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James Patterson is one of the bestselling writers of all time, with more than 170 million copies of his books sold worldwide. He is the author of the two most popular detective series of the past decade, featuring Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club. He has won an Edgar Award—the mystery world's highest honor—and his novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were made into feature films.
His lifelong work to promote books and reading is reflected in his new Web site, ReadKiddoRead.com, which helps parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians find the very best children's books for their kids. He lives in Florida.
Richard DiLallo is a former advertising creative director. He has had numerous articles published in major magazines. He lives in Manhattan with his wife.
A string of gripping standalone mysteries followed, but it was the 1992 release of Along Came a Spider that elevated Patterson to superstar status. Introducing Alex Cross, a brilliant black police detective/forensic psychologist, the novel was the first installment in a series of bestselling thrillers that has proved to be a cash cow for the author and his publisher.
Examining Patterson's track record, it's obvious that he believes one good series deserves another…maybe even a third! In 2001, he debuted the Women's Murder Club with 1st to Die, a fast-paced thriller featuring four female crime fighters living in San Francisco—a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an assistant D.A., and a cub reporter. The successful series has continued with other numerically titled installments. Then, spinning off a set of characters from a previous novel (1998's When the Wind Blows), in 2005 he published Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. Featuring a "flock" of genetically engineered flying children, the novel was a huge hit, especially with teen readers, and spawned a series of vastly popular fantasy adventures.
In addition to continuing his bestselling literary franchises, Patterson has also found time to co-author thrillers with other writers—including Peter de Jonge, Andrew Gross, Maxine Paetro, and Howard Roughan—and has even ventured into romance (Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Sam's Letters to Jennifer) and children's literature (santaKid). Writing at an astonishing pace, this prolific author has turned himself into a one-man publishing juggernaut, fulfilling his clearly stated ambition to become "the king of the page-turners."
Two of Patterson's Alex Cross mysteries (Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls) have been turned into films starring Morgan Freeman; in 2007, a weekly television series premiered, based on the bestselling Women's Murder Club novels.
“LET HER HANG until she’s dead!”
“Take her out and hang her now! I’ll do it myself!”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Judge Otis L. Warren wielded his gavel with such fury I thought he might smash a hole in the top of his bench.
“Quiet in the court!” the judge shouted. “Settle down, or by God I will hold every last one of you sons of bitches in contempt.”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
It was no use. Warren’s courtroom was overflowing with disgruntled white citizens who wanted nothing more than to see my client hang. Two of them on the left side began a chant that was soon taken up by others:
We don’t care where. We don’t care how.
We just wanna hang Gracie Johnson now!
The shouts from some among the white majority sent such a shiver of fear through the colored balcony that one woman fainted and had to be carried out.
Another bang of the gavel. Judge Warren stood and shouted, “Mr. Loomis, escort all those in the colored section out of my courtroom and out of the building.”
I couldn’t hold my tongue another second.
“Your Honor, I object! I don’t see any of the colored folks being rowdy or disrespectful. The ones making the fuss are the white men in front.”
Judge Warren glared over his glasses at me. His expression intimidated the room into silence.
“Mr. Corbett, it is my job to decide how to keep order in my court. It is your job to counsel your client—and let me tell you, from where I sit, she needs all the help she can get.”
I couldn’t disagree.
What I once thought would be an easy victory in the case of District of Columbia v. Johnson was swiftly turning into a disaster for Gracie and her increasingly helpless attorney, Benjamin E. Corbett: that being myself.
Gracie Johnson was on trial for the murder of Lydia Davenport, a wealthy white woman who was active in Washington society at a level high enough to cause a nosebleed. Worse, Gracie was a black woman accused of killing her wealthy white employer.
The year was 1906. Before it was all over, I was afraid they were going to hang Gracie.
I had to be careful they didn’t hang me while they were at it.
Excerpted from Alex Cross's TRIAL by Patterson, James Copyright © 2010 by Patterson, James. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Tidbitsofscott
Posted September 18, 2009
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I am sorry to say that the story is anything but original. James Patterson and his co-author Richard Dilallo have taken Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", both John Grisham's "A Painted House" and "A Time to Kill" and combined them all together into a simplistic novel about the south in the early 1900's, a lynching, segregation, and the Ku Klux Clan. I would really like it if Patterson would give over some of his ideas completely to his co-authors and let them run with it, while he concentrates on what made him so famous in the first place - ALEX CROSS. The few times he has chosen to use past history that needs reseach the results always seem to fall short and bring down the overall value of the novels. Read this one if you like most of Patterson's books, but be warned it is not great, merely good.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 25, 2009
I received the book in the mail today, and I am beyond disappointed. I have seen quite a decrease in the quality of writing ever since James Patterson allowed other people to write and he just slapped his name on the cover, but this just was the last straw for me. I was a loyal Patterson reader, but I will never pick one up again! I pre-order all of his books, and have never felt the need to read the preview. Today, I immediately opened the box and was surprised as I read the first 3 pages to see that it was nothing like the usual, and honestly of a subject matter that I have no interest in!
I beg you, Mr Patterson, bring back the quality and forsake the quantity!!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Granny_book_lover
Posted August 29, 2009
I made a point of reading all of the first 14 chapters available on the B & N preview before I bought the book as Patterson's last few books have been erratic.
This book was historically accurate and about a topic - lynching in Mississippi in 1906 where the ravages of the Civil War are still present in the black community. Two separate communities, one black and one white, have lives that intertwine. And yet, fear is still the biggest obstacle to overcome as the country moves into the 20th century.
If you like historical novels, you will like this look into racial issues in the Deep South!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Carol1951
Posted May 14, 2010
Being so thoroughly enamoured of Alex Cross, I was sceptical about truly enjoying members of the Cross family in another era, another setting as well, and still getting the thrill ride I so enjoy in Patterson's books. Not to worry. He's got it covered. Go back to the turn of the 20th Century and the deeply bigoted, deep south. Add a colorful touch of the larger than life Teddy Roosevelt, and a young impassioned humanist Harvard law graduate, to the racial pot boiling in small southern town, and you have recipe for terror, suspence, heroism, sorrow, and hope. Patterson has another central character who could be the motivation for a series of great stories that unfold around the old being pulled kicking and screaming into the 20th century.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 16, 2009
I have read all of Alex Cross Books. This was unexpected. I think the subject matter is relevant today. I love pattersons writing style.Of all of the Alex Cross books this will stay with me the longest.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 24, 2009
I noticed the minute I read "A PreFace to Trial" that the jacket cover refers to Moody as Abraham's "beautiful daughter" but the preface refers to Abraham as her grandfather. Who did the review & editing for this book, certainly not James Patterson himself!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 12, 2009
I read almost everything that James Patterson publishes, this book is a little different in the cast of characters. Just started to read, so I cannot give a total review.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Excellent reading, Patterson is without a doubt one of the best out there.
I would recomend the entire series for any one who enjoys a good book, just start reading and try to put it down. Waitng on the next Patterson book to be printed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.one of the best Alex Cross books to date - the only thing is that there are many loose ends at the finish
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I will not finish it. Sorry Paterson fans but thats it. I don't really care if the San Juan Hill president wanted to know about the lynchings, and neither does anyone needed to be reminded of those horrible times.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Like most of the other reviewers I preorder all of James Patterson's books. After SWIMSUIT and now this one I will no longer do this. I also feel the quality of his work has diminished the past 2 years. It seems he is all about churning out numerous books and not that interested in telling a good quality story.
If his next book is like his last two I will no longer purchase titles by this author.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I sat down in a book store and read first 20 pages it has a interesting story and i mean that in a bad way. I would have to say that a book with 128 cahpters is just way too long for a normal csual reader. But a hard core reader would have a better time reading through it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 25, 2009
The subject matter is dated. It's over and move on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 18, 2012
I felt that this book reminded me we have a ways to go to be equal under many laws. It kept my attention and I thought it was different from many of his others. I have enjoyed all of the Alex Cross books and look forward to his next one coming out soon.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 7, 2012
This was not what I expected from the Cross series. I hope the next one is much better snd back on track
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.londieFL
Posted May 2, 2012
I love James Patterson and if he had not stated that the book was bein written by Alex Cross, I would have thrown out my second book, since I have become a avid reader. I have to remind myself that that nasty N word just will not go away. It's so bad that it's now consider slang. I liked this book as it gave us history and showed us that even back then the Presidents used any means nescessary to get re-elected. I was proud of Mr Corbett as he stood his ground in the end. I'm not sure why this would be part of the Alex Cross's series except it was one of this relatives. This should have been a seperate book. I agree the old James Patterson's didn't put books out so fast and now it seems to be about making money. He is still the most diversed Author out there. I guess if I start to notice the N word in his book thus follows, then I will have to stop purchasing his books, which would be a shame as I truly love this author. I will not stand by and watch us go backwards in history. The N word is not acceptable and I don't care who uses it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 28, 2012
I have been reading though Alex Cross series and this book sticks out like a sore thumb. The book itself was not bad but it seems to me that maybe a deadline needed to be met and a couple of names was changed and submitted in as an Alex Cross book. The book makes no sense at all to the series. I'm sorry to say because I fell in love with all of James Patterson books. So please stay focused thats how you will keep me buying your books!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 17, 2012
I love this book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.senated
Posted February 15, 2012
An interesting story about the violence and intimidation used against blacks in the early 20th century. A envoy and friend of Predident Theodore Roosevelt,a lawyer as well, is sent back to his home town in Mississippi to investigate the lynchings in rural areas and report to the president who is responsible. The story is long and involves many characters and has a somewhat plausable ending, but knowing the history of the south it certainly wasn't a "happily ever after" ending for african americans.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 1, 2012
Rivoting
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Overview
Separated by timeFrom his grandmother, Alex Cross has heard the story of his great uncle Abraham and his struggles for survival in the era of the Ku Klux Klan. Now, Alex passes the family tale along to his own children in a novel he's written--a novel called Trial.
Connected by blood
As a lawyer in turn-of-the-century Washington D.C., Ben Corbett represents the toughest ...