Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross, 4)

Rapid fire murder

Cat and Mouse by James Patterson Warner Books, 1997A former nemisis of Alex Cross, Gary Soneji, has escaped from jail and is intent on building his reputation as the best (worst?) serial killer in the world and to add Alex Cross to his growing list of victims. Shooting people like fish in a barrel in Washington and New York train stations brings Alex in close contact with this vicious psychopath whose final words seems to indicate that Cross and his family are doomed.Meanwhile in Europe another serial killer nick named "Mr. Smith" is dispatching victims at and incredible rate and he too would like to end the career of Alex Cross. As Alex becomes involved in this case he must figure out the tantalizing clues left by the killer before he too becomes a victim of the brilliant "Mr. Smith".A real page turner filled with incredible tension softened somewhat and made human by Alex's growing love for the beautiful Christine Johnson. For thriller readers a real must.

Alex Cross, James Patterson's returning character, is truly one today's greatest, most well developed 'hero' found in print! In Cat and Mouse, Cross's fourth book, the reader is sent on a roller coaster ride of plot twists all written in an almost groundbreaking 'change of perspective' style. Live the unfolding mystery through Alex Cross's eyes and others around him as they interact with one another in an attempt to stop the returning villian from Patterson's previous book Along Came a Spider-Gary Soneji. Or is it someone else? In this book Patterson has topped himself once again concerning the 'fleshing out' of his star Alex Cross. The interaction between the detective and those around him such as his children, mother and love interest creates a spellbinding atmosphere that is rarely achieved in today's 'suspense' books. But therein is only one of the author's strengths, the storyline is presented in a unique and captivating way, with a seemingly unbelievable twist occurring halfway through instead of at the end. Lastly, don't be misled by my harping on the merits of this book's character interaction. Its greatest asset is the mystery villian, and Alex Cross's attempts at identifying him/her. *Previous book alert* I suggest you read the first three Alex Cross books in this order:Along Came a Spider,Kiss the Girls, and Jack and Jill. (at the very least Along..) before reading Cat and Mouse.

Cat & Mouse was the story of Alex Cross, an African-American police officer who was working on a case of two serial killers. One was Gary Soneji--the antagonist from Patterson's previous thriller Along Came a Spider--who was hellbent on taking revenge on Cross, family included. The other was Mr. Smith, a serial killer with split personalities who performed "autopsies" on his victims while they were still alive.This book has a good balance of scenes between Cross' personal life (his loving grandmother, his huge best friend Samson, his two beautiful children, and their teacher whom he is falling in love with) and business life.The book is very easy to follow and goes by at a very quick pace. The characters were realistic along with the plot.The thing that I liked most about the book was the way Patterson told the story. I actually found myself feeling sorry for the bad guys as well as the good, which usually never happens.I would recommend this book to anyone but be sure not to make the same mistake I made. I started the book late at night before I went to bed at about 11 o'clock. It was so good that I continued to read until three in the morning, which left me sleepy and irritable the next day at work. If you are going to read this book, be sure to start it when you have at least two hours of spare time.P.S. Please read my other reviews.

The novel, Cat and Mouse, describes the life of Alex Cross, a Washington detective who is chasing one of the worlds most notorious serial killers, Gary Soneji. The author of the novel, James Patterson takes you through a series of grotesque murders committed by Gary Soneji. With Alex Cross on the case it is a compelling, fast-paced story that forces you to keep reading. Alex Cross has been searching for Gary Soneji ever since he got out of jail and started committing more murders. Gary Soneji's lofty intelligence has made this case more difficult and time consuming than Detective Cross can hardly handle. Soneji's sick mind takes Cross on a wild and exciting "cat and mouse" chase around the east coast. Just when you think that Alex Cross caught Soneji the story turns the opposite direction. Gary Sonejihas a cohort named "Mr. Smith" who is also a demented serial killer out on the rampage. To me the book was the best I have ever read. It kept me in suspence the whole time. James Patterson is a creative writer who deserves all the credit he got. This book well deserves its number one bestseller rating. In my opinion this novel shows thesick side of the real world. James Patterson's use of informal modern English makes the novel easy to read. He symbolizes Cross's old black Porsche, that is in bad need of a paint job, with how Cross does not have enough time to go buy a new car. He spends all of his extra time with his children since the case takes up most of it. Cat and Mouse is filled with true life accounts that will make the reader's curiosity run wild with excitement but will also make them shake with fright. It shows the real world is a scary place that should not be dealt with lighty. The overall theme of the novel is that life is precious and some bad things happen to good people.