Cross Country (Alex Cross Book 14)

I just discovered Alex Cross, and was happy to realize that there were so many books in the series! The first few books were great, but as I progressed I found each one just a bit less enjoyable than its predecessor. I am now at the end of the road. I agree with the negative reviews I've read. Alex comes across as a complete idiot, jetting off to Africa without a plan or backup. And when he arrives he soon encounters ANOTHER rogue government agent -- please!!!! Although he's tortured and beaten bloody, he still manages to find an acceptable wardrobe, including a tie. He would have needed to bring an enormous suitcase, not just an oft-stolen duffle bag, to replace all his blood-soaked outfits with fresh clothing. And I don't think Tiger's referring to Eleanor as "Mother" was ever explained at all.If Mr. Patterson really wrote this book by himself, he needs a co-author. If he did employ a co-author he needs to find a better one.Like other reviewers, I was ready to give this awful book a "pass" and go on to the next; however, after reading reviews of numbers 15, 16, and 17 I've decided that life's too short to spend any more time with Dr. Cross, because it doesn't get better.

This is the Alex Cross book you'll wish James Patterson hadn't written. In it, Cross is a naive, bumbling moron who lurches from one incredibly bad decision to the next, never stopping for an instant to ponder what could go wrong. All traces of the insightful Ph.D. psychologist-detective you thought you knew have vanished. It could be amusing as farce, except his breathtaking incompetence gets large numbers of good people horribly tortured and murdered. He doesn't seem to get this.Maybe Patterson has come to hate his hero? Who knows? Skip this one and avoid a really bad book.

An International killer and his band of boy thugs, who have no qualms of killing complete family units as they go from continent to continent.Dr. Cross is brought into the case as a consultant, and realizes he knows the victim personally.As the case develops, Cross learns that his main suspect has fled back to Africa. He pursues the killer by following him and working with the CIA in an unapproved manner and is treated horribly while there.Upon his return to the United States his family is kidnapped. Cross, while dealing with the extreme stress manages to stay on the trail of the killer enough to take out him and his 12 year old next in command.Cross finally gets his family back and makes a surprising arrest at the end of the book.The author again holds to detail even on the international scene. A well written book.

I read many of the one star reviews and almost did not get this book. I decided to buy the book and I gave it 5 stars. Many of the 1 star reviews stated that it was far fetched and too gruesome and bloody. I think these reviews were done with ignorance to what is really happening in the world. James Patterson researches his books and I have found to be quite accurate. The people who say this is far fetched need to read some history about Africa. Read "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda" it was written by Roméo Dallaire who was the General for the UN who was in Rwanda. He is Canadian and is the highest Ranking officer in the world to suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I challenge the people who ranked this as a 1 star to read the book I just listed and then tell us how far fetched "Cross Country" was.

This book excelled my expectations. In this well written story, Alex Cross comes to Africa in search for a killer.In this book, JP describes in a very real manner our sad African history. Unfortunately, I can relate to many parts narrated on the book cus I lived them myself or witnesses them somehow.I fully recommend this book, but only if you are strong. Otherwise, this book is not for you.

As other reviewers have stated, this story was ridiculous and more unrealistic than anything written before about Alex. Alex does seem to be an idiot who puts everyone in danger intentionally. And who goes off to Africa for extended indefinite period of time while a killer he knows is just waiting to kill his family, and I’m not talking about the Tiger.

This series has been largely apolitical, except for the usual "the boss is a moron theme," but I could detect a political statement about the conditions in Africa and the evil CIA. One doesn't read these books for realism and this book is as unrealistic as they get. There is brutality galore, and Alex is as stubborn, fearless and you might say bone headed as usual. While the story line is compelling the miracles that keep Alex alive get more and more stretched as the book goes on. I have actually been to Lagos, Nigeria albeit a long time ago, and found it to be very dangerous, but not the hell hole that is described here. As I am working my way through the series, I have to resist the temptation to overthink the plots and incredible events that actually make up an enjoyable, quick read.

So fast, so swift, so good. 5-star read.For people who love actions, this is it, the book that’ll give you the adrenaline rush. Almost every turn of a chapter someone breaks a nose, got killed or a deadly ambush. To keep up, the story is split into many short, sometimes just 3-page a chapter, incidences.I find splitting the story into short chapters makes reading easy. At least, to leave you gaps to take a breather. I like this style.There is a surprise at the end but the whole story is fast, furious and damn fierce. All the time, I kept having the image of Idris Elba playing the lead role, as Alex Cross. Let me wish...

Good book interesting but still had parts that were repetitive and not very interesting to keep you reading more.as I know how past books go I know if I continue reading it would soon take my interest again. Most books do the same and have parts that go bland I could have easily skipped some chapters but if I did it would been hard to follow the story line later.it has a unexpected twist right at the end when you everything as finished.looking forward to reading the next book in this series as I have read every book some out of order but now I read them as the story line follows on.just seen on tv that two more books are out.

OK, allow me to begin by confessing that I am a devout James Patterson fan and that the Alex Cross storyline is my favorite. That being said, I enjoyed this book a bit more then most of the other reviewers. In fact, it was one of my favorite Alex Cross books. I read it in one day.... LOL!"Cross Country" was all about exposure. This riveting story shows the reader a side - a more vulnerable side - of Alex Cross then one is accustomed. It also reminds the reader that the horror of the crimes battled in DC by Dr. Cross pale in comparison to the atrocities committed in Darfur depicted in spellbinding detail by James Patterson. Yet the unveiling of these vulnerabilities in the main character and our global concepts of justice are exactly what make this book so unique and interesting

Why there isn't there a security system at the Cross household? Seems like any serial killer, kidnapper or run of the mill psychopath is able to waltz through the house or in this book knock on the door and gain access without any trouble at all!! A good read though.

The book has been badly printed. At the binding part of the book in a lot of the pages the print was blurred for about 1.5 cm in on the left and right sides. It was double printed. The words from top to bottom were printed twice one above the other making reading difficult. I have never seen anything like this in any books that i have bought. I would be grateful if you could advise.Regards Brian Ward.