Rating: 
Summary: Horrifying
Review: "Kiss the Girls" is written by the master of modern suspense novels, James Patterson. Alex Cross is a wonderful protagonist, a man of honor, and a down-right likable guy. In this book, he faces one of the most horrifying villains ever: a man who calls himself the "Casanova". The Casanova is a human monster, preying upon brilliant, beautiful, haughty college girls. After he kidnapps a girl, he brings her to his terrifying cave, filled with other women held captive. The graphic violence that occurs in this cave, especially the snake scene (which I strongly precaution fragile readers not to read), makes this novel pretty close to being categorized as horror, in my opinion. The Casanova is "twinning" with his sinister partner in crime, the "Gentleman Caller", a man who uses insane brutality on his women victims. The way James Patterson tells the story is like a fine work of art, the words blending so magnificently together to form a masterpiece among modern psychological thrilles. But, be precautioned, this book is quite disturbing, especially to parents who fear for their children. This book also teaches a good lesson about the power of karate.
Rating: 
Summary: A Brutal Edge of Your Seat Thriller!
Review: But that's what we expect with James Patterson's thrillers. I listened to the condensed version and because it was condensed it made the story more action-packed than usual. The tension builds and builds until the final explosive scene. Patterson has a real knack for crafting really malicious villains, and this book is actually one up on that because there appears to be two such viscious killers out there - one in North Carolina and one in Las Angelas. Girls have been going missing for 13 years around North Carolina, and Patterson's anti-hero Alex Cross is brought into this because one of the missing girls is his beautiful and successful niece. There is a lot of graphic violence in this, but it is certainly an attention-grabber. Robert Guillaume and Chris Noth do a superb job of reading this thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Nascar Fast
Review: First time reading James Patterson. I'm glad I picked the book up. Although, I read it out of sequence (This is Book 2 in the series). The pace of the book is excellent. The first page had me hooked. This book is Nascar Fast. The action is quick and smooth. If that's the type of book you like, then this one's for you.
James Patterson never over does it with the description or the use of language. Smooth Storyline. He had me guessing who the killer was, the whole way through. So all in all, I give it five stars. It definitely delivers.
Rating: 
Summary: Improvement from the first book
Review: I might even go as far as to say three and a half stars, as this work is a bit better than the previous one, Along Came A Spider. However, as popular as Patterson may be, he still writes in such a mediocre way which is overcome by the fact that he nails down interesting stories and keeps the action going.
This book, like the first Alex Cross offering, is over the top in concept, much of the stuff here could never happen (or at least should never happen assuming the cops and FBI aren't filled with totally incompetent people). One of the things that Patterson keeps doing, here and in other works, is that he creates false tension and suspense by having the characters do stuff that is so unbelievably stupid, it's hard not to let it ruin the story. Think for a moment, you're a woman that's just survived a brutal kidnapping and rape from your home, by an intelligent and resourceful killer, who knows where you live. Now, after leaving the hospital you insist on going home and staying there, unprotected. That and the FBI and local police, who know the killer would like to see you dead (after all they did guard you at the hospital-you're a potential witness) don't bother to stake out your home, leaving you at the mercy of the killer. Yeah, okay, that's believable, I guess, if you're fourteen or something.
One other huge impossibility, and this happens in the prologue, so this is hardly a spoiler or anything, the young killer, future antagonist in our story is hiding in a house watching them, waiting to kill. He's hiding, get this, in the ducting system. Apparently Patterson has watched too many stupid heist movies, because, if you'll glance up from the computer as you read this, and look at the air register in the room you're in, you'll notice that it would be physically impossible for a six foot tall man to climb out of it and murder you. In fact, it would be impossible for a child to crawl out of it. I realize that in the movies, the bad guys are always crawling around in ducts, but, those are usually in commercial buildings, like banks or something, and, the bad guy isn't seen removing a grill from inside the duct and climbing out into a bedroom. A bedroom never has a duct with a two foot wide diameter opening, no bedroom would ever need that much air, it isn't just silly, it's beyond belief.
The problem with these little factual problems is that they destroy the credability of the rest of the story. We the readers have to assume that the information about stuff we know nothing about is accurate, but how can we when there are such major errors in stuff we do know something about?
In any case, the fast paced action and general readability of the work make it an above average thriller, so for those that like this kind of stuff, I still recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Diabolical Characters, Ingenious Plot
Review: I never saw the movie. Never read a book by Patterson. Never really wanted to. So when I idly picked up "Kiss the Girls" while browsing a local bookstore, I didn't expect much; it was on a table of "fun beach reads" or some such thing.I read the first page or two. I bought the book. And I can't remember much after that, except that, heart pounding, palms sweating, I entered the obscenely diabolical world of two serial killers: The Gentleman Caller, and Casanova, terrorizing both Coasts at once. With skill and his own brand of genius, Patterson takes the reader into the crazed yet terrifyingly logical minds of each killer. We are there while they stalk their victims: young women who are smart, educated, self-assured, and perfectly beautiful. At least in the eyes of their killers. We are there during some of the most gruesome and terrifying murders. We are there as Casanova sexually tortures his live victims in his House of Horrors, in which one infraction of the "house rules" results in horrible death. What is the connection between these two killers? What is their sick purpose? It falls to police detective/psychologist Alex Cross to solve the mystery. But Alex has more than a professional interest in the case. His beloved niece Naomi is one of the missing women. I challenge anyone to put this book down once begun. I was absolutely amazed at the hold it had on me--and still does. I immediately ordered the next in Patterson's Alex Cross series, "Jack and Jill." And I have recommended "Kiss the Girls" to every book-loving friend I have.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Wonderful Plot, Fantastic Read
Review: I read the prequel, along came a spider in one sitting, awsome book! This book is not an expception. Great characther development!
Rating: 
Summary: Just didn't like it
Review: I read this book because of the reviews and I just loved Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. However this book was just gross. If you like reading about rape and ideas such as forcing a snake up someones anus to widen it, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Holes wide enough to drive a Mac Truck through
Review: I was surprised how weak this book was. It had a great start but fizzled soon there after. It seemed as if the author was trying to find ways to lenthen the story. There were so many holes. I wondered why the area where Kate emerged from her ordeal was not immediately and thoroghly searched. They eventually get to it late in the book. Also, when "The Gentleman" made his get away, why didn't the FBI just shoot the tires of his car? The author skirts around the identity of the villian so much that by the time he is reveal its like, "DUH!"
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Thriller Book For Me...
Review: I went on a vacation carrying a few books but decided to buy this at the last minute at the airport store. I was in the mood for a fun page-turner and hadn't seen this movie. What a great buy. I read it in three days, before I even touched the books I did bring with me. It is a very realistic story with very real characters, including the bad guys. The short chapters are a great technique to keep our interest up and also to keep us from putting the book down. I am usually pretty good at figuring out this kind of story, but all my guesses were wrong. I thought I had the killer nailed and was way off the mark. Patterson gives you a chance to guess again at the end. I missed that one, too. While no great piece of classic literature, this book scored the five stars for me in terms of my expectations and experience with the genre. It is my first Patterson book and will by no means be my last. It is not a brainless page-turner, it takes you in and makes you think from a lot of different angles (cops, bad guys and victims alike).
Rating:
Summary: Kiss this book good bye
Review: James Patterson's "Kiss the Girls" is the second in the Alex Cross series. In it Cross travels to Chapel Hill, NC to try to find his missing niece. While on the case, he discovers that it is actually only the latest in a series of kidnapings, rapes and murders both in North Carolina and in Los Angeles. It turns out that there are two killers (one called the Gentleman Caller, the other Cassanova) working together, or more accuratly they are competing. Finally there is a break in the case when one of Cassanova's victims escapes. There is the usual Patterson elements in this book; the chapters are super short (making a very fast read), the heros are too good to be true, the villians are so over the top it's hard to believe in them, and brutal graphic violence. But this one adds a new element; near snuff level sexual violence. Now I like disturbing violence, but the things these guys do with a huge black snake is pretty revolting. The killers taps into the darkest, most sexist attitudes of men, and it's most deep seeded fear of women. It was the battle of the sexes kicked up to sadistic levels. Another thing I have a problem with is that after awhile, all of Patterson's novels seem much the same. I would highly recomend that you wait a long time between readings of Alex Cross novels. I have to admit though that I really liked the idea of the two killers working together, that was fairly unique.
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