26

Alex Cross and his wife Bree Stone, try to stop a deadly bomber in Washington, D.C. Even though this is another short story in this series, it is a very good book from beginning to end.

Disappointed. Patterson's new form, Bookshots, is not conducive to the Alex Cross stories unless you already know the characters well. As a novella (which is actually what a Bookshot is), it doesn't work particularly well as a stand-alone. Fortunately I've read most of Alex Cross and knew enough to flesh out the characters in my head. And I could whip through it. But that's not why I enjoy Alex Cross. It's the interplay of fun well-developed characters and a good plot and a good mystery.

I quit reading any Patterson novel with a co-author long ago. Now I won't bother with any of his Bookshots either.

Patterson is making a pile of money, but it seems to have become his main goal instead of writing good books.

If you enjoyed Patterson in the old days, read Richard North Patterson. He doesn't write many books, but the ones he writes are as good as, if not better than, the old James Patterson.