Solid but not of Patterson ilk.
Many times when authors use a character ad infinitum in a series of books, the plots become old and tainted. Cussler continues to use Dirk Pitt, Ludlum (to a lesser degree) capitalizes on Jason Bourne, and Patterson, of course, uses Alex Cross. In Patterson's case, he wrote two books in between the latest Cross novels (Diary for Nicholas and 1st to Die) so perhaps the reader would benefit from a fresh perspective. Yes and no.

(If you haven't read "Roses are Red" and intend to do so, I suggest you stop reading the reviews for "Violets are Blue." You'll thank me later.) In the latest iteration of Alex Cross' life, we find Alex whisked off to California to investigate some very bizarre, vampire-like murders. The bodies of two joggers were found in Golden Gate Park....hung by their feet and drained of blood via bites. Vampire bites? Alex's FBI friend(?), Kyle Craig calls Alex and asks him to join the investigation team. Upon arriving in San Francisco, Alex finds a pleasant surprise in Detective Jamilla Hughes. Alex and Jamilla run the traps on the few leads available. However, even as they are investigating the Park murders, several other murders occur in California and now, in Las Vegas. It becomes quite obvious that the murderers are on the move and several steps ahead of Alex. Concurrent with his murder investigation, Alex receives continual cell phone calls from the Mastermind (Alex's nemesis from "Roses are Red.") Ultimately, Alex heads back to D.C. dejected as to his lack of progress in this highly unusual and complex case.

As the parasitic vampires move from the West coast to the East coast, Alex is plunged into the seemingly paranormal world of vampiric norms. Alex learns much more about the tilted netherworld of vampiric cults, teeth sharpening and yes, the consumption of human blood. Alex continues to follow the trail of the murderers crisscrossing the East coast to New Orleans and finally back to California. All the while, Alex is haunted by the Mastermind.

The vampiric portion of this book climaxes for the reader in Alex's last trek to California. The storyline relating to the vampire-like murders is very unusual and off-beat thereby making it less than expected. If Patterson had developed this storyline a bit more and left the Mastermind for a succeeding book, I believe that "Violets are Blue" would have been an excellent book. However, with the ever-present Mastermind hanging over each chapter, the reader isn't allowed to focus on the vampire plot. This is a shame as I felt the vampire plot was so peculiar (out of the ordinary), it was engrossing.

Finally, the Mastermind. I enjoyed "Roses are Red" thoroughly with the exception of Alex's "Frasier-like" love life. However, at the end of "Roses," the identity of the Mastermind is revealed. Inasmuch as "Violets" shares of dual plot of vampiric murders and the eternal search for the Mastermind, the latter portion becomes somewhat rote as the reader already knows the Mastermind. If Patterson knew he was going to write a continuing sequel (which was a given based on the ending of "Roses"), why did he reveal the identity of the Mastermind? Knowing the identity of the Mastermind was almost a nuisance in this book.

Patterson is a very gifted and creative author. However, "Roses" and "Violets" could have been blockbusters if Patterson had stepped back from the writing and looked upon his current and successive plots from the point-of-view of the reader. Oh and, by the way, Patterson has very obviously left the reader hanging for the next installment of the Cross saga with the following, final sentence of the book, "But that's another story, for another time." Yes, I'll read it but I hope that Mr. Patterson will read a few of these reviews prior to penning it.

It didn't take me long to read it. The vampire plot was somewhat interesting, but in general, not my realm of interest, so, for the most part, I shouldn't comment on that. I'd be too biased towards it, however, it wasn't bad. It was well written.

I personally was more interested in the Mastermind storyline continuing from "Roses Are Red." Obviously, the Mastermind continues to stalk Alex Cross and Alex continues to chase him until the final showdown.

As all fans of James Patterson's have, I have come to expect the unexpected in his novels. Complex and incredible plot twists.

This book however that every author, no matter how good, has a bad writing day some days. I mean, honestly, Alex Cross figured out who the bad guy was out of nowhere in this novel. He's sitting in his car, and out of nowhere, with no rhyme or reason, says to himeself, "Oh, it's this guy. He's the Mastermind."

Where did it come from? Nowhere.

And, I admit, at first I though it was great. But, the more I thought about it, it really disappointed me because that's not what I expect from an author of james Patterson's cailiber. He's so much better and could have given it a much better twist as to Alex's way of figuring it out.

My advice, take this one out of the library and save your money for a first edition copy of "Roses Are Red." It's so much more worth it.

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