Separated by time
From his grandmother, Alex Cross has heard the story of his great uncle Abraham and his struggles for sur... read full description
From his grandmother, Alex Cross has heard the story of his great uncle Abraham and his struggles for sur... read full description
reviews
Sep 21, 2009
Hans
rated it: 
This review of the book Alex Cross's Trial, by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo, is by Hans W. & Lindsay.
With all due respect to Mr. Dilallo, I decided that since James "paid-by-the-chapter" Patterson no longer needs to be the primary author of the Alex Cross books, I no longer need to be the primary reader of the fore-mentioned series.
Here is what my reader had to say about this book:
Lindsay: 2 stars
"I'm sorry, but this is NOT the boo More...
With all due respect to Mr. Dilallo, I decided that since James "paid-by-the-chapter" Patterson no longer needs to be the primary author of the Alex Cross books, I no longer need to be the primary reader of the fore-mentioned series.
Here is what my reader had to say about this book:
Lindsay: 2 stars
"I'm sorry, but this is NOT the boo More...
Jan 30, 2012
Angela
rated it: 
I've been a fan of Patterson's for a long time. Alex Cross is my favorite character although he's really not one in this book. This subject matter has always been of interest to me and I've ready many historical fiction books which I enjoy, although this book is not historical fiction in the truest sense.
Patterson stayed true to form with his short chapters which I really love. I couldn't put this book down and it didn't long for me to read it.
There were so many juxtaposition More...
Patterson stayed true to form with his short chapters which I really love. I couldn't put this book down and it didn't long for me to read it.
There were so many juxtaposition More...
Aug 13, 2011
Tim
rated it:
Alex Cross is featured in nearly two dozen novels under the James Patterson brand. This book’s title, however, is a bit deceptive if the reader is expecting another modern psychological thriller. One of the chief characters is A. Cross—Abraham, not Alex. The story purportedly is a rendition from the files of Benjamin Corbett, illustrating Abraham Cross who is fingered as an uncle to Alex’s grandmother, Regina Cross, otherwise known as Nana Mama in the other Cross tales.
Ben Corbett More...
Ben Corbett More...
Aug 02, 2011
It took me a very long time to finish reading this novel because of how disturbing it is; it really is difficult to get through because of the gruesome detail exercised in regards to, specifically, lynchings, and while it may be true that Patterson's work usually is fairly gruesome, it is a lot more difficult to read something that is based on something that really did happen. Every character that is lynched in this novel represents a person that really did live once until his life was cut short
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Feb 24, 2011
Karl
rated it:
This was my first (and likely last) James Patterson novel. The premise is interesting enough and the period in which the novel was set certainly furnishes a rich backdrop on which to craft a compelling narrative. This effort, alas, falls short.
As with all too many popular novels, Alex Cross's Trial (in which, by the way, Alex Cross is wholly tangential), never exceeds a 6th grade reading level and contains precisely zero subtlety. If there's a point Patterson wishes to make, prepare to More...
As with all too many popular novels, Alex Cross's Trial (in which, by the way, Alex Cross is wholly tangential), never exceeds a 6th grade reading level and contains precisely zero subtlety. If there's a point Patterson wishes to make, prepare to More...
Mar 02, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
I grabbed this from the new releases shelf at my library, because it had Alex Cross' name on it. Over the years I have really enjoyed James Patterson's Alex Cross novels. Now its my fault for not reading the synopsis, but I have to say I was a little disappointed that the book wasn't "really" an Alex Cross novel. I sort of feel that this was a marketing ploy to get Cross fans to buy the novel.
That being said, I enjoyed it. It is by no means a great book, but you won't b More...
That being said, I enjoyed it. It is by no means a great book, but you won't b More...
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Feb 03, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
I gave up reading James Patterson books a while ago because I felt they were becoming too repetitive. S.O.S., as they say. But I was intrigued a few months ago when I discovered The Murder of King Tut, a decent enough historical fiction novel. Then my wife turned me on to this, another piece of historical fiction set in Mississippi around the turn of the 20th Century.
Ben Corbett is a D.C. lawyer who takes civil rights cases like they're going out of style, despite them being low pay More...
Ben Corbett is a D.C. lawyer who takes civil rights cases like they're going out of style, despite them being low pay More...
Jan 13, 2010
KarenC
rated it:
Another fast read "by" Patterson. Who's really writing his books, anyway? Who is Richard Dilallo & why is his name on this book as a co-author? What is his contribution, since he's never written any previous books?
The premise of the story is engaging, but doesn't live up to its potential. This is the story of Ben Corbett, transplanted white Mississippian, and an investigative assignment back in his hometown. During the course of the investigation he works with Abraham Cross and finds
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Oct 19, 2009
Debbie
rated it:
First off...the books title is a misnomer...especially to those of us who are addicted to the Alex Cross persona! After the first few pages...he is no longer mentioned as we travel back in time to 1906 to Eudora, Mississippi where Abraham Cross and his daughter Moody live. Abraham is great uncle to Alex Cross...and Alex has heard the story of his uncle from his grandmother. This is presented as being Alex's novel of his family's story.
The story delves into the dealings of the Ku K More...
The story delves into the dealings of the Ku K More...
Sep 20, 2009
Aaron
rated it:
I know that this is being haled as another edition in Alex Cross series, but I can't help but feel they slapped a two-page introduction at the beginning and changed a couple of character names to take an interesting by an obscure author and shoot the sales up because of ties to Patterson. It is a cheap ploy, and it irks me even as I find that I enjoyed the book.
The introduction states that the book is actually by Alex Cross. He has been wanting to tell the story for years. The Trial More...
The introduction states that the book is actually by Alex Cross. He has been wanting to tell the story for years. The Trial More...
Sep 01, 2011
Lainy
rated it:
Blurb from Goodreads
The year is 1906, and America is segregated. Hatred and discrimination plague the streets, the classroom, and the courts. But in Washington, D.C., Ben Corbett, a smart and courageous lawyer, makes it his mission to confront injustice at every turn. He represents those who nobody else dares defend, merely because of the color of their skin. When President Roosevelt, under whom Ben served in the Spanish-American war, asks Ben to investigate rumors of the resurgence of More...
The year is 1906, and America is segregated. Hatred and discrimination plague the streets, the classroom, and the courts. But in Washington, D.C., Ben Corbett, a smart and courageous lawyer, makes it his mission to confront injustice at every turn. He represents those who nobody else dares defend, merely because of the color of their skin. When President Roosevelt, under whom Ben served in the Spanish-American war, asks Ben to investigate rumors of the resurgence of More...
Nov 08, 2009
Randy
rated it: 
It's 1906 and Ben Corbett is on a mission to his old home town, Eudora, Mississippi, for his old army commander, the President, Teddy Roosevelt. There are reports of lynchings of blacks with authority's tacit permission. The Klan, outlawed forty years ago, was reportedly operating.
Ben, a Harvard law graduate, returns to his hometown for the first time since his mother's funeral. He's to met Abraham Cross, a black man, who will aid him in his investigation.
What he finds s More...
Ben, a Harvard law graduate, returns to his hometown for the first time since his mother's funeral. He's to met Abraham Cross, a black man, who will aid him in his investigation.
What he finds s More...
Oct 08, 2009
Jill
rated it:
I needed a little light-hearted break from a couple of intense books I've been reading, and what better than a James Patterson/Alex Cross, right? WRONG!!! It was a good read and kept me up until after 3 a.m., but a light-hearted break it was NOT! Actually, it was a very disturbing book, certainly thought-provoking and certainly worthy of that thought. Set in Mississippi in 1906, Alex Cross's grandfather is one of the main characters, along with Ben Corbett, a young D.C. lawyer and Harvard gr
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Sep 04, 2009
Bob
rated it:
Ok, first off it you are expecting another Alex Cross suspense novel you will be disappointed, because this one isn't. It starts off by telling you that the Cross family has a history of keeping their history alive with oral stories passed down from generation to generation. It the moves into one story, that of a Mississippi born young lawyer, Ben Corbett, who is practicing in Washington DC taking on more poor and often black clients, much to the dismay of his wife who hopes he will take a more
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Apr 09, 2011
Julia
rated it:
Alex Cross is writing the story of his great-grandfather because he believes it deserves to be told. This book has a similar vibe to the other Alex Cross books but has nothing to do with him and just a little to do with his great-grandfather. The story was still interesting and heartbreaking at times.
Mostly set in 1906 in the small town of Eudora in Mississippi where lynchings and beatings still continue. The KKK is still around even though it had been outlawed for many years. Ben Cor More...
Mostly set in 1906 in the small town of Eudora in Mississippi where lynchings and beatings still continue. The KKK is still around even though it had been outlawed for many years. Ben Cor More...
Feb 24, 2011
Liz
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 23, 2010
Stephen
rated it:
This is a fast read, but not a great book. It is perfect for a three hour airplane trip.
Ben is an idealistic lawyer, who is losing his wife because he devotes so much time to good works. TR asks him to investigate lynchings in his home town in Mississippi. He goes, and he discovers that lynchings are common. He even gets lynched himself. Abraham Cross is the wise old African-American, and his daughter is Moody. Ben has a nice relationship with them.
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Jan 15, 2010
JoAnn
rated it:
This is the worst book of Patterson's I have read and probably won't waste my time with his stuff in the future. The book has huge print and the chapters are on average, 1.5 pages. Chapter 62 has 1302 words and is just about one page!!!
This is a joke. If Patterson thinks he will continue to outsell most other authors putting this drivel out on the market and churning 4-6 books out a year, he is kidding himself.
I think that his publishers need to take him to task. These books are not More...
This is a joke. If Patterson thinks he will continue to outsell most other authors putting this drivel out on the market and churning 4-6 books out a year, he is kidding himself.
I think that his publishers need to take him to task. These books are not More...
Aug 18, 2011
Mark
rated it:
A nice fast-paced read as usual from James Patterson. The Alex Cross character didn't feature as much as I thought he would (only writting the foreword) which I was quite pleased about. Personally I think this book could have done with out any reference to Alex Cross whatsoever. I'm a big fan of the Alex Cross series but have never liked the on-going story line that Cross wrote Along Came A Spider, so like that Cross supposedly wrote this book too even less. However this was a very good story wi
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May 27, 2011
Ronnie
rated it: 
alex crosses trial, by James Patterson.This book is a book of many different genres. for example: historical fiction, fiction, realistic fiction, and many more. There are many characters in this book, but the main one who makes the story happen is Ben Cross, a lawyer form washington D.C.
the story takes place in a little town in D.C. where Ben lives now. ben is on a trial case and when he gets a note from president rosevelt he goes on a mission that will change his life. Ben has to More...
the story takes place in a little town in D.C. where Ben lives now. ben is on a trial case and when he gets a note from president rosevelt he goes on a mission that will change his life. Ben has to More...
Sep 18, 2009
Richard
rated it:
Set primarily in rural Mississippi in 1906, Alex Cross relates a story involving his cousin, Moody; his Grandmother Nana Mama's uncle, Abraham Cross; and a D.C. attorney looking into hate crimes for President Theodore Roosevelt.
Full of violent characters in an extremely violent time, Abraham Cross helps the President's investigator determine what is happening with lynchings across the South. He also includes famous persons like W.E.B Du Bois and Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
Unfor More...
Full of violent characters in an extremely violent time, Abraham Cross helps the President's investigator determine what is happening with lynchings across the South. He also includes famous persons like W.E.B Du Bois and Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
Unfor More...
Aug 29, 2009
Lindsay
rated it:
I'm sorry, but this is NOT the book that "Alex Cross" would write. I find it hard to believe that he would focus all his energy on Ben and his happiness at the end of the book and give very little in the way of character development and concern about his own family. There's NO way that Moody would be safe and sound when Ben left, after all that happened. It makes me sad to think in the South at the turn of the century they would have lynched her the second Ben stepped foot out of to
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Jan 30, 2012
Kerrol
rated it:
This is my first James Patterson novel and i got to say he is my favorite author. In this historical Fiction story Alex Cross is sent deep down in the south to his home town Eudora,Mississippi. He is sent there by President Theodore Roosevelt to investigate the numerous crimes of lynching there. At first he is glad to accept this assignment but realized the risks. When he gets there he visits old friends and his family,but after that he gets to work. First he goes to the local sheriff to get som
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Oct 30, 2009
Sheila
rated it:
Even though the title use the Alex Cross character name, this story has absolutely nothing to do with the Alex Cross book series. The only "link" to Alex Cross is the first 2 or 3 pages of the book when Alex is 'talking' and explaining that his great grandfather is a character in this story of racial unrest in the South.
The main character is a lawyer from Washington DC who is asked personally by President Teddy Roosevelt to investigate stories of lynching in his southern More...
The main character is a lawyer from Washington DC who is asked personally by President Teddy Roosevelt to investigate stories of lynching in his southern More...
Nov 26, 2010
RunRachelRun
rated it:
This book is extremely hard to read in terms of the images that you mind is forced to paint, but I think that it is an important one to read, especially as an American in the time of Obama. I know that, if I'm to believe the media, that lots of folks feel that since America (some parts of America) voted for Obama, then that the terrible racist past is done and over with. Well, it is certainly not past. It is important to remember and acknowledge that many of our fellow citizens have family membe
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May 09, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
This is not actually an Alex Cross book (which I would've known if I had read the synopsis instead of just buying the book); it's a book written BY Alex Cross.
It's a nonfiction account of his ancestors, who help a lawyer who comes to town to investigate lynchings (on the orders of the president, Theodore Roosevelt).
It's a compelling read (not really fun or entertaining, because it's about lynchings and prejudice) and I'm glad that James Patterson wrote it, because that me More...
It's a nonfiction account of his ancestors, who help a lawyer who comes to town to investigate lynchings (on the orders of the president, Theodore Roosevelt).
It's a compelling read (not really fun or entertaining, because it's about lynchings and prejudice) and I'm glad that James Patterson wrote it, because that me More...
Dec 29, 2009
Kaye
rated it:
I agree with others who said that this is not a novel Alex Cross would write. It is told from the view point of a white lawyer, Ben Corbett. He is sent by President Theodore Roosevelt to Eudora, his own, southern, hometown. There Ben meets a great uncle of Alex (the tie in to the series). He finds old friends and sees the town is still racially divided. He finds himself meeting the Klu Klux Klan and learning of lynchings and gets tangled up in the politics of the town. The trial with Ben's
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Nov 08, 2010
Larry
rated it:
I had some not-so-high expectations for this book, but it failed to meet them. I've read all of the Alex Cross series, except for the latest one (soon to be two). I've found the book series to be getting stale, with unrealistic plots and uninspired writing. So when I saw this book, I wasn't sure what to think. This is the first co-written Alex Cross book, but it actually has almost no connection to the Alex Cross series. Instead it is a story set in the post slave emancipation South, where
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Apr 29, 2010
Toni
rated it:
Alex Cross book #15 in the series
This novel is not what you would expect in the Alex Cross series. In this addition Alex Cross himself explains that it is now the perfect time to share his favourite stories that Nana Mama frequently recounted about their family history.
The story brings us back to the early 20th century, a time when Ben Corbett is assigned to defend some of Washington’s most difficult cases. He is a man overworked and poorly paid ,a great disappointment to More...
This novel is not what you would expect in the Alex Cross series. In this addition Alex Cross himself explains that it is now the perfect time to share his favourite stories that Nana Mama frequently recounted about their family history.
The story brings us back to the early 20th century, a time when Ben Corbett is assigned to defend some of Washington’s most difficult cases. He is a man overworked and poorly paid ,a great disappointment to More...
Jul 26, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
First off, I have only read one book in the Alex Cross series and that was years ago. So for me, this review is based on the book itself and completely independent of the series.
When I first started the novel, I thought I was going to read a story like "A Time To Kill" by John Grisham. The book is set in 1906 when prejudice is running high. A white lawyer is defending a black woman accused of murdering her employer. Although "A Time To Kill" is a good book, I was More...
When I first started the novel, I thought I was going to read a story like "A Time To Kill" by John Grisham. The book is set in 1906 when prejudice is running high. A white lawyer is defending a black woman accused of murdering her employer. Although "A Time To Kill" is a good book, I was More...
