Review: Four Blind Mice

Cross is ready to resign, when his friend John Sampson comes to his door, asking Alex for one final favour…One of Sampson’s oldest friends is found guilty of viciously killing three women, but Sergeant Ellis Cooper swears blind that he is innocent. And Sampson believes him, despite the mound of evidence against the solider. Alex Cross too becomes convinced that Cooper is innocent, and his search for the truth becomes even more urgent when he uncovers evidence of a series of suspicious murder convictions, and of the existence of three brutal and efficient killers who call themselves the Three Blind Mice. But soon, Cross will discover that he has another foe to reckon with, another killer…the Fourth Blind Mouse.

Written in James Patterson’s signature prose (simple, shallow, but super-fast) this book is practically a non-stop thrill-fest. It’s surely one of his best Alex Cross books in years, free as it is from many of the elements which have typified his recent ones, and made them rather annoying. (Cross "falling in love" with the lead female of almost every book, as an example.) Instead, this time Cross appears to be settling down.

The story is nicely structured, enjoyable, surprising, and at times rather original. It’s refreshing to see Sampson again, as he has been curiously absent recently, and there are also some wonderful developments with Alex’s family (and friends) which will probably please most fans, and bring a few more levels to the book. The plot moves at break-neck pace, and contains several good twists which keep the book fresh, and the reader turning those pages right up the finale.

With an ending that signposts a slightly new direction in the series, this book should encourage many Patterson fans who thought he was loosing his touch. It’s by no means a perfect book , though. It should be at least 50 pages longer, the characters should be more developed, the dialogue at times is cringe-worthy, and the "thin" writing make the book sometimes feel more like the outline of a novel rather than a complete one. However, after some recent disappointing efforts, this book pleased me a great deal, and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s undeniably entertaining.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Fiona Walker

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.

Book Review: Four Blind Mice

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.