Product Description

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. For such a high-profile case, they needed Alex Cross, a psychologist, and Jezzie Flanagan, a Secret Service agent - yet even they were no match for the killer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3883 in Books
• Published on: 1993
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Review
'Brilliantly terrifying! so exciting that I had to stay up all night to finish it! packed with white-knuckle twists.' Daily Mail 'An incredibly suspenseful read with a one-of-a-kind villain who is as terrifying as he is intriguing. One of the best thrillers of the year.' CLIVE CUSSLER 'Terror and suspense that grab the reader and won't let go. Just try running away from this one.' ED MCBAIN

About the Author
James Patterson combines his position as one of the fastest-rising stars of modern thriller writing with a career as the chairman of the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency in New York. He first reached the top of bestseller lists around the world with Along Came a Spider, which introduced his popular detective hero Alex Cross, who also appears in Kiss the Girls, Jack and Jill, Cat and Mouse and his most recent novel, Pop Goes the Weasel.

Customer Reviews

Good read
In Along came a Spider, we are introduced to two main characters in Patterson's series...Detective Alex Cross and homicidal maniac, Gary Soneji.

Alex Cross is a very strong character, and has proved a massive selling-point for Patterson for many years. He is a tough black cop, who hates to see madmen get away, but at the same time he is a compassionate and caring man. We observe a lot of Cross's private life, with his aunt Nana Mama, his two children, Damon and Jannie, and his best friend and police partner Sampson. Seeing him in his home life makes Cross even more lovable.

On the other hand is Gary Soneji...a mix of schizophrenic madness, and criminal genius. He and Cross makes the perfect dual, and Along Came a Spider is where it first sets off.

A TNT READING OF AN EXPLOSIVE TALE
Whether read by actor, director, writer Charles Turner as is the unabridged version of James Patterson's spellbinding thriller or by Alton Fitzgerald White and Michael Cumpsty on the abridged release, each performer brings a persuasive depth to this horrific tale. It's a story that grabs listeners with the opening lines and doesn't let go until the last syllable is uttered.

Calling himself the Son of Lindbergh, a psychopathic kidnapper/killer seems able to elude the FBI, the Secret Service, and local law enforcement officers. This brilliant sicko has kidnaped the daughter of a famous movie star and the son of the Secretary of the Treasury. He nabbed them despite their ever watchful Secret Service guardians. He knew he could do it, and he did.

Determined to commit the crime of the century, this Mr. Peepers like math. teacher evidently has a split personality, apparently at times incapable of remembering the heinous crimes he has committed.

What a challenge for homicide detective Alex Cross despite his degree in psychology. Another challenge for Cross is mysterious, beautiful, intelligent Jezzie Flanagan, supervisor of the Secret Service. There's attraction with a capital A between these two, but meanwhile a maniacal killer is on the loose.

TNT performances by all in their rendering of this explosive tale.

Alex Cross is great but ...
Mixed feelings about the novel. I read it in less than 5 hours last night. I expected it to be breath-taking because of the other reviews (didn't know about the book until the movie, which I have not seen). Alex Cross is a great character (kept picturing Morgan Freeman throughout!), the serial killer is innovatively dealt with, but half way through, I guessed the ending (if you're a thriller fan, you will). I was also disappointed by the cliche ending (I kept reading, expecting a big finale). I will read more of James Patterson though (my appetite has been aroused). PS: you really get attached to Alex Cross' humanity.