Jonathan Nkangabwa's Reviews > Cross

James Patterson's novel, "Cross" was a great book overall. The fact that James was able to incorporate important information on all of the characters in a quick manor. You didn't seem to remember every character's story, but you were given just enough information to understand what ideas each character stands for. The fact that this book was an action packed thriller kept me even more interested into the book. I cannot stand it when authors ramble on about pointless details that do not serve a purpose to the main idea of the plot. In this book, there are many things that will maintain to keep your attention. For example, Michael Sean Sullivan (also goes by the name "The Butcher" because of his extremely gruesome attacks/killings with the use of a blade/knife/scalpel) is a serial killer that lures his victims to a concealed area, rapes her, and then brutally murders her (Sullivan is also a mercenary paid to carry out hits on certain targets). Another example is the fact that there are so many other action scenes, like Michael facing off with mercenaries trying to kill him; kind of an IRONIC TWIST that he has become the hunted rather than the hunter. These things are the reasons why readers are constantly engaged with the book. I think the first time I put down the book was when I hit the 30th chapter.
The plus side to James Patterson's "Cross" is that the chapters are quick and diminutive. The way the authors speaks throughout the novel is the opposite of maundering. If you need to know something about a character, James Patterson explains it. He never tells you information that will in turn prove to be irrelevant information. I am the type of reader that is entertained by sheer suspense and pure astonishment. Even though this book was a good one too read, it also provided a few things that I didn't find too fond.
One major turnoff is the fact that the characters in the story all seem to find disappointment or sadness throughout the amazing journey. Characters like Alex, Michael, and the henchmen for the mafia's all lose a life or get injured. Alex Cross has been going through rough times ever since he was a little boy. His mother had died and he became an orphan. As he grew older, his wife, Maria Cross, had been gunned down by "The Butcher" and died in Alex's hands (which is a devastating event). At near end of the book when Alex is facing off with the butcher, he is shot twice and falls to the ground. These are some terrible events that just bring Alex Cross's overall morale down. These tragic events also occur to the villainous characters of the story. Michael Sullivan was a killer and deserved to go to jail, but what he went through is extreme. He has been cornered by mafia henchmen and barely escaping with his life, he has had his children and himself being shot at (while playing in the park), and he is killed at the end of the story. Michael may have been a bad guy, but that is a life too harsh for any person to live. I feel like James Patterson's story writing is starting to lose it's exciting action packed feeling and turning into a cold stoned killer's novel. It is starting to just turn into a depressing murder story, rather than an action packed novel that always has the good guy (Alex Cross) win. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I would strongly recommend this book to any readers that enjoy a good mystery/ murder story.