I, Alex Cross
By James Patterson
I told a friend who works at a
used book store in Houston that I had the new James Patterson novel to
review, and she asked, "The King Tut one?" I said
"no," it was the new one. "Oh, that Max series
book?" was her response. "No, the new Alex Cross novel,"
I told
her. "You mean the one about the
trial?" she asked. "No," I said to her, "the
one after that." She laughed and replied, "James
Patterson - the bane of used booksellers!"
To understand what she
means, one only needs to walk into a used bookstore, or ask a seller to
point you in the direction of the James Patterson sections.
Depending on what website you look at, he has had between 55 and
68 novels, graphic novels, and non-fiction books published since his
1976 award winning novel, The Thomas
Berryman Number.
It's estimated that one of
every fifteen hardback novels sold is penned by Patterson. Two of
his "Alex Cross" novels - 1997's Kiss
the Girls and 2001's Along Came a Spider -
have been made into films starring Morgan Freeman. There
was also a series based on his "Women's Murder Club"
collection of books, which aired on ABC between 2007 and 2008.
I, Alex
Cross proves a very, very nervous
novel that will make your skin crawl. Detective Alex Cross is not
only up against a ruthless killer - whose perverted sexual
gratification ends in death - he is up against those who protect the
killer and dispose of the bodies. Alex must track down this
ruthless killer called Zeus who has friends in high places and has
killed a member of Alex's family. As Detective Cross begins to
get closer to the truth - and the case begins to come together - he
must also cope with the reality that one of his own is slowly slipping
away.
Not since 2003's Big Bad Wolf has an Alex
Cross novel really gotten under my skin. And, not since Bret Easton
Ellis's megalomaniac killer Patrick Bateman, from 1991's American Psycho, has a
serial killer seemed as twisted and plausible as Patterson's Zeus. By
the time I got to the last page, I felt like I had been through hell
and back - and every second of it was a fantastic, albeit creepy, ride.
The audiobook offers a
hands-free way to enjoy the novel. Read by Tim Cain and Tony
Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris, the recording comes complete with
music, sound effects and creative characterizations.
Personally, Alex Cross will
always be Morgan Freeman, because of the two films and a voice as
recognizable as James Earl Jones. Still, the audiobook is and
entertaining and convenient way to get your Patterson fix while on the
go or while otherwise engaged.
Chilling and provocative, James
Patterson has created yet another antihero to add to his ever-expanding
body of work. At the rate he's going, Patterson is well on his
way to becoming one of the most prolific American writers of the past
30 years. I, Alex Cross will keep the fans happy - and make Patterson a
few new ones in the process.
Nick Manix is a professional writer and journalist
who splits his time between Central Texas and New Orleans.
(Cover image courtesy Amazon.com)
