Four Blind Mice is the eighth book in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson - a series which currently comprises twenty eight novels and is still going strong. I have only read one other book from the series - Jack and Jill, which is book number three (click through to read my review) - but I had no problem jumping in and following the story without knowing all the ins and outs of the main characters' lives.
At the beginning of this book, Detective Alex Cross is planning on giving up his job in the Washington DC police force, moving into a new job in the city that will give him more time with his kids and elderly grandmother, who has stepped in to help look after the family in place of Alex's dead wife. But Nanna is getting on in years and her health isn't as robust as it was. On top of that, Alex is following up a new love interest, meeting up with Jamilla, a cop he met on a previous case and who has great potential. If only she didn't live on the other side of the country ...
But Alex doesn't have time to ponder on his personal life. He receives a visit from his long-time friend, John Sampson, who needs his help. His friend, a master sergeant at the army base, is in prison, accused of murdering three army wives on a girls' night out. All the evidence points to him but John is convinced that his friend is innocent. The two friends start digging into the case, finding their efforts hindered by the army, who don't want outsiders taking a look into their domain. Time runs out and the sergeant is put to death - this surprised me, as he was portrayed as an all-round good guy and I could see him getting off scot-free - but justice isn't always meted out in Alex Cross novels, just as in real life.
This is not the end though, as the two cops decide to dig a little deeper. Alex soon discovers other mysterious murders in the past, involving corpses daubed in red, white and blue paint and supposed murderers, also put to death, from the military. The cop friends start questioning the families of the convicted murderers and soon start to learn of strange similarities.
The reader knows who the real criminals are from the beginning, as their crimes and their vindictive, sadistic behaviour is described. Will Alex and John manage to track them down before it's too late?
It's a fast-paced, nerve-wracking game of cat and mouse with the cops putting their life in danger in their quest for the truth.
star rating : 4.5/5
RRP : £8.99
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0755349369
- ISBN-13 : 978-0755349364
- Product Dimensions : 13 x 2.9 x 19.6 cm
- Publisher : Headline (7 Jan. 2010)
- Language: : English
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