BAFFLING BINGO MYSTERY BOOK DAY: CROSS FIRE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO
BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S
"BAFFLING BINGO DAY"
I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS THURSDAY'S
SECOND GIVEAWAY FOR
"BAFFLING BINGO DAY"
MYSTERY BOOK CHOICE IS.....GIVEAWAY ENDED
CROSS FIRE
BY JAMES PATTERSON

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Wedding bells ring

Detective Alex Cross and Bree's wedding plans are put on hold when Alex is called to the scene of the perfectly executed assassination of two of Washington D.C.'s most corrupt: a dirty congressmen and an underhanded lobbyist. Next, the elusive gunman begins picking off other crooked politicians, sparking a blaze of theories--is the marksman a hero or a vigilante?

A murderer returns

The case explodes, and the FBI assigns agent Max Siegel to the investigation. As Alex and Siegel battle over jurisdiction, the murders continue. It becomes clear that they are the work of a professional who has detailed knowledge of his victims' movements--information that only a Washington insider could possess.

Caught in a lethal cross fire

As Alex contends with the sniper, Siegel, and the wedding, he receives a call from his deadliest adversary, Kyle Craig. The Mastermind is in D.C. and will not relent until he has eliminated Cross and his family for good. With a supercharged blend of action, deception, and suspense, Cross Fire is James Patterson's most visceral and exciting Alex Cross novel ever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The subject of a recent Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every 15 hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In total, James's books have sold an estimated 150 million copies worldwide. He is the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children's lists and is the only author to have five new hardcover novels debut at #1 on the list in one year — a record-breaking feat he’s accomplished every year since 2005. To date, James Patterson has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times Bestselling Novels, and holds the New York Times record for most bestselling titles by a single author (40 total).

Patterson is a champion of reading and the founder of the PageTurner awards, which seek to spread the excitement and joy of books and reading in the United States. James's first foray into family fiction, the critically acclaimed Maximum Ride series, debuted on the New York Times list at #1 and remained there for 12 straight weeks. The series has so far made appearances on The New York Times bestsellers lists 87 times, proving that kids of all ages love page turners.

Patterson is the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past dozen years, featuring "Alex Cross" and including the Hollywood-adapted "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls," starring Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. He is also the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past five years, featuring Lindsay Boxer and the other members of the Women's Murder Club, from which the ABC television drama series is adapted. He has authored books behind six films on the Hollywood fast-track, including the upcoming Maximum Ride movie from Avi Arad, the producer of X-Men and Spiderman. Most recently, New Regency Pictures has optioned The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, James’s newest family Pageturner due out in July of 2008.

He is the author of novels — from The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) to Honeymoon (2005) — that have won awards including the Edgar, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the Year, the International Thriller of the Year award, and the Reader’s Digest Reader’s Choice Award.

One of Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100, James appeared as a guest star on the popular FOX TV show "The Simpsons" in March, 2007.

MY REVIEW:

For a true Patterson/Cross fan, opening CROSS FIRE by James Patterson and starting to read the first few pages is like coming home. Patterson, writing on his own this time about everyone’s favorite detective, Dr. Alex Cross, along with the long time familiar characters like Nana, John Sampson, and The Mastermind, Kyle Craig, gives the reader a sense of being right where you belong.  This time, Detective Alex Cross is working on wedding plans with Bree Stone only to have them put off when Alex is called away to an important case….not that anyone is surprised by that!

Someone has assassinated two very high profile figures in D.C. and this first call to Cross is just the beginning. The case becomes a media nightmare for Alex as the person who continues to carry out perfectly planned executions of more well-known, mostly crooked politicians, is starting to look like a vigilante of some kind in the news. Using sniper tactics with precision, long-range shots, the “troops” are called in to get on top of this one and of course, the FBI is right there to bug Cross. Arrival of agent Max Siegel doesn’t make Alex’s job any easier as they butt heads over who is in charge and also, something about Max rubs Alex the wrong way.
 
Alex investigates and realizes they are dealing with professionals here but can’t figure out if they are working on their own, or for someone else. It almost seems like the sniper, or snipers, must be well connected in Washington as the killer knows just where to find the next victim. While dealing with this, Alex is still trying to juggle wedding plans, be there for his family, and handle his ex-wife who shows up unannounced. Could it get any worse for Alex Cross?

Enter Kyle Craig! Having escaped from prison, Craig is now out to get Alex as well as do damage to everyone Alex loves. When the first “Kyle” phone call comes through, Alex experiences that old familiar “knot-in-the-stomach-anger-rising” feeling. Craig being able to get inside Alex’s mind, gives credence to his nickname of “The Mastermind”.  Alex knows Craig is close but with the wedding, making sure his family is safe, and this sniper case, Alex is almost caught in the CROSS FIRE in what I felt was one of Patterson’s better books of late and left me wanting more of Dr. Alex Cross. With trademark short chapters (“one more before I close the book“…that’s my downfall at night), parallel plot lines, and enough twists and turns to keep you reading straight through, the ending may surprise you as well as it will for sure keep you guessing and holding your breath. From the very first chapter of the book, you will be stunned, but intrigued, as you jump on board the roller coaster that is a James Patterson/Alex Cross thrill ride…and believe me, you are in for the ride of your life!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO BRAD AND MY FRIENDS
AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE THREE COPIES OF THIS EXCITING
NEW ALEX CROSS MYSTERY TO GIVE AWAY!

--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY

HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT CROSS FIRE, OR IN MY REVIEW, THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: GET CREATIVE AND THINK OF A TITLE YOU WOULD SUGGEST FOR THE NEXT ALEX CROSS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO JAMES PATTERSON'S WEBSITE HERE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING YOU FIND AT HIS SITE.

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP WEBSITE HERE WHERE JAMES PATTERSON'S BOOKS ARE LISTED. LOOK AT THEM AND NAME ONE OTHER PATTERSON BOOK YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ. IF YOU HAVE READ THEM ALL, NAME A FAVORITE.

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, DECEMBER 12
GOOD LUCK!