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

Two pregnant teenagersone in privileged Newport, Rhode Island, one in a poor, remote Irish villagehave nothing in common except for the stunning fact that both are virgins. Private detective and former nun Anne Fitzgerald is called by the Archdiocese of Boston to investigate and to watch over the girls as they come to term. But Anne hasnt been told the secret prophecy of the Virgin of Fatima known only to the Pope: one of these girls will give birth to the Messiah while the other will bear the child of Satan. Caught between the certainty of science and the possibility of a miracle, Anne finds herself at the center of a terrifying battle on which the fate of humanity hangs. James Pattersons most recent bestseller, Pop Goes the Weasel (October 1999), had a first printing of one million copies and was a Globe and Mail bestseller. When the Wind Blows (1998), a nonAlex Cross novel, shot straight to #1 in paperback (1999). Cradle and All is an entirely reimagined version of a 1980 Patterson novel, Virgin, long out of print. Cradle and All has been chosen as a Main Selection of the Literary Guild. Praise for James Patterson: James Patterson knows how to sell thrills and suspense in clean, unwavering prose. ~ People

I don't know why I continued reading the book except that I thought somewhere Patterson would find some redeeming features--not so. The book was far fetched with all the tragedies of the world, the pregnant virgins, the devil's voices, etc. Don't waster your time on this one.

"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"

Writing as a Small BusinessQualifying Laps: A Brewster County NovelSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelTravelersThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early SettlersNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War

While I agree that this may not be one of his greatest, I enjoyed the book. I try not to compare all of his books with his Cross series, because many of them lose hands down, but in his typical way he put out any fair read (albeit a rewrite). I like is short chapters. Patterson writes good "waiting for the doctor" books as I don't have to worry about having to stop in the middle of the chapter when my name gets called.

Perhaps it is because I am so used to reading the Alex Cross series of novels, but I found this novel to be a little strange, though still enjoyable. I found the book had less of the mystery and intrigue that I was accustomed to. Don't get me wrong, this is a fun and entertaining novel and definitely a great read for anyone who loves Patterson.

Timothy Lassiter, author of Three Degrees of Separation and The Devil You Know

I really enjoyed the book, it's a real page turner. The overall story though, was a bit brief.