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John Pilate Mysteries #1
Pilate's Cross
The X-Files' meets 'The Prisoner' when John Pilate, his sarcastic imaginary pal Simon and lovely instructor friend Kate investigate the mystery of a murdered college president--a mystery with loose ends more than 40 years later. In too deep to wash his hands of the mystery, he risks death to get to the truth of what really happened in 1963 and why it's just as deadly 40 years later.
- GenresMystery
Nook
First published December 3, 2009
27 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
J. Alexander Greenwood
24 books49 followers J. Alexander Greenwood is the author of the acclaimed John Pilate Mystery Series, including Pilate's Cross, Pilate's Key, Pilate's Ghost, Pilate's Blood, Pilate's 7, Pilate's Rose, Pilate's Shadow, and Pilate's Faith (Caroline Street Press).
Pilate's 7, released in summer 2015, is a collection of short stories told from the perspective of characters other than the main character John Pilate. A paperback version was released in February 2017. It was named #35 on the 2016 Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Book list.
Pilate's Cross was named a "Page Turner" by Shelf Unbound magazine in 2014. Pilate's Key was a 2012 Kindle Book Review Award semi-finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller. It was named a "Page Turner" by Shelf Unbound magazine in 2012. Pilate's Blood was named #45 on the 2015 Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Book list.
Pilate's Ghost was named a semi-finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller by Kindle Book Review in 2013. Most of the John Pilate series is in circulation in the Kansas City and St. Joseph, MO Public Library Systems.
Greenwood also authored the 2011 Shelf Unbound/Wattpad Short Story award-winner Obsidian and the top-selling non-fiction ebooks, Kickstarter Success Secrets, and The Podcast Option. Pilate's Cross, Kickstarter Success Secrets, and The Podcast Option are also Audible.com audiobooks.
In 2018, he cowrote and released Big Cabin and Dispatches from the West, the last known manuscript from his late grandfather, Robert E. Trevathan.
He is the host and producer of the Mysterious Goings On podcast, which interviews and celebrates writers.
He resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and daughter.
Pilate's 7, released in summer 2015, is a collection of short stories told from the perspective of characters other than the main character John Pilate. A paperback version was released in February 2017. It was named #35 on the 2016 Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Book list.
Pilate's Cross was named a "Page Turner" by Shelf Unbound magazine in 2014. Pilate's Key was a 2012 Kindle Book Review Award semi-finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller. It was named a "Page Turner" by Shelf Unbound magazine in 2012. Pilate's Blood was named #45 on the 2015 Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Book list.
Pilate's Ghost was named a semi-finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller by Kindle Book Review in 2013. Most of the John Pilate series is in circulation in the Kansas City and St. Joseph, MO Public Library Systems.
Greenwood also authored the 2011 Shelf Unbound/Wattpad Short Story award-winner Obsidian and the top-selling non-fiction ebooks, Kickstarter Success Secrets, and The Podcast Option. Pilate's Cross, Kickstarter Success Secrets, and The Podcast Option are also Audible.com audiobooks.
In 2018, he cowrote and released Big Cabin and Dispatches from the West, the last known manuscript from his late grandfather, Robert E. Trevathan.
He is the host and producer of the Mysterious Goings On podcast, which interviews and celebrates writers.
He resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 21, 2010
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 reluctant, and had a bit more faith. John Pilate is a wonderful hero, and all around good guy. Simon, a figment of Pilate's imagination who is so very not content to remain so, isn't so bad either as something of a nemesis/anti-hero/conspirator. They are the two most sharply drawn, but all the characters are memorable. The story moves along at a crisp pace, and the dialogue is sharp. It's also got some very vivid imagery (sometimes a little too vivid *shudder*). I recommend it to anyone who like mysteries. I look forward to Pilate's Key.
I shouldn't have been so reluctant, and had a bit more faith. John Pilate is a wonderful hero, and all around good guy. Simon, a figment of Pilate's imagination who is so very not content to remain so, isn't so bad either as something of a nemesis/anti-hero/conspirator. They are the two most sharply drawn, but all the characters are memorable. The story moves along at a crisp pace, and the dialogue is sharp. It's also got some very vivid imagery (sometimes a little too vivid *shudder*). I recommend it to anyone who like mysteries. I look forward to Pilate's Key.
January 16, 2010
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, but not so much that it is condescending! I can't wait for the "Key".
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, but not so much that it is condescending! I can't wait for the "Key".
March 2, 2011
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.
August 7, 2011
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.
August 9, 2014
Entertaining and compelling story crafted by a natural storyteller. Looking forward to more from the incomparable Mr. Greenwood.
January 4, 2012
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, and the setting is like any almost forgotten town in backwoods America. The book is a good read, but it does need a little TLC in the editing department. There are quite a few typos, some formatting problems, and the writing in the beginning of the book is a little choppy. I almost put it down, but because it was actually a decent story I muddled through the beginning, and continued reading. Once I got to about the middle of the book things started to flow nicely and I was glad I convinced myself to stick with it.
Pilate’s Cross is a good read for those that like mysteries and intrigue. It would be a great read with a little tender loving care in the editing department. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for the sequel, Pilate’s Key, which takes John Pilate to the Florida Keys.
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, and the setting is like any almost forgotten town in backwoods America. The book is a good read, but it does need a little TLC in the editing department. There are quite a few typos, some formatting problems, and the writing in the beginning of the book is a little choppy. I almost put it down, but because it was actually a decent story I muddled through the beginning, and continued reading. Once I got to about the middle of the book things started to flow nicely and I was glad I convinced myself to stick with it.
Pilate’s Cross is a good read for those that like mysteries and intrigue. It would be a great read with a little tender loving care in the editing department. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for the sequel, Pilate’s Key, which takes John Pilate to the Florida Keys.
December 10, 2009
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.
March 27, 2011
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!
September 26, 2023
"I kept you around because I couldn't trust anyone else. I couldn't trust anyone else in this inbred town. Your objective and maybe intelligent."
August 15, 2014
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 turned on the porn channel or about how is professor colleague thought that he should bed some of his students. Bad in itself, or just not to my taste, it's hard to tell.
I did, however, truly enjoy Sheriff Scovill. I found his brusque personality engaging and truly wondered what was inside his head. His was the most fleshed out character for me and I would have enjoyed reading the entire story from his perspective.
The mystery itself was not as well developed as I would like but it definitely did take turns that I wasn't expecting.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
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 turned on the porn channel or about how is professor colleague thought that he should bed some of his students. Bad in itself, or just not to my taste, it's hard to tell.
I did, however, truly enjoy Sheriff Scovill. I found his brusque personality engaging and truly wondered what was inside his head. His was the most fleshed out character for me and I would have enjoyed reading the entire story from his perspective.
The mystery itself was not as well developed as I would like but it definitely did take turns that I wasn't expecting.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
December 28, 2012
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 regularly, but this guy really has them, and it is so refreshing to witness him struggle with them. I found him a pleasure to root for.
The book starts off with a literal bang – several of them in fact. From there, we’re unsure how everything relates, but simply trust that they do. Greenwood did a wonderful job tying all the bows together at the end and really whetting our appetite for further adventures. I, for one, look forward to seeing what comes next. Well done.
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 regularly, but this guy really has them, and it is so refreshing to witness him struggle with them. I found him a pleasure to root for.
The book starts off with a literal bang – several of them in fact. From there, we’re unsure how everything relates, but simply trust that they do. Greenwood did a wonderful job tying all the bows together at the end and really whetting our appetite for further adventures. I, for one, look forward to seeing what comes next. Well done.
November 9, 2012
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 happened at the college. You'll have to read the novel to find out what happens next. It was a good mystery and a pretty good read, but it needed a little more editing. However, the author has a lot of talent and I am sure his novels will get better with time. Pilate's Cross is still a four star good read!
Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
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 happened at the college. You'll have to read the novel to find out what happens next. It was a good mystery and a pretty good read, but it needed a little more editing. However, the author has a lot of talent and I am sure his novels will get better with time. Pilate's Cross is still a four star good read!
Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
November 3, 2012
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 of plot twists that I did not see coming; in a mystery, that's a good thing.
"Pilate's Cross" is a solid read. It's always hard to write a mystery review without delivering spoliers, so I don't feel comfortable saying more than that. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.
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 of plot twists that I did not see coming; in a mystery, that's a good thing.
"Pilate's Cross" is a solid read. It's always hard to write a mystery review without delivering spoliers, so I don't feel comfortable saying more than that. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.
May 25, 2011
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.
March 1, 2012
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.
July 18, 2012
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.
October 27, 2012
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.
November 18, 2022
Excellent book!!!
October 24, 2014
Loved It!
July 29, 2016
The mystery in this book was very interesting. I found some of the dialogue extremely annoying, however, and there were too many typos/grammatical errors.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews