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tabatha_shipley's review
3.0
What I Did Like:
+This series is really about marketing mysteries and thrillers to a younger audience and introducing them to the world of detective novels. Keeping that in mind, it’s a good series. It does its job of bringing kids into the mystery really well.
+The topics we dive into in this one are timely and important. Homelessness, shootings, police relations … they all have a front-and-center role in this one. I’ll side-step the idea of whether or not this particular author is the right person to tell this story and, instead, enjoy the fact that it’s being told.
+Good pacing. As is typical with Patterson, you get the short chapters and the small cliffhangers to keep you moving. This storyline moves fast and keeps you engaged.
Who Should Read This One:
-Middle grade readers who are interested in mysteries. The mystery here delivers!
My Rating: 3 Stars
For Full Review:
https://alltherightreads.com/2023/06/29/2023-book-review-like-father-like-son/
+This series is really about marketing mysteries and thrillers to a younger audience and introducing them to the world of detective novels. Keeping that in mind, it’s a good series. It does its job of bringing kids into the mystery really well.
+The topics we dive into in this one are timely and important. Homelessness, shootings, police relations … they all have a front-and-center role in this one. I’ll side-step the idea of whether or not this particular author is the right person to tell this story and, instead, enjoy the fact that it’s being told.
+Good pacing. As is typical with Patterson, you get the short chapters and the small cliffhangers to keep you moving. This storyline moves fast and keeps you engaged.
Who Should Read This One:
-Middle grade readers who are interested in mysteries. The mystery here delivers!
My Rating: 3 Stars
For Full Review:
https://alltherightreads.com/2023/06/29/2023-book-review-like-father-like-son/
bkeving_74's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sybrasays's review
4.0
Turns out I read the second in a series before the first, something I don't like doing! I would definitely recommend to middle graders who want to get into mysteries that are a little more mature than Cam Jansen/ A-Z mysteries/ etc. The language is geared toward the age group (which is great, but does often color my personal rating of the book). The plot was interesting to follow and kept me thinking. I enjoyed the sub plot. I liked it enough to read the first in the series and any subsequent ones.
btpbookclub's review
4.0
This is book two in the Ali Cross series it would read okay as a Standalone but I love this series so would recommend in order. After loving book one I had to read book two and it did not disappoint. After book one and the case solved there is bound to be more cases/mysteries and there is…
Another of Ali’s friends gets into trouble this time over a gun shot… Can he figure it all out? There is so much to this story. Plenty of twists, turns and heart stopping moments for the reader. Fast paced, edge of your seat read. An easy read with short chapters. One I devoured in one sitting.
I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for this series. Fingers crossed for more. Brilliant YA mystery/crime. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
Another of Ali’s friends gets into trouble this time over a gun shot… Can he figure it all out? There is so much to this story. Plenty of twists, turns and heart stopping moments for the reader. Fast paced, edge of your seat read. An easy read with short chapters. One I devoured in one sitting.
I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for this series. Fingers crossed for more. Brilliant YA mystery/crime. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
mommasaystoread's review against another edition
3.0
I read James Patterson's books regularly for years, particularly the Alex Cross series, but I kind of tapered off when things changed - the writing felt different, and some of the storylines were way over the top. My 2 mid-grade readers and I did enjoy the Maximum Ride series, so I thought this one would be a good one to check out. My 14-year-old and I listened to this one together, and we both came away with mixed feelings. He liked the idea of a kid solving mysteries, but neither of us was thrilled with some of the behaviors like lying to his parents and great-grandmother. Even my son pointed out that Ali isn't much of a role model for kids, and I would have to agree. I realize kids find their share of trouble, and I can understand making mistakes, but willfully lying is a hard limit for me. Patterson does touch on some prevalent issues, which keeps the story current. It also feels like a political soapbox at times, and whether I agree or not, I don't feel like it's needed in a mid-grade book.
This book does have the short chapters and fast pacing of most Patterson stories, and my mid-grade kiddos appreciate those short chapters when they're determined to get in one more before bedtime. The narrators Zeno Robinson and Wayne Carr give a good performance. They keep the story fresh and entertaining, and the boy and I both enjoyed the narration. In the end, this one had things I liked and things I didn't, and I'm still on the fence about whether or not we'll continue with the series.
This book does have the short chapters and fast pacing of most Patterson stories, and my mid-grade kiddos appreciate those short chapters when they're determined to get in one more before bedtime. The narrators Zeno Robinson and Wayne Carr give a good performance. They keep the story fresh and entertaining, and the boy and I both enjoyed the narration. In the end, this one had things I liked and things I didn't, and I'm still on the fence about whether or not we'll continue with the series.
sean67's review
3.0
Second book in the Ali Cross series, son of Alex, sees another decent read from Patterson, when he sticks to what he is good at it is better, and when he writes it himself it is better as well.
It is bit diet Alex Cross without all the darker elements, and there are some cringeworthy moments, Patterson does have problems writing about youngsters without either having too much saccharine or to much viciousness - but his books are as a far away from real life as you can possibly get, and once you reconcile that you can enjoy them more.
One hopes that he actually makes Ali Cross age as the series progresses and not leave him at the same age for the rest of his days, and maybe do some spin offs about his other kids, I reckon that older one at college will become a master villain and serial killer and take on Cross one day - ha ha my guess!
It is bit diet Alex Cross without all the darker elements, and there are some cringeworthy moments, Patterson does have problems writing about youngsters without either having too much saccharine or to much viciousness - but his books are as a far away from real life as you can possibly get, and once you reconcile that you can enjoy them more.
One hopes that he actually makes Ali Cross age as the series progresses and not leave him at the same age for the rest of his days, and maybe do some spin offs about his other kids, I reckon that older one at college will become a master villain and serial killer and take on Cross one day - ha ha my guess!