Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Four Blind Mice  By  cover art

Four Blind Mice

By: James Patterson
Narrated by: Peter J. Fernandez,Michael Emerson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.49

Buy for $19.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Detective Alex Cross is on his way to resign from the Washington, DC police force when his partner shows up at his door with a case he can't refuse. One of John Sampson's oldest friends, from their days together in Vietnam, has been arrested for murder. Worse yet, he is subject to the iron hand of the United States Army. The evidence against him is strong enough to send him to the gas chamber.

Sampson is certain his friend has been framed, and Alex's investigation turns up evidence overlooked - or concealed - by the military authorities. Drawing on their years of street training and an almost telepathic mutual trust, Cross and Sampson go deep behind military lines to confront the most ruthless - and deadliest - killers they have ever encountered. Behind these three highly skilled killing machines there appears to be an even more threatening controller. Discovering the identity of this lethal genius will prove to be Cross' most terrifying challenge ever.

On his visits home, Alex must confront another, more disturbing mystery: what's the matter with Nana Mama? As he explores the possibility of a relationship with a woman who offers him new hope, Alex must also face the fact that his beloved grandmother is only human.

©2002 James Patterson, All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of the AOL Time Warner Book Group

Critic reviews

"Everything clicks in this novel, from Patterson's patented short chapters to the whiplash plotting." (Publishers Weekly)
"Patterson delivers another exciting thriller, with some intriguing new developments for [Alex] Cross." (Booklist)

Featured Article: The Best James Patterson Audiobooks and Series, According to Fans


James Patterson is one of the most prolific contemporary American writers working today—from children's and YA books to thrillers, mysteries, and even romance, it's hard to keep up with such a massive number of best sellers. Whether you’re just discovering James Patterson or you’re an avid, longtime fan of his wide-ranging work, you can't go wrong with any of these excellent listens. Here are a few different entry points into his impressive catalog.

What listeners say about Four Blind Mice

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    999
  • 4 Stars
    458
  • 3 Stars
    202
  • 2 Stars
    47
  • 1 Stars
    27
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    805
  • 4 Stars
    206
  • 3 Stars
    68
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    771
  • 4 Stars
    230
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

four blind mice

Pure perverted filth. After listening to only the 1st hour or so, I stopped my player, disgusted with this trash. The scene that ended it, was 3 ?men? picking up a 19 year old prostitute, ?hunting? her through a nearby swap then catching, raping, then presumably killing her. I never let this garbage get that far. Does this perverted author get off on this crap. I am thoroughly sorry I wasted me money and I wish there was a way for me to specify 0 stars. I have herd hundreds of audio books. Some were great, some were not worth the time, but none have EVER made me this revolted in my life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

75 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Awful

Awful

This is one of the worst books I have ever read, and I am not a very picky reader.

Half the book is done in first person while the other half in third person making it very confusing. The villains seem to be very violent for no apparent reason. It seems that for the number of murders the villains committed it would take less then 30 years to find them. Especially considering that they paint their victims faces, making the links between the murders child?s play. Oh and here is the best part, all of the army investigators refuse to look at important evidence for no apparent reason.


Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Infinitely better than recent Alex Cross stories

I like Alex Cross. I loved the earlier stories, but after Roses are Red, I swore I would never, ever read another James Patterson book. It's an addiction. I read Violets are Blue, a slight redemption, but I was still borderline. Beach House was adequate, and the new series, 1st to Die and 2nd Chance were an interesting change. Four Blind Mice is a good book, ill-timed storyline, but such is life. I find myself looking forward to some more enjoyable quick reads/listens from Patterson (what is it, every six months?)....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

ICK!

James Patterson has been slipping and Alex Cross is wearing thin. But, this book is so bad that by the end I was hoping, no praying that Alex Cross would get killed so Patterson couldn't write yet another dreary Alex Cross novel. The story line in this one is weak and so poorly constructed I was shocked it was published. I kept hoping it would get better but it never did it just kept getting worse and worse as it went on.. The one bright spot was Alex's new love intrest Jamila did not get kidnapped or killed...YET. On top of all this he has turned Kile Craig into a weak, imitation Hannibal Lecter want'ta'be who Cross goes to for advise though it's is never clear why. Then with people being murdered in the same way all over the country and with Cross and Sampson killing others and breaking into houses and bumbling around no one but Cross it seems can get the connection or any connection. PLEASE!!! And any Viet Nam Vet will be as insulted by the final reveal as I was I am sure. Now Cross is in the FBI and I can only imagine what kind of BS cases will come next. Well this is the last James Patterson book for me, they have been getting worse for some time now but this is one too many. Someone please tell Patterson to stop or at least take a break to try to recapture what he had when he started.
If you're smart you'll miss this Alex Cross outing. I sure wish I had.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Another Knock At the Door

If your like me you like a good mystery/thriller/suspense novel, but I have to say this wasnt it. In the last book I read by the author, Roses Are Red I thought he did a great job with everything a good book should have. That book started out with an FBI agent/friend showing up at his house to ask for help in a case, one which he was unable to refuse. In Four Blind Mice, theres another knock at the door and you guessed it, they need help and he cant refuse. Every case seems to be his last and the story was a bit boring. In short I'd pass.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Hideous sound effects

If you dislike sound effects, stay away. These are the worst ever.

Perhaps Patterson thinks that a powerful villain in a position of power is enticing. Not. Imagine Lt. Calley of the My Lai Massacre were promoted rather than court martialed, and you would have this plot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

4 Blind Mice

I am so confused on the hate that this book is getting. It was a good read! I liked it a lot. It was a little more violent than his past novels, with a horrible rape scene, but, this is the nature of the book. If you don't like the violence, don't pick up the Cross series. This was a good book....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Heading Downhill

Alex Cross is tired. James Patterson is tired. Together, they are damned near worn out! Patterson is at his best when he is moving and twisting and turning, as he did in First to Die and Second Chance. Those are Patterson at his best. But this Alex Cross novel sounds like he'd like to write Alex off if only he could think of a satisfying way to do it. I found the central theme of the story so unbelievable when revealed, that it simply left me going "what the heck?" For the most part, I'm willing to give Jimmy a break when he constructs a plot, but this one just went too far. When I put it down, I was glad it was over. I doubt if I will be picking up another Alex Cross novel. Part of the problem is that the wisdom and humor that used to flow from the pages is lacking. The Nanna-Momma character who used to provide such wisdom and direction is an afterthought, as are the children. The time lines are not coherent. It is almost like this one was ghost-written. Get Second Chance or First to Die and pass this one up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Four Blind Stars

James Patterson's Detective Cross series is one of my personal favorites. This outing in particular was well paced, Patterson's style lends itself well to audiobooks. The dialouge is well delivered by the narrators and contains only a minimal amount of sound effects. The military aspect of the novel was well written and believable (I come from a military background and I take, almost personal, offense when a writer gets it wrong). I would have given it five stars, but I reserve that for unique novels. Four Blind Mice is crime fiction formula at its best. A worthwhile listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT

Once again Alex Cross, that Beleagured Black Protagonist, saves the proverbial rear ends of the bumbling establishment. Come on! this guy can't write and his obvious hate for his own race is starting to get putrid. I would rather listen to six hours of Al Franken than another five minutes of this trash.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful