworld of vampiric cults, teeth sharpening and yes, the consumption of human blood. Alex continues to follow the trail of the murderers crisscrossing the East coast to New Orleans and finally back to California. All the while, Alex is haunted by the Mastermind. The vampiric portion of this book climaxes for the reader in Alex's last trek to California. The storyline relating to the vampire-like murders is very unusual and off-beat thereby making it less than expected. If Patterson had developed this storyline a bit more and left the Mastermind for a succeeding book, I believe that "Violets are Blue" would have been an excellent book. However, with the ever-present Mastermind hanging over each chapter, the reader isn't allowed to focus on the vampire plot. This is a shame as I felt the vampire plot was so peculiar (out of the ordinary), it was engrossing. Finally, the Mastermind. I enjoyed "Roses are Red" thoroughly with the exception of Alex's "Frasier-like" love life. However, at the end of "Roses," the identity of the Mastermind is revealed. Inasmuch as "Violets" shares of dual plot of vampiric murders and the eternal search for the Mastermind, the latter portion becomes somewhat rote as the reader already knows the Mastermind. If Patterson knew he was going to write a continuing sequel (which was a given based on the ending of "Roses"), why did he reveal the identity of the Mastermind? Knowing the identity of the Mastermind was almost a nuisance in this book. Patterson is a very gifted and creative author. However, "Roses" and "Violets" could have been blockbusters if Patterson had stepped back from the writing and looked upon his current and successive plots from the point-of-view of the reader. Oh and, by the way, Patterson has very obviously left the reader hanging for the next installment of the Cross saga with the following, final sentence of the book, "But that's another story, for another time." Yes, I'll read it but I hope that Mr. Patterson will read a few of these reviews prior to penning it.
Rating:
Summary: Patterson is the best
Review: This book is great. James Patterson is the best crime writer out there now. All his books, including this one, move extremely fast. Violets are Blue is another example of his dominance in this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Alex Cross V/The Mastermind Kind've Read!
Review: Violets Are Blue by skillful storyteller James Parrerson is a compelling, and suspenseful read that will leave the reader anxiously waiting to exhale in this exciting page turner--A couple of joggers are murdered, the murders are gruesome but that's only the beginning--will one of the people in Alex Cross' life be the next victim? A book you won't want to miss reading!
Rating:
Summary: Violets Are Blue--And You'll Be, Too, If You Read This Book
Review: In a mystery or thriller book--indeed, in all good works--a little filler goes a long way. Patterson apparently is unaware of this dictum. In "Violets Are Blue," most of the prose is filler, padding, refrains. Especially irritating are the superficial ruminations by the main character; these repeat the same whining mantra throughout the book. What little actual plot line that does exist is tenuous and amateurish, containing almost no examples of real detective work. Elementary police processes--DNA testing, hair, skin, and blood samples, fingerprints--are never employed; had they been, the hero would have solved the "puzzle" quickly. In many places it seems like a bad imitation of the marvelous "Red Dragon" (which, if you haven't yet read, you should). Finally, the ending is all too predictable, as any reader will find. If you've already bought this item, recoup some of your loss by donating it to the public library. Or use it in a class as an example of how NOT to write.
Rating:
Summary: YOU PEOPLE MAKE ME SICK
Review: I see when you get a lot of bad reviews for a real stinker like Violets are Blue then the reviews are suddenly UNAVAILABLE. You think thats going to help your business? NOT Thats one of the worst books you ever sold and you should be ashamed for even carrying it. Poor Alex Cross.......
Rating:
Summary: Bad , Bad, Bad
Review: Chapters of only 3-4 partial pages, large type, generous line spacing, as though he was paid by the page or chapter. Poor characterization, repulsive sexual content. The main characters were just poorly written, and Alex Cross is getting very dull and insubstantial. I used to like Mr. Patterson, but I will not be buying any more of his books. I was barely able to finish it and had to resist throwing it across the room several times.
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