Violets are Blue

James Patterson

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Around noon, I got a call on my cell phone. 'Just checking in,' the Mastermind said. 'How is San Francisco, Alex? Lovely city. Will you leave your heart there? Do you think it's a good place to die?'

The Mastermind of Roses are Red is back - and he's hot on Alex Cross's trail. His cold, taunting threats leave Alex angry and deeply concerned for his family's safety.

Meanwhile, Alex is drawn in to his most bizarre investigation yet. Two San Francisco joggers are found dead - bitten and hung by their feet to drain the blood. Further murders in California, and then on the East Coast as well, completely baffle Alex and the FBI. Is this the work of a cult, of role players, or even of modern-day vampires? Desperate to stop the deaths, Alex teams up with Jamilla Hughes, a savvy woman detective from San Francisco, and the FBI's Kyle Craig. But Alex has never been closer to defeat, or in greater danger. In a shocking conclusion, he must survive a deadly confrontation - only to learn at last the awful secret of the Mastermind.

Review by Chrissi (011101) Rating (8/10)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 8/10
Violets are Blue is the culmination of the cat and mouse chase between Alex Cross and the Mastermind. We knew at the end of Roses are Red who The Mastermind was, and yet Mr Patterson resists the urge to refer to that unveiling throughout 'Violets are Blue'. I can only think that in not doing so, anyone reading the books out of order would not realise who we are chasing so hard, and would be surprised, whereas those of us who have read the series so far would just be waiting, egging Alex on.

Mr Patterson is gifted with the ability to write fast books, books that flow through your mind as you read. There is a good amount of character development, but it does not get in the way of the plot, and whilst Alex retains his grip, for the most part on the case, he is still looking for a life that he wants to live.

He wants to be with someone, with his children and some of the interactions are fabulous. When he breaks his arrangement to see his son in the choir, his grandmother puts the phone down on him to indicate her disapproval... you could just see it happening.

It would be a shame for me to give you any hard details about the story, because it's a thriller, and it is a darn good read, so I won't give away any of the plot. I would not say to you, if you have never read an Alex Cross novel, that you have to start at the beginning, because, while they flesh out the character, they do not give that much to this story. If you have read some on them, then you should read this one - a worthy Alex Cross novel, if ever there was...

It will be interesting to see the development of Cross now that his nemesis is out in the open, whether they will maintain their adversarial relationship or whether Cross will catch him and end the series. We'll have to wait and see, I suppose.

Speaking of Cross, has anyone seen the latest film, and what did you think, should I go and see it, or will it disappoint? Answers on an email to chrissi(at)booklore.co.uk please.
Chrissi (1st November 2001)