Few fictional characters inspire such affection and command enough fame that their names alone would make appropriate book titles. A few examples leap to mind -- Harry Potter, Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables), Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
Bestselling author James Patterson tries to use a recent thriller novel, Cross (2007, Warner Books, 361 pages), to admit his leading man, detective Alex Cross, a hunter of monster criminals, into such company. Despite Cross's heroics and admirable traits, he's not quite in the same league.
A former Washington police detective, then an FBI investigator, Alex puts family concerns first when resigning to become a full-time psychologist. “Nana Mama and the kids went wild with applause. ‘Des-ti-tute! Des-ti-tute!’ the kids began to chant. And you know what? It had a nice ring to it. So did no more monsters.”
Alas, a police investigation into crimes by Michael Sullivan (the Butcher of Sligo), a vicious murderer-mutilator and serial rapist, hints at links to the 1993 shooting death of Alex's wife Maria. Still haunted by her demise in his arms as he tried to reach a hospital, Alex joins John Sampson, his former partner, in a new pursuit.
Based on past successes, Alex has a reputation as “the dragon-slayer” for foiling the most vicious killers. As usual, the new adversary may be his most formidable yet. “Because that's what the Butcher specialized in – tragedies, the unspeakable kind.”
Patterson's prowess with similes brings situations to life: “ ‘Who the hell are you?’ asked a foot soldier, who rose like steam from one of the rickety card tables.”
His descriptions form instant pictures in readers' minds. “Jiang An-Lo's row house was faded, peeling yellow, and looked decrepit from the outside. The dirt yard was littered with trash that looked as if it had burst from a piñata. Most of the windows were covered with plywood or tin.”
Many readers, even before starting this book, Patterson's 12th about Alex, know the protagonist well. They admire that he's a good father, understand when he endures emotional turmoil and enjoy his habit of relieving stress by playing piano on a sun-porch at home. As the plot thickens, they almost hear that music.
But this time, Patterson does his best work with Sullivan, who survived an emotionally scarred childhood to become a freelance hit-man for the Italian Mob, unusual work for an Irishman. As nasty as the Butcher is, readers understand his motivation, admire his courage and even sympathize a little. “A song he hated, Elton John's ‘Crocodile Rock', was on somebody's car radio down the block, and he was tempted to shoot whoever was playing that shit.”
Patterson's plot stacks heavy odds against this villain. Apart from Alex, Sampson and the other chasing authorities, the Mob wants Sullivan dead too. Yet he looks capable of taking on all challengers, standing ever taller as they fall. With undeniable flair, he likes to bow to witnesses after a kill.
Alex, the narrator, sees such behavior. “Three loud cracks from a long gun. Jiang went down and stayed there on the sidewalk, not moving at all. Blood poured from the side of his head as if there were a spout there. I doubted he was alive. I spun around and looked toward the rooftop of a brownstone connected to more roofs lining the other side of M. I saw a blond man, and he did the strangest thing: He bowed in our direction. I couldn't believe what he'd just done. Taken a bow? Then he ducked behind a brick parapet and completely disappeared from sight.”
Ever-vulnerable Alex, a single-dad who deeply loves his children and draws strength from them, may be overmatched. Will this culprit elude him?
For Patterson, from Florida, crime thrillers form a specialty. He has sold nearly 200 million copies of his books. Two Patterson novels, Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, turned into hit movies starring Morgan Freeman. His other titles include: Sundays at Tiffany's, The Lake House, Cradle and All, When the Wind Blows, The Midnight Club and Judge and Jury.
Almost everything by this author makes for riveting reading, and that includes Cross. What a pity how badly it needed a better title!
Approval rating: 73 per cent.
For more information: www.jamespatterson.com
(July 25, 2011)
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James Patterson: inspired
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