A Washington, D.C., police detective, Alex Cross becomes caught up in a kidnapping case that may involve a schizophrenic psychopath. By the author of Black Market. (Adventure & Suspense)
Along Came a Spider: Alex Cross Series, Book 1
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This second big winter thriller by a writer named Patterson (see Fiction Forecasts, Oct. 19) features a villain (a multiple-personality serial killer/kidnapper) whom the publisher hopes will remind readers of Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter, and a hero who is compared to those of Jonathan Kellerman. Unfortunately, the novel has few merits of its own to set against those authors' works. Hero Alex Cross is in fact a black senior detective in Washington, D.C., who is also a psychiatrist and has a facile but not entirely convincing line of sentimental-cynical patter. The villain is Gary Soneji/Murphy (read Hyde/Jekyll), who kills for recognition, and finally kidnaps the kids of prominent parents. Alex is soon on the case, more enraged by Gary's killing of poor ghetto blacks than by the Lindbergh-inspired kidnapping, and becomes involved with a gorgeous, motorcycle-riding Secret Service supervisor who is not what she seems. Soneji/Murphy is eventually captured--but can the bad part of him be proven guilty? There is even a hint at the end that he may survive for a sequel, though the reader has virtually forgotten him by then. Spider reads fluently enough, but its action and characters seem to have come out of some movie-inspired never-never land. If a contemporary would-be nail-biter is to thrill as it should, it urgently needs stronger connections to reality than this book has. Come back, Thomas Harris! 150,000 first printing; Literary Guild main selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Alex Cross, a black Washington, D.C., police detective with a Ph.D. in psychology, and Jezzie Flanagan, a white motorcycling Secret Service agent, become lovers as they work together to apprehend a chilling psychopath who has kidnapped two children from a posh private school. The psychotic villain, who aspires to become more notorious than Lindbergh baby kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann, is effectively nightmarish. Atypical characters, sex, sometimes shocking violence, and several surprising plot twists are all attention-grabbing, while short chapters with a shifting viewpoint add brisk pacing and genuine suspense. Patterson's storytelling talent is in top form in this grisly escapist yarn. Highly recommended for public libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/92.
- Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Theresa W
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I read this book a few years back, and recently saw the movie. I'm such a fan of Patterson's, I wanted to include my review.
In the first of the Alex Cross series, this story is a race against time to find a kidnapped girl of a famous actress. Cross is called in to help, and in only the way he can, he finds his way to the end of this suspenseful ride. Not only will you enjoy the writing which propells the suspense and mystery, but you'll also enjoy the character development. It leaves you wanting more of Alex Cross, one of my most favorite detectives of all time!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading thrillers. I'll warn you though, like me, after you read this book, you'll be off to the store or library to pick up many more books by James Patterson.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Like all Patterson novels, the chapters are short, there's sex and violence, and the story is superbly told. What more could you want? If you haven't read any of Mr. P's novels before, this one is a good place to start. It features Alex Cross, as do almost all of his books, who is working on a case of kidnapping. And as if one kidnapping were not enough, Patterson gives us more than that. There's love story inbedded within the plot (Patterson knows his audience) and enough thrills to keep you turning the page well into the night. But the most amazing thing about ALONG CAME A SPIDER as well as many other Patterson books, is that not only is it a thriller in the real sense, but psychologically as well. (...)
Format:Paperback
OK, so I've decided to read Patterson's Alex Cross series from beginning to end. There are currently 16 books in the series, with a 17th to be published this fall.
The first installment, entitled Along Came A Spider, introduces us to the character of Alex Cross, the tough detective/psychologist from Washington DC, as he sets out to catch a sociopathic serial killer with a possible split personality, Gary Soneji, who has kidnapped 2 young children. After one of the children is found dead, Cross partners up with a female secret service agent to find the surviving child before it's too late. His search leads him along a journey through the darkest alcoves of the human psyche before emerging into the light. A page-turner from beginning to end, the novel captures the reader's attention and doesn't let go until the killer is caught.
This was my first EVER eBook, and while the screen on my iPhone is a bit small, I quickly got used to it, and read the novel in a couple of days. I love the convenience of having the book wherever I go too!
The first installment, entitled Along Came A Spider, introduces us to the character of Alex Cross, the tough detective/psychologist from Washington DC, as he sets out to catch a sociopathic serial killer with a possible split personality, Gary Soneji, who has kidnapped 2 young children. After one of the children is found dead, Cross partners up with a female secret service agent to find the surviving child before it's too late. His search leads him along a journey through the darkest alcoves of the human psyche before emerging into the light. A page-turner from beginning to end, the novel captures the reader's attention and doesn't let go until the killer is caught.
This was my first EVER eBook, and while the screen on my iPhone is a bit small, I quickly got used to it, and read the novel in a couple of days. I love the convenience of having the book wherever I go too!
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 608 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Along came this great book
It appears that a Gary Soneji, a teacher at the school who was so well liked he was named Mr. Chips, kidnapped the children out of the blue. Read more
Published on Mar 21 2006 by Alan Roperts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suspense, drama, danger -- all wrapped in a good story.
Another great book by James Patterson. The story and characters were complex and the situation plausible. Read more
Published on May 31 2004 by "jackrabbitman"
5.0 out of 5 stars
along came a spider
first of all i want to say that the the book kept me interested the whole time i was reading it. It was so hard to put it down. Read more
Published on Feb 27 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Saw the movie and read the book, too...
Author James Patterson again at his best. Readers who are not familiar with Patterson's work may find his short-chapter style an unattractive read and be put off by the style. Read more
Published on Dec 29 2003 by Josephine Kaszuba Locke
4.0 out of 5 stars
Keeps you guessing all the way
I think that all fans of detective novels - particularly those of a psychological nature - will get a big kick out of these eight legs! Read more
Published on Dec 2 2003 by Andrew J. Platt
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thrilling novel!
ALONG CAME A SPIDER, by entertaining writer James Patterson, is a thrilling novel that I have read many many times thus far and will continue to re-read it again and again. Read more
Published on Oct 24 2003 by Victoria Taylor Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars
An EXCELLENT Read
First of all, I don't understand why so many people didn't like this novel. This book is engrossing, thrilling, and the emotions are portrayed so true to life. Read more
Published on Oct 11 2003 by Matthew Rocca
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good God, the agony!
Maybe I should have given it 1 star instead of 2, but I thought I'd be generous. The plot is not terrrrrrrible, but even before the "twist" at the end it's hard to... Read more
Published on Oct 9 2003
3.0 out of 5 stars
Along came a spider
I really had a fun time reading this book. I would probably recommend it for those who enjoy reading suspense and mystery novels. Read more
Published on Oct 3 2003 by K.K.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but great?? I don't think so
I picked up this novel with high expectations after the release of the movie and the adulation from writers such as Demille on the back of the edition proclaiming it... Read more
Published on Aug 25 2003 by S. Khetan
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
