 | |
| Author | James Patterson |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company |
Publication date | 1999 |
| Pages | 432 |
| ISBN | 0316693286 |
| Preceded by | Cat and Mouse |
| Followed by | Roses Are Red |
Pop Goes the Weasel (1999) is the fifth novel in the Alex Cross series written by James Patterson.
The book begins by introducing the villain, Geoffrey Shafer. He is a well-dressed and wealthy man who lives in Kalorama, Washington, D.C., and drives a Jaguar XJ12. In the beginning, he rushes into oncoming traffic causing a commotion, before a police officer pulls him over and asks him for some identification. This is when the reader finds out he is a British Diplomat who has diplomatic immunity.
As Geoffrey feels he is losing control, he decides to play a fantasy game called the Four Horsemen, in which he takes on the character of Death. As the game begins, he drives to the red light district, picks up a prostitute and e-mails the other Horsemen.
All four of them killed people in their area, but Shafer was more out of control. During their time in Bangkok they all murdered prostitutes.
Kirkus Reviews said Pop Goes the Weasel was a suspenseful novel that hinted towards a sequel. [1] Emily Melton of Booklist wrote, "After more than 400 pages of high-octane action, Patterson serves up a shocker of a finish that will have readers checking their locks twice." [2] Library Journal 's Jeff Ayers praised the book, stating, "Even with implausible situations and an absurdly evil villain, the book is impossible to put down." [3]
Publishers Weekly praised the book, writing, "Even the disappearance of Cross's new lady love (his wife was killed in a previous book) is less of a cliched device than a ritual sacrifice as Patterson's well-oiled suspense machine grinds away with solid precision." [4] In a negative review, Sun Sentinel mystery columnist Oline H. Cogdill wrote, "In his seventh novel featuring Cross, the best-selling author suspends suspense for an amateurish story that spirals downward into an ending that is as insipid as it is preposterous. Pop Goes the Weasel holds no secrets in reserve as each twist and plot movement are doltishly transparent." [5] San Francisco Examiner 's Bobbie Hess called the novel "well-paced with believable dialogue", deeming it "a worthy addition to the Cross saga". [6]
An audiobook adaptation of the book was released in 1999. It was narrated by Keith David and Roger Rees, who depicted the characters Alex Cross and Geoffrey Shafer, respectively. The adaptation had six hours of audio in four cassettes. [7]
Redwall is a series of children's fantasy novels by British writer Brian Jacques, published from 1986 to 2011. It is also the title of the first book of the series, published in 1986, as well as the name of the abbey featured in the book, and is the name of an animated television series based on three of the novels, which first aired in 1999. The books are primarily aimed at adolescents. There have been 22 novels and two picture books published. The twenty-second, and final, novel, The Rogue Crew, was posthumously released on 3 May 2011, almost three months after Jacques' death on 5 February.
"Pop! Goes the Weasel" is a traditional English and American song, a country dance, nursery rhyme, and singing game that emerged in the mid-19th century. It is commonly used in jack-in-the-box toys and for ice cream trucks.
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The Macavity Awards, established in 1987, are a group of literary awards presented annually to mystery writers. Nominated and voted upon annually by the members of the Mystery Readers International, the award is named for the "mystery cat" of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The award is given in four categories—best novel, best first novel, best nonfiction, and best short story. The Sue Feder Historical Mystery has been given in conjunction with the Macavity Awards.
The Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel was established in 1946.
Honor Thyself is a novel written by Danielle Steel and published by Delacorte Press in February 2008. The book is Steel's 74th best-selling novel. It is a courageous journey of survival, memory, and self-discovery.
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Alex Cross is a crime, mystery, and thriller novel series written by James Patterson. The protagonist of the series is Alex Cross, an African-American Metropolitan Police Department detective and father who counters threats to his family and to the city of Washington, D.C. Supporting characters include two of Cross's children, Damon and Janelle, as well as his grandmother Nana Mama. The series is usually narrated in first-person perspective by Alex Cross, and occasionally from the villains' point of view in third-person.
John Sampson is a fictional character in the mystery novel series Alex Cross and is one of the main characters.
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Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide is a mystery novel by Rupert Holmes, published in 2023. Murder Your Employer was No. 6 on the New York Times bestseller list, No. 6 in new releases on the international bestsellers list in Canada, No. 9 on Publishers Weekly bestsellers list, and No. 7 on USA Today bestseller list. The audiobook version of Murder Your Employer was a finalist in 2024 for the Audie Award for Mystery.
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