The first book in the Alex Cross series is a good read with exciting twists and turns. Cross is a cop who lives in a bad part of DC. When two children go missing, Cross is put on the case and reluctantly begins the investigation. However the case is not what it seems and Cross quickly becomes engrossed in the the crime that is orchestrated by an attention wanting serial killer named Gary Soneji. 
 I liked the way Patterson kept the chapters short; it kept the novel moving and it kept my interest. There was a good amount of characters but none get lost in the shuffle. Some of the writing is a bit repetitive (We get it, Soneji wants to be somebody!) but the story is engaging and interesting. I did not find it too predicatible and the ending was satisfying. 
 FYI the novel is pretty graphic -- might not be a great choice for the squeamish!