I was initially interested in reading this book, however my tastes have shifted and I do not think I will be able to get to it now. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a digital copy!

The cover could have been more appropriate I felt for the very violent crimes committed within this story and for the apt description of our murderer.

Contrasting heavily with the above murder mystery is this one. Taking murder to an extremely violent level we have our Casanova and alongside him a serial murder on the other side of the country, competing with each other in their skills to evade all the detective agencies on their backs. They seem to be succeeding especially since girl after girl keeps disappearing.

The one girl who does escape through sheer skill and a great deal of luck helps out our Detective Alex Cross but it seems that things will be at a standstill because in the midst of the investigation another girl disappears whilst her boyfriend is murdered, shot at point blank range and we know the crimes will escalate.

Brutal, very difficult to read at times, I still have nightmares over some of the scenes but this is a skillful writer who takes an uncompromising subject and handles it well. Not for the squeamish though.

Goodreads and Amazon review posted on 17/11/2017. Review on my blog posted on 11/12/2017. Also linked to my FB page.

Now, having been disappointed with the first in the series, Along Came a Spider, I went into the second, Kiss the Girls very cautious. I've seen the movie with Morgan Freeman and enjoyed it, just like the first one, and again I'm disappointed with the book.
I'm avoiding James Patterson's work, it's the worst and I can't see why it's so loved.
DNF

I had this book in my to read list for a long time and i did not get the chance to read it until i found it in NetGalley. I am glad i finally read it.
Although i already knew the story (i watched the movie many times), i highly enjoyed reading the book. James Patterson is definitely a master in creating human monsters.

Two twisted killers working together. A series of abduction of brilliant women. And a Detective.

Alex Cross found himself in the middle of a major case when his niece went missing and was suspected to be one of the victims of Casanova.
What started as an investigation of one killer, turned out to be a horrendous chase of two monster.
The story was told from the point of view of Alex Cross, the killers and the Victim(s). I liked this alternation, and diving into the minds of the psycopaths was very disturbing but rather interesting. And i particularily liked Kate, one of the victims. She was a very strong and unique character indeed.

The end was no surprise for me as i already knew it, but still it was really interesting to follow the thoughts of Alex cross and how he tried to figure our who Casanova really was.
It was a very enjoyable book.

This is the second Alex Cross novel and is in a very similar style to ‘Along Came a Spider’, a style that has given Patterson a remarkable writing career. Fast moving gripping tale of the kidnap and torture of young attractive women taking place in two different places at the same time. “Gentleman Caller” and “Casanova” are going to tax Alex’s powers of deduction to the limit.

Like it’s predecessor, Kiss the Girls has the same unsophisticated writing style as Along Came a Spider. Patterson isn’t going to win any literary awards for writing anytime soon but he is a master story-teller and knows how to engage and entertain the reader.

Kiss the Girls spans over 100 short and punchy chapters narrated from different points of view, mainly Cross and the kidnapper/murderer who calls himself Casanova. Casanova is a deranged killer who falls in love (or what he perceives to be love) with his victims before he kills them and Patterson does a great job of letting us see how sick and twisted this guy really is.

The novel has some fairly graphic violence in it, more than I expected, in particular one rape scene was exceptionally disturbing so I really wouldn’t recommend to the squeamish or fainthearted.

With a few obligatory twists and one massive red herring Kiss the Girls keeps you guessing right up to the end. A rapid page turner and perfect to pick up in the airport (do people still do that?). Overall rating 3.5 stars. Thanks to James Patterson, Random House UK and NetGalley for the review copy.

I've chosen this because I'm looking for a sure fire summer thriller to read while I am on holiday. James Patterson's Alex Cross books always deliver just what you need. Yes they are a bit formulaic; certainly they are a quick and easy read. They do tend to get grislier as they go along and yet, though Cross is my favourite character of all Patterson's myriad series, they are a bit predictable. You could probably transpose the family passages into any of the other Cross books and vice versa. There's the obligatory love interest; threats to family and or loved ones and - always a good move - a nod to the next Cross book.

But Patterson is a master of the storytelling genre. He knows how to tell a fast paced story. He understands a short attention span and he revels in writing warped serial killers. And sometimes you know, you don't want to have to think, just to be carried along by the storyline.

All in all, I got what I expected and enjoyed it. But as I read more and more, I'm thinking that perhaps I'll give the next one a miss.

It's no secret that I am a huge James Patterson fan, and when book 1 and 2 come up on netgalley for reviews I decided it was time to re visit the early Alex Cross series.
​I had previously read these books years ago, way before I even thought leaving a book review was something important.
​So after being approved to read them I dived right in. Getting to know the wonderful Alex Cross all over again has been great, but I have to admit I like the more mature Alex Cross in his later books. He's the sort of detective if you were ever to need a crime solving you would like to think it would be by a real life Alex Cross.
​I've secretly wanted over years, Alex Cross, Michael Bennett and Lyndsay Boxer to work a case together. How awesome would that be.

I love the short chapters is JP's books, as it makes it easy to say just one more chapter, just one more chapter. You fly through these books no problem. The stories, the cases, the personal lives of the characters really draw you in to each page.

​This book like most of his others are brilliant. I would recommend anyone who likes a good crime thriller to read this series. And to make things even better I would start right at the beginning, that way you would have over 20 books to get stuck into. And it's great fun following Alex on his life journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy.

This is the second book in the Alex Cross Series. This book can be read as a standalone, but would be useful for the series to be read in order!

It was refreshing to go back to the early stories of Alex Cross. I love the Alex Cross series, but have found recently that the later books are getting a bit of the same old stories – when you get to 24 books I suppose it is difficult to think of a unique storyline!

I first read this book many years ago, with it first being released in 1995. In this story Alex’s niece, Naomi, has gone missing. It looks like there is a serial kidnapper on the loose and Alex manages to get himself drafted into the investigation. There are the usual characters in this book which we have come to either love or hate throughout the entire series – John Sampson being Alex’s partner and the infamous Special Agent Kyle Craig from the FBI, to name but a few!

The story is fast paced and the trademark short chapters help the story fly along and get you caught up in the action. These are the Alex Cross books that I love to read!! Five Stars!

Here is another great example of a great crime/thriller book. I love James Patterson and by far my favourite in this genre.
I really enjoy the Alex Cross series.
Another brilliant book.

This was my first James Patterson since I thought I should probably read one of his books as he's a best-selling author. I really wish I hadn't bothered. It was pedestrian and misogynistic, filled with cliches and just...not good.

Alex & John are back but this time the case is more personal. A family member has been taken and they fear for the worst as a killer is out there who likes to take college girls and eventually kill them. Can Alex find Naomi and the other girls before it is too late? The killer has made a mistake a young woman Kate has escaped but she never got a good look at him but she is willing to help even though it put her back in the sights of a madman. The more they dig the worse it becomes as it seems that there are two killers working their craft in different parts of the country but they have a history together and the race has become even more urgent. The killer sees himself as perfect and he is looking for the one that will complete his sick life & needs and he won't stop until he gets her back. Can Alex & John solve this puzzle and save the survivors or will they get away? A great intense story that lets us in to a madman's mind and why he thinks that he is entitle to take whatever he wants. Kate is the hero of the story, she never gave up even when she knew the end was near. Alex was intense as usual I wish John featured more in this story. Until the next adventure. Another great read

The Dragonslayer – Welcome to the Jungle

As for any errors and misspellings, English is not my mother-tongue but German - I just prefer to get the "original flavour" and improve my language skills.

“FOR THREE WEEKS, the young killer actually lived inside the walls of an extraordinary fifteen-room beach house.” p. 15 The killer watches Michael and Hannah Pierce and their daughters Coty and Karrie, 13. He introduces himself to Coty as ‘Casanova’. He introduces himself on the evening of murder in Boca Raton.

Casanova has a 21-old college student in his trunk – once he has her tied up against a tree, he “…took off his mask and let her see his face for the first time. …Then he bent down and kissed her on the lips.
Kiss the girls.
Finally, he walked away.” p 32

Washington D.C. cop Alex Cross, with a doctorate for abnormal psychology at John Hopkins, gets drawn into a grisly series of crimes. He will not be just professionally involved – this will be personal. His niece has disappeared. The story is hard to endure not only for the victims and for Alex, be aware that the kind of crime described is brutal, sometimes explicit and might shock sensitive readers like when one of the monsters in questions gets to try a sexual practice involving a snake on one of the abducted women. Too much for you – no book for you; this is NOT cozy crime.

Again, I feel quite drawn by the laconical style used each time you hear Alex, like when he has a very straightforward question for Robert Burns, Deputy Director of the FBI:
“I like directness more than anything in a senior officer,” Burns continued.
I was still waiting for an answer to my direct question.” p 70 Patterson certainly has you side with Dr Cross, the rather short chapters will shift from the usual third-person to first-person narrator whenever the focus is on the doc. Very much fine with me, he is made up to be a very likeable character, including nice interludes of music. And for this book I actually had thought there could possibly not be much more to come after I was a bit more than halfway-through – and was completely wrong. Despite of being a series, you might start with just ANY of the books (I did with vol. 20, than 23, and am now “on track”); something I highly appreciate; except for the short hint back to the previous book.

So, a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Trivia:
German title “…denn zum Küssen sind sie da”.

on the Cross family:
In volume 2, Alex’ children Damon and Janelle are 7 and 5 – he is a single Dad after their Mom, his wife Maria, had been killed in a drive-by shooting. That means it is the year after vol 1 https://www.lesejury.de/james-patterson/audio-downloads/morgen-kinder-wird-s-was-geben/9783785741108 which saw him at the age of 38. They still live with his 80-something-year-old grandmother ‘Nana Mama’ who grew him up.
There will also be Alex’ late brother Aaron’s widow (Aaron died of alcoholism-induced cirrhosis at 33), Cilla, 41, his one living brother, Charles, with his wife, and three of Alex’ aunts, one of whom is called Tia. Cilla’s and Aaron’s daughter is Alex’ niece Naomi “Scootchie”, 22.

issues I have with the text:
I do not quite get the sense of the incident with Marcus Daniels at the very start of the story. What did Patterson need that for?
Well, Patterson’s hero Cross is black, Patterson himself is not –he has female investigators, too, but sometimes he sort of stresses it in way that is a bit…overdoing, like when after a phone call, Cross’ grandma Nana goes: “Black man?” Nana asked. She is a racist, and proud of it. She says she’s too old to be socially or politically incorrect. She doesn’t so much dislike white people as distrust them.” p 43 I hope, the “Women’s Murder Club” will not ponder PMS in length instead. The author can be way more trustworthy, like when Alex and best friend-colleage Sampson will be stopped by a police patrol for one mere reason: the tone of their skins.

Alex Cross’s niece, Naomi, is missing. Cross fears the disappearance could be linked to a string of recent abductions and murders. Two brilliant and twisted killers, operating on opposite sides of the country, are collaborating and competing, encouraging each other to perpetrate increasingly horrific crimes. Cross must hunt down these two brutal masterminds – not only to rescue his niece, but also to save the lives of the many others still in danger…
I started off not being sure of the ‘voice’ of Alex Cross, but before I knew it I was totally drawn into the story and couldn’t read it quick enough. So despite my earlier reservations, the sparse yet realistic style of writing works! The story races along yet Alex Cross continues to be real as Mr Patterson constantly gives us an insight into his character and into his thoughts and attitudes. Loved it!

An oldie, but a goodie. I love Patterson and his work just doesn't age. Loved it

Having roared through the first three Alex Cross books, this is my least favourite: the 'it's personal' slant is one which doesn't appeal to me. That said, Patterson has honed his art brilliantly and delivers another breakneck, thrilling read, showcasing my new favourite super-hero!

I received an ARC of Kiss the Girls via NetGalley and I would like to thank James Patterson, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Arrow. Although this is a well-known classic thriller, first released in 1995, a new version with that strikingly awesome cover is being published on 29 June 2017. Kiss the Girls is the second outing featuring detective and psychologist Alex Cross and it follows on from the excellent Along Came A Spider.

The story starts with Alex arriving home one day to find a houseful of crying relatives. The reason for this is that his niece Naomi has gone missing whilst she is away from the family studying law in Carolina. They are shocked and devastated of course. To make matters more complex, this is not an isolated incident. This has happened to at least six attractive, intelligent women recently so the police are suspecting a serial kidnapper. As this is personal, Alex talks his way from Washington D.C. to Carolina where he aligns himself with the local police force and the FBI who are investigating these mysterious disappearances which have left no evidence or even the smallest lead.

Kiss the Girls includes familiar characters that are frequent throughout the series such as Alex's partner, the "Man Mountain" Detective John Sampson and also his FBI contact, Special Agent Kyle Craig. I really enjoyed reading more about these characters as well as about Alex himself. Similar to the majority of these thrillers, we are introduced to new highly interesting and deep characters such as the complexity of "two killers" and the intriguing female student Doctor and karate expert, Kate.

The action switches between Washington D.C and Carolina. The novel flows at breakneck speed and the chapters are always short, sharp and precise keeping the action intense and gripping. Alex does what he does best which is attempting to get into the minds of these notorious "monsters" to try and find a trail that sheds some light of these horrific happenings. I have read approximately six Alex Cross novels and my experience throughout these books, Kiss the Girls included, is that Patterson does compose some gruesome and upsetting scenes including rape and murder so this is not for the lighthearted.

I don't want to divulge any real details about the plot or the direction this book takes. When I read, I always try and predict what will happen. Kiss the Girls was so hugely unpredictable that I didn't bother trying to guess but just buckled myself in so I could appreciate and enjoy the journey. Apologies for the cliche, but the narrative is like an intense roller coaster. It plummeted my mind in one direction, then there was a twist, then I thought a certain revelation was awesome only then to realise I was blind sighted and things weren't as they seemed at all. It can leave you slightly disorientated but in a great way. As Alex's parts are in the first person, I emphasised with his distress and confusion at certain segments as he tries to solve this case yet, I was also given a real buzz when something unraveled in Alex's favour and when his deductions proved fruitful. The other characters are presented in the third person which means that readers have a complete view of everything that is happening and are with Alex when he puts the pieces of the puzzle together to try and rescue his niece, amongst the other missing ladies. To call this a thriller is an understatement. This is my favourite Alex Cross book so far and I can't wait to read Cat and Mouse next and complete the series chronologically. (I have already read Jack and Jill before anyone states that I have the order wrong lol!) Highly recommend.

I'm afraid I found the subject matter of this book the nastiest I've ever met. Book should be under porn not thriller. It could have been interesting but so much violence to wards women. Is unjustified. No-one would write a similar book with men as victims.

I really enjoyed this, the Alex Cross series is great. Couldn't out it down as it had me gripped right from the first page. A solid 5 out of 5.

Kiss the Girl is a spine-tingling thriller full of twist and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I am loving the Alex Cross series.