70. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

I don't remember checking this book out of the library, but I have a feeling that I wanted a fun, light read to mix in with the rest of that week's books. Reading so many James Pattersons this year (actually, I think this is the third, so it's not "so many") isn't really following the spirit of the project, but I'm trying to give myself a break. Even though I want to try new things and challenge myself, that doesn't mean I have to give up what I already like.

THE BEST - AND SCARIEST! - ALEX CROSS NOVEL SINCE ALONG CAME A SPIDER

YOU CAN'T RUN
Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. ALex vows to hunt down her killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.

YOU CAN'T HIDE
The hunt for the murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and Bree are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain - they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.

ALEX CROSS IS YOUR ONLY HOPE TO STAY ALIVE
As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable - a revelation that could rock the entire world. With the unstoppable action, unforeseeable twists, and edge-of-your-seat excitement that only a James Patterson thriller delivers, I, Alex Cross is the master of suspense at his sharpest and best.

Summary lifted from the book jacket. Colin typed it up for me because he can't stand my hunt-and-peck typing. You can always tell which of us has typed it because he uses a single hyphen for a dash whereas I prefer the double hyphen. Obviously, neither one of us knows how to create an actual dash in Blogger.  

This is a good installment in the Alex Cross series; it's a solid thriller with a great twist. Patterson is nothing if not dependable for a few hours' enjoyment. However, the "beloved relative" is not someone familiar to audiences. This doesn't make the death any less tragic, but I hate it when the book jacket copy is misleading. Also, the violent crimes were a shade too violent for me. I don't know if the books are getting more graphic or I'm getting more squeamish, but some scenes were off-putting. 

I would say more, but that's really about it. Onto the next!