From the Publisher

Alex Cross is back--and so is the Big Bad Wolf.

Terrorists have seized the worlds largest cities. London, Washington, DC, New York, and Frankfurt will be destroyed, unless their demands are met--and their demands are impossible. After a city in the western United States is fire bombed--a practice run--Alex Cross knows that it is only a matter of time before the bombers threats to the other cities are brutally executed.

Heading up the investigation by the FBI, CIA, and Interpol, Alex Cross is stunned when surveillance photos show Geoffrey Shafer, the Weasel, near one of the bombing sites. He senses the presence of the Wolf as well, the most vicious predator he has ever battled. With millions of lives in the balance, Cross has to see if the most powerful law enforcement agencies in the world can stay ahead of these two men's cunning.

Publishers Weekly

In his 10th adventure, Alex Cross, now working full time for the FBI, is confronted by two of his most deadly foes: the faceless ex-KGB agent from last year's Big Bad Wolf, who's known as "The Wolf" and is threatening four metropolises with nuclear destruction; and the insane serial killer The Weasel, last seen in Patterson's Pop Goes the Weasel. Patterson's action is fast and furious, and narrators Fernandez and O'Hare do a fine job of keeping up with him. O'Hare does especially well with his performance of The Wolf, giving the Russian-accented villain a calm, almost soothing vocalization that nicely counters his sadistic actions. Fernandez brings a warm humanity to Cross, especially in scenes with his family, giving listeners a break from the murder and mayhem that rule much of the book. The narrators' performances are accompanied by well-placed music and sound effects. Each chapter opens with an ominous ticking clock and an electronically distorted voice announcing the chapter title, a technique that at first seems fitting for the book's style and tone, but soon becomes more annoying than effective. Still, this one quibble will not stop Patterson's fans from thoroughly enjoying the latest installment in the Cross series. Simultaneous release with the Little, Brown hardcover (Forecasts, Nov. 8, 2004). (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

It's Alex Cross vs. the Big Bad Wolf again, even as terrorists grab major world cities from New York to Frankfurt. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0446613355
  
• ISBN-13: 9780446613354
• Format: Mass Market Paperback, 416pp
• Publisher: Grand Central Pub
• Pub. Date: October 2005
• Edition Description: Reprint
• Sales Rank: 1,573
• Series: Alex Cross Series, #10

• Table of Contents
• Read a Sample Chapter

Table of Contents

Read a Sample Chapter

London Bridges

Little, Brown

Chapter One

He had rented a plush six-bedroom villa directly across from Guarajuba Beach, where he spent his days drinking sweet caipirinhas and ice-cold Brahma beers, or sometimes playing tennis at the club. At night, Colonel Shafer-the psychopathic killer better known as the Weasel-was up to his old tricks, hunting on the dark, narrow, winding streets of the Old City. He had lost count of his kills in Brazil, and nobody in Salvador seemed to care, or even keep count. There hadn't been a single newspaper story about the disappearance of young prostitutes. Not one. Maybe it was true what they said of the people here-when they weren't actually partying, they were already rehearsing for the next one.

At a few ticks past two in the morning, Shafer returned to the villa with a young and beautiful streetwalker who called herself Maria. What a gorgeous face the girl had, and a stunning brown body, especially for someone so young. Maria said she was only thirteen.

The Weasel picked a fat banana from one of several plants in his yard. At this time of year he had his choice of coconut, guava, mango, and pinha, which was sugar apple. As he plucked the fresh fruit he had the thought that there was always something ripe for the taking in Salvador. It was paradise. Or maybe it's hell and I'm the Devil, Shafer thought, and chuckled to himself.

"For you, Maria," he said, handing her the banana. "We'll put it to good use."

The girl smiled knowingly, and the Weasel noticed her eyes-what perfect brown eyes. And all mine now-eyes, lips, breasts.

Just then, he spotted a small Brazilian monkey called a mico trying to work its way through a window screen and into his house. "Get out of here, you thieving little bastard!" he yelled. "G'wan! Beat it!"

There came a quick movement from out of the bushes, then three men jumped him. The police, he was certain, probably Americans. Alex Cross?

The cops were all over him, powerful arms and legs everywhere. He was struck down by a bat, or a lead pipe, yanked back up by his full head of hair, then beaten unconscious.

"We caught him. We caught the Weasel, first try. That wasn't very hard," said one of the men. "Bring him inside."

Then he looked at the beautiful young girl, who was clearly afraid, rightly so. "You did a good job, Maria. You brought him to us." He turned to one of his men. "Kill her."

A single gunshot ruptured the silence in the front yard. No one seemed to notice or care in Salvador.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from London Bridges by James Patterson Copyright © 2004 by James Patterson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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