Book Review: Fear No Evil by James Patterson

 This wasn't my favorite Alex Cross book in the series, but I still liked it a lot. The first two-thirds were OK, but the last third was very exciting, although it read more like C.J. Box than James Patterson. (That's not a bad thing, by the way.)

The elusive and mysterious M makes another appearance. Add to that the murders of government officials involved in a Mexican drug cartel, and Alex's wife in a dangerous situation in Paris, and you've got non-stop action from start to finish.

One of the best parts of Fear No Evil, or any other Alex Cross book, is Alex's family. (Sampson and his daughter Willow have some touching moments as well.) It's been interesting watching Damon, Jannie and Ali grow and mature, albeit very slowly, over the last 29 years. (Unlike C.J. Box, whose Joe Pickett characters age with each book.) I hope Nana Mama stays "ninety-something" for years to come, though.

As I've been writing this, I've been trying to figure out why this wasn't one of my favorites. I think it's because Alex doesn't get inside the heads of M, the head of the cartel or any other bad guy/gal in order to get one step ahead of them. Not that he and Sampson don't outwit the people chasing them in the wilds of Montana, but the mind games just aren't as prevalent as they have been in other books.

Having said that, I'll still be waiting to unwrap the next Alex Cross book next Christmas Eve.