Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1860 in Books
• Published on: 1993
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Synopsis
The spectacular international bestseller that introduced Washington-based homicide detective Alex Cross and launched James Patterson's career as one of the fastest-selling thriller writers in the world -- now reissued in striking new cover style. He had always wanted to be famous. When he kidnapped two well-known rich kids, it was headline news. Then one of them was found -- dead -- and the whole nation was in uproar. For such a high-profile case, they needed the top people -- Alex Cross, a black detective with a PhD in psychology, and Jezzie Flanagan, an ambitious young Secret Service agent -- yet even they were no match for the killer. He had the unnerving ability to switch from blood-crazed madness to clear-eyed sanity in an instant. But was he the helpless victim of a multiple-personality disorder -- or a brilliant, cold-blooded manipulator?

Customer Reviews

Impressive debut
This is the first in James Patterson's critically acclaimed Alex Cross series.
I started off reading Patterson's later books that he co wrote with other authors but thought that his short chapters and generic story lines grew old quickly. Because of this I was hesitant to start this series but i'm glad I did.
It follows the story of Alex Cross hunting down a kidnapper who is holding two of hollywoods rich kids at ransom. The pace is good and the characters excellently described and realistic.
The only thing keeping me from giving the book 5 stars is the fact that the pace lags a bit and at times it seems like heavy going.
Even though i'd definately recommend this book its a great read and I can't wait to read the next in the series 'Kiss the Girls'.

My first Patterson novel but won't be my last
A very exciting read with a twisting plot that moves along steadily and has an extremely nasty villain. It might not be very arty but it keeps you hooked and gives great pleasure and a few other authors could learn a thing or two about plot pace from Mr. Patterson.

Typically Patterson
'Along Came a Spider' introduces us to Detective Alex Cross, a man of mystery and intrigue, who faces a great deal of personal challenges throughout the plot. I am afraid to write that it is typically Patterson - it has shock value, short paragraphs and chapters, and colloquialisms here there and everywhere. The plot is, admittedly, full of twists and turns, and the characterisation of Soneji makes the reader question his own judgement on more than one occasion. I found myself asking - is the main antagonist mad, bad, or a bit of both? Indeed, what does Patterson want us to think? Has Patterson made up his own mind whether the main bad guy in the book is mad or bad? Or innocent? Whether it is the international number one bestseller that it claims to be, I have not decided yet. But it certainly scared and shocked me throughout.