Along Came a Spider

Written by James Patterson

Narrated by Taye Diggs

Discover the classic thriller that launched the bestselling detective series from the world's most popular storyteller.

Alex Cross is in a race against time after two private-school children are kidnapped by their teacher—a man looking to commit the crime of the century.

The inspiration for the Prime Video show, Cross.

Alex Cross is a homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology. He works and lives in Southeast D.C. and looks like Muhammad Ali in his prime. He's a tough guy from a tough part of town who wears Harris Tweed jackets and likes to relax by banging out Gershwin tunes on his baby grand piano. But he also has two adorable kids of his own, and they are his own special vulnerabilities.

Jezzie Flanagan is the first woman ever to hold the highly sensitive job as supervisor of the Secret Service in Washington. Blond, mysterious, seductive, she's got an outer shell that's as tough as it is beautiful. She rides her black BMW motorcycle at speeds of no less than 100 mph. What is she running from? What is her secret?

Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to have a forbidden love affair-at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji, who wants to commit the "crime of the century," is playing at the top of his game. Soneji has outsmarted the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim?

Gary Soneji is every parent's worst nightmare. He has become Alex Cross's nightmare. And now, reader, he's about to become yours.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Dec 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781549168963

Reviews for Along Came a Spider

[stklages · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book that started the whole alex cross series with a bang

[jill.mackin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The one and only book by James Patterson that I enjoyed. I know he's popular, but just not for me.

[atticusfinch1048 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Along Came A Spider is the book which began the Alex Cross series, one of the longest running book series today. From this one book we are introduced to the Cross family and the various dynamics which will set the course for the series.

When Cross and his partner John Sampson are called out to a murder in the south east corner of Washington DC. This is another death in the poverty-stricken district of the country’s capital city, involving another poor black family.

Two children have been kidnapped from an elite private school Cross is called out to find them. The added complication is that one is the son of the Secretary of the Treasury and the other is the daughter of a Hollywood star. None of which would make things any easier. It does not help that they find the kidnapper is the children’s maths’ teacher, Gary Soneji. A man who likes to taunt law enforcement and had given himself the grand title of ‘The Son of Lindbergh’.

As Cross investigates the further, he gets dragged into the insane world of Gary Soneji. It becomes clear to Cross that Soneji is not everything he says he is. With certainly far more going on than Cross could currently see. Cross was not able to see the picture, but that is due to the information he is getting. He would eventually see that bigger picture and know who and how to deal with it.

Cross can see that Soneji is weaving a very complicated spider’s web and he has to make sure he does not become entangled within it. Otherwise, he too will become a Soneji a victim.

Patterson introduces some wonderful twists in the story. Some of which you do not see coming, which helps to make this into a breathless thriller. This is a rollercoaster ride to use the cliché. A great introduction to Alex Cross.

[Artemisa1951 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Easy to read, entertaining, with an ending I didn't expect. (Translated from Spanish)

[wrxtacy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
CAWPILE score: 5.07 (35.5/70), Good

[debbie13410 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A really good crime thriller novel.

[drmom62 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Creepy. The audio reader could convey evil well & the book came across like a thriller movie script.
The characters were shallow and the action formulaic. Came with a characteristic gratuitous sex & violence.
I could see a striking parallel between the author and his writing for audience and money & the Mastermind killer and his desire for media coverage and money. Easy kill.

[soosthemoose · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was an enjoyable book. So far I like the Women's Murder Club series better.

[jguidry-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this thriller introducing a complex character, Alex Cross. I liked the core characters in the story and the thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. The complexity of who was the "good guy" and who was the "bad guy" kept me interested in the story. Definitely a great introduction to a character I enjoy reading about in each new episode.

[payday1999-430350 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I saw this movie on Amazon now that long ago and I always noticed that it recommended I read the book on here. I always chose something else but since the movie trailer looked good, I decided to read the book before I watched the movie as the books are always better than the movies. I'm really glad that I did, because I just loved this book. I love Alex Cross and I've always loved police and crime solving shows on tv, but for some reason not for books.

This book just drew me in and it is a long book and I just tried to finish it as quick as I could. I'm starting to like crime solving books and I can't wait to read the 2nd book.

[AntorRa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Spectacular in handling intrigue. Mixing the classic disappearance of a minor, so common in contemporary detective novels, with the presence of a psychokiller (who is not who one expects), of an incomprehensible evil. (Translated from Spanish)

[Geloblanco · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First book in the saga of the experienced detective Alex Cross (played in the film by the extraordinary Morgan Freeman), all the clichés of contemporary American noir, a serial killer who puts the FBI in check, rivaling our protagonist in intelligence, accompanied by an enigmatic secret service agent; the author has some surprises in store that I obviously won’t reveal, entertaining for a good time. (Translated from Spanish)

[Djacobo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A crime thriller that brings nothing new. But contrary to what my impression might suggest, it is entertaining and fleeting. Because they use formulas that have worked in many other works of the genre. This novel exploits what attracts from so many other novels, a single twist in the plot is not enough to surprise. But the events work well enough to be appealing and make you want more of detective/psychologist Alex Cross. (Translated from Spanish)

[brannonsg · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Predictable. Formulaic. Stereotypes of racial issues. Needless and meaningless adult encounters. No one talks like the two main characters when they are alone, do they? If so, how do they do so with a straight face?

[jonimfisher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Engrossing thrill ride of crime and investigation. Love the characters! Do not start this book unless you have lots of time or you will give up sleep to read just one more chapter until it is done.

[henrimoreaux · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whilst the writing style is relatively basic and has numerous chapter breaks that will likely offend literary purists by the same token these features make this an incredibly easy novel to read, and one that is able to convey it's story in a way that makes for easy reading even in circumstances where a heavier book may be a challenge, such as noisy waiting rooms filled with loud talkers.

I enjoy serial killer novels and particularly enjoyed the manner in which this one was presented where we're not sure how innocent Gary Murphy really is and how in control Gary Soneji is. The extra levels of deception within the story just add to it further.

Whilst there's still numerous chapter breaks, I felt like this wasn't as short as some of Patterson's newer books which was nice as I find the later ones, such as Invisible & Unsolved almost seemed rushed in their presentation to get into & wrap up the story in as few double spaced lines as possible.

Overall, an excellent thriller and I can see how he picked up such a following based on how enthralling this book was.

[Ramdo68 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's a book that, although the topic was good, I found it a bit laborious to read; it was slow and to a certain extent predictable. (Translated from Spanish)

[preston.kringle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Thrilling book that gives a sense of wanting to know what happens next, and wanting to know what happens to the characters after the final page. There however are moments when the writing gets a little jumbled leading the reader to get confused as to what is happening as well as some chapters in which it is unclear whose voice is telling the story.

[Edd62 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This novel by Patterson is woven like a spider's web, where you get caught by the twists he gives to a thriller that initially seems straightforward, but complicates it with connections that lead to the same outcome but through different paths. Kidnappings, suspects, declared psychopaths, masked psychopaths, and at the center, everything that must be protected as most valuable: children, his own, and rescuing others. Clear, smooth, plain language (sometimes too much), but very entertaining. Alex Cross, thoughtful and observant psychologist, to whom I pay tribute today, May 20th, Psychologist Day in Mexico. (Translated from Spanish)

[rachateam · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An entertaining book, ideal for a quick read especially at the beach. A good character, Alex Cross, this is his introductory book, and the secondary characters are weak and predictable. If you read a lot of crime and suspense, you quickly see where it’s headed. I have read others in this series and it improves over time. Of course, it has a Hollywood ending. Good for passing the time. If the title refers to the web the protagonist weaves regarding the crimes, it is misleading. (Translated from Spanish)

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

UGH, time of my life I'll never get back! I'll admit this book started out promising but quickly got stale. At a certain point I didn't care who lived or died and I never felt any real affinity towards the "hero" of the story, Alex Cross. A kidnapping case quickly spirals out of control as the body count rises and the "madman" they're after seems to have some serious mental health issues (or does he?!). Alex Cross soon finds himself obsessing over the case; when he's not thinking about the case he's boning a co-worker and neglecting his two children that he leaves at home with his grandma. Reading this book did not make me ever want to read another book in the Alex Cross series. Not only was it meh, it was just a little too over the top at times or to on the nose. Pass....

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Along came a spider
I’ve never read a James Patterson novel. When I saw this on the PBS GReat American reads, I borrowed it from the library. Detective and psychologist Alex Cross is the main character as he tracks down serial killer and psychopath Gary Murphy/Soneji in Washington DC.
Good enough story with decent characters and story line.

[conalo-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An entertaining story that was long on ideas and somewhat short on characters. I read this one in a few hours and while enjoyable seemed to be lacking in plot twists. It was pretty straight forward and the bad guys were mostly identifiable as the story progressed. I will have to read a few more of his stories with Alex Cross to get a better read on him.

3 stars for an entertaining story.

[felicity1smith-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was expecting good things from this as I had chosen specifically to go back to the beginning of the James Patterson craze. I had struggled (am still struggling) to get through a later James Patterson so this was me trying to kick off a writer I had not enjoyed in past.

I liked the book. A lot. It was a great summer read - light and quick moving. I am liking the main character which was the point of reading this book so I can get to know an evolving character (much like why I enjoy tv characters who develop over movie heroes who get one shot). Alex Cross is being carefully unveiled which I am enjoying.

Once I got used to the style which I liken to Stephen King in that the ideas are amazing but the descriptive language can be a bit boring at times. This doesn't make it hard to read it just makes it feel a bit like a teenager writing you a letter that they have just unloaded everything in their head rather than carefully chosen prose. It is however a snappy story and doesn't drag. Not entirely the ending I was expecting but not a disappointment at all. I would recommend this and I am now off to read "Kiss the Girls"

[kaulsu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well. This is my first Patterson, so I suppose you can guess it is my first Alex Cross. I see there are over a hundred reviews, so I won’t waste my time rehashing the plot. I listened to the audible.com version read by Charles Turner. I thought he did a great job. His gravely voice conjured a large, strong man. The kind of police detective I would trust. I wish (spoiler alert) Patterson had killed Gary S. M. off at the end...I hope not to encounter him in a later book!

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Honestly for a good bit of the book I was thinking why is this so popular. Then somewhere along it just clicked and became really good. I have a thing for psychology. I enjoyed when it got into all of that. And then of course the twists toward the end were nice. I will continue with this series for sure.

[kimsalyers · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

was a ok book im not really into james Patterson books

[jennysbookbag.com · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is my second James Patterson, the first being When the Wind Blows. I must be in the minority because I prefer When the Wind Blows over Along Came a Spider. I think this difference is that I wasn't crazy about the narrator in this one. His matter-of-fact tone made this book seem less thriller-ish. I still enjoy James Patterson and his writing style. I can see that he's going to be a very dependable author for me in the future.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, introduced me to a new character and want to read more in the series. Good suspense kept up through the book with twists and turns.

[yvonne.sevignykaiser · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Love James Patterson this is the first in the ALex Cross series. Read this for my library mystery book group.