Rating: 
Summary: Lose the romantic interests!!!
Review: I love Patterson's work, especially the Alex Cross series, but I would have liked this book a whole lot better if we weren't introduced to the character of Jamilla Hughes. At the end of the last Cross book, Alex is devastated because someone he's been having an affair with was killed by The Mastermind, yet, within a very short period of time, we now have Alex introduced and having romantic feelings for another partner. Having said that, the crime writing was as good as ever, even if a bit over the top, but I don't think I could stand to hear Alex say "I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to them" one more time.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BOOK! WOULD HIGHLY RECOOMEND!!
Review: I got an Advanced Reader Copy of this, so I have had a long time to think about if I liked it or didn't. And the fact is I loved it! It may not be the most realistic book out there. But still with his short chapters, effective dialogue, and more twists and turns than a roller coster I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages. I finished it in two hours. So I would greatly recommend it. Also before reading this, read the previous Alex Cross novel, Roses Are Red(just as good of a book). You don't have to, but it will help you see things clearer in this book. GO BUY THIS BOOK!
P.S. for those of you that have already read this, there will be another Alex Cross book next November, the series isn't over. Trust me.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Hi this was a fast read and another great one done by patterson. can he make you sit any farther on the edge of your seat without making you fall off? bye jenny
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF PATTERSON'S BEST!
Review: This Alex Cross masterpiece picks up where "Roses are Red" ended. This literary work is definitely one of Patterson's best to date and is filled with all the psychological suspense, intrigue and drama that one would expect from such an accomplished author. Yes, there have been a few disappointing novels in his time, but where Alex Cross is concerned he never lets us down. When two joggers are found murdered and hanging by their feet, Alex once again goes in hot pursuit of justice. Modern day-vampires? Freakish cults? From east coast to west, the story unravels with twists and turns that will keep you reading late into the night. Patterson is well known for his books with short chapters, which most of us find extremely convenient, and this book is no exception - there are 116 to be found here. Like his other Alex Cross novels, there is also a smart, attractive female character, by the name of Jamilla Hughes, who weaves her way into Cross's life. Cross seems to have difficulty holding on to his romantic interests, they either die or leave him, but that is all part of the mystery and intrique, isn't it? This book is definitely James Patterson at his finest and "Violets Are Blue" is a page-turner you will not want to miss.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book.. Alex is back.. but for how long??
Review: Great Book. Well worth the wait! Leaves you waiting for the next book.. Love the most of the previous characters were brought back and checked up upon! I just dont want Alex to leave for good! (brought up in the begining of the book). What will the world do without Alex Cross???
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Amazon kindly provide a synopsis of the story, so I am left only to pass on my feelings about this book. It is EXCELLENT! A good story, well-developed characters, and a sinister twisting plotline. This book is a MUST-BUY item. If you like previous books from this author, then you will not be disappointed. If he is new to you, then you owe it to yourself to buy one of his books so that you can see for yourself just how well he writes.
Rating:
Summary: A fitting end to a great storyline
Review: If you read "Roses Are Red", then you know that the last page of it tells you who "The Mastermind" really is. It was a cliffhanger, and I hate those, but you couldn't deny it was a good novel. "Violets Are Blue" literally picks up seconds after the other novel's end, and goes for a good ride from that point on. The beginning is gripping, and the end is by far one of the best Patterson has ever written. The middle is the problem. For one thing, The Mastermind's identity isn't "revealed" in this one until the last quarter of the book - even though it was clearly stated in the last one - so you are supposed to act surprised at the revelation (I guess if you didn't read the other book, it would be a surprise). For another thing, the vampire/S&M storyline just gets too graphic for no reason. The sex/murder scenes just are more than we need to know. Some of the best parts of the book are at the beginning when the couple is found murdered and you try to figure what happened. When we stand bedside while people are graphically killed, the imagination doesn't have to go anywhere - so I feel some of the middle is too over-the-top. However, I have to say that the last quarter of the book (after the vampire storyline is over) is the best. When it's just Alex Cross versus The Mastermind, it's incredible work! Characters from all the previous novels get cameos or mentions (including a cameo from one of the better female characters in the series - Kate McTiernan). As the Mastermind goes after those in Cross' life to kill them while Cross tries to stop him, it's stuff that you can't put down. You'll be reading this one late into the night, that's for sure. Unfortunately, within the first few pages you can easily tell where this will all end up and what Cross' next life-move will be, but it still makes for a good story. Almost 5 stars, but the vampire killings are just too bloody graphic for my taste.
Rating: 
Summary: Searching for originality
Review: Let me start off by saying that this is my fourth book in the Alex Cross series; "Along Came a Spider" was excellent, "Kiss the Girls" was much the same. I found "Roses are Red" to be a very entertaining continuation of the type and style of book that "Along Came a Spider" was--that is, a psychological story involving an intelligent, unpredictable enemy. However, unlike Patterson's first two Alex Cross books, "Roses are Red" was written with the intention of creating a cliffhanger ending, most likely to drive sales of his latest work, "Violets are Blue". After reading "Roses are Red", I immediately picked up "Violets are Blue", expecting an immediate continuation of the predecessor's story. Instead, what I go was 300 pages of a poorly written, highly erratic story that desperately tried to stretch the length of the book out past the realm of a long essay. In fact, Patterson doesn't focus on the main story line until 3/4 of the way through the book. And, what's worse, the first 3/4 of the book deals with a laughable plot involving a cult of vampire-like killers, terrorizing unknown prey. Give me a break! If I expected or wanted horror/cult-related stories, I'd buy a Stephen King or Clive Barker novel. Obviously, fiction readers expect a certain level of the impossible; but we also appreciate well-written, highly realistic stories. "Violets are Blue" fails both these expectations. So, my advice to any first-time Patterson readers or would-be Alex Cross fans: read "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls". If you're still curious, pick up a copy of "Roses are Red", knowing that you'll be left hanging. But should you opt to read the [supposed] conclusion, "Violets are Blue", don't expect much. The book doesn't read as fast as Patterson's others, nor is it as satisfying. Without knowing what "Four Blind Mice" will be like, the next Alex Cross novel, I can only hope that Patterson realizes he needs a major story change; he's been trying to emulate his best, most original works and failing miserably.
Rating:
Summary: James Pattersons' best? Not by a long shot
Review: I'm a huge James Patterson fan and there are only a few books of his that I have not read. After the incredible book "Roses Are Red" with its incredible twist ending, I could not WAIT for this book to come out and see how everything panned out. Naturally, I had this book within the first few days of its release. It didn't take me long to read it. The vampire plot was somewhat interesting, but in general, not my realm of interest, so, for the most part, I shouldn't comment on that. I'd be too biased towards it, however, it wasn't bad. It was well written. I personally was more interested in the Mastermind storyline continuing from "Roses Are Red." Obviously, the Mastermind continues to stalk Alex Cross and Alex continues to chase him until the final showdown. As all fans of James Patterson's have, I have come to expect the unexpected in his novels. Complex and incredible plot twists. This book however that every author, no matter how good, has a bad writing day some days. I mean, honestly, Alex Cross figured out who the bad guy was out of nowhere in this novel. He's sitting in his car, and out of nowhere, with no rhyme or reason, says to himeself, "Oh, it's this guy. He's the Mastermind." Where did it come from? Nowhere. And, I admit, at first I though it was great. But, the more I thought about it, it really disappointed me because that's not what I expect from an author of james Patterson's cailiber. He's so much better and could have given it a much better twist as to Alex's way of figuring it out. My advice, take this one out of the library and save your money for a first edition copy of "Roses Are Red." It's so much more worth it.
Rating:
Summary: keep writing James Patterson
Review: I have almost read all of the Alex Cross books.So far none have let me down. When I started to read this book i was dissapointed because the first 100 pages were gory, grussome, and bad written. I mean how much can you describe. But as the book went on it got way better. It didn't focus as much on the murders and focused more on the investigation. Unlike the first half of the book. I also liked how Alex Cross was getting stalked while trying to solve the mystery. The twists were very good and when I finished the book I was barely breathing. So this instalment in the series was very good,but not for the faint of stomach or heart.
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