Pop Goes the Weasel (novel)

Pop Goes the Weasel

Author	James Patterson
Publisher	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date	1999
Pages	432
ISBN	0316693286
Preceded by	Cat and Mouse
Followed by	Roses Are Red

Pop Goes the Weasel (1999) is the fifth novel in the Alex Cross series written by James Patterson.

Plot

The book begins by introducing the villain, Geoffrey Shafer. He is a well-dressed and wealthy man who lives in Kalorama, Washington, D.C. and drives a Jaguar XJ12. In the beginning, he rushes into oncoming traffic causing a commotion, before a police officer pulls him over and asks him for some identification. This is when the reader finds out he is a British Diplomat who has diplomatic immunity.

As Geoffrey feels he is losing control, he decides to play a fantasy game called the Four Horsemen, in which he takes on the character of Death. As the game begins, he drives to the red light district, picks up a prostitute and e-mails the other Horsemen.

Characters

• Alex Cross
• John Sampson
• Christine Johnson
• Nana Mama

The Four Horsemen

• Geoffrey Shafer (The Weasel) – Death. The main villain in the book.
• Oliver Highsmith – Conqueror. The game was originally his idea. He was in charge of the other 3 when they were stationed in Bangkok.
• George Bayer – Famine.
• James Whitehead – War. War Recruited Shafer into MI6. Whitehead reported to Highsmith.

All four of them killed people in their area, but Shafer was more out of control. During their time in Bangkok they all murdered prostitutes.

Critical reception

Kirkus Reviews said Pop Goes the Weasel was a suspenseful novel that hinted towards a sequel.