"Jack and Jill" by James Patterson

Despite the title, this is no children's nursery rhyme.

This story has nasty violence, several murders, and, as usual with Patterson, a lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing.

Actually, there are two main plots here. Either one probably could have been the basis for a novel on its own.

One of the main storylines involves the murders of some children at the school one of Alex Cross's children attends. These incidents are very disturbing for the local schoolchildren and their parents. Cross would like to investigate the case, but has to do so with some of his colleagues on his own time. His main job, according to his superiors, is to work with the F.B.I. on another case.

The other case Cross is assigned to is an attempt to track down and apprehend a couple of killers who have been murdering high-profile people in Washington. A politician is one of the first victims, then a media celebrity.

But the killers are playing a kind of game. They leave little notes at the crime scenes, in the form of poems, like sick, twisted nursery rhymes. They call themselves Jack and Jill. And they send messages to the secret service, suggesting they've got something really big planned.

The secret service is concerned that the something big might be a presidential assassination attempt.

As the novel continues, Cross pushes himself hard, trying to solve both cases, with help from some friends.

And then there comes a time when the president decides he can't hide away all the time, that he must continue with his work and make public appearances, despite the risk.

This book has all of Patterson's trademarks in an Alex Cross novel. Intense, fast pacing, short chapters almost all of which deliver another punch, a violent but irresistible plot - it's all here. I enjoyed it as much as the other Alex Cross novels I've read, so if you're a fan of the series, you'll probably like this well enough.

And then there comes a point when it becomes clear that Jack and Jill might have some inside help. Certainly, they have knowledge of how certain things work within the White house. That adds a scary twist.

One thing I particularly enjoyed about this novel was that it delved into situations where the line between good and bad becomes blurred. It turns out that some of the white house staff suspect that one of Jack or Jill might be one of their own, gone wrong. They think it could be an assassin who works for the government, but has turned against them. The fact that such people exist isn't too hard to belive. The fact that such people are required is disturbing, and raises a lot of ethical question. Now, this novel's main purpose isn't to debate that issue in depth, but I felt that this part of the story gave it a worthwhile theme.

*** Spoiler Warning ***

The only criticisms I had, which I've also seen a few other reviewers make, are that Patterson suggests the two cases might be connected, but no particular connection is ever revealed. I wouldn't have minded having the two parallel plots, but to suggest a connection and not deliver one made me feel a little let down, like something I'd been anticipating never arrived.

And, there were some things that made it seem hard to believe Jack and Jill would get away with their crimes, especially some incidents that occur in very public settings. The odds of somebody seeing something, following them, and getting a strong clue seemed a bit high, for killers who keep slipping away from the authorities so well.

Still, it's a good, exciting read - Patterson knows how to entertain his audience; indeed, he's a master of pacing and plotting. You won't be bored for a minute.