Alex Cross's TRIAL

Generally. I'm not given to writing negative reviews, if I don't like a book ... I figure I've already wasted enough of my time ... but this book has driven me to make an exception. I gave up reading Patterson when his writing started feeling more an exercise in prolific banality than creative genius. I really enjoyed his early work and especially the character, Alex Cross. One more chance I thought ... this is Alex Cross. All I can say is I wish I had my ten bucks back, this was miserable. Patterson cares more about the commercial buck than his writng craft. Too bad he sold himself down such a cheap river.

I decided to read the book because I enjoy recent historical fiction. I was especially interested in learning about the deep South and how blacks were treated in the early 1900's. I was so disappointed. There was little depth to the book, yet such a deep subject. I thought it was slow and violence just for the sake of violence. The narration was painful. I never felt like the book took place over a hundred years. The narrative had a rather hip, sarcastic tone and absolutely no southern accent even though it was in first person and the character was from Mississippi. Too many chapters. The music at the end of some of the chapters was totally annoying and not necessary. The worst audible book I have ever listened to. I should have gone with my gut and quit an hour into it.

I hate to leave bad reviews, but it really is that awful. It's a lot like The Magic Treehouse childrens' series, except with extreme violence. Weirdly, the poor narrator reads these harrowing scenes in a chipper, slightly amused voice. There's lot of good audiobooks here, but this is not one of them.

Lawd, lawd, there is nothing more frustrating that listening to a non-southerner try to imitate a Mississippi accent. Worse, when they try to conjure up a Mississippi Negro accent. There is the barest connection to Alex Cross in this story, so I felt mislead that this was advertised as a Cross novel. Also, it is beginning to get on my nerves that Mr Patterson gets so much credit for books he does not solely author. How much of his books are his, and how much of the credit belongs to his co-authors? Is Mr. Patterson incapable of writing a book by himself?

If you are considering getting this book in order to experience another great adventure of Alex Cross - forget it. Alex Cross's name is boldly included in the title of this book, but this book is NOT about him - not at all. It's about an ancestor of his. While the story that's the basis for the book is okay, James Patterson and the publisher blatantly manipulates potential readers by including in the book's title the name of a well known and much beloved character - Alex Cross. We deserve better and they should be appropriately criticized.

I kept waiting for the connection to Alex Cross. Some characters had the last name of Cross, but I never did figure out why this book was titled Alex Cross's Trial. The book was slow and verbose. I felt like the author was trying to get to certain word count level.

Many people have given this book low ratings just because it wasn't an "Alex Cross" book. Just reading the synopsis tells you exactly what the book is about and why I wanted to read it. Although I listened to the book, my husband actually read it and we were both enthralled. I think the narrator added so much to my enjoyment that I can't give it anything less than five stars. Anyone who has ever read any history about the South and the KKK knows how very real this book depicts that time. Good job Patterson for reminding us of what should never happen again in this country.

If your looking for the next suspense thrilled chapter in Alex Cross's life, keep waiting. This is racial historical folklore disguised as a bedtime story told by Cross about generations past. Nana Momma isn't even a factor. Even family guy retrospects include a tie to current situations as stupid as they are.
This is another "co-author" James Patterson example of putting his name on someone else's work, possibly for the money or to rack up his total publication numbers. If he's giving NEW TALENT a break, he should be much more selective! It would be like Patricia Cornwell narrating a story of Scarpetta's niece Lucy's grandparents courtship with zero connection to current story lines.
How will we know when the next Patterson novel is really he former " Beach House" or "Roses are Red" quality. I'm not buying anymore DUAL Author let downs.

The title dose not say it all!
Patterson is loosing it.

Can't give u a full review because we stopped after 10 minutes or so...