Customer Rating: 
Summary: A little disappointed
Comment: I'm a great admirer of Patterson's character, Alex Cross, and have all the AC novels. I am somewhat
disappointed in this one as it leaves me in great doubt of AC's future viability in the Patterson
franchise.
Alex is back, family in tow, trying to leave police work for his newly
reborn psychiatric practice. Life is very good indeed until his greatest nemesis reappears over the
darkest corner of the fences Alex has set up around his world.
Cross is one of the best
drawn characters in fiction, and his enemy (perhaps obvious, but I won't name him out of respect for
those who have not yet read the book) was one of the greatest surprises. I remember with pleasure
the novel that unmasked him - and indeed, that is one of the reasons I've always enjoyed Patterson's
work - he is one of the very very few authors who does not give away his plots, telegraph his
punches, who leaves such a twisted trail that I cannot figure him out until the end.
/>However, I found this story somewhat disappointing, because it is the first Cross story that feels
formulaic. Not that some of the others have not followed the same formula; they were written so well
that I did not care. This one feels tired. AC has yet another love interest (he is becoming a serial
lover) but attraction seems half-hearted. Nana and the children are present less than I remember
them before.
There is a peek at a backstory for Enemy #1, but aside from a father who
shouted, it doesn't seem bizarre enough. The crimes in AC novels have always been heinous and
horrible, but there are two in this novel that involve a choice of victim that seems a gratuitous
choice, made simply for shock value. And I must agree with other reviewers that the prison break
from a supermax prison seems the definition of "deus ex machina." Also, E#1 laughs too much. He is
starting to feel like the old Batman character, the Joker. Many Cross villains are frightening
because of their incredible coldness. This time around, I did not find E#1 frightening.
/>The "formula" was very transparent in this novel. The love interest is not compelling, the shell
game played with the killers has been done before - and better, the family is almost MIA. I am left
wondering where Patterson is going with our Hero. If he is tiring of the character, I hope he will
let AC go out at the top of his game. Then again, this story is not finished, and if anyone can pull
a rabbit out of a tale, Patterson can.
Customer Rating: Summary: Impossibly Improbable!
Comment: I have read so many JP books, so I come in expecting a vacation from reality. But this book? Come
on...
How can Alex and his partner be thinking about making love (like two immature
teenagers) every 15 minutes when there are two crazy killers out there WHO HAVE BOTH THREATENED HIM,
HIS FAMILY AND HER??! They travel to Montana and are upset they don't have time to "do it", while
back in DC there are TWO killers wreaking havoc?
How was big tough Samson
"kidnapped"?
As soon as this guy escaped prison, (which in itself was so impossible...)
why weren't the judge and Alex's family relocated? The judge is home sleeping -- with her family --
peacefully, while this mad man lurks the streets? (And tell me, please, how was he able to go to
Paris? He had passports made prior to his conviction, just incase?)
And because Nana
wouldn't WANT to leave the house Alex just leaves his whole family there unprotected?
/>The end, while in the alleyway with both of them, is so dumb!
I could go on for
hours like this, but suffice it to say, you cannot/will not get scared, be in suspense or care about
all the grisly deaths in this book! In fact, you will laugh at the absurdity of it!
Customer Rating: Summary: Feel Like I've Been DOUBLECROSSED....
Comment: Patterson leads the reader through tremendous mind-twisting suspense throughout 2/3rds of the book
but only lets us down in the final and what-should-be, the most anticipated final 1/3 of the book.
What a huge, flat and disappointing ending (by ending I mean the final full 60 pages or so) with
such a ho-hum, blahse`race to the finish. He FINALLY ends this misery of writing by predictably
leading us to purchase another sequel to fill his pockets as his self-proclaimed "best-known and
best selling authors of all time." I'm ashamed to have read several of his books but "Double Cross"
was definitely my last.
