The latest installment in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson opens up in nineteen ninety-three when he was just thirty one years old. The story actually starts from the point-of-view of Michael Sean Sullivan, also known as "The Butcher." Sullivan waltzes into a local social club in Baltimore with his buddy Jimmy Hats and cuts up a guy just to send a message. Along the way, Sullivan also rapes then murders a young college girl named Mary Ann. The story soon shifts back to Cross who picks up his beloved wife Maria one day and she is struck by a snipers bullet. Cross rushes her to the hospital where she dies. Afterwards, Cross leaves the FBI and moves his family out of the house, all of them grieving for Maria, the case haunting Cross forever. The story then shifts to present day where Michael Sullivan is still raping and murdering women. The constantly alternating story shifts back to Cross. His former partner John Sampson asks him to help out with a serial rapist/killer who is stalking the D.C. area. A connection between the rapes and Maria's murder brings Cross back into the FBI world. As "The Butcher" rapes women and deals with mob hitmen, Sampson and Cross hunt him down across several states until there is the final showdown between Cross and Sullivan. A thrill a minute page turner that's sure to keep Cross fans excited. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of story - scarey (primal ax-wielding fear) Time/era of story: Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 50 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Crime Thriller Yes General Crime (including known murderer) Yes Who's the criminal enemy here? - finding a known killer Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Eccentric: Yes Motive of antagonist - insanity The antagonists are: - US mafia How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Setting United States Yes The US: - Northeast - Southeast City? Yes City: - New York - Washington D.C. Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture Explicit sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - touching of anatomy - rape (yeech!) Unusual forms of death - perforation--swords/knives Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |