Jack and Jill by James Patterson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK / Buy on Bookshop

About Jack and Jill

Author: James Patterson
Publication Date: September 1996
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Pages: 512

Summary

By now, Alex Cross is a respected detective, taking down some of the most deranged psychopaths in the country, including Gary Soneji and Cassanova. He’s somewhat of a celebrity in Washington D.C. But when a child’s body is found outside the Sojourner Truth School, it’s clear that a child killer is striking a little too close to home. This case becomes personal to Cross because he can imagine the child being one of his own. His son also attends the very same school.

Meanwhile, a male and female duo calling themselves Jack and Jill take out a States Senator and videotape it. Cross is asked by the commissioner and the Chief of Detectives to work on the high-profile Jack and Jill case, but he is reluctant, stating that he has a connection with the Truth School killing and wishes to solve it instead. In the end, Alex Cross has no choice but to leave the Truth School Killer case behind and focus on the Jack and Jill murders. This leads cross to call upon his detective friends to secretly work on the Truth School Murders.

My Thoughts

Jack and Jill turns the Alex Cross series up a notch by introducing political elements. At only three books into the series, Alex Cross is already in the White House on a detail to protect the president. It’s incredible to see this growth for Cross, because he’s now a celebrity in his city after taking down a number of high-profile criminals. But it does make me wonder just how much further his merits will take him throughout this lengthy series.

As with many Patterson books, Jack and Jill‘s plot and structure are butter smooth. I would even go as far as to say that the pacing is the best out of the first three books. Even back in 1996, James Patterson was an industry leader with page-tuners.

This book provides a thrilling reading experience that reaches a high-peaking moment. An argument can be made that the comedown from this peak is a little too steep. The first half of this book is a rollercoaster ride full of moments, as Jack and Jill contend with the Truth School Killer for the number one threat in the country. This sinister competition is one-sided, as the Jack and Jill killers clearly have their own unique motives. But the Truth School Killer wants his work sensationalized. He makes it clear that he’s after notoriety, and that Jack and Jill are stealing his spotlight.

The book reaches its peak when Jack and Jill take out their biggest target. The big kill they’ve been planning all along. It’s an incredibly written segment that really puts you in the moment, allowing you to visualize the chaos that would ensue. It’s a moment in the story that is so standout, that the book can never match that level of intensity again. Not even with the reveal of who Jack and Jill really are.

One thing James Patterson does well is giving you a glimpse into the minds of the killer. As with the previous Alex Cross books, the chapters told from Cross’ point of view are all in first-person. But there are also chapters from the perspective of other characters that are told in the third-person. Perspective-switching like this is not a common tactic and it takes a brilliant writer to pull it off. In this case, switching does wonders for the storytelling. Gives us a clear view of the killer’s plans and motivations, followed by Alex Cross’ reactions to them. The chapters that are written from the perspective of the killers do a great job of not revealing too much, keeping the reader guessing the true identity of the killers.

In Kiss the Girls, it was revealed to the reader that book one antagonist Gary Soneji had broken out of prison and was back on the streets. This knowledge adds another dimension to Jack and Jill as we’re left wondering if the Truth School Killer is Gary Soneji. I won’t spoil the outcome, but I will say that Patterson is doing a wonderful job building an archnemesis to challenge Cross.

Alex Cross is respected as a character for the psychological understanding, and empathy he deploys in his detective work. And although we read these books to be put into the center of a criminal mystery, a book cannot go without giving us some thread of character development.

In Jack and Jill, we see Alex Cross get emotional when looking at the body of a murdered child. Imagining the body as one of his own children. We see him fight his police chief over his decision-making. We see him regard the president of the United States with the utmost respect. And we also see him in a moment of emotional vulnerability.

Since the murder of his wife—an event that happened before the beginning of the series—Cross has had a slew of failed relationships. In Along Came a Spider, he believed he was in love with Jezzie Flannigan and ended up getting double-crossed. In Kiss the Girls, he builds a strong bond with Kate McTiernan, but the two of them decide that they cannot be together. In Jack and Jill, Alex Cross develops a crush on the headmistress of the Sojourner Truth school. The very same school his son attends. Her name is Christine Johnson, and unfortunately for Cross, she’s a married woman.

In a moment of weakness, we see Alex Cross drop in on Christine Johnson at her home one lonely night. He does in fact have a valid reason to check-in on her, with a killer being on the loose around her school. And it’s through this random check-in that we see just how damaged Cross is. He knows there is something missing in his life, and he’s subconsciously aware that the murder of his wife is still a wound that hasn’t fully closed.

Cross handles himself with class in Christine Johnson’s home, but his longing for companionship and his attraction to Christine Johnson is made clear. And this scene comes back around full circle with some of the events that play out later in the story.

Patterson leaves us with enough interesting character development for us to be wondering about the future of our series protagonist.

Summary

Jack and Jill reaches a whole new level of intensity with its two concurrent murder mysteries. The cases are paced far better than in previous books, and the book features a moment that may be difficult to outdo in later books. We also get a look into the psyche of series protagonist Alex Cross, and a tease of things to come.

While Jack and Jill touches on political destabilization and the people who want to cripple a certain political party, I feel that because of everything else going on in this book, it only lightly touches its most interesting themes. This book made me want to see Patterson put his foot on the gas and go full speed into a political espionage thriller. Enough threads were left open in this book to lead me to believe that we’ll see these elements return to the series.

With this book, James Patterson proved once again why he became the leader of the fast-paced page-turner. I’ve you’ve read the first two books already, then you absolutely should read Jack and Jill.

Comments about this book

Because we had to rebuild this site, we lost some of our comments. But we felt it was only right to preserve the comments on this review because they were so great. Below are the comments left on this review from the previous version of the website.

Shelby James

I’ve read the series twice, even the shorts. I have to admit, the first books were much better than the latter. In fact, I didn’t read the last two. Though most of the series is good, I would say my favorite books are from Jack & Jill to Mary Mary. Cross Country was also one of my favorites but it didn’t come until later. Everything plays out perfectly in Jack & Jill. From the two murder mysteries to Alex’s relationships. The first time I read the series I was focused on the crime stories. The second time I read, I was more focused on Alex’s personal life and relationships.

I absolutely LOVE the love story between Alex and Christine. Thank you so much for mentioning it as it was a pivotal moment in Alex moving on with his life. The way Alex and Christine’s beginning came full circle was poetic. Patterson took his time developing their relationship over three books. They shared so much but especially the losses they experienced. I hated the way it ended and the way they tried to make her seem in the end. She was beautiful, confident, super intelligent, well educated, funny, she had her own family and vocation, and everyone loved her. It was like two full lives coming together. She had it going on and Alex was crazy about her. He won her over and they were crazy about each other. The rest of his relationships don’t come close. Not even with Bree, his current wife. They tore Christine’s character down and never gave her a rehabilitated arc. As a Black woman, I can’t help but take it a little personal. She had it going on too much and they had to cut her down. An action I see and experience way too often from society. She loves her son and we should hear more from her, if but no other reason. I would still like to see them treat her better and give her some kind of rehabilitation story. She’s my favorite relationship for him and his family. She even shared something very near and dear with Nana. I would say more but don’t want to spoil anything. Thank you again for bringing her up. A lot of critics gloss over ltheir relationship but it was awesome to realize the bud of their relationship and to see the way it grew from there!

–Gary Swaby replying to Shelby James

This is an excellent comment. Thank you! And yes, I felt it was very important to bring up those topics, especially being that these are relatable events in the black community. I can’t wait to read Mary Mary and Cross Country so I can see for myself why they’re some of your favourites.

—Shelby James replying to Gary Swaby

Thanks! Please let me know when you’ve completed reading them. I’d love to get your take!

Kiss the Girls by James Patterson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK

About Kiss the Girls

Author: James Patterson
Publication Date: 1995
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 464 paperback

Summary

When Alex Cross gets the news that his niece Naomi “Scootchie” Cross is missing, he goes down south to North Carolina to follow up on leads. During this time, the FBI and DEA inform him that eight girls have gone missing from different states. All of them received notes from someone calling himself Casanova.

Alex Cross must then investigate Casanova and his abduction ring, which he later finds out involves another man calling himself The Gentleman Caller. When Kate McTiernan—one of the abducted women—becomes the first to escape from Casanova’s lair, Cross gets his biggest lead yet. Can Alex Cross learn the identities of Casanova and The Gentleman Caller and save his niece Naomi?

My Thoughts

Reading Kiss the Girls taught me something about the first Alex Cross book. It showed me that although I enjoyed Along Came a Spider, and it was full of thrills, mystery, and intrigue…it actually wasn’t paced well. And I know this because the pacing in Kiss the Girls is significantly better. It manages to be a little longer than Along Came a Spider, but there were no real dry spots.

One of the tactics Patterson used to keep me invested in this story is shrouding the identities of The Gentleman Caller and Casanova in mystery. Throughout the book, these perverts prey on young, attractive women and abduct them. They lock them up in a harem and have their way with them. Drugging them to make them co-operate. But one thing that prevents Casanova and his companion from being discovered, even after Kate McTiernan escapes, is that they wear face masks.

These face masks become an interesting quirk for the bad guys, because these masks define their emotions and personalities at the time of wearing them. They wear them only at the harem, and they change these masks up to suit their mood; giving the girls a hint at what they’re in for each time they show up. But it’s these masks that allow the suspense to plausibly carry on all the way through the book. Without them, it would be difficult for Patterson to keep the identities of these men from the reader. And the desire to figure out who these men are, and see Cross finally take them down is what really carries this book.

If you pay close enough attention, it is possible to figure out who Casanova is before the end of the book. But, Patterson does an excellent job of feeding us red herrings to throw us off. Casanova didn’t end up being the person that I thought he was, but I was close.

Kiss the Girls features some returning characters who play an important part in the life of Alex Cross. This includes Nana Mama and Cross’ children. And also, Cross’ partner in Washington D.C, Sampson. But Cross gains an important companion when Kate McTiernan escapes from Casanova’s lair. Not only does she become a big part of the investigation, but she also keeps Cross in check.

Kate McTiernan is a strong-willed woman. She manages to escape after putting her karate skills to use and attacking Casanova. She runs for her life after this, and comes very close to losing it. Cross and Kate get close in this book, because true to Cross’ therapy background, he treats Kate as more than just an asset to the investigation. However, the end result of this companionship might not be what you think. Patterson handles the situation very respectfully.

Kiss the Girls gives us a classic cat and mouse investigation to enjoy. We’re presented some intense scenes where Cross either comes seconds away from blowing the case open, or comes entirely too close to flopping the it completely. And what makes the whole thing more suspenseful is that we never know exactly how much the criminals are privy to. We often get the feeling that they know exactly what’s going on with the investigation and that they’re toying with Cross and the other agents.

Towards the end of the book, Patterson throws in some curve-balls that no-doubt set up future conflict in this series. An old friend of Cross’ escapes from prison. And at the very end of the book, Cross is informed of a new murder, which presumably leads right into book 3 of this series.

Verdict

Kiss the Girls gives reader two slimy antagonists that they’ll want to see fall. Often in these detective stories, the antagonist does such a great job stringing along the detectives that to some degree we don’t want to see their fall. Kiss the Girls instead hooks us by getting us invested in the downfall of the antagonists. It’s a tactic that Patterson dangles in front of our faces all the way through, by making them more unlikable in every scene.

If sexual abuse is a trigger point, then you’ll want to steer clear of this book. But for those who want a dark but well-paced detective novel with a unique protagonist, then Kiss the Girls is ten times more engrossing than the first book in this series. And Along Came a Spider was a solid book in its own right. The ending has me highly anticipating book 3 in this series. My goal is now to read every Alex Cross book.

Check out my review of book #3 Jack and Jill right here!

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK

About Along Came a Spider

Author: James Patterson
Publication Date: 1993
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 435 paperback

Summary

Alex Cross is a homicide detective with a PhD in psychology. When some deranged killer begins murdering and mutilating victims in the projects, Alex Cross and his partner are keen to find the killers. But when a couple of high-profile students are kidnapped from a school, Alex and his partner, Sampson, are taken off the project murders and put on the kidnapping case. Initially, Cross is unhappy about this, because no one ever cares about victims in the projects. But Cross soon learns that there is a close link between these two cases.

While investigating the kidnappings, Cross finds himself at the heart of the situation. And a romantic interest proves to be more interesting than Cross could ever imagine.

My Thoughts

Detective series’ often have a cheat code. That’s because these types of novels don’t necessarily need a detective that’s an interesting character. Often, it’s the mystery they’re trying to solve that’s the heart of each book. But in Along Came a Spider, James Patterson actually made me care about the life of Alex Cross.

Cross lives a humble life as a homicide detective. He lives with his children, and his grandmother, which he calls Nana Mama because she played the role of both his mother and grandmother in his life. Alex Cross also likes to unwind by playing Jazz songs on his piano, on his porch where everyone can hear him.

At the start of the book, we’re quickly told that Alex Cross is a widow. His wife was murdered, and we don’t receive too many details about this. We’re given enough about the murder to leave us anticipating a full revelation about this in a future book.

But what makes Cross a likable character is his balance of character. He’s your typical detective that’s able to shoot-the-shit with his colleagues, and to a degree, he’s loyal to the force. But he cares enough about his cases to seek out proper justice, even if it’s at the detriment of those on his side of the law. We also get to see Cross use his experience as a psychologist many times throughout the book. And in these scenes, we get to see his humility.

Another reason Cross is so likable is because of the situations he’s forced to overcome in the story. Alex Cross is taken off of a project murder case and forced to investigate a case involving two kidnapped children, who happen to be the children of government officials. Initially, Cross is pissed that so little concern is shown for the people who are made victims in the projects. But despite his distaste, he still shows concern for the lives of the kidnapped children.

As the reader, we get a look at the perspective of the kidnapper, who goes by two identities. Gary Murphy and Gary Soneji. Seeing the culprit’s side of the crime intensifies the suspense we feel as Alex Cross comes closer to the truth. He soon learns that there is a connection between the project murders and the kidnapping case.

Because the case involves such high-profile victims, there are secret service agents involved in the investigation also, and Alex Cross happens to get romantically involved with one of these agents. Her name is Jezzie Flannigan.

Because the book takes place over the course of two years, it can seem like this relationship escalates quickly. That is until we’re reminded of the passage of time that has passed. Cross and Flannigan seemingly fall head-over-heels for one another. And because Cross is black and Jezzie Flannigan is a blonde white woman, we’re reminded a number of times of the racial implications of their relationship. For a book written in the early 90s, these moments feel plausible. But one of these moments is sure to raise some eyebrows.

Because James Patterson is a white male author, it raises some questions about how authentic his depiction of a black detective could possibly be. But if I’m honest, Patterson did a better job than expected. Alex Cross comes across as a regular person and not a caricature. My only gripe is that when Patterson writes characters from the projects, the use of ebonics he portrays is laughable. Ebonics tweaks and adds flavor to the English language, but Patterson has one character from the projects sounding like a foreigner who can barely speak English. Because Alex Cross himself speaks normally, this issue can be overlooked. The character in question only appears a couple of times.

A signature of James Patterson’s books is the short chapters, quick pacing, and deep suspense. Along Came a Spider is Patterson at his best. The story will draw you in quickly and hold your attention the whole way through. Patterson does a phenomenal job of building up tension, and because of how short the chapters are, I always feel like I have time for one more. With every breakthrough Alex Cross makes in his investigations, you always get the feeling that there is something deeper at play.

No moment in the story goes to waste. There are times in this book where it feels like two stories are unrelated, but then they all end up tieing together. There is a major twist later in the book that you may see coming if you’re paying close enough attention. It’s one of those twists that allow the reader to catch on by weighing up all of the facts, but it could also go completely over your head and shock you.

Verdict

I went into this book not knowing what to expect. I’d heard that this was a long-running series by James Patterson and that there are multiple movies based on the detective Alex Cross, but I didn’t think I would enjoy the book as much as I did. And now I have set myself the goal of reading all 30 books in the series. I also thought that the book may feel dated, being that it was written almost 30 years ago. Thankfully, the book holds up well.

If you want to lose yourself in a tense crime thriller, then I highly recommend Along Came a Spider.

Check out my review for book #2 Kiss the Girls right here!

Despite the public jabs the two authors have thrown at one another, the situation is likely not as serious as fans would like to believe. But the question lingers, is there any truth to King’s claim that James Patterson is a terrible writer? This is a question I’ve thought about quite deeply, and it’s one I aim to explore further.

As with any form of art, writing is subjective. Much of this debate comes down to what you perceive to be “good writing.” Stephen King and James Patterson respectively are the perfect contrast of what many would feel is the difference between good writing and average writing. Stephen King is clearly a writer who has spent years draining the ink from his pens while perfecting his craft. To the point that his works were often groundbreaking. On the other hand, James Patterson’s strength lies in figuring out the right formula for success, and not necessarily being a craft wizard.

A strong parallel of this argument comes to mind as a rap music fan. Those of us who are embedded deeply into the hip-hop culture—enough to look past the mainstream representation of the art that is force-fed to the world—know that rap battles have long been an important part of the culture. Back in the 90s and early 00s, a rapper who has reached the heights of success would often end up in a verbal war of words against a lower-tier rapper, who is often more lyrically gifted than the mainstream rapper. But the battle would still be even despite the clear difference in skill.

This is because, while the lower-tier rapper has the hunger to master his craft, the mainstream rapper has simply figured out the keys to success. They are strong enough lyrically to garner a fanbase. Maybe their simpler form of rapping sounds smoother on the beat than the lower-tier rapper’s multi-syllable rapping which is harder for a mass audience to catch.

In one of the more high-profile rap battles, we saw two Hip Hop titans going back and forth. Jay-z versus Nas might be the closest parallel to this Stephen King and James Patterson discussion. Both rappers were at their peak when they released diss songs towards one another, but fanbases were split. The consensus is that Nas won the battle and Jay-z won the war. Hip Hop purists often praise Nas as the better lyricist of the two, while Jay-z’s success and mass appeal trump Nas’.

This is how I look at the Stephen King and James Patterson debacle. Patterson isn’t as gifted at the skill of writing as King is, but he is able to capture a larger (and more general) audience. King has mastered the art of writing, while Patterson has mastered the art of publishing.

Patterson has produced over 150 books. He has made it to the Guinness Book of World records for the highest number of hardcover best-selling books. And while he doesn’t write all of them in full, his comprehensive outlining is what brings these books to fruition. In Patterson’s Masterclass, he shows that his outlines are designed in a way that the story is already there, it’s already written. The co-writer adds meat and seasoning. And this mini-economy that Patterson has established, allows for new, talented writers to make a name for themselves. This in itself is an extraordinary achievement.

But what if we take away Patterson’s publishing accomplishments and focus entirely on writing?

Stephen King – On Writing / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK

Stephen King has an entire memoir on writing. This book makes his high standards of writing abundantly clear. “I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs,” King wrote in his book. That quote alone makes King’s passion for the art of literature apparent. And to his credit, from the moment you open that first page of a King novel, he’s able to hook you in an alluring fashion. Opening lines like: “Almost everyone thought the man and the boy were father and son,” will immediately pull you further into the story he wants to tell you. A King novel is often a masterclass on writing.

On the other hand, James Patterson’s books won’t sweep you away with wonderful phrasing and descriptions. Sometimes, I even notice Patterson breaking the very rules that I’ve had to learn myself. But what many of Patterson’s books accomplish, is hooking you into a fast-paced storytelling experience that will have you flying through the pages. This is something that not every writer pulls off. It’s a talent in itself. And for many readers, this is all they could ask for.

James Patterson by James Patterson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK

Both writers are able to achieve a level of escapism with different methods of getting you there. James Patterson’s short paragraphs, exaggerated scenes, and movie-like characterization is still considered quality writing, so long as it captivates readers.

I’m not here to flare up an old clash of two successful writers in an attempt to make a statement. My intention here is to have us all think deeper about what good writing means to us. I’ve witnessed many writers be classed as bad, despite the fact they are able to capture a significant audience. One thing I pride myself on is being able to appreciate when a writer has excellent technique, while also appreciating when a writer is able to catch my attention with a minimalistic skillset. Many consider Brandon Sanderson’s style to be blander than the more prose-heavy fantasy books on the market, yet, Sanderson’s other strengths are so potent that his “basic prose” isn’t remotely a concern to his fanbase.

There are many aspects that make up “great writing”, and allowing the reader to escape from reality is one of them. I’ve read far more Stephen King books than Patterson ones in my lifetime, but I’ve read enough Patterson to know that his talent shouldn’t be undermined.

-This is an opinion piece. Please share your thoughts on the topic below. We welcome all voices and opinions.

As this website was rebuilt, we have decided to include some of the excellent comments from the previous version of the website in this article. The following is some of the comments we received on this article in the past.

Ryan Thompson

I have read several James Patterson books, mostly in the Alex Cross series. When it’s good Patterson creates an fast paced, entertaining story with a predictable yet familiar protagonist. However, his stories are very much the same, like the characters of a long running TV show with a self-contained plot that’s usually wrapped up at the end. I have trouble telling one Alex Cross book from another.

–GaryASwaby – Replying to Ryan Thompson

I have finished two Alex Cross books so far, and currently reading the 3rd. So far I’m really loving them. But I can definitely see how the formula may get repetitive over the span of the series. I’m wondering how he’s gonna be able to keep it fresh with over 30 books. I suppose what he gains in fast-paced storytelling, he loses in originality and creativity.

Shelby James

As someone that has read all except the last two, I can confirm that they do get a bit repetitive. I believe JP just got lazy. Not to beat a dead horse but I believe this is one of the primary reasons Alex married Bree, instead of Christine. Bree had no life of her own and everything was tied to Alex, literally everything. She had no family, no friends of her own, no job of her own, nothing. I think it was simply easier for JP to write everything about their lives together as oppose to them having separate arcs that somehow came together from time to time. Again, I think it was lazy writing. Christine was just the opposite and had they ended up together, he would have been forced to be more creative and less redundant. He tried to fix it later and take Bree away from the police department but by then, it was too late. Besides, they still ended up working the same exact things. Overall, the books aren’t bad reads. They can be a bit repetitive though.

Other than the redundancy, I don’t think he adds enough Black culture to the characters and their lives. You would think he would hire an African American Black consultant. NanaMamma cooks everything EXCEPT soul food. Alex plays Gershwin and Bach and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, would be nice for him to also play Dizzy, Fats Domino or Joe Sample more often. The likelihood of Nana being born and raised in DC and not a part of The Great Migration, migrating from the Deep South is improbable. Her being Catholic, at her age, and not Baptist is also unlikely. Sure, there’s a lot of Black Catholics now but considering her age, the era she grew up in, and the fact that she should be from the Deep South, she lacks Black culture. I observed more non-culture practices but those are just a few.

I know I talk way too much LOL. It’s just nice to have someone to chat with about the series. Most people I know only read one or two books or haven’t read any. Thanks for reading!

–Gary Swaby – Replying to Shelby James

You’re absolutely right about the lack of Black American culture in the books. Also, I remember thinking a couple of times that the slang terms JP had characters use seemed a little inauthentic lol.

Have you watched the Alex Cross show on Amazon Prime? I’m wondering if that has better representation for black culture. Maybe I will try and check it out.

—Shelby James – Replying to Gary Swaby

So much of a lack of Black American culture that at times I thought of “Black face.” Like is this dude really Black?! Lol. Exactly, inauthentic language at times as well Lol!

Yes, I watched the series. However, before I offer my opinion, let me just say that my opinion is completely biased based on reading the books. My sister and one of my friends actually thought it was good. Take away the fact that I read the books and I may have liked it better as well.

Let me also say that the one thing I do think they finally got right was the casting. I realize Alex is supposed to look like Muhammad Ali in the book, but I’ve always pictured him more like Aldis. Dark smooth and sexy (sorry, that’s a female thing LOL!) I don’t care for Morgan and Tyler at all though. They did a good job with Sampson as well, although HE is suppose to be the “dark” one LOL

Having said that, it is absolutely NOTHING like the book. They made up a completely different story. The series is based on “Cross” the book that provided the back story about Maria, his wife, and how she died. Since you haven’t watched, I won’t go into too much detail. However, the only thing they kept were their names. The entire plot was totally created differently. This woman and her children were not in any of the books. Maria was killed by a rapist, that did not happen at all in the show. She died in Alex’s arms, he was with her when she was shot, didn’t happen. Maria wasn’t a singer, Christine was the only woman he heard singing. Damon played the piano, didn’t happen in any of the books. They said Alex’s mother died of drugs, she died of cancer (stereotype much?!). Elle, his girlfriend, was just a passing fling. Nothing serious at all. The way she was all crazy in love for him, when he was still deeply mourning for his wife and not into her, was just cringe. (Btw, the mourning bit was over the top imo. I felt they were really trying to tug on the audience’s heart strings but struck more of my nerves Instead LOL.) They should have just had Elle and Alex meeting and becoming friends. The real kicker, for me, was that Ali, little Alex, wasn’t in the show. I love Ali, I’ve even read his separate kids books LOL. He had custody of Ali by the time “Cross” was written. That’s all I will say for now. I don’t want to give too much away.

My advice, if you haven’t read that book yet, is to watch the series first. I think you will enjoy it much better.

—-Gary Swaby – Replying to Shelby James

The way you’ve described the TV show makes me want to hold off on checking out the show. I think I’ll focus on reading through the rest of the book series first. The next one I have is Alex Cross #5 Pop Goes the Weasel. Cat & Mouse #4 ended on a cliffhanger involving one of your fav characters so I can’t wait to see the follow up on that.

I still need to review Cat & Mouse but I’ve been working on this website in the background. So i’ll probably save it for when the website is fully rebuilt.

—–Shelby James – Replying to Gary Swaby

OMG, so excited for you. You are definitely into my fav character and favorite books Can’t wait to get your take when you’re done. I almost feel like reread AGAIN LOL

I think you will still like the show but just completely forget about the book when you watch.

daveydudely

zomg yes,,,i read ONE book by him ages ago to check him out, and like ann rice he is absolutely terrible, it’s nice just to hear that other people also know it’s trash

–JJ Replying to daveydudely

I actually liked Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” but after that no so much.

JJ

Formula? Hack? Seems like every time I visit Costco I see a new Patterson book.

In a city full of high-rollers, NYPD Red is a taskforce dedicated to dealing with the problems of New York’s rich and famous. After his partner takes some time off due to an injury, protagonist Detective Zach Jordan is forced to partner up with ex-girlfriend Detective Kylie MacDonald.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of New York has welcomed A-List Hollywood stars to the city to host the first ever “Hollywood on the Hudson” event. This glamorous event kicks off to a rocky start however, as a Hollywood producer dies while eating breakfast at a crowded, upscale Manhattan restaurant. The detectives are assigned to investigate, and it becomes evident that the producer was poisoned. Shortly thereafter a high-profile star is mistakenly shot while filming a scene. It becomes clear that someone is out to make an example during Hollywood on the Hudson, and the Mayor won’t be too happy about it.

The premise of NYPD Red is strong, and it’s presented as though we’re in for a good mystery. However, early in the book, we’re introduced to the culprit (calling himself The Chameleon) and we begin to see and understand his motives. This eliminates any sense of mystery, but it does create some interesting and psychologically intense moments. It becomes clear that The Chameleon is bitter at his failed Hollywood career, and now he wants to create the perfect script based on his own actions.

At times NYPD Red can read like a cheesy police action show, but then at other times, there’s some brilliant dialogue that gives it that New York authenticity. New Yorkers are known to be blunt and outspoken, and this is portrayed well. They also do a great job name-dropping the streets where the action is taking place, which – for a New York lover like me – is great for looking up the scenes for some visualization.

The main detectives are developed well throughout, and the romantic history between them can leave you wondering if there will be tension between the two. Kylie’s husband becomes an active part of the case, sharing insight as someone who works in showbiz. Detective Zach Jordan also gains a new love interest of his own.

But, while the detectives are often a cliché, our antagonist The Chameleon steals the show in terms of character development. Though he commits acts nonchalantly, his aura of insanity and unpredictability adds a flair and intrigue to him. By no means is he an intelligent criminal, and rarely does he actually outsmart the detectives. Once our detectives are aware of who they’re after, it simply becomes a game of cat and mouse, but it’s exciting to see it play out with such an eccentric criminal.

NYPD Red concludes in a way that opens up the doors for many possibilities in the series, but it didn’t leave me eager to read the next one. I imagine I will someday when I need something laid back to read, but it didn’t leave me feeling like it should be a priority to continue.

If you’re the type of person who enjoys police-based drama like The Wire, The Shield, or CSI: New York then NYPD Red‘s fast-moving flow, mixed with its sharp and inappropriate police banter will give you everything you need. The chapters are short, allowing you to fly through the book in mere hours. Making it a perfect read for long journeys and commutes. If you like your fiction with a little more depth then perhaps you shouldn’t be reading a James Patterson book in the first place. James Patterson’s books are often described as Fast Food Fiction, but that’s not exactly a bad thing because who doesn’t enjoy a little McDonald’s every now and then?

Buy this book (UK)
Buy this book (US)