Mary, Mary cover

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Book Level 4.8
Points 11.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 72436
Points per Word 0.000152
Page Count 392
Points per Page 0.028061
Series Alex Cross

Description

FBI agent Alex Cross is assigned to investigate a string of serial killings by a killer calling herself Mary Smith who has it in for Hollywood stars and e-mails blistering descriptions of their deaths to the editor of the LOS ANGELES TIMES.

Quick Summary

Alex Cross is back in the fast-paced thriller *Mary, Mary*, this time hunting a celebrity-obsessed killer who calls herself Mary Smith and sends the Los Angeles Times blood-curdling e-mails detailing her crimes. The story moves at a breakneck speed, with short chapters that make it easy to keep turning pages, and the tension never lets up as Cross races to stop a murderer who has Hollywood in her sights. If you enjoy the Alex Cross series or books like *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* that mix a detective's perspective with a media-savvy villain, you'll find this one hard to put down. Parents should be aware that the novel includes graphic murder scenes and some pretty scary moments, so it's best for older teens who can handle that level of suspense. The mix of procedural detail, psychological cat-and-mouse, and a hint of celebrity culture gives the book a distinctive vibe that sets it apart from the usual crime-novel fare.