Rating: 
Summary: Ridiculous
Review: I enjoyed this novel for its characterization, hence the three stars I assigned it. However, Patterson needs to go back and re-read Agatha Christie to learn to prepare his readers for a logical, plausible ending. Really! The ending made no sense. It was as though the author was already focusing his attention on a sequel. That may be fine for everyone familiar with Patterson's other novels, but this was my first, and I do not feel that I was rewarded for my emotional investment in the book.
Rating: 
Summary: ROSES ARE RED wilts with gloom
Review: Of all the James Patterson books I have intensely followed, ROSES ARE RED comes across as a disjointed and slow-paced thriller. Indeed Alex Cross as the righteous dragonslayer and protagonist continues to rivet your attention; the mystery enshrouding the murders and mastermind of the deadly game and robbery heist keeps you on the edge of suspense. However you cannot but feel a lethargy languishing in this novel - it is overwhelmed with melancholic blues and the whole emotional drama on Christine Jones after his love encountered a traumatic kidnap in POP GOES THE WEASEL.James Patterson infuses depth but abuses the character with too much pain - and the grit cannot dispel the gloom. The suspense builds up to a climax after they named several murderers and then abruptly he gives an unsatisfying ending as if the mastermind could be anyone else in the book. The twists and red herring set in this book is too subtle to ever save the plunge in the plot. ROSES ARE RED leaves readers in bewilderment and seeing red for the time devoted to the book - and the sequel looks unpromising given the scope of the storyline.
Rating: 
Summary: Alex Cross Who?
Review: As a recent reader to the Alex Cross series I found this book to be very interesting. I believe it puts a whole new spin on the series. The "Mastermind" is now the main focus, Cross is secondary. Think about it a little. The "Mastermind" is playing with Cross. I don't want to give too much away for to the people that haven't yet had the enjoyment of this series, but if you think about it in the right way it makes perfect sense. It's brilliant. I can't wait to read Violets Are Blue!
Rating:
Summary: Worse Patterson book
Review: I agree with some of the reviewers who were really disappointed with this book. The ending makes no sense, particularly if you've read Patterson's other books. It's like at the very end, Patterson simply said, "Let's see, who do I want to say is the Mastermind?" Why didn't he just leave a blank and let the reader fill it in (the Lady and the Tiger). I think I'll pick Nana. Bottom line: Patterson's running out of good ideas.
Rating:
Summary: guessing until the very end
Review: This is the best Alex Cross novel yet! Patterson is a master storyteller, and continues that reign with this novel. I enjoy books that keep me turning pages until it is finished. This book did that and more. I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know who the bad guy was. Patterson keeps you guessing until the very last sentence. This is a ride you must take, but leave yourself plenty of time, because you will not be able to put it down until it's done! I can't wait for the sequal!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time!
Review: I have been a huge of James Patterson, ever since reading Kiss the Girls. I've read every Alex Cross book and after reading Pop Goes the Weasel I thought, the next installment can't be as bad as this one! Guess what, it's WORSE!!
There was NO suspense at all in this book, I don't even understand why it is called a mystery or suspense book. This reads like a bad tv movie. I'll give Mr. Patterson some credit though, I was surprised by who the "mastermind" was, but not in a good way! I don't understand what has happened to this book series, it's gone totally downhill! I can't believe the same man that wrote Kiss the Girls, wrote this book!
I use to buy every Alex book in hardcover, but I won't be doing that again anytime soon! If you are looking for a real suspense book with a surprise ending, try Tami Hoag or John Sanford, don't waste your time or money on this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Roses Are Red is Fast & Intense
Review: Dr. Alex Cross joins an FBI team in a hunt for a bank robber and viscious killer. If this case was not challenging enough, his personal life struggles with health problems and other serious issues within his family. Roses Are Red gets inside the head of this super sleuth. He becomes very human in dealing with the stress and fears of all that is swirling around him. Author James Patterson delivers a fast-moving story that grabs the reader on the first page and pull us until the bitter, bloody end. As usual, Patterson gives us a variety of points of view by changing the narrator. Sometimes it's Cross and sometimes it's the killer. He accomplishes this with a new chapter every three pages. That is fast and often a waste of paper. It's not a problem. Roses are Red delivers a satisfying thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Great Thriller
Review: In classic James Patterson style, there is much action, mystery and intrigue. Roses are Red follows the tradition of the other Alex Cross novels with numerous twists and turns where the reader feels as thought he is on a roller coaster ride.
Rating:
Summary: I was pleasantly surprised
Review: I was really disappointed in the last two James Patterson books I read, so I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Unlike some others, when I got to the end, I said *holy ----* and had to go back and re-read some of the Mastermind thoughts. I think that that is more the reaction of someone who has faithfully read the Alex Cross novels and disagree that this person *had no reason to be there* and was the obvious choice. If you've read the books, you know the person has a reason to be there, which made the ending for me. I think it makes a great set-up for a next novel and gives Patterson a new road down which to take Alex Cross.
Rating:
Summary: Give this book a chance - I really liked it!
Review: I can't believe some of the poor reviews this book is getting - sure it is frustrating to read the ending and not be able to read the sequel right away, but it was still a great read. I guess I'm not as smart as some of the other reviewers, because I was totally surprised by the ending. I would have given this book 5 stars if it had been longer! I would love to see Cross have a relationship that can last for more than one book - all in all, I liked this book more than any of his others in the Cross series.
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