Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, #7)

Title: Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, #7)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2001

Date read: 20th October 2004

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Psychological, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Violets Are Blue," published in 2001, is the seventh novel in James Patterson's Alex Cross series. It plunges the detective into his most personal and dangerous confrontation yet, as he is pitted against his arch-nemesis, the brilliant and terrifyingly cunning criminal mastermind who has haunted his life.

The story opens with a series of baffling and gruesome murders. The victims are not just killed; they are subjected to bizarre and ritualistic deaths, leaving no forensic evidence or discernible motive. The killings span multiple jurisdictions and seem to have no connection to one another, leaving law enforcement agencies across the country stumped.

The cases catch the attention of Dr. Alex Cross, a skilled psychologist and homicide detective, who sees a pattern others have missed. He quickly realizes that these are not random murders but are the work of his most dangerous and elusive foe: the enigmatic and sociopathic killer known only as The Mastermind. The Mastermind, whose true identity remains unknown, uses these seemingly random killings as a twisted form of artistic expression, a game designed to taunt and challenge Cross.

This time, the Mastermind's game is more personal than ever. He is not just killing people; he is subtly mimicking the style of the "Wolf" and the "Spider," two of Cross's most notorious past adversaries, in a calculated move to taunt him. The killings are a twisted tribute to the men Cross put behind bars, and the Mastermind is showing him that he has learned from their mistakes, making him far more dangerous.

As the body count rises, Cross becomes a target himself, and the lives of those closest to him – his family and his friend Jamilla Hughes – are put in grave danger. The Mastermind's attacks become more direct and more personal, forcing Cross to take on the investigation alone, going beyond the confines of his professional duty.

The novel is a high-stakes psychological thriller, filled with suspense, intricate puzzles, and a relentless cat-and-mouse chase. The narrative shifts between Cross's desperate pursuit and the Mastermind's chilling monologues, giving the reader a terrifying glimpse into the mind of a truly brilliant psychopath.

The climax is a brutal and harrowing showdown between Cross and the Mastermind, where both men's wits and will are pushed to their absolute limits. The confrontation is not just a battle for survival, but a deeply personal, psychological war, with the outcome determining not only Cross's life but the fate of everyone he holds dear. "Violets Are Blue" is a dark, intense, and deeply personal chapter in the Alex Cross saga.

Comments:
This is certainly one of the better books in the series and that is a tough crowd to beat. Cross vs Mastermind is an excellent battle.

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)