Roses Are Red

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.

Rating:
Summary: Another great addition to the Cross series
Review: I just finished Roses are Red...what a book! Patterson once again gives us more about Alex Cross, his family and his woes. It is nice to see the inner workings of Alex Cross - to find out more about what makes him tick.

Alex has been asked to help investigate bank robberies that are leaving everyone baffled. Each bank robbery is more violent than the next. Alex works with a new FBI partner, Betsy. She is a strong character and quickly Alex recognizes her talents. The book has a lot of twists and the ending provides quite a cliff hanger. I can wait until I read Violets are Blue.

Rating:
Summary: fast as ever. Still not well written
Review: I read this 430 page book in two days. Such is James Patterson's mastery of his page-turning craft.

Page-turning they are, well written they aren't. IM increasingly coming to think of James Patterson as a comic book novelist. For that is what his novels are like. They are action packed, they have twists, they have turns, but they are about as complex and well written as a comic strip. It's very simplistic, the characters are extremely wooden, especially lately. He is concentrating very much of pageturning thrills, rather than well written novels.

I have just finished an earlier thriller of his, Black Market, and it is written extremely well. So from that we can assume that over time he has just abandoned any attempt to write them well, just to concentrate on making them quick reads with many twists and turns, or that he is just rushing his books. I tend to think that this latter option is the correct one. We have had three patterson novels this year, and there is another coming out in February.

So, as works of literature these books are awful. But, as thrillers, they are actually superb. The short chapters will always have you reading many more pages than you intended, and the twists and turns will have you turning the pages even quicker to find out what will happen next. His hero, Alex Cross, is very likeable, and like all seemingly good detectives, he has complicated family issues as well as a tough job.

But...he also has flaws. His familay are so damn perfect. His wonderful housemaid nana, his picture perfect children, his supportive best friend. I get tired of them. And i have to say i loved the way that in this book Patterson incorporated family tragedy into the plot, concerning his daughter. it gace a definite edge to things.

Another criticism, however, is that Alex Cross is not 007. So far, he has fallen in love with the lead female character of every book since Along Came A Spider, which was the very firt Cross novel. First there was Jezzie Flannigan, then Kate McTiernan, then Christine Johnson, then Patsy Hampton, and now Betsy Cavallier in RareR (and he does it again with Jamilla Hughes in the sequel to this, Violets are Blue)

I have to say that it is very annoying. Very. For James Bond it worked, because we knew it wasn't a romantic attatchment, just his physical love for them, but here Cross is always telling us how nuch he is in love with them.

The plot of this novel is very, very original. And very enjoyable to read. But it does get a bit complicated toward the end, what with Lawrence Szabo, and all the complicitations that he brings.

And now, onto the controversial ending.

No one has ever disagreed with Patterson's masterful ability at being able to pull the carpet out from under even the most dextrous of armchair detectives, but this time, so might think he's gone a little too far.

You will either love the ending, and the questions it throws up, and uncertainties it casts over the entire Cross seris, or you will hate it and feel somewhat cheated. You will think it is ridiculing the rest of the Cross novels. And no doubt the most cynical will call it a sales ploy for the sequel, which i personally don't believe it is. If he hadn't ended it this way, there wouldn't even have been a sequel, because there would have been nothing to follow it on with.

All in all, an exciting read, with possibly the most controversial ending ever to grace thriller fiction (Hannibal was not controversial it was great). But the writing could be improved upon once more.

Rating:
Summary: The main Character is back!
Review: This is great reading. Fast-paced. Excellent ending!