James Patterson: Cross Country: A Review
I just completed James Patterson's "Cross Country". It was certainly a page turner. I started it Saturday afternoon, and completed it Sunday morning.
For those of you unfamiliar with Patterson's "Alex Cross" books, Cross is a police detective with the Washington DC police department, who has also worked, in various books, with the CIA, FBI and Interpol to catch a variety of bad guys, terrorists and your run-of-the-mill psychopaths.
Needless to say, this is a murder mystery.
The book begins, of course, with a murder. The victim, or victims, as the case may be, is an old college friend, ex-girlfriend, of Cross'. Not only was she murdered, her entire family was killed quite brutally, including her two children.
The detail that the first victim was an old friend of Cross' gives him the motivation to move mountains, cross the sea and endure torture to bring her killer to justice.
The murderers in this book are Nigerian nationals, many of them mere children, led by the elusive "Tiger", a huge African, who enjoys his work far too much. He employs the children, rescued or kidnapped from the refugee camps in Darfur to do his dirty work, some as young as ten or eleven.
Cross' quest for justice leads him to Nigeria, Darfur, and Sudan, where the atrocities he (and we) witnesses are described in vivid detail, and cut him to the core. He is beaten to a pulp and tortured several times, in fabulously gory detail.
The book gives us, the reader, an insight into the genocide and horrors facing the African population today. Many of the events Patterson describes are everyday occurrences in Darfur and Nigeria.
There are multiple murders, each more horrific than the last, as the villains take pride in slaughtering entire families, not just the targeted victim.
The chase eventually leads us back to Washington, where the CIA is more involved than originally thought.
I enjoyed the twists and turns this book took, and know that, as usual, nothing is as it seems.Patterson hit a home run with this one, and if you are a fan, you won't be disappointed.
If, by some chance you are not a Patterson fan, I would recommend becoming one.
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Comments: 26
Thanks for your review~
A 10 for your review. I am a James Patterson fan and will look forward to reading this new book.
I couldn't put it down, Sadie. It is a must read.
Good Review. I own all the other Cross books, but till need this one.
Thanks for the insightful review~though he's not my style~you did an awesome job in making his book a must read =D
I like his books - this one is on my to read list
I am absolutely a fan of his, love his books! Thanks for the excellent review!
I have never read any books by James Patterson, but you made this one sound good!
Alicia,
I recommend patterson for Light reading..His stuff would be good for a plane ride, or an afternoon at the beach.
You know, Donna, I haven't read a good mystery in awhile. Not sure if this would be to my taste, but I'll check out Patterson.
Julia,
He is very easy to read. It also is a plus that one doesn't need a lot of backstory to dive right into the "Cross" novels.
Thanks for that info - there's nothing worse (reading-wise) than muddying through a series feeling just...a...little...out...of...it.
I know exactly what you mean. I started in the middle of P. Cornwells "Kay Scarpetta" novels, and had to go back to the beginning to get all the inuendo in those books.
Good Review, Sweetie !!
I was really surprised at how fast you went through it.
I probably won't be reading it. Murder mysteries are not my cup of coffee.
Great review! It sounds like an exciting book, and one that also touches on some important current issues.
Tory,
I think that is what I enjoyed the most, the "current event" inclusion.
I love Patterson. I am going to have to get this one.
I really only read romances these days. But, I'm glad you enjoyed the book.
Great review, Donna! I love Patterson's books, too.
Hmmm ... maybe I should read this to get my "cop dialog" better in Launa's story. I'm very uncomfortable writing the police parts.
Barb,
Well, if you're looking for a "good cop"..Cross is your guy. In films, like "Kiss the Girls" and "Along Came a Spider", Cross has been played by Morgan Freeman....Who, in my humble opinion, remains one of the sexiest men breathing.
Hee. I'm pretty sure I saw the first one, but don't recall the second.
thanks!
I've never read anything by James Patterson.