Alex Cross Series by James Patterson

One day as I was browsing for a good SF read, a book on display jumped off the shelf and grabbed my attention by the throat. Two reasons for this - the lettering on the cover fairly screamed "Pick Me UP!! Now!!" and the title, a line from a familiar old nursery rhyme. The book was Pop! Goes the Weasel by James Patterson. So I did as the book cover wanted me to do and picked the book up, read the Jacket, and actually paid for it without any specific reason. I got home and again the screaming cover dictated that I begin reading this over my normal SF fare. I met Alex Cross, Nana Mama, John Sampson, and a deranged murderous lunatic nicknamed the Weasel. I was amazed several hours later to find that time had actually passed in the "real world", the book was finished, and I wanted more. I went back to the book store the next day and picked up the four earlier Alex Cross books. For a couple of days I wasn't seen or heard from, don't remember much except for murder and mayhem. I haven't missed a Cross book since.

1. Along Came a Spider (1992)
2. Kiss the Girls (1994)
3. Jack and Jill (1996)
4. Cat and Mouse (1997)
5. Pop! Goes the Weasel (1999)
6. Roses Are Red (2000)
7. Violets Are Blue (2001)
8. Four Blind Mice (2002)
9. The Big Bad Wolf (2003)
10. London Bridges (2004)
11. Mary Mary (2005)
12. Cross (2006)
13. Double Cross (2007)

When the Wind Blows/Maximum Ride Series

When I saw the usual James Patterson screaming book jacket, I picked up When the Wind Blows, thinking "Great, another Cross adventure", not even looking at the rest of the jacket. (Can you say "Conditioned") I started reading and was surprised that Alex wasn't making an appearance. That was okay as Fran and Max, and the rest of the angels made up for it. But it did have the effect of making me look at the jacket before making a blind purchase. The Lake House was every bit as good and I definately wanted to hear more about Max and friends.

When the Wind Blows
1. When the Wind Blows (1998)
2. The Lake House (2003)

When I picked up Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, I was confused. Here was Max again, it was the same Max but the story was different. At first I was disappointed, but was soon drawn into the story. While not quite as good as the original Max, this alternate Max was enjoyable.

Maximum Ride
1. The Angel Experiment (2005)
2. School's Out-- Forever (2006)
3. Saving the World: And Other Extreme Sports (2007)

Having learned to look at the Patterson jackets, I was aware that the Murder Club books were not Cross books. I picked up 1st to Die expecting the same thrills I had from Alex and Max. It didn't work. I actually had to force myself to get through the book. I read a few pages of the next in line, 2nd Chance, at the book store, and put the book back on the shelf. The Murder Club books just don't do it for me. I looked at some of Patterson's stand alones and some are good, some bad. The Jester is a great fun read, as is Beach House