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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
On the whole this is a thoroughly enjoyable fast paced thriller that sets Alex Cross against a crazed killer hellbent on living out his on-line fantasy role as one of the Four Horseman. Shafer is a surprisingly complex character and this shows as he begins to break down over the course of the book while managing to keep things just about under control, although there are some superb moments where that madness takes hold and you see his rapid loss of control and descent into darkness (not that he really seems to mind). I did find Cross a little irritating in this book, especially when it came to Christine. There were definitely quite a few lovestruck mopey teenager moments where I just wanted to give him a good shake and tell him to get a grip, although that has a lot to do with the fact that when it comes to romance stories I have very little patience at the best of times, never mind when its invading my thrillers. Overall though this is a good read and the main story is very well thought out and well written, although the ending did make me throw my hands up in exasperation (far to cozy for my liking).
Certainly not my favourite in the Alex Cross series. I found that the time span of this book was too long (over a year), and often between chapters was several months, which mad the overall story a bit disjointed. The Four Horseman storyline could've been a bit more fleshed out in my opinion - the "game" wasn't described as well as it could have been.
I did find the ending made me want to read the next in the series to see what repercussions the final few chapters would have on Alex's life.
I did find the ending made me want to read the next in the series to see what repercussions the final few chapters would have on Alex's life.
Another good book from James Patterson. Can't wait to read his next book in the Alex Cross series, Roses are red.
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Alex and his family go through so much!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In Pop Goes the Weasel, Alex Cross again finds himself investigating an over-the-top serial murderer. While I liked the concept of The Four Horseman in this book, Shafer was just an “okay” villain in my opinion. Took me awhile to get into the story but found myself enjoying it well enough as the plot thickened. Appreciated the addition of a more personal storyline intertwined with the plot as I do think Cross’s family is one of the highlights of this book series. Overall, not a bad choice if you’re looking for a quick mystery!
How do you go up against 4 serial killers who are former British spies and assassins who have turned their passion for killing into a role playing game called The Four Horsemen?
This is an intriguing concept to explore but, unfortunately, I felt Patterson left a lot on the table this time around.
Here, the primary bad guy wasn't built around his superior intelligence and "mastermind" sort of planning of his crimes. He's more of a sick bastard who gets lucky time after time. Alex Cross's investigation seems to flounder throughout the novel as well, and he requires a lot of assistance from other agencies. Overall there were some pretty cool concepts here, especially the idea of having the Four Horsemen as an RPG but that aspect wasn't explored as deeply as I had hoped. Even the main bad guy wasn't really fleshed out too well.
But still, the novel is a page-turner. It's a quick read and had some nice moments but I had hoped for another intriguing Patterson bad guy and so ultimately I was a little disappointed.
This is an intriguing concept to explore but, unfortunately, I felt Patterson left a lot on the table this time around.
Here, the primary bad guy wasn't built around his superior intelligence and "mastermind" sort of planning of his crimes. He's more of a sick bastard who gets lucky time after time. Alex Cross's investigation seems to flounder throughout the novel as well, and he requires a lot of assistance from other agencies. Overall there were some pretty cool concepts here, especially the idea of having the Four Horsemen as an RPG but that aspect wasn't explored as deeply as I had hoped. Even the main bad guy wasn't really fleshed out too well.
But still, the novel is a page-turner. It's a quick read and had some nice moments but I had hoped for another intriguing Patterson bad guy and so ultimately I was a little disappointed.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Character: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Recommendation: 4/5
Overall: 4.4/5
Plot: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Recommendation: 4/5
Overall: 4.4/5