“Merry Christmas, Alex Cross” by James Patterson – Crime Doesn’t Rest, even on Holidays

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson (Book cover)
Detective Alex Cross has survived through countless seemingly-deadly affairs using nothing but his seemingly super-human McGuyver-like intelligence; regardless of what situation he is in, he always thinks of something.

It seems that such a man has earned the right to spend Christmas without having to escape certain death, but it seems crime thinks otherwise.

First, someone robs the local church’s poor box, and who else but Alex Cross has to solve that crime. Things then escalate rather suddenly as our beloved Protagonist finds himself saving a family from a hostage situation… as if he doesn't have enough on his shoulders with a family to save, it seems even his life ends up coming under threat.

First off, let me say that even though Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson is advertised on Amazon as being 353 pages, it’s not true… there are only 101 pages. There are basically three stories jammed in this book, and to be honest, they are a bit formulaic for my taste.

However, that never stopped Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot novels from becoming a success, even though each one of them pretty much had the same structure and formula (with a few exceptions, as always).

The stories themselves are actually enjoyable, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking; this is classic Alex Cross, perhaps even a bit more classic than some people would like.

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson (Book cover)
I have read some people complaining about how this book is just a way for James Patterson to get a fat paycheck for Christmas (and who can blame him really? We all want that), and to be honest, I find it kind of shows; certain themes, events and even characters aren't as developed as they could have been.

All in all, whether it was for lack of time or effort, the book just doesn't feel finished. However, that doesn't stop it from being enjoyable.


James B. Patterson (Author)

James B. Patterson


Personal site

James Patterson is an American writer who has dedicated a large part of his literary career to writing murder-related thrillers, inventing in the process two memorable character-based series in Alex Cross and Michael Bennett.

His most prominent works include Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.

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