audiobooks

Being a Patterson fan and especially an Alex Cross fan, I was disappointed with the latest novel The Big Bad Wolf. The formula writing is just too obvious this time- or perhaps it's time for a break. Alex Cross has been inducted into the FBI where he is unceremoniously taken out of his training classes to solve a kidnapping case ("white girl"). This of course, ruffles some feathers at the FBI. AGENT DR. Cross without following any FBI protocol, creates enemies and friends during the course of the story.

There are a ring of sickos who "purchase their fantasies" online in white slavery operation. The leader of the sickies is the Big Bad Wolf , an elusive character so evil and sinewy that you'll never know his identity. It's believed that he's Russian mafia and former KGB. There are many twists and turns. There is also a brief cameo of Craig.

I was mainly disappointed because the book was great all the way up untill the last 30-40 pages. After that, what a let down. It's mostly entertainly, a very quick read, will keep you involved and then at the end- slam the pages in your face. My reaction was "JP, you're strickly writing a tv movie script" , no more character development than this?" . Things just get wrapped up in a package too quickly. I wanted a bit more character development. I was also disappointed b/c some of the plot (pulling an FBI trainee out of class to solve a case, recruiting a nemesis felon for assistance, etc.)reminds me of another author who shall remain nameless.
It moves you right into sequel mode- no answers until the next book.

It has a rushed ending, almost as if he wrote it on deadline day. The book seems unfinished to me. I have no problems with reading series- in fact, I like series. I would just like for the first in a series to encourage me to read the next. I don't care about reading the next book. What was he thinking?

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

Well...probably no one, because Patterson doesn't develop him or invest him with much genuine, convincing menace at all.
Colourful, yes, but not really scary.

The Wolf in question is a powerful and vicious Russian gangster, the latest dragon which Alex Cross must slay. All across America, people are being bought and kidnapped. It's a sort of white-slave ring open to the highest bidder. And, who is operating this? The Wolf, of course, a "terrifying" mystery-man and huge undiscovered stain on the name of justice. Throw in twists, murders, Cross's new experiences in the FBI where he now works, and you have a typically riveting James Patterson book. Oh yes, and Alex Cross's family is, shockingly, in danger again too. But, this time, not from death... (It's quite a decent sub-plot, actually, but it's as severely underdeveloped as only Patterson can accomplish.)

One of these days I will see sense and stop buying Patterson's books. I mean it. They're bad. (After all, if you ever tried to think of them "seriously" you'd laugh so hard your sides would require sewing back up.) But, I expect it's about as likely to happen as your average person saying "I really must put in more time at the gym" and actually doing it. And why? Because his books - the Cross series in particular, which remains my strong favourite - are so jolly entertaining. Indeed, The Big Bad Wolf is excellent. Prime Patterson. Very fast, very snappy, very very enjoyable. I loved it. The series is firmly back on track, I feel. Or, at least, as much back on track as it is ever going to be considering Patterson's style and that this is now just easy pop-fiction for the undemanding time-starved masses and always will be. It's all cheerfully - and also ineffectually - dramatic (when he uses exclamation marks after a statement, you find it hard to stifle the chuckles) and very implausible, and also at times woefully underdeveloped. Sometimes I get the feeling that if Patterson developed everything more, his books could be just as entertaining but also much more worthy and far better than merely "very entertaining". Instead, the plots fly along and his characters (who could actually be quite interesting) are reduced merely to proper-nouns and pronouns. But, this isn't going to change so I must stop complaining and just enjoy it. This style is here to stay, and as it is it works adequately enough.

Patterson fans should really enjoy this one - eve if it's end is a little too quick and open-ended. After all, it has everything. A killer, Cross, his family, heartless killings, twists, and even issues with Cross trying to fit in with his new job at the FBI (Once again, if only these issues were explored more fully...*sigh*) Even the quality of the writing has improved a little again. Normally, you'll find yourself jolted along by a proliferation of simple sentences, but not so here. I spotted several (yes, several!) compound and complex ones as well this time! It's formula is almost exactly the same as any other Cross book, but don't let that stop you. As I've said, James Patterson is not for you if you are looking for anything more than a simple, entertaining story, but if that is what you're looking for, he's your man. His books are my very guilty but very pleasurable pleasure.

I enjoyed the heck out of this, probably more so cause I just finished "Sam's letters to Jennifer" and it did nothing for me. While this is not the best Alex Cross novel it was still nice to be back in familar territory! If you like the Cross novels you should enjoy this one.