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Bestseller Patterson's 14th Alex Cross thriller doesn't follow up on the plot threads left dangling in 2007's Double Cross concerning still-on-the-loose serial killer Kyle Craig. Instead, Cross, a Washington, D.C., police detective, takes on a very different quarry-a human monster known as the Tiger with ties to the African underworld. When the Tiger and his teenage thugs butcher writer Ellie Cox, her husband and children in their Georgetown home, Cross is devastated because Ellie had been his girlfriend in college. The Cox family massacre proves to be just the first in a series. Cross pursues the Tiger to Nigeria, where the profiler finds himself at the mercy of corrupt government officials who may be working with the Tiger. Spending less time than usual exploring his villain's psychological backstory, Patterson delivers an atypical tale of James Bond-style revenge. Craig's brief cameo toward the end suggests the series will resume its usual path in the next book. (Nov. 17)
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James Patterson is one of the bestselling writers of all time, with more than 160 million copies of his books sold worldwide. He lives in Florida.
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.
WhiteFlowers
Posted November 18, 2008
I have been reading the Alex Cross series from the begining. I am usually at the store the day of release. I did not purchase this book. I borrowed a copy. He lost me with this story line and I feel the exciting and original story line that is usually par for the course just was not there. I prefer to "leave the party with who brought me", so to speak and this series went in a direction that just does not interest me. Which is ashamed because Alex, Nana, the "Big Man" and all the rest are some of my favorite characters of all time. I buy books everyweek, read them enthusiastically and recomend these books to everyone. For some reason, I just decided to test the waters this time before buying and to be honest I don't know why. Like I said I'm there on the day of release. I do not regret my decision not to buy and will just have a hole in the "Alex Cross" section of my library. Maybe the next book will make up for the lack. Maybe deep down I was already feeling like the story line was turning in a direction that I just did not want to go. However, for any new readers looking for some fun stuff, go to the beginning of the Alex Cross series, starting with Along Came a Spider to Double Cross, and plan on having a real good time.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 17, 2008
James Patterson's new novel, Cross Country, along with several of Clive Cussler's latest novels are prime examples of the thriller genre which I like to call 'every chapter a cliffhanger'. This is another in the series featuring Detective Alex Cross and his crime fighting partner and girlfriend, Brianna Stone.
To my tastes, Patterson has better characters. fewer stereotypes and deeper plots than Cussler, while still adhering to the basic formula that you can lay the book down after your train commute or at he beach and pick it up later and easily slam a few more chapters without loosing ground on an overly complex plot, such as you'd find in Ian Rankin or Ken Follette. That being said, Patterson keeps things chugging along nicely by hopping midway thru the novel into several chaotic African country, where life is cheap and hero's detective Alex Cross' continued existence is rapidly heading to the red light discount bin. Patterson actlually makes you despair at the turmoil and corruption that is embedded in some problems countries in Africal. I actually lost count of how many times he got beat up and betrayed by hopped up teenage killers, evil cops and rogue CIA operatives... as mentioned before, a cliffhanger per chapter.
If you like fast plotted, punchy writing with better than average character depth and a solidly plotted thriller then this Fall offering may make it into your holiday reading plans.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 2, 2009
Have read all the Alex Cross novels - this one is an insult. Horrible book. Alex Cross doing stupid things in Africa. Don't even waste your time, just keep your fingers crossed that the next one is better.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 5, 2009
I read some pretty negative and a few positive reviews and thought I would judge for myself. I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED! I am a huge fan of the Cross Series, but this one, Patterson should have had second thoughts. As a fan, I could have waited another year or two for a better book.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 16, 2008
James Paterson is a phenomenal writer. Yet, most of his books I feel get slightly monotonous. Cross Country however was a great surprise, I enjoyed it greatly. I had the amazing pleasure to read this book due to the Store Managers conference in Florida. I highly recommend buying it once it is released. It IS a book you need to own.
-Courtney Hall
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 1, 2008
I have read all the Cross stories and am excited for this next one to become available. ALL of Patterson's books are incredible - the Murder Club series, etc. It's like eating potato chips - you get started, you can't stop!
3 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 29, 2008
I Also Recommend:
I can't figure out how James Patterson can write a truly suspenseful novel one minute and then turn out such a bomb! This book was ridiculas, unbelieveable and just plain boring. Honestly, one man does not jump on a plane to Africa, ridden with killings, torture, starvation and poverty, to solve a murder from the US. I just don't buy it. And his two page chapters are just plain stupid. James Patterson is better than this book and he should take more time to write a truly good book rather than trying to turn a new book out every couple of months.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 8, 2008
I was happy to get to the end of the book, and have it done. I agree with the Elwoods, totally unbelievable. Since when was Alex Cross so stupid? Off in another country acting like an idiot. This book ruins the Alex Cross series. An international assassin with a band of children as the "gang" able to travel in an out of countries without dectection, and the ability to appear at a moments notice at any given place. If there was a message in this plot that was supposed to tell the world about conditions in Africa, it's lost in the ridiculous handling of the situation by Alex. And here we go again with Kyle Craig also omnipotent, in the back ground, sounds like he's due to turn up in the next book. How come there are people no jail can hold, and the FBI and CIA are always involved? James Patterson may have very high goals as a writer, but quantity doesn't equal quality and he's going downhill. Really diasppointing.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 30, 2008
I can't seem to put his novels down, there very addicting. I'm always looking forward to the next one. Pick one up, you'll see what i mean!!!
2 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 8, 2008
I read this book from beginning to end and thought it was totally out of the realm of reality! I don't understand how the main villian and his young henchmen(boys, no more than 15 yrs old) could continue to fly in and out of the U.S. without detection. How Alex continues to get the crap beat out of him and never see a doctor or have those injuries deter him in any way. He continues to run and fight with only one arm functioning! Alex cared less about his family and more about getting revenge for an old friend's murder. How selfish! Why would we the readers believe this one man could change the rules in another country. I was rooting for the natives because of Alex's stupidity!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 7, 2008
I love his books but I didn't care for this one. Just could not get into it like his other books. I collect his books but I don't think I'm keeping this one.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 28, 2008
This book may have totally turned me off on James Patterson, and that's something I thought I'd never say. Bad plot, bad characters, bad fight scenes, bad everything.
I was looking forward to an Alex Cross novel because most of Patterson's other books(mass produced with other writers)have gotten really bad. And now he's gone and taken Corss down to this level.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 20, 2008
I Also Recommend:
Cross Country is the book equivalent of when a TV series Jumps The Shark. Once a year a pure James Patterson novel comes out without a cowriter and its always Alex Cross. Cross Country is a letdown due to the personal nature of the crime.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 3, 2012
This was the best Alex Cross book I have ever read n the series. Although somewhat gory in details some times the author did not sacrifice major details in describing the state of the countries depicted in the boook on the continent of Africa. It gives you a look into the conditions of poverty and a glimpse into what it takes to continually preservere in a time such as this. You start to have a feel for the character's almost immediately, good or bad.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 10, 2012
Marvel comic readers would probably rate this a 5 star.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This wasn't really the book that a reader like me is interested in. It takes a really good topic that I can relate to get my attention and keep reading. Cross Country really didn't keep my interest and it was hard for me to stay focused. The Detective in this story was my favorite character because, even though on of the people murdered was his old girlfriend, he was determined to find her murderer, despite his feelings for her make I have heard nothing but great things about James Patterson and his writing, so I plan on reading another one of his books to see if I like his work or not. This book was okay at first and then I completely lost interest in it. I had to make myself finish it rather than want to finish it.
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Posted July 10, 2011
This was a great book. Alex Cross is taking out of his "norm" and is tested thoughtout this book. Keeps you guessing. Some details are graphic and hard to read and not really necessary to the book, think that they were added as a shock value. Overall easy read. Can't wait for the next book in this series.
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Posted July 1, 2011
This one was one of his best books
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 28, 2011
I just want to say, I really wanted to like this book. I was thoroughly disappointed. Alex Cross did absolutely nothing in this book. A character who in the past we've seen capture ruthless killers could do nothing to stop getting his butt kicked all over Africa. Cross seemed to be getting soft. Maybe its time to retire. I loved the Cross character until this book. Can we maybe kill him off and spin off into Bree's character? What a truly horrible book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.EnjoyedLP
Posted March 13, 2011
This book was truly exhilarating and kept my in suspense. Patterson mixed fictrional characters with real life sitautions in which provided creativity and a believable story line.
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Overview
When the home of Alex Cross's oldest friend, Ellie Cox, is turned into the worst murder scene Alex has ever seen, the destruction leads him to believe that he's chasing a horrible new breed of killer. As Alex and his girlfriend, Brianna Stone, become entangled in the deadly Nigerian underworld of Washington D.C., what they discover is shocking: a stunningly organized gang of lethal teenagers headed by a powerful, diabolical man--the African warlord known as the Tiger. Just when the detectives think they're closing in on the elusive murderer, the Tiger disappears into thin air. Tracking him to Africa, Alex knows that he must follow. Alone.From the ...