Cross Fire (Alex Cross, #17) in Q&A with James Patterson

Nov 11, 2010 Daniel Audet rated it it was amazing

I finished Cross Fire a couple of days ago and amid the storm of activity around the ranch here I tried to best organize my thoughts to a point where this review would not be too rambling. The thing that stands out the most for me with this newest edition in the Alex Cross saga series is this: No matter what you may read posted by book reviewers, book critics, literary purists(if there is such a thing), thriller genre fans and writer bloggers is this: James Patterson IS and has a style all his o
I finished Cross Fire a couple of days ago and amid the storm of activity around the ranch here I tried to best organize my thoughts to a point where this review would not be too rambling. The thing that stands out the most for me with this newest edition in the Alex Cross saga series is this: No matter what you may read posted by book reviewers, book critics, literary purists(if there is such a thing), thriller genre fans and writer bloggers is this: James Patterson IS and has a style all his own and he has a razor sharp, clear and familiar voice. I am often surprised at his really clever single word usage to describe gesture, or indicative body motions, or to narrate and announce pivot moments in the plot by a single one word thought which bring us deep, deeper or back into the characters mind and effortlessly manipulates our thoughts as readers. Even those of us, as writers, who read his work can't out think him or race ahead in terms of what we might expect. Yes, to an extent we can pretty much guess Alex will survive and live on to battle the crime world's best efforts to wreak havoc on the earth, but still, Patterson's skill level is so high we feel as though we've been upgraded to first class from the baggage compartment after just a few pages into any book we read from him. We love Alex's family too, we think some of his co-workers need to be smacked while others need to be commended for seeing him as WE do. We pull for him when he's in danger, which is a lot, urge him to look behind himself as the maniacal evil genius Kyle creeps up behind him now and again. Cross Fire, for me was part formulaic mastercraft(newsflash kids - so is everyone else's in one way or another) and ALL brilliance. I never struggle to read on, I am never disappointed in the overall "concept" (whatever that REALLY means), and I walk away, as a writer, feeling like I should go back to school.....
Whatever reasons motivate you to read, this book will not, should not, disappoint you. There are many genres and sub-genres but in the field of bestselling thriller fiction there's a real and good reason Patterson is KING and Cross Fire is another example of that. And, you can bet that the next installment in the Alex Cross series will be in my hands soon enough.
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I started reading Cross Fire the other day. In typical James Patterson style, Alex Cross, our hero, is thrust into 2 very serious situations right off the bat. His old enemy is back which adds a deep and heavy dose of poison tension to the mix while Alex tries to stabilize his life with girlfriend Bree, also a capable law enforcement agent. Patterson's writing has become a benchmark in the publishing world, and in my opinion for good reason. His trademark quips, one word descriptions, such as "chinned" (meaning a physical indication head movement) and many others keep me as a writer looking for the method to his success in every book he writes. For me, the first person narration is a key element in Patterson's appeal. He is able to take us into the mind of the characters and it's as if we are seeing and feeling what they do. I believe this is one of Mr. P's big attractions to so many millions around the world and because he makes it look so easy, for me, as a writer, his work is a case study in writing style and technique both in the craft of writing and the art of story telling.
I'm coming up on page 200 or so and will read a bit more today. You don't need me to tell you what or whom to read folks but this should be on your list of books to read, no matter what genre you like. Formula? Yeah maybe, but don't let that stop you from studying yet another in the series by a modern master, you can't help but be better off as a writer and/or be entertained as a fan. More on this fast read soon! ...more

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