Start Date: Between 2003-9
Finished Date: Between 2003-9
Where Found: Used bookstore and Chapters-Indigo
Why Read: Patterson is highly popular, so I decided to try his first novel and soon became hooked!
The following are all the Patterson books I've read with short reviews. I started with Along Came a Spider, after reading all the John Grisham books and needing a new author to try out. I was hooked for the next 5-6 years! I am not likely to read any more of James Patterson's books as I've exhausted his best work and he has since peaked & ebbed in writing quality for me.
Alex Cross series
Titles are borrowed from childhood nursery rhymes. A Washington D.C.-based forensic psychologist and homicide detective (and briefly turned FBI agent) tracks down serial killers, rapists, and abductors often by reading into their deranged psyche.
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 435 pages
ISBN: 0316693642
Summary: A homicide detective and forensic psychologist based in Washington D.C. investigates interwoven cases of a serial killer targeting women and the kidnapping of two privileged children at a private school.
Review:
Spine-tingling and electrifying! How Patterson enters the warped mind of demented murderers in his novels is as spooky as a good scary movie.
While I think Morgan Freeman is cleverly cast as Alex Cross in the movie adaptations, Along Came a Spider was a weak adaptation that zapped much of the novel’s excitement.
Rank: (A)- Highly recommended, one of Patterson’s best
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 464 pages
ISBN: 0316693707
Summary: Mimicking a serial kidnapper-murderer Casanova, the Gentleman Caller strikes in North Carolina where Alex Cross’ niece goes missing and a strong-willed victim escapes to work with the FBI in catching him.
Review:
A great, well-composed follow-up to Along Came a Spider.
The 1997 movie with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd was decent and worth a watch for Patterson fans.
Rank: (B)- Very Good, Recommend
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 480 pages
ISBN: 0446604801
Summary: A young child and a Senator are killed, beginning a search for a male & female killing team targeting famous names.
Review:
A decent entry in the Alex Cross series. Doesn't quite have the spark of Along Came a Spider but worth a read. Typical of Patterson, just not his best.
Rank: (B)- Good, Recommend
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 432 pages
ISBN: 0446606189
Summary: A serial kidnapper-murderer from Along Came a Spider returns on the rampage in Washington D.C. as Cross also tracks a serial killer in Europe named Mr. Smith.
Review:
The return of Gary Soneji. Again, not his best but typical of Patterson fare.
Rank: (B)- Good
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| Purchased: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 480 pages
ISBN: 0375408541
Summary: A high-profile killing with the suspect being a British diplomat (complete with immunity) intersects with the serial Jane Doe killer.
Review:
Creepy new villain makes for a good yarn. Not his best but pretty good.
Rank: (B)- Good
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 400 pages
ISBN: 0446605484
Summary: A serial bank robber, the Mastermind, responsible for numerous killings soon hits close to home for detective Alex Cross.
Review:
Good twist at the end! A new serial killer is brought to bear, someone Cross thought he knew well...
Rank: (B)- Very Good, addictive read
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 416 pages
ISBN: 9780446611213
Summary: Picking up where Roses Are Red left off, Alex Cross aims to track down the Mastermind who killed his FBI agent girlfriend.
Review:
Lukewarm read, since the killer’s identity is known from the end of Roses Are Red. You can predict the rest easily.
Rank: (C)- Only read if you need finality from Roses Are Red.
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 416 pages
ISBN: 9780446613262
Summary: About to retire, Alex Cross agrees to support a friend of Sampson's on death row who is being framed by three cohorts and former Army vets who all served together in the Vietnam War.
Review:
Less than original. Many lulls in the writing.
Rank: (C)- Just Okay
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 416 pages
ISBN: 0755300211
Summary: Alex Cross’ first assignment as a newly appointed FBI agent is a Russian mobster named The Wolf who abducts people for human trade.
Review:
An eerie read with the coldest villain Patterson has ever written. Despite the mixed reviews, I think this is worth a read. One caveat: this could be the peak of Patterson's writing, making it all downhill from here.
Rank: (B)- Very Good
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 416 pages
ISBN: 9780446613354
Summary: In a sequel to The Big Bad Wolf, the Russian mobster threatens terrorism in 3 major European cities and may possibly be associated with a former serial killer, the Weasel.
Review:
Forgettable, one of Patterson’s worst. This actually turned me off reading more Patterson for a while.
Rank: (D)- Don't bother
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 448 pages
ISBN: 031615976X
Summary: The murder of a Hollywood actress leads to an investigation into a serial killer nicknamed Mary Smith.
Review:
Improves from the last Cross novel. The potential for a female serial killer is rare and intriguing.
Rank: (B)- Good
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 400 pages
ISBN: 9788466642965
Summary: Alex Cross finally has the chance to nab his wife’s killer but first he investigates a series of rape-murders as the Butcher seeks vengeance on a young Italian mob boss.
Review:
Returns to form with a highly personal case that readers have spent the entire series wondering about.
Rank: (B)- Very Good
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 400 pages
ISBN: 9780739492185
Summary: An African killer, the Tiger, murders an author and former flame of Alex Cross, leading him to the Sudan, in a chronologically separate Cross novel.
Review:
Very weakly written and overly gruesome, even by Patteron’s standards.
Rank: (D)- Don't waste your time
The series continues, but I have not read the following titles:
Double Cross (2007)--comes between Cross and Cross Country--I may have read this but not sure
Alex Cross’s Trial (2009)
I, Alex Cross (2009)
Cross Fire (to be released in Nov. 2010)
Women's Murder Club series
A group of friends in San Francisco, including a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an attorney, and a newspaper reporter, pool their resources and bright minds to solve murders.
Adapted into a single-season TV series.
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 462 pages
ISBN: 978044661003
Summary: The Women’s Murder Club investigates a serial killer responsible for stalking and murdering newlyweds in what is called the Honeymoon Murders.
Review:
A crackling start to another series! Adapted into a TV movie.
Rank: (A)- A real page-turner!
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 432 pages
ISBN: 0446612790
Summary: The murders of a young girl and an elderly woman lead to a prison gang Chimera, involving an ex-cop and his son.
Review:
Satisfactory follow-up to the initial book in the series.
Rank: (B)- Good, Recommend
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 368 pages
ISBN: 9780446614832
Summary: A bombed house leads to an investigation of the August Spies who pledge to commit a murder every 3 days, leading to the death of a WMC member.
Review:
A return to form. Highly engaging!
Rank: (A)- Very Good, Recommend
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 400 pages
ISBN: 9780446179669
Summary: On leave during an investigation following a wrongful death lawsuit, Lindsay privately looks into a series of murders by a vigilante group.
Review:
A decent read and the first Patterson book with a co-author, whose contributions are apparent in some parts of the novel, which bogs it down some.
Rank: (B)- Good, Recommend
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 464 pages
ISBN: 9780446618199
Summary: The WMC, accompanied by a new member, investigate a series of odd deaths in which recuperating hospital patients about to be released suddenly die of asphyxiation.
Review:
Interesting concept & great lead-up, but falls flat & ends predictably.
Rank: (C)- Just Okay
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 416 pages
ISBN: 9780446198950
Summary: As a member of the WTC recovers from an attack, Lindsay and her new partner investigate a serial kidnapper abducting children & their nannies.
Review:
The worst of the series. A clunker.
Rank: (D)- Disappointing
The series continues, but I have not read the following titles:
7th Heaven (2008)- I may have read this but can’t remember enough of it to review
8th Confession (2009)
9th Judgment (2010)
10th Anniversary (to be released in 2011)
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 416 pages
ISBN: 0316693324
Genre: Suspense/Sci-Fi
Summary: A veterinarian living in the Colorado mountains is pursued by an FBI agent investigating a murder similar to the one that killed her husband and discovers a winged young girl who leads them to an inhumane experimental lab.
Review:
For a break from Patterson's typical suspense thrillers, delve into fascinating sci-fi territory about human experimentation that inspired his Maximum Ride series. A film adaptation has been announced for release in 2012.
Rank: (A)- Highly recommend
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| Purchase: Amazon | Chapters |
Length: 376 pages
ISBN: 0316603287
Summary: In a sequel to When the Wind Blows, the “bird children,” frazzled by their normalized life replete with public attention, fight a ruthless doctor killing people to harvest organs for the rich and famous
Review:
Good, though not as effective as its predecessor. Not to be confused with the Sandra Bullock-Keanu Reeves movie…which I have seen, BTW :o)
Rank: (B)- Good
This is an incredibly helpful list. I've read about half of the ones you've listed and agree with your thoughts. I got pretty burned out on Patterson, but the Alex Cross character always interested me.
ReplyDeleteOMG, great list. I would like to read a James Patterson for my thousand books. Along Came a Spider will be it then! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, ladies :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I could narrow down the best of James Patterson. Look for a similar post for John Grisham coming soon!