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List Price: $29.98 | | Publisher: Hachette Audio
Salesrank: 844307
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| Our Price: $22.78 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
James Patterson's Cradle and All pits the intensity of faith against the certainties of science within an arena of Millennial tensions. A reworking of his 1980 apocalyptic thriller Virgin, this remodeled version boasts a genuinely unnerving premise, amplified with Patterson's fast-paced, uncluttered prose. In the midst of a series of unexplained plagues and famines, two teenage girls are heavily pregnant, despite being virgins. According to the sacred prophecies of Fatima, one will bear the child of Christ and the other, the spawn of Satan. Both Anne Fitzgerald, a former nun turned private detective, and the Vatican's Father Rosetti are sent to investigate. But which girl carries which child? The possibility of a miracle will be tainted with great suffering before the awful, unexpected truth is revealed. As the action moves speedily from the hallowed halls of the Vatican to the media frenzy of America to the small-town hysteria of Ireland, Patterson divines considerable suspense from the novel's central premise, tackling issues of faith with admirable aplomb:"All over the world, after all the years of difficulty, decades of diminishing spirituality, so many people still believed.... Everywhere, people talked of the Apocalypse, perhaps the end of the world. Which explained why so many people were suddenly going to church."A relentless pace culminating in a superbly twisted ending won't disappoint Patterson's faithful followers, and may even convert some new members. --Danny Graydon
Description of Cradle and All:
James Patterson's Cradle and All pits the intensity of faith against the certainties of science within an arena of Millennial tensions. A reworking of his 1980 apocalyptic thriller Virgin, this remodeled version boasts a genuinely unnerving premise, amplified with Patterson's fast-paced, uncluttered prose.
In the midst of a series of unexplained plagues and famines, two teenage girls are heavily pregnant, despite being virgins. According to the sacred prophecies of Fatima, one will bear the child of Christ and the other, the spawn of Satan. Both Anne Fitzgerald, a former nun turned private detective, and the Vatican's Father Rosetti are sent to investigate. But which girl carries which child? The possibility of a miracle will be tainted with great suffering before the awful, unexpected truth is revealed. As the action moves speedily from the hallowed halls of the Vatican to the media frenzy of America to the small-town hysteria of Ireland, Patterson divines considerable suspense from the novel's central premise, tackling issues of faith with admirable aplomb:
"All over the world, after all the years of difficulty, decades of diminishing spirituality, so many people still believed.... Everywhere, people talked of the Apocalypse, perhaps the end of the world. Which explained why so many people were suddenly going to church."
A relentless pace culminating in a superbly twisted ending won't disappoint Patterson's faithful followers, and may even convert some new members. --Danny Graydon
Cradle and All Reviews:
Good book to stay away from 
2009-10-13 - This is the first time I submit an interview on Amazon, and it is mainly to warn other people off this dog of a book. I've read most of the Alex Cross novels and thoroughly enjoyed them. "Cradle and all" however gives new meaning to the word "drivel". It is easily the worst book I have ever read: one-dimensional characters, rambling storytelling, horrible style... If an unknown aspiring author had taken this script to a publisher, he would no doubt have been laughed out the door! The JP trademark will probably generate a healthy turnover, but for me it is definitely the last time I shell out good money for any of his books. Buyer beware!
Other than the odd theology, a very entertaining book 
2009-10-07 - 1. if logic is important to folks, then forget this book because the entire premise, at least from a theological standpoint, just doesn't make any sense.
2. with that being said, if the above isn't a problem (and in many respects why should it be because this is a work of fiction), then this book should appeal or at least be fairly entertaining to most folks. the dark and demonic aspects as well as some crude scenes may be disturbing to some, all in all, a very well written book and as a result--> very engaging and entertaining.
Virgins 
2009-09-03 - "Cradle and All" is new waters for Patterson. The book is a thriller like his books in the past. There seem to be problems all over the world that make people ask "Is The End Near?" Among these problems there are two women that find themselves with child that are virgins. These women must be protected above all else. I always enjoy Patterson's books but this plot is not to my taste. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and Natchez Above The River"
Book Review: Cradle & All
2009-06-24 - The Review
I've loved James Patterson FOREVER. He's just one of those authors whose books I sink into and soar through. Perfect for poolside or avoiding the kids, Patterson always delivers up a great story. I was recently reviewing 8th Confession at a soccer game and a soccer dad mentioned that he and his wife read the entire Woman's Murder Club series. As we chatted, I mentioned that I really liked The Lake House and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. There are several of his classics that I actually haven't read and will keep my eye out for at a used book sale. Speaking of used book sales... I picked up 3 of his books (hardcover) for $3 each.. SCORE! But, I should read Along Came a Spider and Kiss The Girls and I don't have those yet. I'm also wondering if the Maximum Ride series is good... if you've read them let me know in a comment below.
So, soccer dad actually brought me the book to read last weekend. Cool! After reading a very long and detailed book, I was looking forward to a little PATTERSON ESCAPE! And, that's exactly what I got. This is a great story of two virgin births, one girl giving birth to our savior and the other the child of Satan himself (scary). Patterson keeps you guessing until the bitter end as to which girl will bring the world God's son.
Knowing that I can't giveaway too many of the details of a mystery in a review, I am just putting this question out there to James Patterson fans who have read more of his works than I... is there a sequel to this book? Patterson leaves that possibility at the end and I'm dying to read on if there is one!
This book was a #1 Bestseller and I can see why!
On Sher's "Out of Ten Scale:"
Like Nicholas Sparks and Lisa See, I just love anything that James Patterson writes. I doubt that I'll ever find one of his books that I don't like. I'm just a fan, plain and simple. For the genre Fiction:Mystery, I am going to rate this book an 8 OUT OF 10.
Be kind to yourself. Do not read this book.
2009-06-11 - Thank goodness this was not a long, thick book or I would have been really mad at myself for finishing it.
The plot of this book is a goofy blend between the first and second comings of the savior. The two babies -- one the child of God, one the child of the Devil and it takes, like FOREVER to find out which is which and by the time you do, you barely care anymore -- don't get born until the last few pages of the book, but in the meantime, Patterson subjects his readers to the most ridiculous characters and the most unsubtle twists and turns of the plot to craft a story that seems to have been written in ninth grade creative writing class.
Somewhere in the mix are a bunch of famine victims, sufferers from a vicious new strain of polio, and stories of terrible genocide from around the world. Patterson never bothers to get back to us with whether or not the holy child was able to help these folks, so don't stick around waiting to find out.
It would be a real shame to waste your money on this piece of dreck. And it isn't an Alex Cross mystery. And there's a lot of talk about intact hymens. Give it a miss.
