Rating: 
Summary: Pacified but not Satisfied
Review: I must agree with some of the others this book was a real page-turner. I could not put the book down, in fact I read the book in one day. However, in the middle of the book I found myself guessing who the "Mastermind" was before I got to the last chapter and I was right. It wasn't too difficult to figure out. I decided not to buy the sequel (Violets are Blue) because its hardcover and I refuse to pay that much money - not because I'm cheap but because I wasn't completely satisfied with Roses are Red. Once reading books like Kiss the Girls and Along came a Spider - a reader expects that same thrill and expense in other Alex Cross series.
Rating: 
Summary: A below average thriller.
Review: On a 5 star scale like the one here, I think 5=excellant, 4=good, 3= average, 2=has some good parts, & 1=nothing good. This book for me was slightly below average. While it did have some good parts (the cliff hanger ending, the fast pace, and the well written action scenes), it fell flat on it's face most other times. To me the sex scenes just didn't hold true. It seemed like they were thrown in just to have some sex in the book. Also, for someone who is supposed to be so brilliant a profiler, Alex Cross did not do much profiling. He just sat back and let the answers fall in his lap. First there was the daughter who gave up her father, then the suspect gave Cross a description, and then Cross saw a picture that fit the description that was given to him by the previously mentioned suspect (boy it is hard to use general terms and not give away who the Mastermind is). All Cross kept saying was the Mastermind wanted "to see these people punisher." That is it. That is all the profiling Cross does in the whole book. Way to use that degree in psychology to help you track down killers. This adventure seemed more appropriate for someone like Mike Hammer or Sam Spade, a gumshoe who finds clues or gets confessions or information from a thug by threats or violence. Cross' big scene where I thought he would show off his smarts was when he and his collegues were interviewing a suspect. The interigator was "asking the wrong questions" (mind you we are never told exactly what he is asking), but this upsets the suspect. Finally it is up to Alex Cross to ask the "right" questions. What is his brilliant question that gets the right information from the suspect? "You know you have something to tell us, so why not just get it out in the open?" (Granted I am just paraphrasing the line.) That is it. No hostile witness/suspect to cross examine, and get talking. Just a simple tell us what you know. If it were that easy, I would be a cop. I would love to hear the "wrong" questions that were asked. Was it something about which shoe does he put on first in the morning, the left or the right? I have to admit this was my first Patterson book and it will most likely be my last.
Rating:
Summary: Stop on Page 398!
Review: Caution: This book contains much graphic slaughter of the innocents and the guilty. If such things offend you, avoid this book. Also, Mr. Patterson likes to use vulgar language to provide a sense of colloquial English that may also put off some. I'm serious about stopping on page 398. In fact, cover page 399 with a sheet of paper so you don't accidentally see anything on it. Reading the last two pages of Roses Are Red will reduce the attractiveness of this story to you, and eliminate most of the potential pleasure you can experience in Violets Are Blue, the next Alex Cross novel. The last two pages of Roses Are Red simply should have been edited out! Be cautious about which reviews you read of this book also, because some reviews reveal the material on those two pages . . . the ultimate in giving away a spoiler! Mr. Patterson's strength is writing plots that are well paced, varied, surprising, and unusual. I thought that his plotting in Roses Are Red was unusually good. You will find yourself racing through the book, wanting to find out what's going on and who's behind it all. The book's main theme is crime as a work of art expressing the ingenuity of a brilliant, but twisted criminal. As a result, the crimes are mentally very challenging to understand. You will think that you are reading about the criminal plans of Dr. Moriarty, Sethos, and the Riddler combined. The weaknesses of Mr. Patterson's Alex Cross novels are also present here. He doesn't really show any detection, just detectives chatting with each other interspersed with developments driven by the criminals. The characters are about as little developed as they could be and still be differentiated from one another. The dialogue often reads like detective fiction rather than real dialogue. But if you feel that you have enjoyed other Alex Cross novels, you will definitely like this one. After you read Violets Are Blue, come back and read the last two pages of Roses Are Red. Where else can less be more? Would the story, "The Lady or the Tiger," have been as interesting to you if you knew how it turned out? Grasp the exact solution to provide the most for the least effort!
Rating: 
Summary: Satisfactory Mind Candy
Review: This book is not as good as the other Dr. Cross books but it provides the reader with a satisfactory escape from reality. If you like the other Dr. Cross Books you will probably like this one. If you loved the other Dr. Cross Books you may be disappointed. The great revelation at the end, which I will not give away, is what may have some of the readers angry. Quite honestly, I had always been suspicious, but in a world that isn't real, it isn't fact until the author writes it and suspicion is just plain silly.
The other objection I have read in the reviews seems to be about the familial relationships. If you are reading Serial Killer Detective thrillers for that you might need to see a mental health professional. All in all, Roses are Red is, like the other Dr. Cross books, satisfactory mind candy and like always, I can't wait for the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: WOW!
Review: I just finish the book, and I can only say one word. WOW! I mean the book is just amazing. I was really surprise of who the mastermind was. I never thought the mastermind was that guy. It was a shocking ending. I would have never guessed. Overall I really like the way he ended the book. James Patterson could really keep the suspense going, even though you are already in the last page of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner...Don't Read to Fall Asleep!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I love that the chapters are so short. It is easy to say, "Just one more chapter..." and find yourself 50 pages down the road because he left you wanting more after that "one more chapter". I thought it was sneaky that they printed the first few chapters of "Violets are Blue" at the end of "Roses are Red" ....after reading them I had to run out and buy the hard cover of "Violets..." which I normally don't do! I read that in a day, too...what's next? "Sugar is Sweet"?
Rating:
Summary: Glad I found James Patterson, finally
Review: Roses are Red is the first of Patterson's books I have read but plan to read many more. Exciting from the first page....and a bit
surprised at the short chapters but find now that I like this format. Also like the fact that the main character, Alex, is a
"family man"....adds a lot to his personality. Also like the fact that this man is not chasing women to bed down after work every day. I just read L A Dead and decided I would look for different authors for a change. Glad I did as I find this book exciting ....a little "far out" but always entertaining. Keep up the good work Mr Patterson....I'll be looking for more of your works.
Rating:
Summary: New Alex Cross Reader Approves
Review: Alex Cross is back, and this time he's after the Mastermind, a mysterious serial killer who robs banks with grisly results. The Mastermind seems to be toying with Cross and his colleagues in the FBI from the very start, and seems more obsessed with causing confusion and panic than in any rational motivation, even for serial killers.
As if trailing the Mastermind weren't bad enough, Cross finds problems at home. The departure of his significant other and health problems with one of his children are tugging on his mind, even as the Mastermind does his cruel and heartless work. Add to this Cross' growing affection for an ambitious FBI agent, and you have a lot going on in the story.
Although this is the first Cross book I've read, and the first Patterson novel for that matter, I quite liked it. Despite the assertions of other reviewers, I found the Cross character to be one of the best-written characters in modern thriller novels. Sure, he's not as fully-dimentional as the great literary characters of our time, but compare him to the likes of James Bond or Jack Ryan, and he measures up as a complex character worthy of the reader's attention.
Patterson moves things along as well. The book is more than 120 two- or three-page chapters, which I found kept me reading longer than I expected to. I finished this one in much less time than I usually spend with a book this size, which I suppose is the highest praise I can give to a thriller writer.
A did have a problem with the ending of this book. Without giving it away, it did seem contrived and somewhat ridiculous, creating more questions than it answered. The best ending for me is one in which I am surprised, but feel as if I should have seen it coming since it fits the story so well. This one falls far short of the mark.
Still, for a well-paced, well-charactered, creative thriller, this one is well worth the time. I'm looking forward to returning to Patterson soon.
Rating: 
Summary: What am I missing?
Review: A disappointing effort, particularly the lame ending. Most disturbing is the fact that apparently DNA testing is not available in our nation's capital. The villain rapes one of his victims in an attempt to create an heir, yet even when they've apparently narrowed the search down to someone residing in one building, they just can't imagine who it could be. Wouldn't DNA have helped identify the killer here or did I miss one of Patterson's contrived explanations along the way? Save your money, its not even worth buying a used paperback of this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding plot.....too much filler.
Review: James Patterson can spin a story; of that, there is no doubt. Moreover, if you're looking for a relatively easy read, Patterson's standard layout makes all his books very readable (I read this 400 page hardback in about 5 hours). This does not detract from the storyline rather, it actually enhances it, particularly if one is looking for a relaxing, enjoyable read. Patterson understands this concept and brings it to the reader with each offering. My rating of this book is probably closer to three and one-half stars but nevertheless, Patterson created some unnecessary issues within this book. "Roses are Red" begins with a bank robbery and the senseless, sickening murders of the bank manager's family. As with any bank robbery, the FBI enters the picture; in this case, in the form of Kyle Craig and Betsey Cavalierre. Craig has a long-standing relationship with Alex Cross and decides to bring Alex in on this bizarre case for his psychological background and keen investigative skills. Within days of the original crime, another bank robbery and more senseless murders. With this event, the "Mastermind" is introduced to Alex and the FBI. Alex begins his quest to outwit and catch the Mastermind, the ostensible brains behind the heinous crimes committed. However, the Mastermind is never directly involved in the commission of the crime and as such, is always one step ahead of Alex. In this Patterson installment, Alex's sidekick takes the form of FBI agent Betsey Cavalierre instead of the loveable giant John Sampson. A departure from the standard Alex Cross story. This story winds its way through many twists and turns with Alex and Betsey doggedly searching for clues to the mystery and identity of the Mastermind. As their case wanes, the Mastermind becomes bolder in his activities, and more brutal. And, as they get closer to potentially solving the mystery behind the Mastermind, the danger becomes quite close and very personal to both Alex and Betsey. (I won't go much further with the storyline as any potential reader deserves the right to reach their own conclusions.) As previously mentioned, Patterson has created another outstanding plot. However, like so many loveable characters, there always seems to be a flaw that is, at best, troubling to the reader. In Alex's case, its his love life. Patterson seemingly creates a new love interest for Alex with each new offering (as one reviewer pointed out, Alex Cross is no James Bond...inasmuch as James Patterson is no Ian Fleming...actually, better and worse). In this case, its Betsey Cavalierre. While you love Alex for his tenaciousness and intelligence, Patterson has given him a "Frasier-like" (the television show 'Frasier') penchant for losing at love. It gets old very quickly. Also in this installment, Alex also has a close call with his daughter, Jannie. She begins having grand mal seizures as a result of a brain tumor that eventually must be removed. All of this "filler" is designed to make Alex more real, a character with strengths, weaknesses, and real emotions. OK, I get it. However, at times in this novel and a few others, Patterson tends to drone on about the peripheral "real" issues as opposed to developing the storyline further. This causes some denegration to the overall story. Patterson is a talented novelist with a very keen sense for a solid storyline. Stick with with it, James! Leave the filler for other authors and continue concentrating on the developing the plot. All that said, I'm in the process of reading the serial follow-up to this book, "Violets are Blue." Can't give up on Patterson. In the end, he still holds my interest. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Just try to overlook the off-tanget fluff.
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