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Along Came a Spider
  
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Along Came a Spider [Large Print] (Hardcover)

by James Patterson (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (274 customer reviews)

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2 used from CDN$ 281.15

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Product Details

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.


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.
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Customer Reviews

274 Reviews
5 star:
 (154)
4 star:
 (64)
3 star:
 (21)
2 star:
 (20)
1 star:
 (15)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (274 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Along came this great book, Mar 21 2006
By Alan Roperts (Whitehorse) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Along Came a Spider (Mass Market Paperback)
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. As the plot thickens, leads seem to connect to the ghetto killings, one of the children turns up dead, a ransom is paid and lost and the kidnapper proves elusive. book is engrossing, thrilling, and the emotions are portrayed so true to life. True, this book has flaws. What did you expect? It's the first Alex Cross book. The first always has some flaws, then it gets better as the series continues. What, with so many great books on the market, I MUST recommend the hilarious and riveting KATZENJAMMER by one Jackson McCrae. It's a modern-day Faust tale with tie-ins to famous movies. On the edge and Jaw-dropping stuff here, folks! But first, you must read ALONG CAME A SPIDER!!!!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense, drama, danger -- all wrapped in a good story., May 31 2004
This review is from: Along Came a Spider (Mass Market Paperback)
Another great book by James Patterson. The story and characters were complex and the situation plausible.

How well do we know the people in our lives -- particularly the ones who are involved with our children is the crux of the story, and that is thought provoking -- as it should be.

Highly recommended. 5 stars.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Alex Cross won't be forgotten, May 14 2004
By Theresa W (mi, usa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Along Came a Spider (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.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
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. Read more
Published on May 11 2004

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 J. a 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 V. T. 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

3.0 out of 5 stars Along Came a Slightly Hack-Like Page Turner
Edition Reviewed: Warner Books Paperback, February 2001, 520 pages (including the brief excerpt from _1st to Die_ at the end of the book)

My personal enjoyment rating: 8 out of... Read more

Published on Jul 14 2003 by Farffleblex Plaffington

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