Rating: 
Summary: Very fast reading; yet too implausible
Review: I could not put this book down. Yet I was disappointed in the end. I felt that the story was not completed and that the end was the way it was only for a sequel. I did read the end 3 times to decide whether it made sense or not. While I thought the identity of the killer was obvious, the end still bothered me. What bothered me more was the wasted pages of blank paper. It did appear that the author was trying to fill pages. Also, the illness of the daughter didn't seem to fit into the story at all. All that said, I'll probably still read the sequel, yet maybe I'll get it from the library instead of buying the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I got this book for Christmas and was eagerly anticipating another great read from Mr. Patterson as I have enjoyed all of his other books. However, I was extrememly disappointed with the turn of events. The subplots (Cross's daughter getting sick) should have been developed more. It seemed like they were just thrown in to fill up the pages. As for the "MasterMind", it made absolutely no sense when he was finally revealed. I felt like there should have been a couple of more chapters explaining it a little better. I can only assume that there will be a sequel explaining it a little better but I am very disappointed that I will have to wait another year or more.
Rating: 
Summary: Not sure I believe the villian...
Review: I've been a fan of Patterson's for a while. My bookshelves hold all of his books in hard cover. So I bought this book with no second thoughts - and I still have none. I enjoyed the book immensely because it "took me away".I normally don't read reviews because I worry about learning too much before reading the book. This time, I came to read reviews afterwards because I wanted to know if other people felt the way I did. I'm frankly surprised at the number of people who guessed the villian. I was flabbergasted. I truly didn't see it coming. When I was finished my first reaction was "Wow." After a little time I realized that I didn't see the villian coming because I didn't find any reasoning behind it. Patterson has lead readers astray on villians before (Kiss the Girls was the best at this), but this time I don't buy it. Sequel or not, I didn't find the choice believable. There is NO resolution in this book, but I know I'll be there for the next one because I want to understand the choice. p.s. In all honesty, there are other books where this villian WOULD have made sense.
Rating:
Summary: These roses are wilted.
Review: I'm a Patterson fan, but didn't find this to be one of his better books. The book had a promising start, but never delivered.
Rating:
Summary: Good pace: weak ending
Review: I enjoy Mr. Patterson's books and found this one held my interest to the very end. But unfortuenately the ending was disappointing and seemed to be setting the reader up for a follow on book with the villian free to continue his evil pursuits.
Rating:
Summary: ALEX ROLLS ON
Review: "Roses--" has all the virtues (and most of the vices) of the Alex Cross series. It is fast paced, driving, and some nice family scenes to relieve the tension. It has some holes in the plot you can drive a truck through, i.e., the villain rapes a victim early in the book. A seman/DNA test is never mentioned, yet this would go a long way toward identifying the bad guy. I don't think Mr. Patterson does well in child-characterization. They seem too mature and sophisticated. Also, Alex had better get busy and truly resolve some of these cases. He has a passel of monsters running around loose. I don't have as high of expectations from Mr. Patterson as some of the reviewers. I think he delivers the type of book he is known for. I am so grateful he didn't write another "Cradle and All," I will forgive most anything. I don't think most of his fans will be disappointed. It's a good fast read with many twists and turns, particularly the climax.
Rating: 
Summary: He is back!.. Its James Patterson at his finest!
Review: I have read ALL of the James Patterson books and love the series following Alex Cross and his buddy Sampson. Roses are Red was yet another excellent story following the killers who are out to get Alex and his family. Normally I am upset at a book ending leaving me hanging.. but this one was great and left me eager to read the next one.. HURRY UP JAMES..
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not Pattersons best
Review: The plot in the latest Alex Cross novel revolves around the "Mastermind", the leader of a group of bank robbers that like to murder the bank employees as well as their families. Alex joins up with FBI agent Betsey Cavalierre in the hunt for the Mastermind as the crime spree escalates. The closer they get to catching him, the more bold he becomes, proving himself to be quite a twisted character. To add to Crosses problems, his daughter falls victim to a mysterious illness, and his girlfriend is leaving him. As always Cross is a likeable central character, and the plot is fast paced, helped along by quick moving chapters. However there are some dull moments, and at times it is somewhat unbelievable. There is also some cheap manipulation in trying to mislead the reader as to the identity of the mastermind. The actual identity of the Mastermind will come as a shock to most readers, however I am not sure if I really bought it. Overall it is a very easy, and mostly interesting read, but Patterson is capable of something much better.
Rating: 
Summary: The Worst (Almost)
Review: Since "Along Came A Spider" first was published, I have been a major fan of Mr. Patterson. I have recommended him to many of my friends, and I still think "Spider" has one of the best twists I've ever read. I have every book he's written since in the first printing hardcover, and rarely have I been disappointed in anything he's done. But with his last two books, "Cradle And All" (which reads like a hastily written outline of a bad, low-budget made-for-cable movie) and his newest one, "Roses Are Red," I have serious doubts as to whether or not I'm going to continue buying his books. "Roses" certainly moves fast, and I liked the incredibly brief chapters (which average 3 pages) - Patterson evidently was aiming to write a quick-moving pageturner, and he succeeded admirably. And as for complaints that his family is too perfect and cheerful, with all that Patterson has put his major character through, I love the idea that a close-knit, loving family helps the protagonist through his difficult times. But Patterson doesn't seem to know what to do with Alex Cross anymore. How many times can Cross be called in to solve crimes committed by a psychopath, only to find out that a seemingly unrelated murder that hits very close to home is actually connected to the psychopath's crime spree? How many times is Cross and/or his family going to end up the target of the psychopath's personal vendetta? And when is Cross ever going to solve a series of murders that hasn't been committed by 528 different people acting together? This time he goes too far. All the things that have become major cliches in his previous books have now graduated to "thoroughly annoying" status. By the end of the book, the murderer (with the stupidest name I've ever heard: The Mastermind) has been revealed not once, not even twice, but THREE times. There is no logic, no effort whatsoever to fill in the myriad holes Patterson creates, just an obsessive need to keep inventing "twists" that push this novel into the outer depths of stupidity and unbelievability. When the "final" murderer is revealed, I have to admit I could have cared less. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the book is that - like always - Patterson comes up with a fascinating premise and for a long time builds on it and makes it thrilling and interesting. A series of bank robberies are taking place, robberies that are planned and timed to perfection, and for some unknown reason, certain people are being killed in the robberies, people that were pegged for death long before the crimes were actually committed. But then Patterson drops the ball. He never adequately explains why some people die in the course of the bank robberies and others live. And instead of building to a crashing crescendo, the robberies suddenly stop and the point of the novel becomes chasing down one "mastermind" after another. If one more character had said "You've got the wrong man," and then died, I was fully prepared to throw the book away. And could someone please explain to me why a character has to speak in italics on EVERY page, emphasizing one meaningless point after another? If you haven't read any of Patterson's books yet, by all means buy "Along Came A Spider," "Kiss The Girls," and - for a change of pace and a wonderful piece of fantasy - "When The Wind Blows," but pass on this filler, which would easily qualify as the worst book he's ever written if he hadn't just released "Cradle And All." Personally, I'm going to give Patterson another chance, because he has a lot of talent, he usually creates good stories, and I still remember the sheer joy of reading "Spider." But if his next novel doesn't majorly improve on his last two, I think it will be time to start selling my copies on eBay while I look for an author that still cares about what he writes.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Disappointed..........
Review: I have read all of Patterson's Alex Cross novels. This one kept me riveted until the ending. I felt like I had been ripped off, kind of like when you watch a good t.v. show only to find out it is "to be continued.....". Patterson's multiple bad guy theme works really well as usual. If you have liked his past Cross novels you will like this one but may come away feeling a little cheated.
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