Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good story - more or less - more like 3 1/2 stars
Comment: I'm not sure what it was, but something didn't quite work here. Maybe it was the lack of chemistry
between Alex and Bree as lovers, Alex needs a real relationship already, more sincerity and less
lust when it comes to his love interest. Maybe it was the missing comradeship between Alex and
Sampson, who are supposed to be lifelong best buds. I didn't feel the love and/or the
connective-ness that was once there. On the other hand, maybe it was the flawless characters; they
all seemed entirely flat, except for the bad guys, they were all too perfect to be real. Not even a
blemish on Alex's wonderful children. Don't get me wrong...it was good, maybe even better than good
for somebody who has never read an Alex Cross novel before and has nothing to compare.
/>For one thing, Alex seemed different, more conceited and self-righteous than ever before and I
didn't care for his character as much as I did in other installments. It seemed, to me, that he had
a pompous attitude throughout the book, as if he continuously thought that he could have been doing
Bree's job better than Bree, but wasn't it so magnanimous of him to "allow" her to take the lead.
There were no late night tryst with his piano, playing classical music and contemplating the
division of his time between his job and his family, this Alex was much to confident for such self
doubt. The old Alex Cross, the kick-&*# detective who loved his family, was once my favorite
fictional character. What happened? Did his success go to his head? Now he seems to adore his
Mercedes more than his family.
For another thing, I thought there were too many
murders. After so many brutal attacks, it became desensitizing and the story grew more predictable
and less shocking.
This is my humble opinion and I'm probably being more critical of
JP's books lately only because a year ago or so they were #1 on my list of fun-quick reads, but
recent works have fallen short.
******SPOILER*****SPOILER*****SPOILER*****
/>Alex should stick to either being a hardball, kick-#*^, dragon slayer OR a sensitive, attentive
psychologist. JP does a fine job with both of them, but just not at the same time. Certainly, his
patients experienced less than his full consideration, while he was out playing detective with his
girlfriend. If he had been more in tune to his practice, which I think should have been his first
priority; he would have found what he was looking for a lot quicker.
