RJ's Views: Roses are Red by James Patterson (Audio)

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Roses are Red by James Patterson (Audio)

Roses Are Red
by James Patterson
read by Peter Jay Fernandez
ISBN: 1478964197
released - 2016
Hachette Audio

I've been an Alex Cross fan since the first novel hit the shelves - way back in .... (oh, well, so much for keeping my age a secret) :-) 1993. That was the year I picked up Along Came A Spider. I was hooked! Alex Cross was so charismatic, handsome, caring, and loyal you couldn't help but love him. But, there was that tough side of him that was extremely appealing too. The no nonsense, cross me and I'll take you down attitude that kept the tension level at boiling throughout the story. With each book, Patterson got the reader closer to the characters, delivered progressively nastier, sneakier, and deadlier enemies and I couldn't get enough.

Roses Are Red was released in the year 2000 and was the 6th book in the Alex Cross series. There's a lot going on in this book - Detective Cross continues the pursuit of romance with a trusted FBI agent, his precious daughter is diagnosed with a brain tumor and a bank robber calling himself the Mastermind is wrecking havoc in D.C. Cross is pulled in so many different directions in this one, it's no wonder he seemed to miss several very vibrant red herrings. Roses Are Red is a carbon copy of the previous books, in writing style, short, crisp chapters with simple prose. It's been a winning recipe thus far for Patterson and I don't see that changing. However, if the stories continue to be reminiscent of a Hardy Boys book, readers that love thrillers will seek more engaging novels elsewhere.

It's been years since I read Roses Are Red - listening to the book on audio CD was surprisingly enjoyable. The depth, tone, and tension brought to the story through the masterful narration of Peter Fernandez changed the whole reading experience for me. If you are an Alex Cross fan. If you love James Patterson. You owe it to yourself to get a copy of these classic novels on audio. I enjoyed the audio book much more than reading the hard copy years ago. The narration is perfect and adds so many levels to the story that it's almost like reading a new book. You have to listen for yourself to truly appreciate what good narration can do, even for a mediocre story.

You asked for the list & I listened. Here it is! Enjoy :-)

Do you love Alex Cross? Did you miss a book here and there? Or maybe you just want to go back and reread a classic James Patterson novel.

Alex Cross Novels (listed in order of release)

Along Came a Spider	(1993)	Click To Buy
Kiss the Girls	(1995)	Click To Buy
Jack & Jill	(1996)	Click To Buy
Cat and Mouse	(1997)	Click To Buy
Pop Goes the Weasel	(1999)	Click To Buy
Roses Are Red	(2000)	Click To Buy
Violets Are Blue	(2001)	Click To Buy
Four Blind Mice

The Big Bad Wolf	(2003)	Click To Buy
London Bridges	(2004)	Click To Buy
Mary, Mary	(2005)	Click To Buy
Cross	(2006)	Click To Buy
Double Cross	(2007)	Click To Buy
Cross Country	(2008)	Click To Buy
Alex Cross' Trial	(2009)	Click To Buy
I, Alex Cross	(2009)	Click To Buy
Cross Fire	(2010)	Click To Buy
Kill Alex Cross	(2011)	Click To Buy
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross	(2012)	Click To Buy
Alex Cross, Run	(2013)	Click To Buy
Cross My Heart	(2013)	Click To Buy