I was shocked with the position Alex was put in, and I really felt bad for him for once. Most of what he encounters is by his own choice because he just can't seem to say no. This time he could not say no and I really felt bad for the position he was in.It is strange that I started reading the Alex Cross series in August and I did not own this one. I didn't even know it existed until my husband brought it home from the library. He said "Here is the new Cross book." Which it was not...but it was the next one in the series, and I own all of them...and it was next in order that I needed to read.....just before Christmas! How does that happen? I am glad it did though! LOL Right. Here it goes. For a while now I have been wondering if James Patterson writes books in his sleep and I think I finally got the answer. Recycling. Merry Xmas Alex Cross is a book of two halves. In the first part Henry Fowler a brilliant lawyer turned psychopath holds his ex wife, her new husband and the kids hostage. In the second part, nothing to do with the first part, there is a terrorist attack in DC. Not long ago I read the first of the Michael Bennett books, Step On A Crack, in which some deranged guy holds a bunch of A-Listers hostage in a church. I am sure in some other Patterson book there is another terrorist attack. I may be wrong. Having all the Michael Bennett books means I don't read Alex Cross. Same stories only the name have been changed. This book was given to me by two dear friends last Xmas and I thought this was a good time to read it. The last Patterson book I read before this one was Beach Road, and I wasn't impress with that one either. Which leaves the question. Do I continue to invest on James Patterson or just read what I've got and be done with it.The other problem I have with Patterson is the annoying trend of putting the names of his co-authors in a much lighter shade on the cover of his books so that James Patterson can be seen from a hundred yards away while you need a good pair of glasses to see Peter de Jonge, Maxine Petro or Andrew Gross.James, if you're reading this, an explanation please.
Alex Cross's family are desparate for him to be home to spend Christmas with them but on Christmas Eve he is abruptly called away to a hostage situation. A distraught bankrupt business is holding his ex-wife and children, her new husband and a neighbour at gunpoint and with nothing left to lose the situation is fraught with danger. Washington is suffering a blizzard making conditions cold and difficult as Alex and the police settle in for a long surveillance.Finally after the siege ended, Alex stumbled home exhausted to snatch a few hours sleep and spend the rest of Christmas with his family, only to be called out to an even more dangerous situation with an infamous terrorist spotted at Union Station. Plenty of action ensues as Alex tries to foil her plans. Both stories felt somewhat rushed and maybe sticking to a single situation would have led to a more satisfying read than trying to fit two plots into what is a fairly short book.3.5★
—Sawyer
PublisherBlackstone Audio, Inc.OverDrive MP3 AudiobookFile size:171991 KBNumber of parts:6Duration:6 hours, 6 minutesISBN:9781619695573Release date:Dec 25, 2012 I liked this book -- well, the first half. Second half, not so much. I suggest readers quit when the cell phone rings after the Christmas Day is over and forget the rest of the book unless you are already an Alex Cross diehard fan. This was my introduction to Cross and probably my last foray into the series. **sigh**
—Xdavidpwns
I usually love the Alex Cross books.... This one was pretty awful.
—tmnt
great love nanna-mama
—italia96
