2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Roses Are Red by James Patterson, the sixth book in the Alex Cross series.

Pages: 416 pages


Length: 1 Month (November)


Participants: Lynn, Iton.


Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

I have not yet begun this one, Iton! I am finishing my last October read and hope to get to this one this coming weekend.

Hi Lynn. I'm 3% in and will try to dedicate time this weekend to reading this. How's your reading going?

Hey Iton! Ugh. I have been so busy at work and exhausted that my pace has slowed. However, I have November 24-28 off work, so will plan to read this during those 5 days.

I just started this. Should finish it this week. How 'bout you? Of course, there is murder right off the bat! 🙄😀

I’m 14% in. The plot so far has been interesting.

If there isn’t a murder in the first 10 pages, is it an Alex Cross book?!?

I’ll try to finish this tonight or sometime this weekend

I zipped right through this! I'm anxious to see what you think once you're finished... I find this series to be extremely predictable in the overall story arc with each installment and yet...not predictable. 😲
Weird...

So, Iton, I needed to know if you're planning to continue with these buddy reads. If not, I'll plan to restart my reading of this series after the first of the year. But if you're still participating, I'll read Violets Are Blue in December.

I trust that you are okay and nothing has happened to incapacitate you! And it's fine if you do not want to continue! 😊

Hi Lynn, I’d love to compete the buddy reads! I am sorry for being MIA. I’ve had finals the last 2 weeks and have been studying with no time to read. I’ll be done on Monday and can catch up on Alex Cross.

Iton wrote: "Hi Lynn, I’d love to compete the buddy reads! I am sorry for being MIA. I’ve had finals the last 2 weeks and have been studying with no time to read. I’ll be done on Monday and can catch up on Alex..."

I caught your posting in the December Group Read thread. Sorry for being impatient! I trust your finals are proceeding well and you obtain the grades you wish for!

Finally finished, and OMGGG!!!

That ending, was not expecting it at all!! I’m shocked, absolutely shocked. I did suspect him in Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls but I thought it was too obvious. Ugh, what a disappointment it was that it’s him. Alex is going to be crushed. The entire DCPD and the FBI are also going to be crushed (can’t remember which one he works for).

I’m not surprised about Christine, was expecting her to leave but shocked she left without Little Alex. I hope she’s able to get the necessary help to not live in fear anymore. Jannie’s seizure was so scary to reward. Glad she pulled through.

Alex is like the most unluckiest person in love. First Maria, then Jessie (?), Christine, and now Betsey. I’m also sure I missed someone. Like women should stay away from him with his current job. I know he gets remarried at some point and can’t wait to read about the woman brave enough to take the plunge. I do hope there’s a future book that focuses on Maria’s murder, he deserves to know what happened. Now that a think about it, maybe Kyle mows what happened.

I’m excited to know what happens in the next book. Off to start reading.

Iton wrote: "Finally finished, and OMGGG!!!

That ending, was not expecting it at all!! I’m shocked, absolutely shocked. I did suspect him in Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls but I thought it was too obv..."
OMG! I know! I couldn't believe it either! YIKES!! This throws everything and everyone out of kilter, IMO! I plan to start the next one early next week.

I was rather shocked that Christine abandoned the baby, and yet I wasn't. I couldn't imagine what she endured for a whole year! I wouldn't be surprised if she never recovered...

And Jannie! Patterson certainly jam-packed this one!