Read by: Andre Blake & Zeno Robinson Running Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Categories: Mystery, Thriller, Young adult Released: 2019 Media: mp3 on CD; Unabridged ISBN: 9781549121791
The Author
James Brendan Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an American author and philanthropist. Among his works are the Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women's Murder Club, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, NYPD Red, Witch and Wizard, and Private series,
as well as many stand-alone thrillers, non-fiction, and, even, romance
novels. His books have sold more than 300 million copies, and he was the
first person to sell 1 million e-books. In 2016, Patterson topped Forbes's list of highest-paid authors for the third consecutive year, with an income of $95 million. His total income over a decade is estimated at $700 million, and is regarded as the world's best selling thriller writer.
In
November 2015, Patterson received the Literarian Award from the
National Book Foundation, which cited him as a "passionate campaigner to
make books and reading a national priority. A generous supporter of
universities, teachers colleges, independent bookstores, school
libraries, and college students. Patterson has expressed the purpose of
encouraging Americans of all ages to read more books.
He was an
advertising executive at J. Walter Thompson. After he retired from
advertising in 1996, he devoted his time to writing. His greatest
influence, he said later, was probably Evan S. Connell's 1959 debut
novel Mrs. Bridge. He published his first novel in 1976 called The Thomas Berryman Number. The
novels featuring his character Alex Cross, a forensic psychologist
formerly of the Washington DC, Metropolitan Police and Federal Bureau of
Investigation, who now works as a private psychologist and government
consultant, are his most popular and the top-selling U.S. detective
series in the past ten years. Patterson has written more than 200 novels
since 1976. He has had more than 114 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds The New York Times record for most #1 New York Times bestsellers
by a single author, a total of 67, which is also a Guinness World
Record. His novels account for one in 17, roughly 6%, of all hardcover
novels sold in the United States; in recent years his novels have sold
more copies than those of Stephen King, John Grisham, and Dan Brown
combined. His books have sold approximately 305 million copies
worldwide. In 2008, he replaced Jacqueline Wilson as the most borrowed
author in Britain's libraries. He retained this position at least until
2013. In 2018, he worked with Stephen David Entertainment on the true
crime television series James Patterson's Murder Is Forever.
Patterson's
awards include the Edgar Award, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the
Year, the International Thriller of the Year award, and the Children's
Choice Book Award for Author of the Year. He is the first author to have
No. 1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and
children's bestsellers lists, and to have two books on NovelTrackr's
top-ten list at the same time. In 2019, Patterson was awarded a National
Humanities Medal. He appeared on the Fox TV show The Simpsons (in the episode "Yokel Chords") and in various episodes of Castle as himself.
Patterson
works with a variety of co-authors, such as J.D. Barker, Candice Fox,
Maxine Paetro, Andrew Gross, Mark Sullivan, Ashwin Sanghi, Michael
Ledwidge, and Peter de Jonge. In May 2017, it was announced that
Patterson would also co-author a crime fiction book with former U.S.
President Bill Clinton. Patterson said the novel, The President Is Missing,
would provide a level of detail that only a former U.S. president can
offer. Patterson has often said that collaborating with others brings
new and interesting ideas to his stories. Of his process, he has stated
that he is simply more proficient at dreaming up plots than crafting
sentence after sentence.
In September 2009, Patterson signed a deal to write or co-write 11 books for adults and 6 for young adults by the end of 2012. Forbes reported the deal was worth at least $150 million, but according to Patterson the estimate was inaccurate.
Many of his books have been adapted for film or TV:
Child of Darkness, Child of Light (1991), telefilm directed by Marina Sargenti, based on novel Virgin, or Cradle and All
Kiss the Girls (1997), film directed by Gary Fleder, based on novel Kiss the Girls
Miracle on the 17th Green (1999), telefilm directed by Michael Switzer, based on novel Miracle on the 17th Green
Along Came a Spider (2001), film directed by Lee Tamahori, based on novel Along Came a Spider
First to Die (2003), telefilm directed by Russell Mulcahy, based on novel 1st to Die
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (2005), telefilm directed by Richard Friedenberg, based on novel Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas
Women's Murder Club (2007–2008), series created by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain, based on novels of Women's Murder Club series
Sundays at Tiffany's (2010), telefilm directed by Mark Piznarski, based on novel Sundays at Tiffany's
Alex Cross (2012), film directed by Rob Cohen, based on novel Cross, or Alex Cross
Zoo (2015–2017), series based on novel Zoo
Maximum Ride (2016), film directed by Jay Martin, based on novels of Maximum Ride series
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016), film directed by Steve Carr, based on children's novel Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
James Patterson's the Chef (2018), miniseries directed by Nico Casavecchia and Gabe Michael, based on novel The Chef
Instinct (2018–2019), series created by Michael Rauch, based on novel Murder Games, or Instinct
The Postcard Killings (2020), film directed by Danis Tanović, based on novel The Postcard Killers
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020), miniseries co-written by John Connolly and Tim Malloy and based on Filthy Rich
Synopsis
James
Patterson's blockbuster Alex Cross series has sold over 100 million
copies – and now he's bringing those thrills to a new generation! Alex's
son Ali is eager to follow in his father's footsteps as a detective,
but when his best friend goes missing, what price will he have to pay to solve the mystery?
Ali
Cross has always looked up to his father, former detective and FBI
agent Alex Cross. While solving some of the nation's most challenging
crimes, his father always kept his head and did the right thing. Can Ali
have the same strength and resolve?
When Ali's best friend Gabe
is reported missing, Ali is desperate to find him. At the same time, a
string of burglaries targets his neighborhood -- and even his own house.
With
his father on trial for a crime he didn't commit, it's up to Ali to
search for clues and find his friend. But being a kid sleuth isn't easy
-- especially when your father warns you not to get involved! -- and Ali
soon learns that clues aren't always what they seem.
Will his detective work lead to a break in Gabe's case or cause even more trouble for the Cross family?
Reviews
“Patterson
blends the fun of James Ponti’s T.O.A.S.T. mysteries and Stuart Gibbs’s
Spy School with a bit of commentary about the complications of policing
in the modern era. A valuable addition to any audio book collection
serving young Patterson fans and middle grade action/thriller
audiences.” - School Library Journal
“There
are highlights in Ali’s first case, such as creatively using an
immersive video game environment the preteens are addicted to as a way
to communicate with Gabe. Ali is a flawed detective, often rushing into
danger without thinking, which makes him more likable.” -Booklist
“Writing
in Ali’s voice with occasional cutaways to third-person chapters that
follow Alex, Patterson sprinkles the narrative with pop-culture
references even as he takes readers through the detective process.” -Kirkus Reviews
"The prolific king of the beach read is back with an inter-generational mystery for the 9-to-12-year-old set." -AudioFiles
On Media
Audiobook on CD-ROM, complete with cover art on CD. Supplied in windowed CD sleeve, no case provided.
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