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Cross Country | 
| Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Century
Category: Book
List Price: £18.99
Buy New: £9.49
You Save: £9.50 (50%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 138
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6 x 1.6
ISBN: 1846052564
EAN: 9781846052569
ASIN: 1846052564
Publication Date: November 6, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Alex Cross thrillers of James Paterson have become something of an institution. His criminal psychologist protagonist is one of the most vividly etched in the field, and the now-lengthy series of books has set a consistently high standard, even though Paterson's famous reliance on co-writers has become rather controversial. Cross Country involves Alex Cross in a caustic personal war against major-league corruption. It’s a narrative that takes the reader across a massive canvas. Alex is called in after a murder investigation - a crime that has resulted in considerable carnage. He discovers to his horror that the victim is an old friend, and this makes his search for the criminal involved even more determined than usual. His quest takes him into the underworld corners of Washington, DC, and even on to a massively dangerous odyssey to the Niger Delta. The stakes are customarily high in James Patterson's crime narratives, but the author has ratcheted them up even more than usual here, with heroin traffic and the slave trade mixed into a heady brew. Perhaps the most memorably drawn character here is the psychopathic head of a group of killers, the 'Tiger'. The latter’s battle with Alex Cross has clearly re-energised the author, and Cross Country has all the compelling qualities of the earlier novels. If you haven't sampled an Alex Cross novel recently, this is the one to pick up. --Barry Forshaw
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Bemused December 4, 2008
I'm half way through this latest Alex Cross thriller from James Patterson and decided to look up the reviews on amazon in the UK and US. The reason for this is that I'm utterly bemused. Am I really reading an Alex Cross thriller or is it Maximum Ride with more violence and misery? I feel like a coke drinker who has just tried 'new coke' - it says it's coke but doesn't taste like it.
James Patterson has millions of loyal readers, so why has he changed his style so dramatically? Why does he feel the need to write a version of Alex Cross 'for reluctant readers' who he assumes can't take more than more sentence of description or introspection. I'm so disappointed that Patterson has decided his readers are happy with two-dimensional characterisation and a fast style of choppy writing that is meant to propel the reader along but just leaves me frustrated for more depth. And the short chapters have become ludicrous. However, I've given this three stars because it's readable if you want a quick book that'll last a few hours (and you aren't squeamish). Plus I suggest borrowing from a library. So is this the end of the intelligent Alex Cross books we used to enjoy? Oh, I hope not.
 Cross In Name Only November 21, 2008
Wow, what a departure from the usual Alex Cross books. Unfortunately the change doesn't work. This could have been any book and just happens to have the name Alex Cross as the main character. His reasons for goign to Africa are tenuous at best and his reasons for staying outlandish. Cross constantly goes on about his familybut then abandons them to go chasing round the world to avenge a college friend he hasn't seen in 20 years.
Not the best Cross book. If you're new to the series start with the earlier ones.
Unsure..Unusual for a Cross novel November 19, 2008
I think my heading says it all. I am an avid JP fan but tend to look forward more to the Cross books then any of the others. I wasnt that enthralled with the last Cross Novel but still looked forward to this one. I read the book in a matter of days and although it still had me turning pages I ended up feeling like something was missing at the end of the story. Alex Cross is chasing a man known as "The Tiger". His investigation takes him over to South Africa and some indescribably awful places. The theme of the book was okay but I just felt like there was no real substance to this story and it was edging towards the more ridiculous, especially when it comes to the main characters getting killed or injured. All I can say is that Alex Cross is the luckiest man alive, forget 9 lives, this man has as many lives as there are chapters. Final sum up is that the writing was good and the story mediocre but for a Patterson/Cross novel was a little bit of a letdown.
 A good fictional thriller November 9, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Does it matter where it was set? Its fiction for heavens sake.As far as thrillers go this was very good. The characters were deep and enthralling, keeping your interest all the way through. There was enough suspense to keep you turning the pages, and plenty of action. If you enjoy Lee Child`s Jack Reacher books then this will please you. I`m a series fan and enjoy Child and Michael Connelly books immensely, if you like that kind of thriller read the `Soft Target` books by Conrad Jones. They are unputdownable!! Back to the review, ten out of ten.
not his best November 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
couldnt wait to read this as i am a big fan of the alex crosss novels and have read some of them several times over.i was extremely dissapointed as it was nowhere near as good as the others! the story was boring and definately not a page turner,a random appearance by kyle craig at the end was odd to say the least and felt as if if was just thrown in at the last minute,the story was far too obvious and i could see the ending a mile off.
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