Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Maybe I'd asked for a book recommendation.  Maybe I was scanning her bookshelf.  Maybe she just recognized a budding reader in me.  I don't remember.  What I do remember, though, is my junior English teacher, Mrs. Jayne Hogan, giving me a book by Mary Higgins Clark and telling me I should read it.

I did, and I was immediately hooked.

For the next several years, I read every one of her books I could get my hands on.  I loved the thrill of the mystery, trying to figure out "whodunit" before the end of the book.

However, after years of analyzing classic literature in my pursuit of an English degree at Bellarmine, I started to lose my passion for Mary Higgins (and others I'd grown to love such as Iris Johansen).  I forgot the thrill of the mystery, and instead discovered the thrill of symbolism, complex characters, and surprising plots.  

However, I recently asked my dad, an avid reader, if he ever read my blog.  He said, "Yes, but I think you should write about the authors I like!  What's wrong with authors like James Patterson?"

Challenge accepted.

That night, I downloaded the cheapest Patterson book I could find on Amazon - Along Came a Spider (just $3.99!) and I've kept my nose ... to the Kindle.. ever since.  So Dad, this blog is for you, and all you other mystery-lovers out there. (but here is your warning - I cannot write about him with the knowledge of my dad!)

As soon as I started this book, I knew I'd read some of Patterson's before because I remembered his character of Alex Cross.  Cross, a detective/psychologist, is the main character and one of the many narrators in the novel, and I think he appears in several of Patterson's works.  This particular book focuses on one of the most evil villains (Gary Soneji) I've ever read about.  Since he also narrates several chapters, you see just how demented he is - he takes pride in his killings and his intelligence makes him incredibly dangerous.  The book focuses mainly on the investigation behind a kidnapping of two children; although it seems obvious that Soneji is guilty of the kidnapping, it gets much more complicated throughout the story.  With lots of twists and surprises, the book is definitely a page-turner.  Right when you think you've figured it out, and things are about to be resolved, another surprise occurs.  

The storyline is disturbing -- I actually had a nightmare last night in which I killed someone and I blame that entirely on the fact that I fell asleep with my Kindle in my hand - but it keeps you on your toes.  

If you enjoy mysteries, definitely check out some James Patterson.  Or Mary Higgins Clark. She's pretty awesome too.