Double Trouble for the Dragon Slayer (Double Cross - James Patterson)

Member Name: NewYork2006

Product:	Double Cross - James Patterson
Date:	18/02/08 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced, page turner, thriller of a read

Disadvantages: You wont be able to put it down!!

First off can I just say - another fantastic read from the master of the thriller genre!

I have an immense love of reading and James Patterson is undoubtedly my favourite author and I am pleased to say that 'DOUBLE CROSS' doesn't disappoint

For all you James Patterson fans out there you will, I'm sure, know who Alex Cross is. However, for all you JP virgins, here is a summary:

The Alex Cross series is James Patterson's first and probably most popular. Alex Cross is a police detective/psychologist who has, in previous books, worked for the Washington DC Police Force and for the FBI and at times has had his own psychiatrist practice. He is known as the 'Dragon Slayer' due to the 'baddies' and evils that he has faced and brought to justice. His main task however, is looking after his family - his sons, Damon and Alex and his daughter Jannie. Oh and not forgetting his gran, Nana Mama, who always plays a big part in the series with her opinions and disapproval of Alex's job.

When 'Cross' was released in 2006, I wondered if we had seen the last of Alex Cross as in the previous 9 books that made up the series, James Patterson (as Alex Cross) often referred to the murder of his wife Maria and how, try as hard as he might, he had never really overcome it. Then, coming face to face with his wife's killer in 'CROSS' seemed to be the perfect ending.

However, it seems that James Patterson has not yet finished with Alex Cross as he arrives on our shelves again to confront not one but two deadly (and as it's Alex Cross - rather psychotic) serial killers.

We are firstly reunited with Kyle Craig, an ex-colleague and friend of Alex who we last heard of in 'Violets are Blue' when Kyle Craig - who called himself 'The Mastermind' was captured and sent to a maximum security prison - ADX Florence - after he went on a killing spree. Well, now we see the return of him, in prison - but for how long?

The second, attracts the name of the 'Audience Killer' (or A.K) due to the very public and rather arrogant displays of murder. The Audience Killer even sets up his own website and live video to portray his violence to a far wider 'audience'.

Alex Cross has left Police work behind and has decided to stick with an area he knows a great deal about and has set up his own Psychotherapy Practice. It isn't long, however, before he is drawn back into Police work when The Mastermind and The Audience Killer seem to join forces to bring down the legend of Alex Cross and all hell breaks loose. When 'one of his own' is held hostage towards the end, Alex puts his own life on the line to save them and doesn't think twice about it.

One thing I notice slightly different about this book to some of the other Alex Cross novels is that James Patterson gives us the identity of the Audience Killer about half way through the book. A lot of his novels refer to them by their stage name (The Mastermind, The Audience Killer) and it is not until near the end that we discover the identity of them, leading to a very dramatic and fast past finale and a feeling of 'oh my god I didn't see that coming'. This usually means that I spend the majority of the book trying to decide who it could be (and still get it wrong most of the time). The fact that the identity of 'The Audience Killer' is basically thrust upon us in Double Cross though (though under the surface but still quite obvious) means we don't spend the rest of the book guessing as to who it could be but instead marvel at the audacity of the Audience Killer when in general, day to day 'communications' with Alex and him completely unaware of who this person really is (and no I'm obviously not going to tell you who it is!).

Other than this slight difference thought Double Cross still has the feel of an Alex Cross novel. We not only read about the problems he faces at work with hunting down serial killers but also the battles he has to face in his home life with his family, his relationship with Detective Brianna Stone (that he formed in Cross and which we now see blossoming and unfolding throughout) and we still see the strong friendship he has with his long time friend John Sampson.

The novel is consistent with other James Patterson novels. The chapters are only a couple of pages long, delivering short and punchy scenes that entice the reader to keep on turning and meant that I completed the whole 300 page (hardback) book in less than a week. The book itself is also similar to his other novels with a simple but attention grabbing cover. A black background with a slight 'Theatre Seating' picture in the top corner (one of the stages for a murder in the novel) and James Patterson in large white letters and DOUBLE CROSS in large green letters underneath.

The characters are all well thought out as we are reunited with the old and are introduced to some new and all are interesting to read. As always, we get to see all sides of the story with an insight into Cross and also an insight into The Mastermind and The Audience Killer, who each take it in turns throughout as narrator. Although I don't think that it is vital that you have read previous Alex Cross Novels and in particular 'Roses are Read' and 'Violets are Blue' (in which we were introduced to The Mastermind/Kyle Craig, it may help the reader to have a far better understanding of his character and the effect that this betrayal had on Alex.

Overall this is another fantastic read from James Patterson with action, drama and thrills abundant and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller of a read.

This book will be available in most bookshops. I bought the hardback version which always comes out prior to the paperback (and I can't wait that long for the next James Patterson instalment) and you can buy it on Amazon from approximately £5.00 (hardback)

Thanks for Reading
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Summary: Alex Cross is back and faced with two psychopathic killers - one of whom he has met before!!