James Patterson Bears A Different Cross
The Jester by James Patterson & Andrew Gross
There are no police chases in James Patterson's and Andrew Gross' The Jester. Readers won't find a single mention of the FBI, wiretaps or car chases. All of those Patterson staples are missing because The Jester is set one thousand years ago during The Crusades.Patterson and his frequent writing partner Gross leave modern society behind, but manage to keep the suspense highly stoked through this historical drama. There are peasant uprisings, a mysterious treasure item and a look at what life at court might have been like in the eleventh century.
The barrage of improbable action sequences that mark most of Patterson's Alex Cross novels is missing from The Jester. Patterson and Gross instead allow the story to slowly unfold through a veil of historical perspective worthy of James Michener. Like Michener, however, the authors find themselves bogged down towards the middle of the story, meandering through a series of subplots that readers may not find rewarding.
The Plot In Exactly One Hundred Words
Veille du Pere is a French village the world has forgotten as it struggles against the oppression of a feudal lord. A Crusader army stops there to recruit troops, and they are joined by Hugh du Lac, the local innkeeper. Hugh marches towards Jerusalem with them, but eventually deserts and returns home with some battle souvenirs. Upon arriving, he learns that his son has been killed and his wife held prisoner. To reach her, Hugh learns and assumes the role of court jester, but finds himself in the middle of a mystery surrounding his treasure, a love triangle and rebellion.What Works Well
Patterson and Gross write a familiar story in a setting many readers may find unfamiliar. They weave enough mythology into their story to give The Jester an air of authenticity.The characters, especially Hugh and his jester mentor, are engaging, and their actions make the reader want to learn more about them. If Hugh's love for his wife Sophie were any more bittersweet and his drive any less, Patterson and Gross would have found themselves writing a historical romance. They manage to eventually balance the story and rebuild the suspenseful momentum that is lost in the middle of the story.
What Doesn't Work As Well
Patterson's short, punchy chapters are reminiscent of Robert B. Parker's style in his Spenser novels. Crammed with dialogue and covering only one scene, they are designed to catapult the reader from event to event without pause.Unfortunately, that style doesn't work for the setting in The Jester, leaving the reader instead with a feeling of reading a book written by MTV-2 programmers stoked on Red Bull. The story slows to a crawl in the middle of the book, creating a vague sense of dissatisfaction and lack of balance.
Finally, the end, which I won't spoil for you here, is telegraphed chapters in advance of the events. Patterson is a better writer than that and has been known to stir the occasional O. Henry twist into his previous work. Why he and Gross opt for the predictable hack ending is its own mystery.
The Bottom Line, Dog Earred Pages and All
An interesting read if only for the setting. Hugh is a likable character and the average story is familiar, easy reading, allowing the reader to burrow into the setting instead.Five Things To Remember From This Review
1. This one is set in the eleventh century, mostly in France.2. Be willing to suspend your disbelief when considering Hugh's treasure.
3. The pace is choppy, then slow, then choppy again.
4. Patterson and Gross seem to have done an excellent job with their research.
5. You know what the ending will be, but you should finish the story anyway for a few minor twists.
