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Along Came a Spider
(Alex Cross #1)
by
The whole nation was in uproar when two celebrity rich kids were kidnapped - and then one of them was found dead. For such a high-profile case, only the top people would do: Alex Cross, a detective with a PhD in psychology, and Jezzie Flanagan, a fast-rising young Secret Service agent. Yet even they were no match for the killer. He could switch from blood-crazed madness to
...more
Paperback, 435 pages
Published
2004
by HarperCollinsPublishers
(first published February 1st 1993)
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Diana O'Dwyer
The book is so much better. The movie does not stay true to the story and though one of my favorite actors, Freeman is not Alex Cross.
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)
Jan 26, 2013
Ryan Gillespie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Shelves:
james-patterson
James Patterson. The man writes a book and you read it. It's plain and simple. He knows how to write a mother-fucking story. This wasn't the first book I read but damn. The dude keeps makin' a brother come back for more. It gets even better when you're reading a book about the REAL OG: Alex Cross.
Short attention span? James Patterson's books come automatically equipped with small chapters.
Enjoy reading before bed? Forget about it. You're laying down in bed, right? HAIL NO. This shit has you on t ...more
Short attention span? James Patterson's books come automatically equipped with small chapters.
Enjoy reading before bed? Forget about it. You're laying down in bed, right? HAIL NO. This shit has you on t ...more
I am honestly speechless after reading that. Everything that a thriller should be. I am embarrassed to say that this is the first James Patterson book I have read (excluding his book shot series).
Although I was unfamiliar with his work- I think everyone who likes fiction has heard of Alex Cross.
He was one of many standout characters in this novel. Alex Cross, detective, doctor of psychology, hypnotiser, friends of the poor people when he helps out at a food shelter, respected by the black people ...more
Although I was unfamiliar with his work- I think everyone who likes fiction has heard of Alex Cross.
He was one of many standout characters in this novel. Alex Cross, detective, doctor of psychology, hypnotiser, friends of the poor people when he helps out at a food shelter, respected by the black people ...more
This is the first book I've read in the Alex Cross series and it won't certainly be the last. James Patterson is a fabulous author as I'm sure many would agree and when it comes to writing a page turner he sure knows how to keep the reader turning the pages at a fast pace.
Along Came A Spider is a book with the lot, mystery, crime, suspense, oh and did I mention it's a cracking thriller. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. If you haven't read this book then do yourself ...more
Along Came A Spider is a book with the lot, mystery, crime, suspense, oh and did I mention it's a cracking thriller. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. If you haven't read this book then do yourself ...more
Jul 25, 2012
David - proud Gleeman in Branwen's adventuring party
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
I have been recommending this book for years. Yes, the movie adaptation was terrible…yes, some of the later Alex Cross entries were somewhat weak (I’m looking at you, “Violets Are Blue”). But the first book of the Alex Cross series is still an amazing read. What really made this book work for me was the antagonist, Gary Soneji. He’s chilling and creepy, yet he’s still utterly fascinating. The game of cat-and-mouse between Alex Cross and Gary Soneji is gripping and exciting.
However, the book is n ...more
However, the book is n ...more
Along came a spider popped my James Patterson cherry. I struggle to sway from my usual favorite authors, and I am working on venturing out and getting some new favs. As a writer, I also feel this is the only way to check out other styles and grow by other author's genius. I have never seen the movie to this book, but I felt like I was watching an action movie the whole time. There were parts that bothered me a bit that I feel could have been left out, but I also understand the authors need to mo
...more
Wow, where do I begin? This book inspired me to write a literary review for English class discussing why a a book like this should NEVER have made it onto the bestsellers list.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK OR THE ALEX CROSS SERIES, PLEASE DON'T CONTINUE!!
Some major points include:
* Alex Cross is an incredibly boring, cliché, slightly-racist, unrealistic character
* The italicization of random words without regards to taste or context
* Incredible off-putting love scenes
* Boring, repetitive text, ...more
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK OR THE ALEX CROSS SERIES, PLEASE DON'T CONTINUE!!
Some major points include:
* Alex Cross is an incredibly boring, cliché, slightly-racist, unrealistic character
* The italicization of random words without regards to taste or context
* Incredible off-putting love scenes
* Boring, repetitive text, ...more
This book was so bad. But not bad in an angry-making way where you want to throw it in a fire, bad in a Nic Cage movie way where it's just so unapologetically terrible that it's both unintentionally hilarious and entertaining in a strangely endearing way. Like, you have to finish it even though you're like "what am I doing with my life right now, I only have a limited time of being alive and yet I can't stop reading this".
If you pay any attention whatsoever to the plot, you will have lots of que ...more
If you pay any attention whatsoever to the plot, you will have lots of que ...more
It was a few years back that I read Along Came The Spider. I found the plot is predictable just like those typical Hollywood thriller movies. I could not find the book much engrossing, and was rather disappointed by the climax which was a cliched twist, and ruins whatever was, if any, good in the plot before. It was only the psychopathic villain, Gary Soneji, that appealed to me. Whereas Alex Cross, the detective, was very boring. All in all, it was a below average read which I would not recomme
...more
James Patterson started his best-selling Alex Cross series in 1993 with Along Came a Spider. There are now 25 books in the series. PBS included the Alex Cross mysteries on its list of 100 books and series for The Great American Read. This prompted me to check out an audiobook of the first Alex Cross book and take a listen. Wow....I'm sorry it took me 25 years to try this series. I loved the character and the book!
Alex Cross is a metro detective in Washington, D.C. He's raising his two kids with ...more
Alex Cross is a metro detective in Washington, D.C. He's raising his two kids with ...more
ALONG CAME a SPIDER (Alex Cross, #1) is the classic thriller that launched the Alex Cross series, the #1 detective series of the past twenty-five years! Excellent book. full of action and a ending I never saw coming! This novel is a game of cat-and-mouse between Detective Alex Cross and psychopathic villain,Gary Soneji, and will have you flipping the pages to see what will happen next.
3 stars
I went through a whole James Patterson phase when I was in high school. His original work, where it’s just him writing without another author, is great. There’s a reason he became such a success over the years. Along Came a Spider was never my favorite by him, Kiss the Girls and 1st to Die are his best works in my opinion. But when doing a reread, one wants to start at the beginning.
This book follows the kidnapping of two children, both with very influential parents. Alex Cross of the W ...more
I went through a whole James Patterson phase when I was in high school. His original work, where it’s just him writing without another author, is great. There’s a reason he became such a success over the years. Along Came a Spider was never my favorite by him, Kiss the Girls and 1st to Die are his best works in my opinion. But when doing a reread, one wants to start at the beginning.
This book follows the kidnapping of two children, both with very influential parents. Alex Cross of the W ...more
No wonder the literary world is polluted with so many shitty writers. They see how well this fucking hack has sold, read his work, and aspire to fucking mediocrity. James Patterson outsells Pulitzer-Prize winning authors, but his writing (I refuse to call this bullshit "prose") is barely one step above motherfucking picture books. He's detrimental to the literate world. Authors and readers alike think this shit is okay. Do you see how many five-star reviews there are on this time sink? Authors a
...more
This is a re-read for me from 2 years ago. I had forgotten that I already read it, but either way I am so glad that I am finally to get to the Alex Cross series. I enjoyed this one probably even more than the first time I read it. This is the first book to the series. I have had several of the books for awhile now. I have read plenty by James Patterson and have enjoyed just about all of it, so I expected this book to be just as good, and it really was.
The plot to this one was very fast paced, it ...more
The plot to this one was very fast paced, it ...more
Jun 29, 2011
Laurence
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
never-going-to-touch-again,
reviewed
I was going to say that it started of well, but then I realised that it was only because I thought the beginning sucked the least. I mean, if you want to read a story with unbelievably cringe-worthy romance lines, pointless and unnecessary racism and a script that only added to the unrealisticness of the characters, then by all means, throw your money away on this book.
The beginning kept me going for a while because I thought it had a pretty decent storyline (probably the only good point about t ...more
The beginning kept me going for a while because I thought it had a pretty decent storyline (probably the only good point about t ...more
So interesting! I haven't seen the movie so this whole plot and the characters were new to me. I found it very entertaining with some great twists! Now that I am done the Women's Murder Club I am trying to decide between Patterson's other series to read now. Really thinking this is the one I will read first!
My quick and simple overall: psychology and criminal justice is so it for me! My two majors in undergrad and graduate school! ...more
My quick and simple overall: psychology and criminal justice is so it for me! My two majors in undergrad and graduate school! ...more
Ok so I watched the movie starring Morgan Freeman before reading this book which sort of ruined it for me but trust me I learned my lesson. The only thing the movie got right was the name of the characters, and the main theme/plot of the book which was the kidnapping. I could not believe how off the movie was compared to the book, but enough about that. This was probably the most I was engaged into a mystery/thriller/suspense book since I read A Cold Day In Paradise by Steve Hamilton which got m
...more
This book had a very interesting plot and a decent cover.
That's about it. What a major disappointment this was. I guess it goes to show you just how good an actor Morgan Freeman is. Hell, he drove Ms. Daisy around for two hours and made it seem fun, and he made the movie version of this very watchable. Sadly, he was not around to act out the novel for me.
By the way, the cover isn't really that cool, I was just being polite. ...more
That's about it. What a major disappointment this was. I guess it goes to show you just how good an actor Morgan Freeman is. Hell, he drove Ms. Daisy around for two hours and made it seem fun, and he made the movie version of this very watchable. Sadly, he was not around to act out the novel for me.
By the way, the cover isn't really that cool, I was just being polite. ...more
"I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them."
2.5 stars
Plot:
Alex Cross is a detective/ psychologist whose new case involves a man named Gary Soneji. This man is responsible for the kidnapping of two children and several murders. Alex Cross needs to find the missing kids and outsmart this sociopath. This story is a cat and mouse game. It is filled with action and several twists.
Review:
This is my first James Patterson book and sadl ...more
2.5 stars
Plot:
Alex Cross is a detective/ psychologist whose new case involves a man named Gary Soneji. This man is responsible for the kidnapping of two children and several murders. Alex Cross needs to find the missing kids and outsmart this sociopath. This story is a cat and mouse game. It is filled with action and several twists.
Review:
This is my first James Patterson book and sadl ...more
I have read a few Alex Cross books now and decided it was time I read the very first one to see how it all began. I am very glad I did because I found this to be an excellent book. It has a fast paced and exciting story which has the reader guessing from the first page and then it ends with quite a remarkable twist which I did not see coming. I sat up very late finishing it because I just could not put it down! Altogether a really good read.
First Read: I have read most of the Alex Cross books now and found this installment in the library and learned that it is the first book of the series. I am very glad I did because I found this to be an excellent book. It has a fast paced and exciting story which has the reader guessing from the first page and then it ends with quite a remarkable twist which was a big surprise to me. I was up a lot of the night listening to a playaway - 12 hours long. Altogether a really good read. I have a hunc
...more
A perfect crime-thriller story. 👌
Along Came a Spider starts with the twofold capturing of the girl of a well known Hollywood on-screen character and the youthful child of the secretary of the Treasury. What's more, that is just the start! Gary Soneji is a dangerous serial criminal who needs to perpetrate the wrongdoing of the century. Alex Cross is the splendid murder investigator set against him. Jezzie Flanagan is the female administrator of the Secret Service who finishes a standout amongst ...more
Along Came a Spider starts with the twofold capturing of the girl of a well known Hollywood on-screen character and the youthful child of the secretary of the Treasury. What's more, that is just the start! Gary Soneji is a dangerous serial criminal who needs to perpetrate the wrongdoing of the century. Alex Cross is the splendid murder investigator set against him. Jezzie Flanagan is the female administrator of the Secret Service who finishes a standout amongst ...more
I was kept in suspense for most of it. I was disappointed that Alex was hoodwinked so easily, considering how professional he is supposed to be! It’s my first James Patterson and it may not be my last. I prefer Jeffrey Deaver to be honest
(3.5) decently entertaining, Alex Cross is a likeable MC. It wasn't overly thrillerish, but the plot was well developed with some good twists.
...more
Really 3.5 I figured out very early one of the antagonists so there's that
But for a first exposure to Patterson I'm pleased. I will read the rest of the series ...more
But for a first exposure to Patterson I'm pleased. I will read the rest of the series ...more
Read this series when first came out and somehow lost track. Doing a reread for a challenge, forgot how much I enjoyed Alex Cross.
For some reason, Amazon refused to post this review, and I can't see why. If anyone can figure it out, let me know.
First in the Alex Cross thriller series and revolving around Alex, a Washington D.C. detective with a background in psychology.
My Take
This is one of the few stories in which the movie adaptation is better. It wasn't until almost the end that Along Came a Spider started to more closely resemble the movie. Yeah, I usually hate it when a movie leaves out so much of the book, but in thi ...more
First in the Alex Cross thriller series and revolving around Alex, a Washington D.C. detective with a background in psychology.
My Take
This is one of the few stories in which the movie adaptation is better. It wasn't until almost the end that Along Came a Spider started to more closely resemble the movie. Yeah, I usually hate it when a movie leaves out so much of the book, but in thi ...more
4.5 Stars
The first book in the Alex Cross series and it’s a beauty! I have read a few books by James Patterson but I was really looking forward to starting this series because I have heard so many good things about it. Well I didn’t regret this one.
This has everything you want in a thriller a creepy murderous psychopath, quick intense chapters, a brilliant detective, plenty of twists and turns and a killer plot! This book kept me guessing throughout and I loved it!
The character description in ...more
The first book in the Alex Cross series and it’s a beauty! I have read a few books by James Patterson but I was really looking forward to starting this series because I have heard so many good things about it. Well I didn’t regret this one.
This has everything you want in a thriller a creepy murderous psychopath, quick intense chapters, a brilliant detective, plenty of twists and turns and a killer plot! This book kept me guessing throughout and I loved it!
The character description in ...more
Apr 02, 2012
Jane Stewart
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-suspense-police-procedural
It was well done, but I wasn’t emotionally consumed.
The plot, the events, and actions were very well done. I was surprised and pleased. The book definitely kept my interest. The main reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because I didn’t smile. I think of Grisham who takes me to the 5 star level. He writes a similar genre, but he makes me smile, either at the intriguing characters, or the “wow that is so exciting” when being chased or trapped or wondering if the hero will survive.
At times I felt im ...more
The plot, the events, and actions were very well done. I was surprised and pleased. The book definitely kept my interest. The main reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because I didn’t smile. I think of Grisham who takes me to the 5 star level. He writes a similar genre, but he makes me smile, either at the intriguing characters, or the “wow that is so exciting” when being chased or trapped or wondering if the hero will survive.
At times I felt im ...more
It was time to take the plunge and read a Patterson. I work in a pubic library and his books fly off the shelves and rack-up the digital downloads.
My expectations were low and those expectations were met.
My expectations were low and those expectations were met.
Watched the film ages ago, before reading the book. Initially I was quite shocked at how much the film differed from the book. Then I wondered why they changed it for the film. The book had a much better storyline, deeper and more complex characters and it would have translated well into a film.
As is often the case, the book was better than the film. 5 stars without a doubt.
As is often the case, the book was better than the film. 5 stars without a doubt.
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ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today, with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. He has sold over 380 million books wo ...more
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today, with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. He has sold over 380 million books wo ...more
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