I, Alex Cross, by James Patterson

James Patterson is a critically despised but bestselling author of books in various genre and for readers of various ages. The Alex Cross series, which launched his career (some would say his brand), features an African-American detective with the Washington, DC, police who is also a single father and psychology Ph.D.

The Cross books are written to a formula: Alex must bring in a psychologically damaged but brilliant serial killer while dealing with the ongoing challenge of paying adequate attention to his children and trying to maintain a romantic life. The story is told in short (one- to three-page) chapters that cut between Alex and other characters. Few words are expended on description. I, Alex Cross is no different. Alex's estranged niece, a highly paid "escort," is found murdered, and soon the DC area is littered with the bodies of other prostitutes and anyone who might be able to tie their deaths to "Zeus," whose connection to the White House is soon apparent. Meanwhile, Nana, Cross's grandmother, suffers congestive heart failure and ends up in a coma, fueling Alex's angst. The plot is ridiculous, Alex Cross too good to be true (he was played by Morgan Freeman, so he's right up there with God and Mandela)--but you can read the book's nearly 300 pages so quickly, you don't even feel like you're wasting time.

Favorite passage: None