Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Pilate's Cross
by
J. Alexander Greenwood (Goodreads Author)
Inspired by a true story, Pilate's Cross follows John Pilate, his sardonic imaginary pal Simon and lovely new friend Kate as they investigate the cold case of a murdered college president. In too deep to wash his hands of the mystery, Pilate risks his life to uncover the truth of what happened in 1963 and why it's just as deadly today. Book One in the John Pilate Mystery S...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
May 23rd 2012
by Lulu.com
(first published December 3rd 2009)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
118)
Pilate's Cross has a bit of everything--action, romance and spine-chilling suspense. Mr. Greenwood has a very strong voice for storytelling. His style is to tease and draw you in, and that's exactly what happened when I read his book.
I don't read many mystery books, but now, I'll have to wait for his next one to be further thrilled by the adventures of John Pilate.
I don't read many mystery books, but now, I'll have to wait for his next one to be further thrilled by the adventures of John Pilate.
4 likes · like · see review
view 1 comment
Any book that makes you laugh out loud AND look up a word in the dictionary is a book I already love. You must get this book! It is a steal at twice the price. It's only my second e-book and I am really loving the lack of paper!
Finished this book and LOVED it! It's the kind of book that makes you wish for a snow day or the case of the sniffles to keep you in bed reading it through! The characters are believable. The story is robust with enough foreshadowing to keep you on pace with the action, b...more
Finished this book and LOVED it! It's the kind of book that makes you wish for a snow day or the case of the sniffles to keep you in bed reading it through! The characters are believable. The story is robust with enough foreshadowing to keep you on pace with the action, b...more
4 likes · like · see review
Confession. Well, two which are related. One: I have had this book for some time but have held off reading it because two: I know the author. What if I read it and hated it? What if I read it and thought it was merely meh? Surely that's worse? What would I say to him? I'd have to slowly start to ease away so that I never had to explain why I'd never read his book, right? I'd read bits of it, but bits aren't the whole and, and, and...Basically, I was a big coward.
I shouldn't have been so relucta...more
I shouldn't have been so relucta...more
4 likes · like · see review
An unassuming college professor has a problem: he sees his alter ego whenever he gets off his medication that is prescribed for depression.
Being a Gemini myself, I do believe people born in the Gemini sign have twins. I know my other personality sticks her nose into what I am doing from time to time, but I am not on any medication (maybe I should be?).
Okay, back to the novel: John Pilate has a rough go of it and takes a job at Cross College. He comes across information about a murder that happen...more
Being a Gemini myself, I do believe people born in the Gemini sign have twins. I know my other personality sticks her nose into what I am doing from time to time, but I am not on any medication (maybe I should be?).
Okay, back to the novel: John Pilate has a rough go of it and takes a job at Cross College. He comes across information about a murder that happen...more
Nov 03, 2012
Sharon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
e-books,
indie-author-friends
John Pilate is an unassuming college professor with a problem: his alter ego, Simon, shows up in the mirror whenever he goes off of his antidepressant medication. Pilate takes a job at tiny Cross College in the hopes of starting his life over completely, only to find himself embroiled in a decades-old mystery.
Author J. Alexander Greenwood has created some interesting characters in this tale, as well as some that I found a trifle two-dimensional. All the same, he took me by surprise with a couple...more
Author J. Alexander Greenwood has created some interesting characters in this tale, as well as some that I found a trifle two-dimensional. All the same, he took me by surprise with a couple...more
John Pilate has had it rough, he’s on a one way ride to self destruction, until he moves to Cross as a replacement teacher. At Cross College, small Midwestern land-grant college, John hopes to redeem himself. He is intrigued when given information concerning a murder that took place in 1963 at the college, but he didn’t bank on what was to unfold.
The author, J. Alexander Greenwood, has done a great job of turning the underdog into a hero. The story is believable, the characters are life like, an...more
The author, J. Alexander Greenwood, has done a great job of turning the underdog into a hero. The story is believable, the characters are life like, an...more
I am a great fan of what's called the English cozy school of murder mysteries. That said, this mystery novel would not fit into that tradition so it was a bit of divergence from the norm for me, not that that in itself is a bad thing. The plot summary intrigued me and that was why I wanted to read this novel.
Unfortunately, I did not like the protagonist. For whatever reason, he bothered me and his imaginary "friend" did not work for me as well. I didn't care to hear about the number of times he...more
Unfortunately, I did not like the protagonist. For whatever reason, he bothered me and his imaginary "friend" did not work for me as well. I didn't care to hear about the number of times he...more
Pilate’s Cross by J. Alexander Greenwood was thoroughly captivating. It was a well-crafted mystery, populated by expertly created characters.
In a time where mystery protagonists are either Sherlock Holmes or Monk knock-offs, we are instead treated to an unwitting detective who finds himself in the midst of a mystery that he doesn’t really wish to try and solve. Unfortunately, he finds it imperative that he does solve it – perhaps even at his own peril. We throw the term “inner demons” about regu...more
In a time where mystery protagonists are either Sherlock Holmes or Monk knock-offs, we are instead treated to an unwitting detective who finds himself in the midst of a mystery that he doesn’t really wish to try and solve. Unfortunately, he finds it imperative that he does solve it – perhaps even at his own peril. We throw the term “inner demons” about regu...more
Wasn't expecting such a good book in a thin little thing. Prologue set up for an interesting book and it stayed that way until the end. Pilate was the all around good guy trying to do what is right. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to whomever is a murder mystery fan.
Murder mystery based on actual events. Entertaining, but was frustrated by shallowness of plot. I was also side-tracked by poor typesetting/design of book along with many typos. I did get to meet the author at a recent book club, which was really interesting. Alex braved all kinds of questions regarding his book and was very gracious!
1 like · like · see review
An enjoyable read from this author's first novel. Kept my attention throughout. Liked the characters and the setting. Made me want to learn more about them .... thankfully the story continues in the sequel, Pilate's Key.
This was a fun read, especially since I went to a small college in the Midwest. I just started the next book, "Pilate's Key," and have the feeling that we are at the beginning of a highly entertaining series.
Entertaining and compelling story crafted by a natural storyteller. Looking forward to more from the incomparable Mr. Greenwood.
I'm not one to pick up a mystery or action book, but the underlying "story within a story" (somewhat based on real-life events says the author) intrigued me. One afternoon, I took off work early to spend the afternoon in my easy chair reading Pilate's Cross. I was sucked in immediately. The writer gets your wrapped up in the deep, dark secrets of the town of Cross, and it's hard not to fall in love with the flawed yet charming John Pilate. Looking forward to more by Mr. Greenwood.
If I say so myself...it's an entertaining read! The story centers on John Pilate, his sarcastic “imaginary friend” Simon and lovely instructor friend Kate as they investigate the mystery of a college president murdered mere days after JFK's assassination--a mystery that still has loose ends 40 years later. In too far to "wash his hands of the mystery," he risks death to get to the truth of what really happened in 1963 and why it is still just as deadly 40 years later.
I won this in a giveaway, and I was excited to read it. I would have read it as soon as it arrived in the mail, but I was busy. Anyway, I really liked this book. It's funny, and very, very entertaining. And it was a very quick read, finished it in a few days. Well weeks if you count the days I didn't read it, but once I actually sat down to read it, it was read quickly. Can't wait to check out the next book. I mean, when I get the chance.
May 25, 2011
Mindi Rosser
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
50-fiction-reads
Action-packed opening chapter. Author left me complacent in the doldrums of the 20 - 50% mark. I gave up due to lack of interest.
This book is a part of my 50-fiction-works-to-read before I can start my own novel. Therefore, my review is simply a brief summation of my analytical observations based upon personal style.
This book is a part of my 50-fiction-works-to-read before I can start my own novel. Therefore, my review is simply a brief summation of my analytical observations based upon personal style.
John Pilate goes to start a new life a long way from home and finds himself embroiled in intrigue in a small college town. Enjoyable mystery with engaging characters.
Jun 18, 2013
M89
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Legato Darksummers
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
daddy-dark-s-baby-warrior-list
Mar 21, 2013
Bridget Koan
added it
Mar 20, 2013
David Brown
marked it as to-read
Feb 20, 2013
Ashleyelva
marked it as to-read
Feb 17, 2013
Cherry
marked it as to-read
Feb 06, 2013
coral
marked it as to-read
Jan 24, 2013
Benjamin Thornton
marked it as to-read
Jan 23, 2013
Emma
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
The grandson of the late, award-winning historical fiction novelist Robert E. Trevathan (Ballanger, Red River Angel), independent author J. Alexander Greenwood's writing experience includes feature articles, news and crime stories syndicated throughout the nation in numerous publications. He is the author of the 2011 Shelf Unbound Short Story award-winner "Obsidian."
He is author of the John Pilat...more
More about J. Alexander Greenwood...
He is author of the John Pilat...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“The real core of this book is about the open secrets that can fester in a community until an outsider raises questions.”
—
2 people liked it
“I really enjoyed hearing the likesand dislikesof my readers at book clubs as well as meeting new fans at the book signing at The Bookworm in Omaha " he said. "The book clubs have overwhelmingly asked me to hurry up on writing the sequel.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
