Alex Cross' last case (?)

After the events of the last volumes that eventually in the capture and arrest of the serial killer and bank robber "Mastermind" ended, Detective Alex Cross decides now after very long rags finally, the police occupation of the nail to hang around spending more time with his family can. But just before it comes to that, will be made to him just by his best friend, John Sampson, a spanner in the works. Ellis Cooper, an old Johns pleasures from his time in the US Army put namely in trouble: Three women were murdered in cold blood and painted with blue paint and all evidence points to him, but he vehemently maintained his innocence, even though he already for Death was sentenced. Together with Alex Sampson So goes to Fort Bragg to there to make the appropriate investigations. Quick crystallizes out that Cooper did not commit the murders, but the search for the true offenders has become increasingly difficult. Their work is further complicated by the lack of cooperation even the army who like regulates its own affairs and has apparently also to hide something in connection with this case. And while the clock for Ellis Cooper expires always more, Alex has to find out that this murder and the conviction of an innocent person are not the only ones, but only a part of a series of murders that stretches as far back as the days of the Vietnam War. ..

James Patterson! What can you say about this author yet? Meanwhile, for the eighth time he convinces with its titular hero Alex Crss, he once again rushing into chapters of a few pages with a single big nightmare of blood, death and secrets. And he always manages to add new facets to this character of Alex Cross, to provide him with new problems and decision ways in business and in private. The main character is always human and sympathetic. This time, however, Alex Cross takes a piece in the background and greater attention to be given to his friend John Sampson, the partially slightly went down in the last volumes. We learn a lot about the youth of the two common and about Sampsons time in the US Army and in Vietnam and the character gets more depth and even has its own Love subplot.

The Army and the Vietnam War are also very central themes in this book and after the vampire cult theme from "Violets Are Blue" returns the Alex Cross series thus back to a little less wacky storylines. Attaches particular importance Patterson here on the Gräuetaten committed in Vietnam by both sides and by the ever-present "wall of silence" (here takes the German version of the book their time even legally acceptable title) within the army, which means that problems in the army also be dissolved in the army and civilians are excluded in principle from all affairs. That this makes the work of our titular hero not particularly understood.

As he etalierte already in his first work "Along Came a Spider" or "Pop Goes the Weasel," said James Patterson can also time the reader from the beginning to know who are the real culprits: Thomas Starkey Brownley Harris and Warren Griffin, Three former US soldiers who shared in Vietnam as a commando "Three Blind Mice" (hence the English title) fought while a certain pleasure in killing developed, and is now involved as a professional killer since its exit from the army. This eliminates the three a little bit out of the ranks of the completely deranged serial killers of the previous volumes, but are therefore no less cruel and in some cold-blooded murders, described usual detailed in Patterson-style, one but developed a certain hatred for these three guys , In addition, the identity of her order giver, the person behind the murders (the fourth blind mouse so), until the end remains a mystery and even after the case is still ongoing. However, one must also say that the fascination that often emanates from the villains in Patterson's works, completely lacking here, the killer is not as impressive as last are the mastermind, the weasel or Gary Soneji.

Speaking of Mastermind. Most impressive of all was for me in this book Cross' encounter with his old nemesis, the Mastermind when he visited this prison and the two talk times short. One of the most ingenious moves to Patterson's style is that it can last villains never really forgets and incorporate them repeatedly with to vorauszudeuten that from this in the future quite yet potentially hazardous conditions. So readers are kept beyond the borders of a single book out into voltage. The weasel and the mastermind, he has now just two top villains in the hindquarters, he can jump anytime unexpectedly out of the hat. That's very promising for the next parts of the series ...

As always plays the private life of Alex Cross this time a certain role, this time even a fairly large because it deepens both his relationship with his latest known Creates Jamilla Hughes and also has to deal with his grandmother Nana Mama deal that now her pretty advanced age to feel begins and already suffered first heart weakness. Although partially shown quite dramatic, as in the latter Patterson is so far probably remain quite accustomed konsequenzenlos and serves more as a stopgap than as an ongoing problem with the series through. The complete love story was Apart from the very moved, this time for my tastes to the fore and was too little rooted in the rest of the story, not only because Alex has been very intensively to deal with his girlfriend, but also John Sampson is a Queen of Hearts. .. in places so the murder case is a bit neglected and the novel developed far from Patterson unusual lengths (in comparison to other Autren nevertheless are quite short).

All in all, a sovereign continuation of the Alex Cross series, which does not disappoint, but compared to previous parts not really overwhelmed. But Patterson is still on a good path and I am very hopeful, as regards the rest of the adventures of Alex Cross.

The usual 4 of 5 Army