Along Came a Spider: A Paranormal Romance Inspired by the Classic Nursery Rhyme
Along Came a Spider Book Epub Download 16: A Review of James Patterson's Bestselling Thriller
If you are looking for a gripping and fast-paced crime novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, you might want to check out Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. This book is the first in the Alex Cross series, featuring a brilliant and charismatic African-American detective and psychologist who faces some of the most twisted and dangerous criminals in Washington, D.C. In this review, we will give you an overview of what the book is about, what makes it so popular and acclaimed, and where you can download the epub version of it for free or cheap.
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Introduction
Along Came a Spider was published in 1993 and became an instant bestseller, launching James Patterson's career as one of the most prolific and successful authors of thriller novels. The book has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 40 languages. It has also been adapted into a movie starring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross in 2001.
The book follows Alex Cross, a homicide detective and forensic psychologist who works for the Washington, D.C. police department. He is also a devoted father of two children and a caring son of his grandmother. Cross is known for his intelligence, intuition, and empathy, as well as his ability to get inside the minds of criminals and solve complex cases.
In Along Came a Spider, Cross faces one of his most challenging and personal cases ever. He has to track down a kidnapper and murderer who calls himself Gary Soneji, a math teacher at an elite private school who has abducted two children from prominent families. Soneji is obsessed with becoming famous by committing the crime of the century, inspired by historical kidnappings like the Lindbergh baby. He also has a split personality that makes him unpredictable and dangerous.
Cross teams up with Jezzie Flanagan, a beautiful and ambitious Secret Service agent who was in charge of protecting one of the kidnapped children. Together, they follow Soneji's clues and taunts across different states, hoping to find the missing child alive. Along the way, they also develop a romantic relationship that complicates their professional partnership.
Along Came a Spider is a novel that combines mystery, suspense, action, romance, and social commentary. It explores themes such as fame, obsession, identity, justice, morality, race, class, and gender. It also offers a realistic and gritty portrayal of Washington, D.C., showing both its glamorous and its dark sides.
Plot Summary
The book begins with Cross investigating the murders of two black prostitutes and their child in a poor neighborhood of Washington, D.C. He suspects that the killer is a white supremacist who is targeting black families. However, he is soon pulled away from the case to work on the kidnapping of two children from the prestigious Washington Day School.
The kidnapper is Gary Soneji, a math teacher at the school who has disguised himself as a reporter and a utility worker to gain access to the school and the children. He has taken Maggie Rose Dunne, the daughter of a famous actress, and Michael Goldberg, the son of the secretary of the treasury. He has also killed two Secret Service agents who were guarding Michael.
Soneji contacts the authorities and demands a ransom of $10 million. He also specifies that Cross be the one to deliver the money. Cross wonders why Soneji knows who he is and what his motive is. He agrees to go along with Soneji's plan, hoping to save the children.
Cross travels to Florida with Jezzie Flanagan, the head of the Secret Service detail that failed to protect Michael. They have a brief affair in their hotel room, despite Cross being married and Flanagan being engaged. They then go to Disney World, where Cross meets Soneji's accomplice, who takes him on a plane with the ransom money.
The plane lands in a remote airstrip in South Carolina, where Cross and Soneji's accomplice fight over the money. Cross manages to shoot the accomplice, but not before he sets fire to the money and escapes. Cross is left with nothing but ashes and no clue where the children are.
Meanwhile, Soneji has buried the children alive in an abandoned farmhouse in Maryland. He then goes back to his home in Delaware, where he has a wife and a daughter who are unaware of his double life. He plans to kill them as well, but changes his mind at the last minute.
He then returns to Washington, D.C., where he kills another teacher at Washington Day School, leaving behind a clue that leads Cross and his partner, John Sampson, to his apartment. There, they find evidence that Soneji is obsessed with famous kidnappings and that he may also be responsible for the murders of the black families that Cross was investigating earlier.
Cross and Sampson go back to the neighborhood where the murders took place and talk to an old woman who remembers seeing Soneji as a door-to-door heating salesman. They realize that Soneji has been living a triple life: as a teacher, as a kidnapper, and as a serial killer.
They also discover that Soneji has a split personality: one is Gary Murphy, a mild-mannered family man who teaches math; the other is Gary Soneji, a violent and ambitious criminal who wants to make history. The two personalities are unaware of each other and often fight for control.
Cross and Sampson track down Soneji's wife and daughter in Delaware and try to protect them from Soneji, who has come back to kill them. They have a shootout with Soneji, who escapes again.
Cross then receives a call from Soneji, who tells him where he has buried the children. Cross rushes to the farmhouse, where he finds Maggie Rose alive but barely breathing. Michael has already died from suffocation. Cross resuscitates Maggie Rose and takes her to a hospital.
Cross is hailed as a hero for saving Maggie Rose, but he is still haunted by Soneji's crimes and his own failures. He also suspects that there is more to the kidnapping than meets the eye. He believes that someone else was involved in the plot, someone who betrayed Soneji and took the ransom money.
He investigates further and finds out that Jezzie Flanagan and her lover, Kyle Craig, an FBI agent who was also working on the case, were behind the betrayal. They had planned to use Soneji as a pawn and then kill him and take the money for themselves. They had also killed Soneji's accomplice at the airstrip.
Cross confronts Flanagan and Craig at their hideout in North Carolina, where they have stashed the money. He arrests them and brings them to justice. Flanagan is sentenced to death by lethal injection; Craig gets life imprisonment.
Cross visits Flanagan before her execution and asks her why she did it. She tells him that she was bored with her life and wanted more excitement and money. She also tells him that she loved him and asks him to forgive her.
Cross feels betrayed and angry, but also sad for Flanagan. He watches her die without saying anything.
Analysis
Along Came a Spider is a novel that offers more than just a thrilling plot. It also explores various themes that are relevant to contemporary society and human psychology. Some of the main themes are:
Fame and obsession: The book examines the motives and consequences of seeking fame and recognition at any cost. Soneji is driven by his desire to become famous by committing the crime of the century, even if it means killing innocent people and ruining his own life. He is obsessed with historical kidnappings and wants to surpass them in terms of audacity and complexity. He also suffers from a split personality disorder that makes him unstable and unpredictable. His obsession with fame ultimately leads to his downfall and exposes his true identity.
Trust and betrayal: The book also explores the theme of trust and betrayal in various relationships. Cross has to deal with the betrayal of his lover, Flanagan, who turns out to be one of the masterminds behind the kidnapping plot. He also has to cope with the distrust of the media and the public, who blame him for failing to rescue Maggie Rose. He also has to question his own trust in himself and his abilities as a detective and a psychologist. On the other hand, he also finds trust and loyalty in his partner, Sampson, his family, and his friends.
Race, class, and gender: The book also portrays the issues of race, class, and gender in Washington, D.C., and America in general. Cross is an African-American detective who works in a predominantly black neighborhood and faces racism and prejudice from some of his colleagues and superiors. He also witnesses the contrast between the rich and poor sections of the city, where crime and violence are rampant. He also encounters sexism and discrimination as a male psychologist who works with female victims and suspects. He also has to deal with the stereotypes and expectations that society has for him as a black man.
Conclusion
Along Came a Spider is a novel that delivers a captivating and suspenseful story that keeps the readers hooked until the end. It also offers a complex and realistic portrayal of the characters, especially Alex Cross, who is a multifaceted and sympathetic protagonist. The book also raises important questions about fame, obsession, trust, betrayal, race, class, and gender in modern society.
The book is well-written, fast-paced, and full of twists and turns that surprise and shock the readers. It also has a cinematic quality that makes it easy to visualize and imagine. The book is suitable for readers who enjoy crime thrillers, psychological thrillers, mystery novels, or detective novels.
The book is also the first in a long-running series that features Alex Cross as the main character. The series has become one of the most popular and successful detective series of all time, with over 20 books published so far. The series has also spawned several movie adaptations, TV shows, graphic novels, video games, and spin-offs.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you entertained, engaged, and intrigued, you might want to download Along Came a Spider by James Patterson today.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Along Came a Spider by James Patterson:
Where can I download the epub version of Along Came a Spider for free or cheap?
You can download the epub version of Along Came a Spider for free or cheap from various online sources. However, you should be careful about the legality and quality of these sources. Some of them may contain viruses or malware that can harm your device or compromise your privacy. Some of them may also have incomplete or inaccurate versions of the book that can ruin your reading experience.
The safest and most reliable way to download the epub version of Along Came a Spider is to purchase it from an authorized seller or publisher. You can find many reputable online platforms that sell ebooks at affordable prices or offer discounts or promotions. You can also check your local library or bookstore if they have an ebook service or app that allows you to borrow or buy ebooks online.
Is Along Came a Spider based on a true story or inspired by real events?
Along Came a Spider is not based on a true story or inspired by real events. It is a fictional novel that was created by James Patterson using his imagination and research. However, some aspects of the novel may have been influenced by some historical or contemporary cases of kidnapping, murder, or crime. For example, the kidnapper's obsession with the Lindbergh baby kidnapping may have been inspired by the real-life case of Charles Lindbergh Jr., who was abducted and killed in 1932. The kidnapper's use of disguises and aliases may have been inspired by the real-life case of Ted Bundy, who was a serial killer and rapist who used different identities and appearances to lure his victims.
Is Along Came a Spider part of a series and what is the reading order?
Along Came a Spider is part of a series called the Alex Cross series, which features Alex Cross as the main character. The series has over 20 books published so far, and more are expected to come out in the future. The series follows Cross's career and personal life as he solves various cases involving serial killers, terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminals.
The reading order of the Alex Cross series is as follows:
1. Along Came a Spider (1993)11. Mary, Mary (2005)
2. Kiss the Girls (1995)12. Cross (2006)
3. Jack & Jill (1996)13. Double Cross (2007)
4. Cat & Mouse (1997)14. Cross Country (2008)
5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)15. Alex Cross's Trial (2009)
6. Roses Are Red (2000)16. I, Alex Cross (2009)
7. Violets Are Blue (2001)17. Cross Fire (2010)
8. Four Blind Mice (2002)18. Kill Alex Cross (2011)
9. The Big Bad Wolf (2003)19. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012)
10. London Bridges (2004)20. Alex Cross, Run (2013)
The series also has some spin-offs and prequels that focus on other characters or events related to Cross's life. These include:
- Along Came a Spider: The Classic Thriller That Started It All (2018), a graphic novel adaptation of the first book.
- The Women's Murder Club series, which features Lindsay Boxer, a friend and colleague of Cross who works as a detective in San Francisco.
- The Michael Bennett series, which features Michael Bennett, a friend and colleague of Cross who works as a detective in New York.
- The Private series, which features Jack Morgan, a former colleague of Cross who runs a private investigation agency.
- The President Is Missing (2018), a standalone novel co-written with former President Bill Clinton, which features Cross as a minor character.
How faithful is the movie adaptation of Along Came a Spider to the book?
The movie adaptation of Along Came a Spider was released in 2001 and starred Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross and Monica Potter as Jezzie Flanagan. The movie was directed by Lee Tamahori and written by Marc Moss.
The movie was generally faithful to the book in terms of the main plot and characters, but it also made some changes and omissions that altered some aspects of the story. Some of the major differences between the movie and the book are:
The movie begins with Cross losing his partner in an undercover operation gone wrong, which motivates him to retire from the police force. In the book, Cross does not lose his partner or retire from his job.
The movie changes the names and backgrounds of some of the characters, such as Michael Goldberg becoming Megan Rose, Gary Soneji becoming Gary Sonji/Murphy, Roger Graham becoming Ben Devine, Kyle Craig becoming Nick Ruskin, etc.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Along Came a Spider by James Patterson:
Where can I download the epub version of Along Came a Spider for free or cheap?
You can download the epub version of Along Came a Spider for free or cheap from various online sources. However, you should be careful about the legality and quality of these sources. Some of them may contain viruses or malware that can harm your device or compromise your privacy. Some of them may also have incomplete or inaccurate versions of the book that can ruin your reading experience.
The safest and most reliable way to download the epub version of Along Came a Spider is to purchase it from an authorized seller or publisher. You can find many reputable online platforms that sell ebooks at affordable prices or offer discounts or promotions. You can also check your local library or bookstore if they have an ebook service or app that allows you to borrow or buy ebooks online.
Is Along Came a Spider based on a true story or inspired by real events?
Along Came a Spider is not based on a true story or inspired by real events. It is a fictional novel that was created by James Patterson using his imagination and research. However, some aspects of the novel may have been influenced by some historical or contemporary cases of kidnapping, murder, or crime. For example, the kidnapper's obsession with the Lindbergh baby kidnapping may have been inspired by the real-life case of Charles Lindbergh Jr., who was abducted and killed in 1932. The kidnapper's use of disguises and aliases may have been inspired by the real-life case of Ted Bundy, who was a serial killer and rapist who used different identities and appearances to lure his victims.
Is Along Came a Spider part of a series and what is the reading order?
Along Came a Spider is part of a series called the Alex Cross series, which features Alex Cross as the main character. The series has over 20 books published so far, and more are expected to come out in the future. The series follows Cross's career and personal life as he solves various cases involving serial killers, terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminals.
The reading order of the Alex Cross series is as follows:
1. Along Came a Spider (1993)11. Mary, Mary (2005)
2. Kiss the Girls (1995)12. Cross (2006)
3. Jack & Jill (1996)13. Double Cross (2007)
4. Cat & Mouse (1997)14. Cross Country (2008)
5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)15. Alex Cross's Trial (2009)
6. Roses Are Red (2000)16. I, Alex Cross (2009)
7. Violets Are Blue (2001)17. Cross Fire (2010)
8. Four Blind Mice (2002)18. Kill Alex Cross (2011)
9. The Big Bad Wolf (2003)19. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012)
10. London Bridges (2004)20. Alex Cross, Run (2013)
The series also has some spin-offs and prequels that focus on other characters or events related to Cross's life. These include:
- Along Came a Spider: The Classic Thriller That Started It All (2018), a graphic novel adaptation of the first book.
- The Women's Murder Club series, which features Lindsay Boxer, a friend and colleague of Cross who works as a detective in San Francisco.
- The Michael Bennett series, which features Michael Bennett, a friend and colleague of Cross who works as a detective in New York.
- The Private series, which features Jack Morgan, a former colleague of Cross who runs a private investigation agency.
- The President Is Missing (2018), a standalone novel co-written with former President Bill Clinton, which features Cross as a minor character.
How faithful is the movie adaptation of Along Came a Spider to the book?
The movie adaptation of Along Came a Spider was released in 2001 and starred Morgan Freem