Cross Country - Newest book

[Mandy]

Woohoo, I got this one whilst I was out today, it was a great surprise because I thought it wasn't out until later in November. Can't wait to start reading it!!!

[Mandy]

I'm about halfway through and it's great so far, I just love reading Cross books because I feel I know him so well.

[Mandy]

Finsihed this one on the weekend, it was really good. I love the Alex Cross books and this one really hit home as the things that happen in this book are probably happening right now somewhere, very sad.

[Sarah]

Im excited to get this one...I read all the Cross novels in order and just finished the last one a month ago! So I think Im going to ask for this for Christmas!

[Jason]

I finished this one tonight. I do believe it is one of the best Cross books I have read in several years. I believe it is definitely better than "London Bridges" and "Big Bad Wolf".

[Ragdoll]

I almost believe JP was telling us a story about what is going on in Lagos, Nigeria and at Kirikiri. It was very strange! But in the typical JP fashion, another good Alex Cross novel. Gory and as usual, someone close to him dies and KYLE CRAIG is back.

[Bluedaizy]

I just finished this the other day. I was reading two other novels and bought Cross County on a lark and finished reading it over the weekend. A really quick read. I have read other Patterson novels, but the amount of people being killed was just incredible. I think it was an all time record.

I usually listen to Patterson's books on CD and while I was actually reading this book, I kept hearing the actor who usually reads the novels, "reading" in my head and I kept flashing on Morgan Freeman as Alex. I don't know if I would actually want to see this one as a movie because of all the killings, but I don't think Patterson could have tried any harder to make this one play as a movie.

And did you count all those chapters? That was just annoying. What a waste of paper.

Can you tell I liked the book? You bet I did! Alex Cross is a wonderful character.

[Bluedaizy]

PS Which book was Kyle Craig introduced in? I'm blanking on that character. (getting old, you know...)

[Jonny]

I'm not entirely sure but I think his name was mentioned in the very first one Along Came A Spider. Then again I could be wrong but I know he was mentioned in one of the first few. However, he was actually introduced (properly introduced I mean) until Roses Are Red.

[Leo]

Bluedaizy wrote: "PS Which book was Kyle Craig introduced in? I'm blanking on that character. (getting old, you know...)"

I just finished Jack and Jill and Kyle was mentioned several times in it, but not actually introduced.

[Bluedaizy]

Thanks!

[Kaz.]

I can't remember which exact books he was in but he was in all the early few books of the series, at a guess about the first 6 or so, he befriended Alex and was in the FBI.

[[deleted user]]

Could someone please list JP's series books in order so that I can read them in order:
Alex Cross
Michel --?
Women's Murder Club
and are there any more series books?

Which of his books are "stand alone" without being in a series?
Thanks!

[Dawn]

i cant seem to copy and paste from his site because they are links but go to the site and there are all listed in order

www.jamespatterson.com

[Mandy]

Ditto what Dawn said :o)

[Bluedaizy]

If you go to fantasticfiction.com and do a search by author, they put the books in published order and separate by series. Very handy.

[Dawn]

Thanks I am going to make very good use our of this site.

[Kaz.]

Yes that is what I did, I went to the James Patterson site and made a list of all the books in order, it makes it very easy.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks all. I, too, will have to go there and list the series books in order. Alex Cross sounds the best so far. What series did you all like the best?

[[deleted user]]

The fantasticfiction.com site was the most helpful.
Thank you, Bluedaizy!
I haven't been able to get on James Patterson's site now and then...says it's possibly infected or something. Odd.

[Dawn]

thats weird because when you posted yesterday I went right on. Oh well at least you got it from the other site.

[Kaz.]

I went on and had a look at the James Patterson site yesterday too, it was working fine here, it first came up with a page advertising the new book coming out called "Max" and then you clicked on a link to go into his normal site, I hope you have better luck next time.
Oh and my favorite series was the Womens Murder Club but there both good.

[[deleted user]]

Yeah, weird...it happened several times in one day.
Maybe I just hit a few hours of technical difficulty with the site. Now I've been able to get on it again. Can u overview the Women's Murder Club a bit?
I made the mistake of getting one of the newer ones first, and therefore wasn't "getting it" and quit reading. Are these a group of private detectives, or what? Are they tough (I like to see women depicted as capable as the "men heroes.") and are the stories riveting in and of themselves (as individual stories outside the full series) and with unexpected twists and turns?

[Kaz.]

Annette here is link to the page that tells you all about each character in the books and it can tell you in much more detail than I ever could,
http://www.jamespatterson.com/books_w...
Let me know how you go and what you think of it, and yes they are tough women, one of them is a police officer and she is the main character, the stories are good and are usually a fast read and there is alway the story of the crime to be solved in that book with all the usual twists and turns as well as the lives of the 4 women in the Womens Murder Club which you follow through each book. Hope this helped.
Kaz

[[deleted user]]

Thanks, Karen. I checked the URL and bookmarked it.
I have several misc books here-don't know what to read first! I have a John Grisham and Dan Brown, so I may as well get to them before plunging into series books...I feel I'll get so engrossed in them that all the housework will go to heck! ;-)

[Kaz.]

I've been reading a bit about the Dan Brown books do you recommend them? I've heard John Grisham goes into the political side of things a lot in his books, is this true? I might be getting him mixed up with another Author.
When I read a series of books I always break it up by reading other books in between them, that way I don't get tired of the same story line and style of writing, I like variety, lol.
And hey, the house work isn't going to go anywhere, don't worry about it, LOL.

[[deleted user]]

Karen wrote: "I've been reading a bit about the Dan Brown books do you recommend them? I've heard John Grisham goes into the political side of things a lot in his books, is this true? I might be getting him mixe..."

Karen:
Dan Brown's DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons are mystery/adventure based on religious type material.
They're not preachy-it's just the venue for the plot.

John Grisham are mostly legal thrillers-trials and such...while some include criminal political maneuvering, as well. The Appeal is getting quite political, but quite interesting nonetheless. A Time to Kill-his first-is about a trial that will keep you riveted and doesn't really enter the political arena. The movie was excellent. The Testament by JG is EXCELLENT-very unique even among his own works. Doesn't really get overly political OR legal-these parts are just essential to maneuver through the incredible story and end.
I've read a great deal of John Grisham and can tell you about them for you to choose which to steer clear of if you don't like too much politics in the stories. Could we become "friends" and talk directly? Unfortunately I don't know how to do that yet on this site. If interested could you invite me as a friend? James Patterson also has an older book I think you would like very much. Annette Clark

[Kaz.]

Hi Annette I have sent you an invitation to become friends.
It will be good to discuss the books you mentioned.

[[deleted user]]

An Invitation to anyone who'd like to discuss "Along came a Spider": click my avatar, my "read" list, the book, and click "view" at the way right of my review bar.

There were a few loose ends/questions. But a very good read! Annette

[Susan C]

Ragdoll wrote: " I almost believe JP was telling us a story about what is going on in Lagos, Nigeria and at Kirikiri. It was very strange! But in the typical JP fashion, another good Alex Cross novel. Gory an..."

In general, what do most people think about Cross Country? Please rate using 1-10 with 10 of course being the best.

Thanks
Susan

[Kaz.]

I am just about to start reading Cross Country this week, will post my rating when I'm finished. :-)

[Dawn]

STARTING TONIGHT. IF I CAN FIND IT LOL

[Kaz.]

Well I'm up to Part Two "Sign of the Cross" now, page 85 and I'm having mixed feelings about this one, there are lots of children getting killed by children.
I think Kyle Craig is mixed up in it some how and I'm wondering if he is the "White Devil" as he didn't have a problem with murdering families and children when he was the Mastermind robing the banks in a past novel.

[Dawn]

I AGREE HE MAY POP UP. I AGREE TOO ON THE MIXED FEELINGS. I AM PAGE 70 SO I AM RIGHT BEHIND YOU. MY FRIEND TOLD ME SHE DIDNT LIKE IT AND I FEEL LIKE SHE PUT A CURSE ON THIS BOOK FOR ME TO HATE IT.LOL

[Dawn]

OK SO I BARELY READ LAST NIGHT BUT I AM UP TO THE 90'S I AM AT WHERE ALEX IS A PRISONER. I AHOULD BE ABLE TO READ ALOT TODAY AND TONGIHT. THIS SI SO DIFFERENT FOR HIM. I AM STARING TO GET INTO IT.

[Kaz.]

I'm up to page 154 now chapter 55, like you I'm getting into it now, after reading this it does not make me want to go on a holiday to Africa, lol.

[Dawn]

YEAH AND I HAVE ALWAYS TO GO. LOL I AM NOT AS FAR AS YOU ABOUT 116 I THINK. SUCH A DIFFERENT STORY FOR HIM. ITS KINDA REMINDING ME OF THE ONE WHEN CHRISTINE WAS KIDNAPPED. I AM UP TO THE PART WHERE ALEX IS BEING BEAT UP AGAIN IN SOME ALLEY.

[Kaz.]

Well I'm finished Cross Country now Dawn, you can read my review of it when you have finished, I can't wait to see what you thought of it, don't read it until you have finished thought as I don't want to spoil anything for you.

[Dawn]

OK MIGHT TAKE ME Another day or 2 i was sick all weekend and i did not read. i am only at about 160.

[Kaz.]

Ok Dawn no worries.

[Kaz.]

Hi Dawn, just wondering how you are going with Cross Country? Have you got around to finishing it yet and if so what did you think of it?

[Dawn]

I am still not done. I am on 308 and will finish tonight so I will let you know tomorrow my thoughts.

[Suzanne]

I got this in the mail from bookmooch yesterday. That will be read afterTurtle Moon is finished.

[Susan C]

Thank you all for talking about Cross Country. It sounds like parts are hard emotionally to read but it's all worth it in the end. Am I right?

[Fiona (Titch)]

I am planning on readin this soon.

[Suzanne]

Susan, some parts are really emotionally hard to read. I kid you not. There is no way that I can read it in one day. I have to walk from it after so many pages. How can he write this stuff? But, all of Patterson's book are worth it. The just get better & better. I'm definitely gonna read a no-brainer book after this one.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Just finished Cross Country - James Patterson.

[Kaz.]

So what did you think of it Fiona?

[Fiona (Titch)]

Karen, It was a good book, but not sure of all the hype hon. I would say it was 8/10 if I was to mark it.

[Kaz.]

Yes I feel the same, I just didn't enjoy this one as much as the others, Alex frustrated me how he just got himself in life and death situations all the time, I thought that was strange as he left the police force because it was to dangerous a field of work, he was worried as his children had already lost one parent and then he went and put himself in unnecessary danger over and over again.