Rating: 
Summary: "The Jokes on you! "or "Buy this book?You must be Jesting"
Review: Did too many authors spoil the book? There is excitment and the telling of jokes(poorly).He includes two of the best jokes ever, and he ruins the punch line. This is not a historical novel even though it should be. It does take place during the Crusades , but it easily could be any place, anytime. This is not to say it is timeless , but a waste of time.If you want historical fiction then read Turtledove or Connie Willis. If you want excitement read Cussler. I will say that there are two surprises in the plot that are excellent( one is very obvious, the other is not).
Do you think I liked this book? Patterson fans will probably buy this book anyway. If you are new to him, this will be the last you read.
I don't believe in telling you the plot, in case you are foolish enough to buy this book. It is easy to read and read it in one sitting on a plane, If I had a parachute, I would have stopped reading and jumped. I never throw away books, I save them forever or give them to someone. I made an exception in this case , since I do not know anyone that I dislike enough to give the book.
Rating: 
Summary: cheer for the hero
Review: I thought it was a well written story that generally has you rooting for the good guys. I found myself reading larger chunks at a time the further I got into this book, which is always a good sign. Gets two bookmarks up on my rating system!
Rating: 
Summary: Back to the past
Review: As is James Patterson's style, THE JESTER's chapters are brief, the language unadorned & the story packed with action, intrigue & dastardly deeds!For a modern day mystery/thriller writer, James Patterson's take on the Crusades & life in serfdom France while oddly modern, is a rousing yarn that crackles with humor & pathos, philosophy & passion, foul deeds & good.
Rating:
Summary: great read!
Review: I really loved this book. I was hesitant in buying it because I was so used to his other books which aren't historical but this book really grabbed me. Even my husband read it and loved it! I hope these two authors collaborate on more novels in the future!
Rating:
Summary: Forget Lindsay Boxer, et al
Review: I didn't think Patterson could surpass his Alex Cross novels, and after reading the exploits of his new heroines - The Women's Murder Club - in "First to Die" and "Second Chance" I felt justified in my thinking. But "The Jester" is a whole new genre and as exciting as any of his murder mysteries. I love his medieval theme and gallant hero, who is almost as indestructible as Det. Cross. And as always, his chapters are SHORT and the whole book is an incredibly easy and fast read. I don't know what his co-author contributed, but I hope they collaborate again, and soon.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible journey...
Review: Simply put, couldn't put it down. Full of pace, appealing and appaling characters, an irresistable story that never quits, (did i mention, pace???) and above all, laughter and warmth. You will root for Hugh de Luc in his sweeping tale until the last page. Patterson transfers pitch perfect to the Middle Ages, and with the deft hand of his co-author Gross, give you something special you will want to read again. Patterson fans wilkl not be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: A man's allowed to dream every once in a while
Review: This is a great story. Patterson doesn't sugar coat the Dark Ages, which is the setting for this entrancing story which sounds as though it could have been lifted from the newspapers of the era -- had newspapers existed then. It's not a book for the squeamish. He writes of the rapacious terror the Crusaders brought to the Holy Land in their attacks on the Islamic world; if anyone wonders "Why don't they like us?" -- this book offers a compelling answer. Some of his characters may seem unreal, but from what I've read of the Dark Ages the general setting Patterson uses is totally authentic. It was an era when wild animals roamed at will, when during the winter wolves preyed on people even in cities such as Paris; and when such animals offered kind mercy compared to the cruelty of people to each other. Patterson makes life sound brutal, grim and often capricious. He paints a chilling picture of the total madness of Christian fanaticism inspired by fictional artifacts such as "relics" said to have an association with Christ. If you've ever wondered about the madness that religion can inspire, this book is a gripping insight into the reality of our past. Okay, that's the dark, authentic, frightening side of Jester. But the book is much more, it is also an account of the nascent demands for personal freedom, dignity, and the rule of law that applies to everyone --- not merely to the nobility and clergy. Peasant uprisings were a fact of the era, and Patterson masterfully explains the motivations that led people in their search for freedom to challenge everything they had been told by the church and the nobility. "A man's allowed to dream every once in a while," an older and wiser jester tells Hugh De Luc, the main character who also becomes a jester. Patterson is masterful in using a jester as his central character; in an era of rigid social structures, this (and the mistresses of a King) were about the only people with fluid social mobility. It's a masterful story of men, and equally courageous women, plus the people they inspire, making dreams of freedom come true. I wouldn't be surprised if Patterson or his researchers used an actual incident, then wove his story around historic fact. If it sounds like the same spirit that inspired the American Revolution in 1775, it's because Patterson taps into feelings that are very basic and real in all Americans. Maybe, some day, he'll do an equally inspired book about the motives that made American farmers challenge the world's mightiest empire in a bold assertion of their own freedom. It's a basic conflict involving, in Patterson's own words, "what we know as the law" and "the courage to stand up ..." Or, to quote Augustine who said, "Remove justice, and what are kingdoms but gangs of criminals on a large scale." If this book sounds authentically medieval, and realistically modern, it's because Patterson skillfully explores basic issues that apply today as they did a thousand years ago. My only quibble is his ending. Although Patterson tells a superb story, he doesn't seem to know how to create a reasonable ending. It's always some "deus ex machina," which in this case is totally unnecessary. In this case, it doesn't really spoil the book -- it's like meeting a sand flea on an otherwise perfect day on the beach. But, it's not a book for the squeamish. He doesn't overdo the blood and gore, or the brutal cruelty that was so often commonplace and routine at the time of the Crusadses; but, it will upset the tender feelings of sensitive souls. He is brutal, honest, frank and realistic -- without any of the familiar movie-screen excess. So much the better. It's a slice of authentic Dark Ages life. As an added bonus, he adds a list of 15 historical books for anyone interested in further doses of reality. Like Louis L'Amour in The Walking Drum, Patterson has written a first-rate introduction to our past.
Rating: 
Summary: Sounds Familar?
Review: Didn't The Danny Kaye Movie " The Court Jester"
have a similar story line.
Rating:
Summary: What more could I say?
Review: James Patterson has done it again... I have lost 3 days of sleeping time...Great book...easy to read and got me to travel way back. When will the next novel come out?
Rating:
Summary: Appealing but....
Review: Medieval, fast, average is how I would sum this story up in three words or less. James Paterson use sparse detail, a lot of dialogue and not a whole lot of plot. It's a Porshche without the wheels. Fans of fantasy can find lots better. Fans of Patterson's thrillers may not be aware that there are other fantasy thrillers Stanek's Elf Queen's Quest comes to mind as a fast, great read and you don't have to read his other novels to get into the story. Fans of graphic violence, however, won't find what there looking for. Jester does deliver that, and a bit more than I fully expected. I'd wager dimes to dollars we'll see a Jester movie sooner than you'd think as that's what the book seems a primer for. The book did get me interested enough to try Patterson's other novels. I've got one I'm going to start this weekend.
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