I, Alex Cross

Alex Cross #16

by James Patterson

When a beloved relative is murdered, Detective Alex Cross vows to hunt down the killer . . . and discovers a secret that could rock the entire world.


Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved niece was brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington, D. C.'s wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.


The hunt for the murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to Washington's most infamous club-a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. The killer could be one of their patrons, one of Washington's elite who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.


With astonishing plot twists and electrifying revelations that will keep readers on the edge of their seat, I, Alex Cross is the master of suspense at his sharpest and best.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 16, 2009

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

The remains… and I mean just the 'remains' of a young woman turn up, and are identified as Catherine Cross, a relative of Alex! As Alex begins working on the case, it comes apparent to all, that the murder is just the tip of a very big iceberg involving sex for sale to the rich, powerful and famous, a huge cover-up and conspiracy hiding a serial murderer and rapist who may actually be working in the White House! As the case proceeds there are also unrelated huge events within Alex's family. As the series proceeds the more ridiculous the storylines become! 5 out of 12, Two Star read!

2011 read

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual this sixteenth book in the Alex Cross series was full of bloodthirsty killings, creative ways of disposing of bodies and some very nasty crimes performed by some very high up people. It also had Alex's family front and centre bonding in their special moments.

These books are always great entertainment value although some are better than others. This is one of the good ones and once it started powering towards the end I could not put it down. In fact I very nearly went straight into the next book but I have other books waiting for reviews so I have to see to them first.

Never fear Mr Cross. I will be back very soon for more outrageous but so entertaining reading.

[Greta Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

#16 in the Alex Cross series and I’m still enjoying the crazy adventures and the intense murderers that this “dragonslayor” tracks down. I also love his family (especially Nana Mama)!

Alex is celebrating his birthday with his 3 kids,Nana Mama and his girlfriend, Bree when…. Yup! You guessed it! The phone rings. There has been a murder and they need him on the case.
This time the victim is his niece who he hasn’t seen for over 10 years and the circumstances are especially brutal.

No matter what anyone says about these books I love the adventure and tension and emotional/edge of my seat roller coaster ride that James Patterson keeps taking me on. I’m going to keep buying the tickets for the ride as long as he keeps writing these books (and I’m pretty sure Patterson has made some kind of deal with the devil because he keeps on giving us more!)

You don’t have to read the series in a row to enjoy them. I think this one could be a good one to read as a stand-alone as well.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear I could just keep reading and reading James Patterson's books in a day because of these lovely short ass chapters. How could you not put the book down until you finished AND then start a new one?!? Or is it just me?

Well it also seems to be a theme that Alex Cross can't do anything fun in his life because there's always somebody getting murdered. This time it's a beloved relative that was brutally murdered. Right now I'm thinking that Alex Cross should do a background check on everyone he knows or have body guards or something because the people he knows seem to be dropping like daises.

Now I like being on this trend of not spoiling anything in my reviews, or if I do I just "forget" to hide them - sorry not sorry guys! But I'm going to keep it up.

No, I will not tell you who the killer was.
Yes, I will tell you to go get this book and sit on your ass and read it. DO IT!

It's a pretty quick read due to the super short chapters guys! Trust me on this. Plus, it was pretty good - like way better than the ones I read yesterday/over the weekend.

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the beginning, the shock and horror were the peak of the story. I wanted to come back around to more of that, and it was lost in the fray while the rest of the book ran off on another tangent.

Patterson, we may have to fight. You better bring Nanna Momma back home, or I will NOT be ok. I AM, however, a big fan of the ending. I like this underlying storyline throughout the series.

It was another quick and enjoyable read about Alex Cross and fam.

4 stars from me.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 16 in the Alex Cross series published 2009.

An above average 3.5 stars.

Yes, above average but just.
There’s more than a fare share of blood and carnage with a particularly gruesome piece of machinery employed to dispose of dead bodies which I, for one, found unnecessary and over the top.
Some very expensive, top shelf, female escorts are turning up dead and when one of these girls turned out to be Alex Cross’s niece thing become very personal for Alex.

There is something very strange going on in the White House.
When Alex becomes involved in the investigation of the death of his niece and the other call girls he is left in no doubt that the Secret Service and the FBI would prefer it if Alex was a bit more relaxed with his investigations. Even the president tells Alex to drop his investigation and let the Secret Service handle it. But this, of course, Alex is not about to do. It is, after all, his niece that has been found dead and looking like something from a butchers shop.

On top of everything else Nana/Mama pays a couple of visit to heavens door only to be told that there was no room in the inn just at the minute, call back later.

So what between the death of his niece, his grandmother’s close calls with the grim reaper and the aggravation coming from the White House, its fare to say that Alex is not a happy chappy just at the minute.

But just when it looks like it’s all getting too much for Alex there, waiting in the corner, is Bree ready to help him forget his troubles.
So life does have some upsides for Alex.

For its faults this wasn’t such a bad read, just more of the same with different wrapping

[Loretta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I use to devour books by James Patterson until he started to write his books with every Tom, Dick and Harry (sorry Tom, Dick and Harry! Or Bill Clinton! Don't get me started on THAT book!) which showed me he only cared about the big payoff at the end, the almighty dollar, if you will. Plus the fact that his books weren't as exciting and thrilling as they once were. This book I, Alex Cross, falls into that category. Not exciting. Not thrilling, same old, same old. I specifically read this book as part of The Great American Read and now that I've finished reading the book I doubt that I'll read anything by him again. As Thomas Wolfe said, "you can't go home again". 😕

[Emma♔☯ (Bookishfix) · Rating 2 out of 5]

“It was called Operation Coitus Interruptus, which only goes to prove that there are some people in the FBI with a sense of humor.”

This is my first James Patterson novel, and yes i know what you're thinking 'Emma, what have you been doing with your life up until this point?' Honestly, i dont know.. reading other great books? I like how James Patterson presents this story to the reader, taking us through different character perspectives helps build up the suspense and climax in his novel. However i found this novel to be a little predictable, hence my rating. This is probably based on the fact i have read alot of thrillers/suspense novels in my time so to surprise and pull me in is a little more difficult than your average reader.

When Caroline Cross, is found brutally murdered her uncle, Alex Cross, a detective must try to uncover the horrible truth behind her death. Having not seen her in years, Cross must piece together the life of a niece he barely knew but still loved dearly.
When the bodies start piling up, and Washington's goverment departments start trying to reign Cross in, it's clear to Cross that there's a cover up of sorts going on, just how high up he doesn't know. What does it all have to do with Caroline's murder, what in her unknown lifestyle had her meet her end by means of a wood chipper? What did she know/see?
When the investigation leads Cross to a place where every fantasy is possible given you have the right amount of money or status, Alex soon finds he is in serious trouble facing some very dangerous, well protected public figures of this high society.

First of all, i think my major problem with this was the fact i didn't feel much of a connection with the main character, Alex Cross, which is a pretty big deal considering the novel mostly revolves around him and solving this case. Not having a connection with the MC doesn't make you feel for them or the obstacles they face, making it hard to be drawn into their world/life.
And no, its not because im a women and he is a man. I have had connections with male characters before, i just didn't get that with this MC. Sure i felt for the family that Caroline had been brutally murdered, but that goes for anyone who has their life taken away by someone else's hand/evil mind, so that's not really saying all that much; I'm a pretty empathic person in general, its not hard for me to put myself in anothers shoes ,try to feel how they feel, or how they might be thinking.
Alex's character just felt alittle flat to me, i needed more from him than what i got.

There were little climaxes throughout the novel with different characters, but overall i cant say there was a major climax that had me like ' OMG, THIS IS AWESOME!'
The ending to me felt a little.. dry? I was like okay.. fair enough, had to end it some way i guess but then it took a twist in the 'come on!'


Normally with these kinds of books i get hooked into finding out the who, the why, and how it all ends when justice is served.. while with this novel i just didn't care.
I expected more, considering how much people praise James Patterson's novels. Maybe i expected too much going into it to begin with.
No matter, i'll just try another novel of his and see if my opinion differs, it could have just been a weaker novel than others.

Recommended for : Suspense/Mild Thriller

[Dennis D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chapter 1 of my review of I, Alex Cross

It's been years since I've read any James Patterson. At one point I had gone back to the beginning of the Alex Cross series and read Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, but just never circled back around to the later entries.

Chapter 2
I liked those books well enough, quite a bit actually, in addition to a couple of JP's older non-series books. As a matter of personal preference I usually put some space between installments of a series, and before there was a Goodreads, years might pass before I get back to a particular author.

Chapter 3
I, Alex Cross was a gift, so I decided to jump in and read it immediately rather than put it at the bottom of my queue until I got around to the other thirteen Alex Cross novels that I've missed.

Chapter 4
This is not the taut, suspenseful writing I remember. This seems like JP phoning it in. Or maybe just cashing in? I've noticed a lot of JP collaborations lately, and I couldn't help but think that this book might be another, but just without co-author credit: the literary equivalent of a Thomas Kinkade painting. Sure, JP's name is on the cover, but he might have only been supervising the warehouse full of monkeys with typewriters churning out turgid thrillers; making sure they hit everything on the checklist.

Chapter 5
By necessity, this becomes a criticism of the product, as well as of the craft. I was reminded of some of my junior high school term papers, in that the book is formatted with a giant font and with extra-generous spacing between the lines, to take up maximum space with as few words as possible. The hardcover is 374 pages, but could have easily been 225 pages or less. And the chapters are all short.

Chapter 6
I mean really short.

Chapter 7
Many were only two or three pages. Several could have actually fit on one page, even with the giant font and Suez Canal-sized spacing. These 374 pages contain a whopping 117 chapters, including an eight-page, three-chapter epilogue! Don't like the chapter you’re on right now? No worries! You’ll be on to the next one tout de suite.

Chapter 8
The front cover trumpets that "A beloved Cross family member has been murdered." If you're a regular Patterson reader, you might expect that some pivotal character buys it here. But I'm pretty sure if you had read all of the previous titles, you would have never heard of this 'beloved family member' - Alex's niece- before. This book provides her brief back story, and Cross apparently hasn't spoken to her since she was a small child. She's fleshed out so minimally, she could have been no relation to Cross whatsoever, and would have had the same impact on the story.

Chapter 9
So that's my beef with this shrewd and very calculated package. I like Alex Cross as a character, so I read through to the end. The story was your standard "Seedy Sex Crime and Cover-Up That Could Be Traced Back to Highest Levels of Government." Of course critical characters are killed off just before they can corroborate/contribute/whatever. Of course some unknown higher-up is trying to hinder the investigation. Of course Alex Cross is bucking his boss, the FBI, the State Department, the BMV and anyone else you can think of in pursuit of answers. There's very little that's even vaguely original in here. I rarely give up on a book, but if I didn't know ahead of time that I was going to be done in two nanoseconds, I would have bailed on this one. And even so, I want my two nanoseconds back.

Epilogue
I almost want to go back and re-read some of the early Alex Cross stuff that I liked so much. I know I've become a little more discerning as a reader, but I'm curious to see if Patterson has changed that much, or if I have? Or maybe I, Alex Cross was just an anomaly?

[Suzzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all but I was more into the personal aspect of Alex’s life (Nana & Bree) than I was the crime plot. Kinda had a feeling the main criminal in this one would be a high power player in the White House. So the predictability did take away from this crime plot. Plus the happenings on the personal front for Alex Cross were more interesting than the crime plot.

My quick and simple overall: not bad at all and a good, quick installment to the series.

[Lucy'sLilLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the weaker books in the series, this one starts with a body (well what's left of a body) and somehow goes all the way to the Whitehouse. It's just too far fetched. Alex works everything out too easily, there's no way he wouldn't have been killed along the way on this one, but no one even came close.

There is also a lot going on in Alex's personal life which just seemed repetitive and nothing ever felt high stakes. I find Alex and Bree's relationship pretty boring too. I really don't have much to say about this instalment, it was as always a pretty quick and easy read but it just couldn't fully capture my attention.

I still own quite a few more Alex Cross books and I will continue until I run out I can't see myself buying any of the newer ones though as I feel like I won't get much more out of this series.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love the Alex Cross series but lately the books have been very loosely held together. Too many things are mentioned once and either not explained or never appear again. Case in point - what exactly was the mob connection in this book and why was Tucci returning Caroline's remains to Philadelphia when all the other victims were buried in the woods? These things were never explained so they seem to have been added into the story strictly for the sake of some added violence.

Alex Cross didn't solve this mystery (well at the very end he really does). He was led by the nose exactly where someone wanted him to go. I like to actually see Alex work a case, develop leads and take down the bad guy. That just didn't happen in this book. And what's up with Nana Mama having a heart attack in every book now, spending time in the hospital and turning up fine at the end of the book. For Pete's sake she's 90 years old, let the poor lady rest already.

This book might have been 400 pages long but in reality there were tons of wasted pages with breaks for part 1,2 etc, short chapters and wide margins. There was plenty of plot but not enough investigation. And this... the assassination of Constantine was never investigated. There was zero proof that Constantine was Zeus. The FBI created a task force to take him down but never proved that he actually was Zeus. So why was he killed? Well I guess we all know why - can you say cover up? But why didn't Alex Cross (the defender of the universe) investigate who authorized the kill shot? This is just one of the things that bothered me about this book. And one of the reasons I now borrow these books from the library instead of laying out $25+ for each less than stellar installment.

[Aj Sterkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Likes: Can you believe I’d never read a James Patterson book before? They’re not my usual kind of read, but my library had this one, and it was on the Great American Read list, so I thought, Why not? Also, yes, I started with book #16 in a series. I’m a rebel. Goodreads said this book can work as a standalone, and it does. I never felt confused about the characters or their backstories.

This is a perfect novel to listen to while you’re distracted because it’s a fairly straightforward serial killer mystery. Someone is torturing and murdering prostitutes in Washington DC. It’s up to Detective Alex Cross to find the killer and bring him to justice. The mystery kept me interested enough that I sat in the dark and listened to this book instead of going to sleep at night.

The audiobook is read by Tim Cain and Michael Cerveris. For the most part, they do a great job. Their voices didn’t get on my nerves after hours of listening to them.

“It was called Operation Coitus Interruptus, which only goes to prove that there are some people in the FBI with a sense of humor.” – I, Alex Cross

Dislikes: Both of the audiobook narrators have manly voices. That’s fine for the majority of the book, but hearing them do “lady” voices made me laugh. That kind of ruined the seriousness of the prostitute-murdering.

I don’t think thrillers will ever be my thing. This book is exactly like every other thriller I’ve read: Bland writing, all plot, no character development. Everything about this book is average. The detective doesn’t even do much detecting! He just interviews people who give him the answers right away. I wanted him to work harder.



The Bottom Line: I’m glad I finally read a James Patterson book, but I was mostly disappointed.



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[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a typical James Patterson novel, which is definitely NOT a bad thing. I enjoyed the rapid-fire pace of the story and how he kept the action moving with short chapters.

And there sure was A LOT of action. Some parts were gross. I mean, really nauseatingly gross. I had to close my eyes and shake off the gruesome murder scenes more than once. In addition, as the story revolved around a sex club, some chapters contained explicit sex. It was essential to the plot and not just there for shock value--though some of it was admittedly shocking to read. With each murder and act of depravity, I really wanted Alex to track down the corrupt perverts and punish them big time.

Another thing I like about the series is the presence of family, which balances the story out and adds an extra layer to Alex Cross. This book was no exception, with a touching subplot revolving around Alex's Nana. It was a dose of humanity in the midst of a very inhumane murder case.

I enjoyed this book, devouring it during one sitting. And the cliffhanger ending left me wanting more.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Patterson, you can tease me until I cry. You can stick a needle in my eye. Heck, you can do all things; as long as I don’t die. I know that’s not necessary because I’m about to cry after this last installment of the Alex Cross series.

Really, that’s how you’re going to do me, Patterson? Well played my friend. You let me hang off the balcony with nothing but my sheer grit. Then, what do you do? You drop me - only after you cut the rope tied around my neck that was my noose. 🤷‍♀️This was yet another amazing read to which I give 4.15 stars to..... perhaps the next read of this series will bring me to my climax and I’ll scream 5! 5! 5 stars... until we meet again....... im giving I, Alex 4.15 stats

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. It’s Patterson so of course I loved it. The ending was like….woah!!! I was starting to figure it out but I still didn’t quite know who was the killer.

This is my first Alex Cross book. I don’t much care if I read them in order. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

[Joana’s World · Rating 3 out of 5]

Os livros de James Patterson são todos bons, ele tem uma escrita que cativa sempre o leitor. No entanto este foi o que gostei menos de todos por causa do tema, sobre o qual não me identifico muito.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are so many things wrong with this that I don’t even know where to start.

I picked this book up on sale, and I am ever so glad that I did because if I’d paid £7.99 for it I would be pissed off, instead I’m just irritated. But I’m not going to go into that, or the fact that the font size/page margins etc make this book double what it should be. That’s all on the publishers, not the writing, and it’s the writing I’m judging.

And yes, I do mean judging.

First off, this was supposed to be a detective story. At least, that’s what I gathered from the main character being a detective and, you know, a serial killer being on the loose. It’s not. It’s really, really not. Instead of Cross getting out there and digging up all sorts of shit, he’s pretty much handed every single piece of evidence in neatly wrapped little boxes. I think there may have even been a little bow on a few of them. Seriously. The whole “detective” storyline is basically batted along by phone calls to Cross and him driving out to see what’s up with this shizzle. There was no point. The story could have progressed without him being at any of the scenes. And when your main character can be completely removed from the book without anything changing you have got a fucking problem.

I’m going to ignore the laughable title of “thriller”.

Secondly, plot devices. Yes, thank you, I realise you need plot devices to move the plot along. It doesn’t mean I want to be bludgeoned over the head with them and then, when I’m collapsed in a bloody pile in the floor, see you drop them and walk away without any fucking explanation as to why! What, in the ever loving hell, was the point of the mob tie in? There were two scenes with them and then the whole thing was forgotten about! If you’re not going to include them in the plot, then don’t have them in in the first place.

And the girl who escaped! The girl who just so happens to be the only one who has seen the face of true evil and gotten away. Why was there not more fuss over her? I understand the murderer not knowing - hey, who wants to admit to their boss that they fucked up? - but why didn't the agents care a bit more? They're supposed to be professionals and when Remy asks they're all "Yeah, sure, working on it." Yeah? Because that didn't come across. Even if they didn't know that bossman showed his face, you'd think they'd have some professional pride.

Help these days. Tut tut.

The same goes for Cross pissing off those high-rollers. We get told time and time again that they’ll cause problems but then nothing happens except for one complaint. That’s it. None of them – none of them – cock block the investigation. At all. They don’t even try.

Opportunity. Wasted.

Also, who the fuck were those two random guys who brought English pimp and girlfriend to Remy? They can’t be the original agents as Cross shot them. They’re never described and never explained. Literally just a pair of hands to get two characters from A to B so their plotline can be tied up. Nice work.

Thirdly, character consistency. One of the biggest things that irritated me was Remy’s death. Y'all have no idea. The guy’s a psychopath. He lives in the woods and enjoys chopping people up and running their bodies through a wood chipper. He enjoys it. And then you ask me to accept that, for some strange reason, he carves the word ‘sorry’ into his arm and then blows his brains out? Why? He’s not sorry. And, from the scenes he’s in, he comes across as someone who’d take a shotgun to Cross rather than himself. Also, why the fuck did he blow his brains out at that precise moment? He didn’t know Cross was coming out to look at his lonely shack in the woods; Cross wasn’t even investigating him properly! It makes no sense.

And the murderer! He goes through so many lengths to stay anonymous - blacking out his car plates, wearing a gimp mask, using a voice changer - and then he goes and shows his face because it doesn't matter. Er, no.

Oh! And let’s not forget how they randomly came up with a character that hasn’t been mentioned previously and decided that he’s the serial killer. Why, I hear you ask? Oh, because they fired him and he has some tenuous ties to the mob. That’s it. That’s what labels you a serial killer. And everyone just jumped on the bandwagon. Seriously.

I am so glad I don’t live in America right now.

On a side note – how old were those kids supposed to be? Because they came across as being maybe eight at the oldest, but apparently they’re supposed to be in their teens. Really?

Fourthly, unneeded storylines. Argh. There was no point to the nana scenes. It had no impact on the serial killer plot at all except to slow down the pace of the whole book. Yay. And, as if we didn’t need any more unneeded filler, there’s a moment where Cross goes to see a jazz musician play. For no reason. Literally, no reason, except to reminisce over some other jazz that he went to listen to and blah blah blah thank you!

Lastly, bad endings. Three words. What The Hell. All that and then – bang? That’s it? That’s what you’re giving me? What even was the point? And then Cross is a hero and his name is in the papers and his kids are searching for mentions of him? Why? He didn’t fucking do anything! The only thing that saved the book was the phone call from Kyle at the end – now that sounded promising.

This could have been a good book, but at the moment it reads like a first draft. Get rid of the nana storyline, focus on the detective work, change Cross from a passive to active and fix the character inconsistencies and you might have something.

*~*

Note: If you liked this book and are just reading this because you’re a hater, I suggest checking out Alex Gray’s Five Ways to Kill a Man. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

At times, I've been a bit of a fan of Alex Cross. After reading thisd one, I'm not sure why. The title is a play on Cross' promise (that the reader knows he will be unable to keep) to better balance his work and family life.

So, what's my gripe.. First, Cross does NO real detective work in this novel. No profiling, etc. Everything he gets, someone else gives him... and those investigating don't solve some sort of complex mystery-- instead-- the bad guy's identity is handed to them on a silver platter-- a high level political figure...

Once again, as in at least one earlier Cross story-- Nana goes to the hospital and much of the story dwells on whether or not she will survive. While she is an interesting character-- after awhile the reader is rooting for her to go ahead and die so that we can return to the crime\mystery element of the story.

Patterson tries to offer us gore and fear on a Hannibal Lecter level, using a wood chipper to dispose of victims-- but he is like a kindergartner shooting a basketball placed at regulation level.. he just bounces off the rim at best.

Further, the short chapters and change of viewpoints are disjointed and make it appear that Mr. Patterson is off his ADD medication and therefore unfocused because so many of the chapters break at odd places. some chapters are only a page and a half long...

I've read novels in this series that I enjoyed.. sadly, this one didn't do it for me.. the resolution at the end-- having the Secret Service agent take out the bad guy and then commit suicide.. well.. it just lacked a punch... This novel just didn't do it for me.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I'm trying to read books as a "writer", I chose this book because James Patterson is the honcho of writers. I hadn't read any of the Alex Cross series and I thought this was very well written. As usual, Patterson's book are like a roller coaster ride...quick...hidden turns...unexpected dips...and a thrill on your way home.
Underneath the crime that Alex Cross is investigating, his Nana is sick and near death, which adds to the texture of the story. I felt horrible for the girls caught up in this murderous guy named Zeus. Alot of people die in this book, but it's not gory. I can see why the Alex Cross books are being made into movies.

[Apoorva Ranade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more detective skills or atleast morw twists.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bottom line: this book is terrible. The plot, which intrigues at first, quickly becomes tiresome. The additional "filler" as one reviewer put it, is exactly that: you could remove the entire Nana thread cutting the book by a third and still end up with the same character development and ending.

The end is (not a spoiler) just flat out worthless. I actually read the few remaining pages of the next book (advertised at the end of this book) hoping that I would receive something else - anything else - to appease my disappointment, unfortunately no luck.


The murder investigation, assuming you could even find it buried beneath the medical drama with Nana Mama, but ill get back to that, was never really a mystery to begin with. The entire time it consisted of Cross being pointed down a line to the conclusion by everyone as they gave him everything he needed without any real investigation going on. I want to see Cross do his work, not have his hand held the entire time. Zues, the killer, was not interesting at all. We barely hear of him, see him twice the entire book, and never had any motive behind what he did. He was just a sick man who screwed up one day. It was also obvious as to who it was considering the name he chose. Plus having the entire plot revolve around escorts was never interesting at all. How many times do we have to hear about impossibly beautiful women being naked through this book? It was there for bad shock value and nothing more.

The time spent with Nana Mama were pointless and just boring. If you cut out every time Cross spends talking to her, over half of the book would be gone and we would still end up with the same conclusion without missing anything. I absolutely hate Nana Mama and I was praying that she would finally die by the end of the book, but its obvious that she wasnt going to, despite her being over 90 and constantly in a coma. Please Patterson, kill her off already.

The other characters, namely Cross' family and Sampson, were non-existant and didnt act the way they should be. The kids are nearing graduation from highschool and yet they all acted like they were 8 year olds. Bree was hardly around and never really did anything aside from cooking and looking over Nana Mama. Since those parts were pointless, her part in this book was pointless too aside from the ending. Sampson, like in the previous book, acted like a hired thug that only talked when he needed too. Instead of him saying or doing anything, it was always Cross that told us what he said or did. I dont care to hear it from him, I want to know what Sampson is thinking. I want Sampson to talk for himself.

On a side note, the arrogance of Patterson is arguably at his worst here. In the interview on the book near the top of the product page, he bashes late-author Tony Hillerman. And in this book, he deems the humor of Jon Stewart and everything related to The Daily Show to be "droll humor." While I cant say much about Hillerman, as I have never read his books, its just insulting to everyone for him to kick a probably good author when hes dead. Im sure he atleast Hillerman had talent and morals compared to JP. Not to mention, The Daily Show and Jon Stewart are both great, so its obvious that Patterson would not know humor or again real talent if it smacked him the face.

[Πάνος Τουρλής · Rating 3 out of 5]

Την ημέρα των γενεθλίων του, ο Άλεξ Κρος μαθαίνει για τον τεμαχισμό της ανιψιάς του, Κάρολαϊν, που δούλευε ως πόρνη πολυτελείας. Η υπόθεση περιπλέκεται ακόμη περισσότερο, όταν μπαίνουν στη μέση πολυτελή κλαμπ ερωτικής απόλαυσης, dvd με επικίνδυνες για εκβιασμό ερωτικές σκηνές, ακόμη κι ο ίδιος ο Λευκός Οίκος! Ποιος σκοτώνει πόρνες με τόσο άσχημο τρόπο και γιατί; Γιατί υπάρχουν ξεκάθαρες εντολές άνωθεν για να κουκουλωθεί η υπόθεση; Ποιος είναι ο μυστηριώδης «Δίας» και γιατί σκοτώνει πόρνες, χρησιμοποιώντας κλαδοτεμαχιστή;

Μετά από πολύ καιρό, έφτασε η στιγμή να απολαύσω ένα καλό αστυνομικό θρίλερ με τον Άλεξ Κρος, χωρίς υπερβολές και ακρότητες, με σασπένς, ανατροπές, συναίσθημα και μια μπλεγμένη ιστορία που όμως ξεκαθαρίζει σωστά και εγκαίρως. Μου φάνηκε ενδιαφέρον που σε μεγάλο μέρος της πλοκής ανακατεύτηκε ο ιδιοκτήτης ενός πολυτελούς κλαμπ για να εκβιάσει πλούσιους και διάσημους (ηθοποιούς, μέλη της Βουλής και της Γερουσίας κ. ά.), χωρίς να ξέρει ότι χάρη σ’ αυτόν θα αρχίσει να ξετυλίγεται μια υπόθεση στην οποία εμπλέκονται υψηλόβαθμα στελέχη που… δεν μπορούν να τιθασεύσουν τις ορμές τους. Μου άρεσε επίσης που ο Πρόεδρος των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών είναι γυναίκα καθώς και η ανατρεπτική σκηνή μ’ έναν πράκτορα τυφλά αφοσιωμένο στο καθήκον του!

Σε προσωπικό επίπεδο, ο Άλεξ Κρος δένεται περισσότερο με τη σύντροφό του, Μπρι Στόουν, στην οποία μάλιστα κάνει και πρόταση γάμου. Η Νάνα Μάμα μας τρομάζει και πάλι με το πρόβλημα καρδιάς που παρουσιάζει, με αποτέλεσμα να έχουμε υπερβολικά πολλές σελίδες φόβου της απώλειας για όλα τα μέλη της οικογένειας. Η Κάρολαϊν Κρος που δολοφονείται είναι άλλη μια ανιψιά του ντετέκτιβ (είχαμε γνωρίσει τη Ναόμι Κρος στο «Φίλα τα κορίτσια»), μόνο που αυτή δεν είναι καλό παιδάκι ενώ ο πατέρας της και αδελφός του Άλεξ, Μπλέικ, είχε μπλέξει με ναρκωτικά. Τέλος, ο Κάιλ Κρεγκ για άλλη μια φορά εμφανίζεται στον επίλογο του βιβλίου, εκφράζοντας την ανυπομονησία του ν’ αναμετρηθούν ξανά με τον ντετέκτιβ.

Το «Εγώ, ο Άλεξ Κρος» είναι ένα γρήγορο, καλό και ανατρεπτικό θριλεράκι, με χαρακτηριστικά που μου είχαν λείψει στις προηγούμενες περιπέτειες του γνωστού ήρωα.

[Hana]

Right now I've only gotten to chapter 18, but it's pretty interesting. I know it's a murder case and there is a girl, Caroline involved. But the plot is thickening the longer I read. The main character is a man, Alex Cross, you'd guess. (Well his name is practically taking up the whole cover, if not all of it.) And from what I've read he's trying to get the bottom of her death. The first thing that disturbed me in the slightest in the book would probably be the state they found her body in. Patterson didn't really go in-depth with description but I can always imagine. Anyway, Alex Cross is searching for the cause of her death/mutilation/etc. And he comes across a boy (can't recall his name for the life of me) and he searches his room only to find that there is a slip of paper in a jacket hanging in the closet. He also found a similar paper in Caroline's room. He connects them and tries to crack the numbered code written on both. Right now I'm at the point where he has cracked the code and he discovers that there are different phone numbers written, not any numbers though, they belong to high influential people in the area. Which makes him wonder deeply why Caroline would be connected to all of these high ranked individuals? Oh, and did I mention Alex Cross and Caroline are related?

[Mustafa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The remains of a young woman turn up, which happens to be the niece of Detective Alex Cross named Caroline Cross. As Alex begins an investigation, we also get to see a 'White House angle'. Someone known as the Zeus seems to be connected both to the White House and the murder of young girls like Caroline Cross.

Some of the most annoying features of the book are too many character introductions at odd times. Ned Mahooney of the F.B.I making the crucial discoveries and not any real detective work from our beloved Detective Alex Cross except for interrogations of scumbags and influential people.

The illness and death scares of Nana Mama is really a drag now. Used before in the series as well.

To be honest, i continue to read the series just to get to the point as to know the fate of Detective Alex Cross's oldest and most dangerous nemesis, 'The Mastermind'. Only a hint of that is given in the last chapter.

While this one is better than the last one in the series called 'Cross Country', it still isn't anywhere close to those fantastic James Patterson novels in the 90's featuring Alex Cross.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot going on here. I can't put a finger on it, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as I usually do.

[Joana · Rating 5 out of 5]

O Alex Cross continua a ser o melhor detetive do mundo e James Patterson (na minha opinião) é um dos grandes nomes da literatura policial contemporânea.

Este 16º volume foi um dos meus favoritos, embora considere que o melhor de todos é o 1º - "A Conspiração da Aranha", o que deu origem ao filme com o Morgan Freeman no papel de Alex Cross, e o que causa maior impacto, pois é ele que nos põe em contacto pela primeira vez com esta personagem tão complexa e tridimensional.

Como em todos os livros de Patterson, os capítulos são muito curtos (alguns de uma única página), o que confere um ritmo ainda mais acelerado à narrativa e torna a leitura muito fluída e quase cinematográfica. Além disso, as premissas da história são explosivas: Alex descobre na noite do seu aniversário que a sua sobrinha (que não vê há mais de 20 anos) foi brutalmente assassinada, a dado momento percebe-se o claro envolvimento da Casa Branca numa situação que pode colocar em causa a própria Administração e a avó "Nana" também corre risco de vida e a vida do próprio detetive pode estar em risco, como já nos temos vindo a habituar.

"Eu, Alex Cross" é muito pessoal - talvez o mais pessoal de todos os volumes que li. É estabelecida uma nova familiaridade com a personagem central desta série e com todos os elementos da família, Bree incluída, a namorada que já o acompanha desde há alguns anos. É impossível ficar indiferente ao sofrimento do clã Cross durante a investigação do assassinato de Caroline Cross e da própria doença de Nana, a matriarca que todos os leitores já se habituaram a ver como a avó que todos gostavam de querer.

Aguardo com muita expectativa a publicação do próximo volume, que certamente vai ser devorado tão ou mais depressa do que este.

[Louize · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine, Marguerite, told me that if she’s me she will be running towards home instead of walking in the park while listening to this. I must have done just that if my husband was not walking with me.

The story was very unnerving. Alex Cross was personally involved in a murder case, wherein the victim’s remains were found in trash bags. The controversial part was that some Whitehouse nerves were ticked during his investigations.

I have to praise the plot of this one. It reminded me of “Kiss the Girls” and “Pop goes the Weasel” – combined. But unlike the others that focused more on the protagonist; this one focused more on the victims, the evidence, and the conspiracy. It was a thrill tracing evidences back to the high-profiled perp. This is the kind of James Patterson I missed. It has been a long time since the series hyped this much (just saying). And it seem like things are starting to step up from here on.

Hope you enjoy it too.


Read from The Page Walker.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made a bet with myself. Go into the library, into the audio books section and ONLY pick a book the librarians have already pulled out and put on display for someone to take. I couldn't go pre-select or pre-hold one I thought I'd like - but just pick through the table they had on display.

So I picked this one. I knew of the detective Alex Cross and I knew this would be a good series. But I was a little worried about starting at book 16 (lol). This is an amazing audio book. Another fabulous BBC recording full with gunshots and sounds through out.

And even though I knew "who done it" way early on as soon as they mentioned the president was a woman, I knew exactly who was killing those women it was amazing to keep going with the audio and hear the final conclusion. NOT an ending I saw coming. Now I want to listen to them all - starting at book 1! I'm so glad the librarians pulled this out for me to pick from!

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite Alex Cross book I’ve read.
As Alex enjoys his birthday with his family a call comes in that sucks the breath out of Alex.
One of The Cross’s have been murdered.
Working on Adrenalin, Alex is bound and determine to find the killer.
As details are being uncovered more and more evidence points to a high class escort service and a man named Zeus.
Gripping book.