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This thread is to discuss Along Came a Spider by James Patterson, the first book of the Alex Cross series.


Pages: 449 pages


Length: 1 Month (June)


Participants: D.L., Lynn, Alison, Iton.


Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Hi All! I picked up this book from the library and will start this week....looking forward to reading this with You! :)

hi I am interested in this since its A James Patterson book series. start reading at midnight.

Hi everyone. Would love to join. This has been on my tbr for a long time

I love this series!! I read most of it years ago lying on the beach on LBI!
I re-read Along came a Spider last year for a prompt.
It’s such a quick read. Looking forward to reading it again!

@Joy…So Far I think only this book was planned for a Buddy read but that is not to say the series couldn’t be continued!

I am about 40% (starting Chapter 31) and am really liking the book (although I find that there are periods of time where they introduce more people or there is a lull in the action). I really don’t like the Bad Guy 😉

can i join

Hello!! I now have the first 3 books in this series. I have been telling myself for YEARS that I need to read this series! I read Alex Cross's Trial, the 15th installment 8 years ago. I was intrigued because it is historical fiction, and I really enjoyed it. I have read other James Patterson books that I was not over-thrilled about, but want to give this series a try from the beginning.

I won't start this one until next week at the earliest, however.

Looking forward to the discussion!

I read up to page 35/Chapter 6 last night just before going to bed. It took a while to get those images out of my head and actually get to sleep. I feared Patterson may be a bit too grisly for me in this series. I'll definitely keep going with this one though to be sure... I just hope it becomes a bit less gruesome now. (Yes, I am a terrible wuss!) I love the banter among Cross (LOVE that signature of his!), Sampson, and the other cops/detectives. Currently wondering exactly where this is going... 😮

I really enjoyed it. My goal to read 7 chapters a day didn't stick because I couldn't put the book down. If other books in the series are as captivating as this one, I'll have to read them all.

Through Chapter 15/on page 87...
So I gather that this (view spoiler)[one perpetrator has been responsible for all the crimes initially listed in the beginning of the book--the Lindbergh kidnapping, for instance? For one person to have killed over 200 people...that is awful! It begs the question of why? How could one person have evaded capture/suspicion for that long? I guess it's possible... These two children. I really hope this doesn't get even gorier... (hide spoiler)]

Hi All, I finished the book a few days ago and did enjoy it however

(view spoiler)[ I just did not connect with Alex Cross...I felt a little detached from him. I did enjoy the banter/partnership he had with Sampson

I did like the fact that we knew who the killer was from the beginning and followed his journey throughout the book. What a psychopath! His upbringing had a lot to do with his personality...can you imagine being locked in the basement all the time as a child?! :0
(hide spoiler)]

@Lynn (view spoiler)[ I think the Lindbergh kidnapping/killing in the beginning of the book was a crime that Gary was modeling this kidnapping from. I was a little confused about that but realized that Gary wanted to be famous like the Lindbergh kidnapper and he also grew up close to where the Lindbergh kidnapping took place. Plus the Lindbergh crime was committed well before Gary/Alex's time

But I gather from the book that yes, Gary did (or believes that he did) kill over 200 people... (hide spoiler)]

Alison wrote: "Hi All, I finished the book a few days ago and did enjoy it however

I just did not connect with Alex Cross...I felt a little detached from him. I did enjoy the banter/partnership he had with Samp..."

I did realize that about Gary as I kept reading. It was confusing to me initially! Thank you for helping me out with that!

I have now read to page 196, through Chapter 37.

They just (view spoiler)[entered Gary's house to arrest him and he has disappeared which is not a shock to me. I can only assume that he has rigged either a secure hiding place or a secret escape route! (hide spoiler)]

I must admit I was furious with (view spoiler)[Alex for not even calling and talking to his children on Christmas Day, etc. Perhaps that is how Patterson wished to depict him--disconnected from those closest to him in his life...but it pissed me off! 😕😒 (hide spoiler)]

I feel so sorry for this (view spoiler)[poor little girl. And who the hell is that woman? (I even thought it might be his mother.) I feel as if she will never make it out of there alive. I hope I am wrong...but... (hide spoiler)]

I hope other books in this series do not concentrate on serial killers. I typically don't read books that get into the criminal's head. Too creepy!

I can only assume that he (view spoiler)[killed Alex's wife and that was why he wanted him to deliver the money. Though I felt Alex would be killed in that "exchange." (hide spoiler)]

Alison wrote: "@Joy…So Far I think only this book was planned for a Buddy read but that is not to say the series couldn’t be continued!"
I am hoping we will continue through the series, unless I end up REALLY disliking this one!

"I am about 40% (starting Chapter 31) and am really liking the book (although I find that there are periods of time where they introduce more people or there is a lull in the action). I really don’t like the Bad Guy 😉"
Yeah, he is definitely one VERY sick SoB. Ugh.

Through Chapter 65, at page 361 and have been thinking I should post my suspicion here for the last 75 pages or so. I just don't trust (view spoiler)[Jezzie. I can't explain it, but she seems a bit off-kilter herself. For instance, I could see her being psychotic enough to be working with Gary? I hate to think that, but I do. And now she has disappeared. Or is this just a red herring planted so I would feel uncomfortable enough with her character to suspect her?spoiler> < I don't know, but this book is a wild ride, IMHO! (hide spoiler)]

Aha! As of page 420 my suspicion (view spoiler)[was confirmed! Jezzie was essentially just as much of a psycho/socio-path as Gary, when it came to lying, although she did at least allow the girl to live, which Gary would never have done. (hide spoiler)] Good for Alex for having the wherewithal to (view spoiler)[set her up on the island! I do have a bone to pick, however, why should she die BEFORE Gary? She was sick, but he was a more evil and sicker human being, or perhaps monster would be a better label. (hide spoiler)] Alex is tough! I'll definitely continue with this series.

Alison wrote: "Hi All, I finished the book a few days ago and did enjoy it however

I just did not connect with Alex Cross..."

Hmmm. I did connect with Cross. I just hope every book isn't from the perspective inside the perpetrator's mind. I do not like that story arc...

I agree that I can see how an (view spoiler)[adult could be as sick and twisted as Gary is, given his years of deprivation and torture as a child, but that doesn't excuse his actions. In fact, IMO, that only serves to make him MORE dangerous to society overall... I would definitely have preferred to see him put to death, at least first. He was more dangerous, IMO. (hide spoiler)]

I am only 60% through. Not sure what i think. I like the whole Psych thing going on with detective Cross reminds me of a drama series called wire in the blood. Its not captivated my imagination and i am struggling but i will finish this week.

Well that was a turn up for the books, well played A.Patterson. Loved how it mentioned books and music along the way. Not overly sure if those were truths but i will have a gander and see if i can find any😑 the tbr list will grow.
I really like the whole wire in the blood feel to this.
Alex Cross although a lovable character didnt grip me like Jack Reacher but willing to give him a try again.
Thanks for the suggestion.