London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10)

Title: London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2004

Date read: 23rd June 2013

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"London Bridges" by James Patterson is the tenth novel in his highly successful Alex Cross series, published in 2004. This book is a high-stakes, international thriller that brings back two of Alex Cross's most formidable and terrifying adversaries.

The story opens with a shocking act of terrorism: a small, seemingly insignificant town in Nevada, Sunrise Valley, is completely annihilated by a massive, sophisticated bomb. This catastrophic event is claimed by a super-criminal known only as The Wolf, a mysterious and highly intelligent Russian mobster and terrorist who was introduced in the previous novel, "The Big Bad Wolf."

FBI agent and forensic psychologist Alex Cross is on vacation when he gets the urgent call. He's immediately thrown into the investigation, even as he grapples with personal issues, including a long-distance relationship and a custody battle for his son.

The Wolf issues a chilling ultimatum: he demands billions of dollars from Western powers, threatening to unleash similar, devastating attacks on major cities around the globe, including London, Paris, New York, and Frankfurt, if his demands are not met. To prove he's serious, he demonstrates his capabilities further, hinting at the scope of his network and resources.

As Alex delves into the investigation, he makes a terrifying discovery: The Wolf has enlisted the help of another of Cross's most dangerous past enemies, Colonel Geoffrey Shafer, also known as The Weasel. The Weasel is a sadistic and cunning assassin whom Cross believed he had dealt with in a previous encounter. The thought of these two monstrous intellects working together sends a chill down Cross's spine.

The novel becomes a relentless global chase, with Alex Cross and his FBI colleagues, along with other international agencies, scrambling to track down The Wolf and The Weasel. Their pursuit takes them across America and into Europe, from the streets of London and Paris to other far-flung locations, in a desperate attempt to uncover the terrorists' plans and prevent unimaginable destruction.

Throughout the investigation, Alex faces not only the immense danger posed by The Wolf and The Weasel but also bureaucratic obstacles, inter-agency rivalries, and the constant pressure of a ticking clock. The stakes are incredibly high, as the fate of entire cities and millions of lives hang in the balance.

"London Bridges" is characteristic of Patterson's style: short, punchy chapters, rapid-fire dialogue, and a propulsive plot that keeps the reader on edge. It explores themes of global terrorism, the vulnerabilities of modern society, and the personal sacrifices made by those who fight against such overwhelming evil. The climax involves a tense confrontation with The Wolf and The Weasel, pushing Alex Cross to his absolute limits in a desperate attempt to save the world from catastrophic attacks.

Comments:
I have vivid memories of this and just how much I enjoyed it. I also remember getting through it in record time as I could not put it down.

Books that we've read by James Patterson (32):
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1) (1993), Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2) (1995), Jack & Jill (Alex Cross, #3) (1996), Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross, #4) (1997), Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross, #5) (1999), Roses Are Red (Alex Cross, #6) (2000), 1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1) (2001), Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, #7) (2001), 2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2) (2002), Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross, #8) (2002), The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross, #9) (2003), The Jester (2003), 3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club, #3) (2004), London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10) (2004), 4th of July (Women's Murder Club, #4) (2005), Mary, Mary (Alex Cross, #11) (2005), 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club, #5) (2006), Cross (Alex Cross, #12) (2006), The 6th Target (Women's Murder Club, #6) (2007), Double Cross (Alex Cross, #13) (2007), 7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club, #7) (2008), Cross Country (Alex Cross, #14) (2008), 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club, #8) (2009), Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross, #15) (2009), I, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #16) (2009), The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club, #9) (2010), Cross Fire (Alex Cross, #17) (2010), 10th Anniversary (Women's Murder Club, #10) (2011), Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #18) (2011), 11th Hour (Women's Murder Club, #11) (2012), Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #19) (2012), Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, #20) (2013)