Many of the reviews commented that they liked the fast read and it should be as there was a lot of white space which didn't take any time at all to read. There are 131 chapters in this book of 338 pages. Chapter number 122 started about 1/3 of the way down on the page and ended about one inch from the bottom of the page; then you look to the right and there was chapter 123. With normal pagination this book would have been less than 200 pages. I don't know why I am mentioning this as all the Alex Cross books have more than 100 chapters. Guess I just got irritated that reviewers were giving this book accolades about it being such a fast read.

This is certainly not in the thriller genre and some suspension of disbelief is necessary. This is another one of those books that has a double plot mystery where both killers escape, assume new disguises and change venues in the blink of an eye. Real police work is almost nonexistent. In one plot the authorities receive a call or electronic message about where the next victim will be killed. The authorities go there and eventually find the body then wait for the next call, etc. The revealed message that leads to the confrontation with the last killer is ludicrous, but at least the ending left no loose ends.

I have nine more Alex Cross books to read and sure hope there is at least one or two thrillers that I can rate as five stars.

I buy and read Patterson sight unseen. Cat and Mouse was disappointing. Irritably inconsistent and predictable. I hope Mr Patterson hasn't lost it.

I think Cat & Mouse is my favorite Cross series book so far. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that the evolution of one of the villains didn't make sense. I don't want to give the storyline away, but if you've read the book, you probably know what I mean.

I'm a little behind in the Patterson books, but I'm feverishly trying to catch up!

[...] Seriously this was the 4th book in this Alex Cross series, it may not have been all that bad if you knew the back stories/characters. OK, coming off my soap box now.

So the basic story line, Soneji is back and he is a twisted SOB... he wants to take out as many people as possible as well as Cross. He has a plan and the plan unfolds quickly and pretty darn exciting. However through the first half of the book you start to read about this other psycho "Mr. Smith" who is one his own murder spree... the twist in plot hits! And you wont be able to stop reading!

I think this may have been one of my favorite Patterson books to date. I love the twist in plot mid way through, it really made it difficult to put it down at that point. If you are a fan of twists in the plot that you didn't see coming then this book is for you. Great Summer time read!

BTW Here is a link to the order of the Cross Series:

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Cross-Series-In-Order-James-Patterson/lm/RPDN9G1NBTS3Q/ref=cm_rna_own_lm

I really loved this book. Not only did it have the return of the series' best psycho (so far), but it also featured another memorable psycho, Mr. Smith. The ending is so twisted and unbelievable. I loved every minute of it and couldn't get enough of it. S.L. Chessor author of My Tongue Fell Out & Poodlums Boogeymen and Booglers.Poodlums, Boogeymen and Booglers: A Poetry CollectionMy Tongue Fell Out