Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

By: James Patterson

Narrated by: Michael Boatman, Stephen Kunken, Cristin Milioti

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Detective Alex Cross is ripped away from his family on Christmas Eve - and that’s nothing compared to what awaits him on Christmas Day. It’s a snowy Christmas Eve, and

Detective Alex Cross is at home celebrating with his family. Nana Mama’s famous pecan pie is in the oven and the kids are hanging their favourite ornaments on the tree. Just as Alex’s wife, Bree, emerges from the kitchen with a bowl of homemade eggnog, his phone rings with news that shatters the night: At a nearby home, a family has been taken hostage - and the situation is spiralling out of control fast.

Alex rushes to the scene and confronts the unthinkable: A father is threatening to murder his own children and his ex-wife. Then just as the insanity peaks, a second horrific situation explodes - one that no one could have foreseen and that puts millions of people at risk. This is a red alert of the darkest kind, and Alex is forced to make a decision that could end as many lives as it saves - including his own.

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is James Patterson’s most shocking Alex Cross novel yet: a breakneck-paced and heart-pounding adrenaline rush of a thriller.

©2012 James Patterson (P)2012 Hachette Audio, published in UK by Random House Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"A tense, multi-voiced reading." ( Kati Nicholl, Express.co.uk)

"Fast-paced and tightly plotted, this is a dramatic thriller that shows why the books in this series sell by the truckload." ( Sunday Mirror)

James Patterson at his best

What did you like about this audiobook?

Another nail biting plot following the formidable Detective Cross

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

Always been a fan of James Patterson

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

Fast paced plot always keeping you wondering and slightly on edge

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

Nothing

A good book but not my favourite Alex Cross

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend it, but I would preface that by encouraging them to listen to or read the earlier ones first, or I don't think they would get such a feel for the whole Alex family dynamic.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

These weren't my favourite narrators, but they were okay, and it is good to have multiple narrators for the different parts, it allows you to feel more connected to them.

The tension is high

Another great book with excellent narration. I do prefer Patterson's books when he rights on his own. This book is 10/10 !

Brilliant

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

because all james patterson books are good and keep you riveted from start to finish

What did you like best about this story?

loved it all

Which scene did you most enjoy?

there was so many

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I've read all the alex cross series by james patterson up to this point and i can't wait to get the next one in the series...all have been absolutely brilliant

Not a good,engaging plot.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The chapters are too small--making the book have a disjointed effect.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

By the time I reached the end, I was so bored I cannot remember the end!

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

His voice was too 'soft' giving the wrong feeling to the book. His voice didn't have a sense of danger or urgency.

Do you think Merry Christmas, Alex Cross needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No follow up is necessary. The plot didn't need to say any thing else.

Excelent book

A fantastic book yet again from James Patterson Merry Christmas Alex Cross has a great storyline mixing family scenes and his work solving crimes and his best friend Sampson is in there too. as well this is one book I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and would recommend to any James Patterson Fans.

patchy

This doesn't seem to flow as well as some of the others. The story seems to reach a premature ending, and i thought i'd missed a chunk of the novel. Almost as if the author hadn't known exactly where this book was going and joined bits together. Not my favourite!

merry christmas alex cross

merry christmas alex cross

James patterson is on fine form ,a really good listen ,

Recommended ,, difficult to stop listening ,exiting book ,,

Narration excelent ,

Happy Xmas

As always with all Alex cross books James Patterson makes a great job of reminnding us that Alex cross is charming witty intelligent sexy and always in the look out for humanity in general this tells of a potential attack on New York and of a deranged man taking his family hostage on Xmas eve and Alex is put in charge of both situations a thrilling read with plenty of twists and turns

Not sure I'm interested enough to finish

Perfect cop with perfect family fighting essentially good but very messed up people and terrorists blinded by hatred. I guess it's just too polarized: all sweet and cosy home versus horrible, dangerous, wicked outside world. I'm not saying all cops should be like Harry Hole but this one sometimes gets a bit unrealistic.

Then wife walks into a hostage situation to persuade cop hubby to come home because it's Christmas? Gees! That was painful!