Not the best Alex Cross
920831
It is like 2 short stories tied together by Christmas (the only common thread). The story is not the typical Alex Cross novel. It really appeared like Patterson was rushing the book for publication.
1374584
The Good: The 9th Judgment was definitely twisted, with the execution-style killing of infants. There were a few very good, oh-no moments, especially towards the end of the book. An easy read in typical James Patterson style, short, quick and to the point.

The Bad: The whole Lindsay coming to terms with her relationship with Joe and Rich's relationship with Cindy is pretty ridiculous. She's obviously certain of her love for Joe. It just makes no sense that she would ever begrudge Rich and Cindy having a relationship of their own.
2080360
I have enjoyed all of James Patterson's books but have to admit the Alex Cross series are my favorite.  I was a little disappointed with this book.  The Alex Cross we have read over the years would never have acted so irresponsibly the way he did in this book.  He's a shrink besides being a crime fighter ... he usually thinks out every clue, move, etc and analyzes any given situation.  He never would have left the country without making sure his family was safe or at least once he was in Africa and experienced and saw all the violence and knew he was being targeted he would have made sure his family back home was safe. Patterson lost me after the second broken nose but surely after he dislocated his shoulder...come on, no one could experience the violence his body was exposed to never mind the kidnappings.  I do hope though that the end of this book will bring about more on the evil Kyle Craig.  Mr. Patterson has peeked my interest but he has been doing this in several other books by bringing in a phone call from Kyle, but it appears that Kyle is definely on the loose...
4056479
At one time, James Patterson was one of the most popular writers around and his Alex Cross novels were big sellers because people liked Dr. Cross and Patterson had a gift for character development and story lines that hooked readers from the first page and didn't let go. However, Patterson's last several books have been very disappointing and this tale of a gold-digging black widow who poisons her men, then cleans out their bank accounts by wiring the funds to her offshore accounts is just plain ludicrous. The hero is a compromised FBI agent, the murderess is a psychopath with no conscience, and Patterson makes his novel more complicated than it needs to be. This book began well but Patterson got a little too cute for his own good and spoiled what could have been a diverting work of fiction. He should take a break from writing and reassess a career that seems mired in mediocrity.
4280615
A lot of loose ends abound, such as why the innocent victims were selected, how the master minds operated from solitary confinement in prison, and how all the evidence was fabricated
Since I gave four stars to the first three books in the Alex Cross series, I wonder if Patterson really wrote this book. This plot was simplistic, unbelievable and too pat.

I have complained about all the white space in each of the eight books by Patterson that I have read, so I will just say that C. H Mitchum (Chelmsford, MA USA) posted a review on January 27, 2003 that captures my sentiments exactly.
894508
This was not one of James Patterson's best work.  Story was vintage Alex Cross but the plot was a little too over the top even for me.  Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book but it just wasn't one of his best.  Would I recommend the book, yes if you are a fan of Patterson's.  Even you aren't familiar with his work, I would probably advise to find another author.  As I said if you are familiar with the author, please read but a first timer may well be put off his other works and that would be a shame.
1372200
Anyone looking for a decent intelligence-agent thriller should check out some of Brad Thor's books, but I'm not sure this would be his best. I think Lions of Lucerne was better. The ideas were solid, but not overally original, and it's hard not to get the feeling that a lot of the action is loaded with political messages shoved down reader's throats.
3104703
A Patterson fan from way back, I must admit to some disappointment in this novel.  The characters evoke the Patterson characters of old only to a degree.  There is something missing.  The plot is equally intriguing, involved, and exotic; but, the resolution just does not meet his usually high standards.  The evolution of the plot is at times boring and the description  wanting.  I was disappointed but I am going to give him another chance.
1696807
Not on the same level as  patterson's other work. I found it remarkably hard to stay involved. The characters were lacking in depth
4466695
It seems as if James Patterson is losing it.  What made the Alex Cross Novels good isn't in this one at all.  Patterson has ultimately made the same mistake with this book that he has made with "The Big Bad Wolf" and "Violets Are Blue".  The plot is mediocre, the characters unbelievable and an all around boring read that doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat.

The book begins when the small town of Sunrise Valley, Nevada is evacuated due to a "terrorist" threat.  When the entire town is evacuated a bomb goes off and the entire town of Sunrise Valley is blown away.  In the midst of the blast, Colonial Geoffrey Shafer, better known as the Weasel, (featured in POP GOES THE WEASEL) is seen filming the blast.  The brutal Russian killer known as the Wolf admits to being behind the crime and says there will be more bombings if he isn't paid a sum of money totaling over 2 Billion.  There's only one man who can stop the Wolf and the Weasel from causing more "terrorist" acts. If you guessed Alex Cross, you're right.

The plot is perhaps where the book first starts to fall.  A "terrorist" threat isn't such a bad idea, but if I wanted to hear a story about a terrorist threat I'd turn on CNN.  The book also doesn't go into reasons why it was blown off the map other than to strike fear into America.

I'm not too impressed with this particular Alex Cross novel.  Patterson has, as I said, made the same mistakes all over again.  For one, the Wolf continues Patterson's "super villian" trend.  It's nice to have a ruthless villian, but he should still be a believable villian.  The Wolf is unbelievable.  Patterson used to have a way with making up Villians that we "love to hate", like Gary Soneji (Along Came a Spider).  Well, I don't "love to hate" the Wolf, I just plain hate him.

The Wolf isn't the only character unblievable character.  Alex Cross has gone from being the logical detective to being James Bond and a one man army.  Alex Cross is a smart character, but Patterson has now made him too perfect to be the same Alex Cross I admired in "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls".  It's even come down to the point where Alex just knows.  There's no reason why he knows, he just does. The book fails to explain anything.

There's more to the character flaws in this novel.  Motive.  Besides money, what is the Wolf's motive?  What reason does he have for blowing Sunrise Valley off the map? Is simply to strike fear?

Finally, Patterson seems to go TOO fast near the end.  It's as if he saying to himself "I've gone far enough, I have to end it soon." and so the ending turns out to be rushed and lacking detail.

There are better novels to get than this.  The first six Alex Cross Novels are books to remember.  Alex Cross is a washed up character now, and Patterson is only bringing him down further by presenting more in the series like this.  Look for a better thriller and all around better book.
3266474
Mr. Patterson's Alex Cross novels are wonderful, fast paced and exciting.  So when "Hide and Seek" came out I expected more of the same, I was sadly mistaken.  Thus I purchased "Cradle and All" with  reservation when realizing Alex would not make an appearance.
I was  expectedly disappointed with this book.  I don't care for teen  horror/scream films, which this felt the literary equivalent to. No real  surprises and  no unforseen plot twists. Although I only spent 1 day  reading this book it felt like a waste of my time.
Unfortunately I will  no longer purchase a James Patterson novel unless it has Detective Cross in  it.  Too many books, too little time to waste on novels such as  "Cradle and All".
716522
I have read almost every Alex Cross  series  and I have  enjoyed  everyone  but to tell the truth this one  has missed the mark. It seemed long and the thrill was lacking.  Maybe I have missed something .
1117075
This is by far the poorest Alex Cross thriller I have read.  It is one long chase of the unbelievably murderous Tiger. Alex Cross blunders along without any planning or thought and with no concern about "collateral damage" to those he involves.  He himself always miraculously gets out of the situations he stupidly gets himself into. Neither does it ever cross his mind to take steps to protect his own family; not that they appear much in the story.  Mama Nana and his children make only cameo appearances. I really miss them and their wonderful repartee.  This is not the smart, astute, quick-witted Alec Cross I have come to know.  It appears that James Patterson is just churning these stories out now (I assume he wrote it as there is no "with"...) and living on his reputation.  I do not recommend it.
3505181
I love the Cross series, however I cannot recommend this book to anybody. I can understand why Mr. Patterson want to tell us those terrible things in Africa, but I fail to grasp the way he use Alex in this book. Alex acts recklessly, put everybody close to him in danger, and totally forget his family and loved ones in a strange land that he has no business with. Alex is way out of characters in Cross Country in my humble opinion.
1940152
I strongly agree with "Reader from W. Brookfield, MA:  This was not the James Patternson we know and love so well. I thought the book started well but then is was like a 12 year old wrote it. This man cannot write in  the first person!!!!! Stick with Alex Cross stories. I really think I liked  Midbight Club the best of all his books but the next few were good. I also  buy Patterson's books the minute the come out. I read the dust jacket and  if it isn't too off the subjects that I would be interested in, I buy it. I  had until now.
1307495
Like other reviewers, I have been an Alex Cross fan since I read Along Came A Spider.  Maybe a better title for this book would be "Along Came A Stinker".
This is not a very enjoyable book.  The plot has been done over and over (by better authors Baldacci?) and the action is pretty mild.  The scenes with Alex in
his home are actually some of the better parts of the story.  The character development is almost non-existent, possibly because there are literally DOZENS of
one-shot characters thrown in to show that there are hundreds and hundreds of people working on the missing children's case.  But perhaps the most confusing and
frustrating part of the book is the subplot concerning the terrorists from Al Ayla.  This seems to have been thrown into the book to stretch the story into 400 plus
pages, in much the same manner as oatmeal is sometimes used to make meatloaf.  This sub-plot goes nowhere and does nothing to enhance the story. All in all, this is
one of the poorer efforts in the Alex Cross series.  Hopefully, the next one will be much, much better.  It couldn't be a whole lot worse.
3675525
James Patterson lost steam halfway through this latest edition of the Alex Cross series. After waiting almost two years to see what would happen when Gary Soneji finally caught up to Cross, I was sorely disappointed by the seeminly simplistic way that his character was finally knocked off. Although I must admit I was at the edge of my seat until that fateful moment in the New York subway station, I really felt like I was reading another shlocky script for Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone. The character development for Mr. Smith/Mr. Pierce seemed to be very shallow. Although the idea of a new killer who did not fit any of the bureau's established profile for serial killers, seemed to be a case written for Dr. Cross. The fact that he was thrown in the same tale where Cross and Soneji duel to the end, seemed to cheapen both tales. A tip to Patterson, stick to what made the other books work, one tightly woven tale that is well-thought out and the characters are deeply drawn. I really  felt like I was reading an outline for a good book that never got written. I'm still a fan, but am hoping for better from the next edition of the Dr. Cross series.