I've never read a James Patterson book before, despite him being a very prolific writer in the political thriller genre. I enjoyed this tale of a psychologist who gets involved with helping to solve multiple murders of politicians in high office. It's a very fast pace and this makes it a page turner. The story line was certainly key to the whole book - I found the characters likeable but fairly thinly drawn and any backstory a little perfunctory. It feels like there were a few loose ends - events were described that seemed significant but then amounted to nothing. However I think most other readers will have read one of these before and probably know what kind of book this is - it is a standalone exciting story.

I really enjoyed this book. It was brilliantly written with a great cast of characters and intriguing plot that kept me turning the pages. Perfect read to escape from day to day life. A great read.

My first Alex Cross Book and this will be the beginning of a beautiful book-romance! Brilliant and clever I can't believe it has taken me this long to discover Cross but I cannot wait to get stuck into many many more

Not usually a big fan of crime stories where the crimes features around American politics. Being British makes the understanding of the hierarchy a bit confusing. I was glad I persevered and found myself really enjoying this book. However I always felt Alex Cross to be more of a crime solver than he actually was in this novel, it felt like he had taken a bit of a back seat. A really well written crime novel.

Nice to have another chance to catch up with Alex and his family. Plots and plotters galore, as usual so many threads to keep up with . Clues all there at the beginning but easy to overlook them. All the usual characters working together lets you hope that if this always happened in the world it would be a happier, safer place. The ending leads nicely into yet another mystery

This is the first Alex Cross book I've read, though I understand the series is well established. I'm delighted to have stumbled across this and will definitely be on the lookout for the earlier books.

I can highly recommend this - even if you haven't read any of the earlier titles.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I think I must be one of the only people I know who reads thrillers and hasn't read all the James Patterson ones! I enjoyed this book and it didn't matter that there had been previous novels in the Alex Cross series because I was still able to follow the plot without knowing what had happened in the books that had preceded this. As a book that I was able to read quickly and grabbed my attention this ticked all the boxes. I thought the plot was a bit unreal - but it's fiction so that's acceptable. Having now joined the James Patterson fanclub I think I'll read some (if not all) of his others now.

The Alex Cross series began with the release of Along Came a Spider in 1993 and has continued over the past 25 years. Target Alex Cross is an impressive 26th addition to the series, which centres on psychologist and police consultant Alex Cross, a man who helps keep criminals off the streets.

As always, Patterson has managed to keep the series fresh by introducing yet another action-packed plot. The book opens at the funeral of the President of the United States, before quickly descending into a chaotic melee as high-ranking members of the U.S. government start being picked off one by one. With a country quite literally on the brink of collapse, can Cross held to uncover those responsible for the dastardly deeds? Who is behind the assassinations and why – is it a political statement or an international terrorist threat intended to destabilise and weaken the US?

If that isn’t pressure enough, whilst Cross is called in by the FBI to consult, his Chief of Detectives wife Bree is given an ultimatum by her boss – solve the case before the FBI do or face demotion!

As the body count rises, the book provides readers with a thrilling and complex mystery to solve. It is a gripping page-turner of a plot. Patterson skillfully weaves together several narratives into a slick and entertaining cat and mouse chase between Cross and whomever lies behind the atrocities. Every time Cross comes close to an answer, it moves just beyond his reach.

A couple of secondary plots run throughout the book. Cross has begun to receive some anonymous notes asking for help. He also starts seeing a patient in his private practice, someone who Cross finds particularly intriguing. Cross has little time to spare for these distractions, something which he later has cause to regret…

There was, however, one thing which rankled with me slightly – the number of references made to Uber. I know this is a popular taxi choice at present, yet it was enough to feel like product placement (maybe it was?). It doesn’t really matter, yet for some reason it stuck out to me as a very slight distraction to the story.

As with all of the books in the Alex Cross series, Target Alex Cross can be read as a standalone novel. I have not read the entire series and those which I have read previously were not in any particular order. I have never found this to be a problem, as whilst there are some subplots running through the series, none of those threads gets in the way of the main story line.

Target Alex Cross certainly does not disappoint. It is yet another thrilling adventure from Patterson, a suspenseful and gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy an action-packed, adrenaline-fueled political thriller, this may well be the book for you! Plus, the addition of a fantastic cliffhanger of an ending means that I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series.

I’m a big fan of these James Patterson books - however, I was a bit disappointed with this one. The story didn’t really get going for me and it felt really rushed towards the end. Not one of my favourites but I will continue to follow the series.

I loved this book, Alex Cross is always in the line of fire and James Patterson never fails with his fantastic writing and flair for keeping us hanging on for the next page...next chapter...now I want the next book ! Ha ha ha.

Joking aside, James Pattersons format for Alex Cross and all things connected, is so successful And never changes. Keep up the good work!

As always the Alex Cross series does not fail. Exciting from the outset and just continues all the way through. Looking forward to the next installment

Target: Alex Cross is a book for those who love pace and excitement but also do not mind suspending reality to garner the thrills.
There were two sections I had to question, "Why?" One was where a basketball game was described in boring detail and the other was where one of the assassins stopped his truck mid journey to satisfy his need for gratuitous violence! Where others might stop for a comfort break or picnic, he stopped so he could fell a logger.
I was not impressed by the plot either. Filthy rich gaming software developers engage a team of assassins to bring down the government sufficient to put their own man in charge, almost starting World War Three in the process. Never mind though, we have the dynamic duo in the form of Alex Cross and his wife to save us. What a guy, all things to all agencies.
Having said all that, it was an exciting read.

A brilliant book by a brilliant storyteller. Alex Cross series by James Patterson has been my go to book every time I need a pep-up. I have been reading this series since the start, and it's only been a couple of years when life overwhelmed me.

The story starts with the funeral of the Senator where both Alex Cross and his wife Bree Stone are called by their respective bosses to investigate. In this book too, Alex Cross is placed right in the middle of a difficult case with assassins targeting government officials.

I love the way James Patterson has plotted his delightful main character into conspiracies which has far reaching effects with other countries trying to take advantage of. The entire plot has more twists than believable, but James Patterson makes them all so adventurous. Tension across the scenes with well written short chapters make this book a fast read.

The only niggle I would say is that the book needs concentration as there are multiple POVs initially which feels a little confusing. I had to pay attention to them, but the threads are well tied up at the end

Overall, in this 26th novel, Alex Cross and his creator James Patterson give us a rocking action-filled thriller as vivid as a 3D movie.

My literary love affair with James Patterson started many years ago. His style of writing is superb and this latest offering ticks all the boxes. It’s part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone, if you’re wanting to dip your toe in so to speak. Totally engrossing and had me up in the small hours as I didn’t want to put this down! Easily 5 stars, and I can’t wait for the next instalment!

Target has reinstated my addiction to the Alex cross novels. Up till this point they had become a little more formulaic than I liked, but Target has redressed this.
Here we see , the entire cross family in all their glory from Nanamama to little Ali - a joy to behold.
Alongside this we have one of the most complex cases Cross has ever come accross as he has to identify a very real and present danger to the US. Alongside this we have a dark and brooding threat to Alex and his family that keeps us edgy the whole way through. I loved this.

It's been a while since I have read any Alex Cross novels, which I had always enjoyed in the past. This was as good as any of the previous reads. It is a fast paced, page turning novel that I could not put down. Patterson at his best and one I would thoroughly recommend.

First a disclaimer that this is the first Alex Cross book I've read, so I have probably missed references to previous events and people in the earlier books.

I really enjoyed it, but found it a bit formulaic. The author had written so many books now that perhaps it's difficult to avoid, but I missed a complexity of plot and humour found in other authors like Greg Hurwitz, or (in crime) Ian Rankin. I would certainly read other books in the series, and happily buy and recommend for the library, but not rush out to buy them for myself

I have never read any of the Alex Cross series of books before but I might look into reading more after thoroughly enjoying this one. A good plot that kept you wanting to read on until you found out what happened next.

Brilliant, fast-paced, believable, classic James Patterson! The story weaves in and out and, at times, you wonder if Alex Cross is ever going to get ahead of the villains! True to form, though, he does!
I would highly recommend it!

I used to read James Patterson quite avidly. I read the Alex Cross series up to Big Bad Wolf and the Women’s Murder Club up to 7th Heaven. I would read one after another over the space of three years and then I grew kind of tired of Alex Cross and his edge of the minute thriller. I think reading them in quick succession might have soured my taste somewhat.

When asked to review Alex Cross Target, I thought, I might as well dive in and see what good ole Alex has been up to and have to say, I was truly immersed into the world of Cross again. This is an exciting page turning adventure with political intrigue, corruption and murder. James Patterson has always been strong when writing for this series and this book made me definitely go back to where I left off and continue the ever going saga.

There are a lot of rich characters and although this whole series works as standalone books, there is some extra treasures for people who are fans of the series. The twist and turns happen at every page and this is a very tightly written book. No chapter or word is wasted as Patterson keeps turning up the action to it exciting conclusion.

It is important to note that Patterson is top of his genre for a reason and this book is simply one reason for this. He knows what he is talking about and when it comes to execution of his plots and characters, no one can do it better. He is consistent with his style and personally I am in awe with his output.

Alex Cross Target is a great read that will have you engrossed from the very first words and doesn’t let up until its final conclusion. It yearns for you to want to read more and dive into the rest of the Alex Cross series. Whether you read this as a stand alone, an introduction to the series or simply as you want a book you can instantly get into and spend a weekend in an excited crime thriller, you can never go wrong with Patterson’s series.

Comparing this to the rest of the series, it seems that Patterson has a new lease of life for Alex Cross and it also looks like the family is intact and has come into their own. All your favourite characters are there from John Sampson to Mama Cross and it is good to see them grow from when I last visit them. This is a sensational page turner and one that is highly recommended.