James Patterson - Mary Mary

Revieved by Showhost April 2008
This is back to the James Patterson we know and love. I was so disappointed after 'The Jester' by Patterson & Goss that I wondered if I would read another of his! However, prior to going on holiday recently I went into the local charity shop to purchase some holiday reading matter (read & leave) and there was a James Patterson, another Alex Cross murder mystery. I always try and play safe when going on holiday as there's nothing worse than trying a new author/s and then discovering that you don't like any of them so I look for authors I've read & liked. As the charity shop were still offering 3 for £1 I picked up this book, Harlan Coben & Ken Follett.

There is another psycho on the loose, this time in Hollywood, and Alex Cross (now and FBI agent) happens to be on holiday (or vacation as the Americans call it)at Disneyworld with his family - Nana Mama, Jannie Damon & little Alex. The murders are high profile Hollywood people and after each murder an email is sent to the 'Los Angeles Times' editor by the murderer calling him or herself Mary Smith.
At the same time Alex and his family are being shadowed by a journalist who is claiming to do an article on 'a day in the life of Alex Cross', but the journalist is starting to overstretch his mark. Alex is also battling for more custody of his youngest child Alex, who lives with his estranged mother in another state.
Although Alex is on holiday, he is asked by his boss to have a look at the crime scene and report what he finds. This is the beginning of his involvement which gets deeper and more dangerous. Is the murderer an obsessed fan or a spurned actor or something more terrifying?
There are the usual twists and turns and false leads which Patterson fans come to expect from his thrillers. It was a good pacey read which kept you turning the pages and has put a little of my faith back in Patterson again.