I walked into Along Came a Spider having seen the movie with Morgan Freeman many times and enjoying it. I wanted to read the book as usually the movie misses so much and surely it's even better?
Wrong.
I was so disappointed I actually had to stop and wonder how this is actually part of a bestselling series. Not only is it ridiculous and unbelievable, it's a waste of time and something I was glad to put down.
DNF

A meandering plot so full of holes and an excess of bad guys, that I hardly know what to think of this hot mess. Evidence of Gary Soneji's smarts was more down to coincidence than anything else, and in moments where he should have been able to use his brain, he just proved himself so immensely stupid, that I really struggled to take him seriously as an antagonist. It was predictable, ended with a twist that was bordering on cliche. This is my second James Patterson novel to date (the first being Kiss the Girls, which if anything was worse than this one) that I really, truly wonder how he remains a best-seller if these are considered the best he can offer.

Along Came a Spider is the first in the Alex Cross series however is not the first Cross book that I have read. The film starring Morgan Freeman is actually one of my favourite films and normally I’m apprehensive about mixing my films and books as I feel they can sometimes ruin the other for me, so it has taken me a while to get round to this one. NetGalley made it impossible for me to resist.

ACaS was actually a really entertaining read. In the opening chapters are a fictional insight into the mind of the man who really masterminded the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, back in 1932. The kidnapping becomes the inspiration for Gary Murphy and the evolution of his alter ego Gary Soneji, a ruthless kidnapper and killer with over two hundred victims notched on his belt. Gary wants to be somebody, he wants the city to shake with terror at the very thought of his name. He’s an exceptional planner whose ideas take years to execute and without leaving any trace of his true identity. He’s the master of disguises and faux credentials that let him slip into many sectors unnoticed, and watch his future victims. Gary finally decides to act on his master plan and kidnap two prominent children from their highly guarded and high security school. He’s thrilled at the thought that the famous Doctor/detective Alex Cross is hot on his tail, and he does his best to taunt and stalk the man, leaving him even more crimes to solve. Just when things start to come to boil over, another devious plot rears its head, a warning that the case if far from being over, one that puts a real twist into the story.

OK, so ACaS is not the most high brow, well written book I’ve ever read, but it certainly passes the time. It’s all about the plot, if you can get by the poorly constructed prose and cringe-worthy sex scenes, there is a genuine, original and intriguing storyline with enough plot-twists and turns to make you feel dizzy. The chapters are short and punchy which keeps the pace flowing along nicely. A host of different characters are met along the way, some nice, some not so nice. Alex Cross was on the whole quite likeable, a black man living in a white man’s world, however at times the chip on his shoulder consumes him and he fails to see things just as they are. The reader is reminded countless times through the book that Cross is black, which comes across as the author trying to hard to get into Cross’ mindset.

The best way to approach ACaS is with open eyes and an open mind, as there are times the reader has to suspend belief. The only real bugbear I had with the plot was Gary Murphy/Soneji and whether or not he had Dissociative Identity Disorder. So much time and effort was spent exploring this scenario when in reality he would not have been able to carry out his double life for so long so successfully if he suffered from this condition.

The final twist of the story is the best one, but it will only come as a surprise if you have not seen the film. This thriller is certainly thrilling and lays the groundwork for a compulsive series. ACaS is different from its movie counterpart, and would be perfect as a light holiday read. Overall rating from me 3.5 stars. ACaS is one of those books you have to read, just so you can say you’ve read it. Thanks to James Patterson, Random House and NetGalley for my review copy.

Okay, so first off, there was a lot of killing in this book. I wasn't prepared for that. Especially, the small children. That's just too sad for me. The rest of the book was great though.

The story throws you into the life of Alex Cross, a detective, who is investigating a triple murder. During his investigation, Alex is wrangled into helping with a kidnapping. The whole thing go terribly wrong and that's when the story starts to get good. There are so many twists and turns it will leave your heads turning. I gave this book four stars and put the next story on my TBR pile.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy.

This is the first book in the Alex Cross Series. This book can be read as a standalone, but would be useful for the series to be read in order!

These were the Alex Cross books that I loved to read. I remember reading these early books the first time round and thinking what great writing this author did. The stories were clever, fast paced and kept you gripped right to the past page. As time has gone on the series, for me, has started to slow up and hasn’t held my attention as much as it used to, so it was great to re-read these early books.

In this first book of the series, we meet brilliant Detective Alex Cross. Working for the homicide department, Alex comes up against psychotic serial killer Gary Soneji. Alex Cross is a brilliant detective, probably the smartest there is, but even he has met his match with Soneji.

This was probably the first book I ever read that had such short chapters. I never thought it would work, how could such short chapters hold your attention, but it did and the short, fast paced chapters were one of the reasons why I kept coming back to Patterson’s books. It was great to reread the book, and I may now have to carry on with the series!!

Review: James Patterson is the most amazing crime/thriller writer. That is why he is one of the worlds best. I have many shelf's full of his books and this is one of my favourites.

Alex Cross is a complicated character but is amazing at his job solving crime. He has a strong bond with his family which I love a hero to have.

The plot in this story is brilliant and the way that James writes is perfect. I like the short chapters which gives a new little details each time and the simple way that James writes makes his books accessible to people who want to start reading. I find some crime books difficult to read or understand but with James Patterson's books I can easily follow them and that is one of the reasons he is my favourite crime/thriller writer.

The world of a kidnapper is deeply explored and is fascinating to read about. James has an amazing talent and you really feel you are right inside the criminals head.

James Patterson's work is truly magical.

I am certainly a Alex Cross super fan. And decided that this book needed reading again. I have read each and everyone of the Alex Cross series, and think that Cross is just awesome. Sometimes he's so good he gets on my nerves, but I still think he's awesome.
​If I ever needed a case solving then Alex Cross is the man you would want on the job.
​One of the things I particularly like about JP's books are the short chapters, it makes it so easy to say 'just one more, just one more' before you know it you have devoured half the book. I have just re read this in little over a day.

​It's scary when I think the first time I read this is over 20 years ago, (published in 1993) can you believe that. so it was certainly due a re read. And although I could remember a little of what happened, it was great getting to Know Alex all over again, and the fantastic characters of Sampson and Nana Mama.

​Once you get into the story you are left wanting more and more, you are drawn into the story and each chapter leaves you needing to read the next one.

I remember hating Gary Soneji, an evil kidnapper, and second time around I hated him twice as much.
​James Patterson is well known for his Alex Cross Series, but I also love his Michael Bennett Series, and The Womans Murder Club Series. All books well worth reading and if you haven't yet read a JP book, well this little lot would certainly keep you going for quite some time.

“The Black Knight of the Round Table“ (Alex Cross 1)

“He was right here,“ I said. “He came in through the kitchen. He was here, where we’re standing.“
“Don’t talk like that, Alex,“ Sampson said. „Sound like Jeane Dixon. Creep me out.“ [for all Germans: Jeane Dixon is the US-American equivalent for Elisabeth Tessier…]
Alexander Cross is homicide Deputy Chief of Detectives with a doctorate in psychology, so he rather gets down to how criminals click. It is what he does on the ghastly crime scene in Soustheast, the not-at-all fashionable disctrict of his hometown Washington D.C. This second killing of Afro-American victims in just less than a week makes him suspect a serial killer. But when two small – and white, and rich - children get kidnapped from their expensive private school, the polical powers are not in favour of the less well-off.

Alex grew up in a rather tough environment of Washington himself – where he moved at the age of nine to live with his grandmother after the death of both his parents. He is 38 now, an avid piano player, Afro-American and still lives with his ‘Nana Mama‘ now as a single Dad with his two kids, Janelle, 4, and Damon, 6, after the drive-by shooting of his wife Maria three years ago. The tough enviroment made his tone harsh, often laconical, and his remarks can be pretty derogative. Well, they probably should – when his boss claims the victims were probably ‘only‘ dealers and prostitutes, his retort seems pretty right “One victim is a three-year old boy in his pajamas. He may have been dealing. I’ll check on it“. He is not given to sweet-talk.

But soon the likeness of the abducted children with his own son and daughter plus the cold bloodedness of the negotiations that follow make him bitterly want to get hold of that criminal as well - without actually forgetting about the older cases. But something goes wrong, miserably wrong. And a barn in Maryland, on a deserted farm with a blue Minivan, a hole with just one shoe does not make things better. And still, while Alex realizes he just cannot let go of the case, he also gets down to his own feelings.

Well, now should one read this? The tension brought me close to biting my nails, my guessing was completely wrong, the twists were pretty imaginative, I had a few smiles, could sympathize with Alex. But the real reason: I got to know Alex Cross some time back in the past, on German TV, being a fan of actor Morgan Freeman. And so I bought another one of the books for that reason: I did not like that one at all, too much violence, and against one of the characters I had started to like. Than I had another go with “Cross Justice“ – which I deeply liked but found none of the “Freeman-Cross“ in it. So this is my third try. And there you go – I do have the feeling of seeing Freeman in every step and word and move from Alex. Folks, I do not know how Mr. Patterson likes that as a reason that I finally "bought“ his Cross-series, but that’s it, weird as it may sound. I had worse reasons.
The only thing I regret is that there could well have been more Nana in the book – she is great. But I know I will simply have to read on.

My first James Patterson and what a high-octane read this is! Alex Cross is super-cool, the plot is fast-paced and twisting, and the writing draws us close to the action. A brilliant Hollywood-style thriller with a villain creepier than Hannibal Lector - perfect switch-off reading.

Love the Alex Cross series and this was no exception. Really enjoyed it, it was fast paced and kept me engaged right through the book to the last page. Had a hard time putting it down. A solid 5 out of 5.

From kidnapping to murder, Along Came a Spider is a spine-chilling suspense that had me hooked from the first chapter. I can’t wait to sink into the next Alex Cross case.