This is not one of the best Alex Cross books, at least for me.

It's a pity because the story had potential. The detective is on the trail of a serial rapist who was also active during the period when his beloved first wife Maria was murdered.

There is a small plot twist that at least saves the end of the book. However, overall, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The pacing could have been better, and some of the character developments felt a bit rushed.

Despite this, Patterson's writing is still engaging, and I found myself turning the pages to see how the story would unfold. But compared to some of his other works in the Alex Cross series, this one falls a bit short.

Perhaps it's because I had such high hopes for it, but unfortunately, it didn't fully deliver.

This is the twelfth part of the series about Alex Cross, written by James Patterson.

Ten years ago, Alex Cross's world shattered when his pregnant wife, Maria, was shot in front of his eyes. She died in his arms, with her last words being: "Oh, I love you, Alex."

After all these years, Alex still hasn't been able to completely overcome this loss and forgive himself for not doing more to save her. He can't help but wonder if the bullet was meant for him.

We follow the story of Michael Sullivan, known as "The Butcher." A paid hitman for the mafia and a sadist who treats his victims in the most brutal way possible, after luring them into his game in which he is very skilled. However, will the mafia's revenge be too high a stake for him? One thing is certain, no one must know about his family!

After yet another close encounter with death, on Nana's advice, Alex decides to resign from the FBI and continue his career as a psychologist.

When he thinks his life will now become much quieter and he will no longer be a monster, Sampson, his best friend and former partner, comes at midnight with the information that one of the prisoners knows who Maria's killer is and where he is. Things get complicated when the next day that prisoner is found dead in his cell.

This won't stop Cross and Sampson from going on a hunt for Maria's killer.

Many women have left him because with the name Alex Cross, danger always looms like a shadow.

Will finding the killer help Alex finally get over Maria?

Will he succeed in finding the killer and who will come out on top of the two of them?

Just ridiculous. Michael Sullivan, also known as The Butcher, is a psychopathic hitman and rapist. The ending was truly bizarre. One minute he is escaping in a car and engaging in a shootout with Alex, and then suddenly he is surrounded by his family. Or perhaps I'm missing something.

The short chapters and the extreme brutality are just way over the top. Alex should really be struck off as a therapist. No legitimate therapist would confront the abuser and physically beat them up. Confidentiality is of utmost importance in a patient-therapist relationship.

Alex's family seems almost too perfect. There's an octogenarian Nana who does all the cooking, cleaning, and child minding. The kids are so well-behaved that it's actually a bit scary!

I'm bemused by the incompetence of the police and the FBI. There is never any mention of forensic evidence, which is quite concerning. Still, I continue to read Patterson, but at least I avoid the ghost-written ones that he simply signs his name to. Nevertheless, his formula is somewhat entertaining and, in some places, unintentionally laugh out loud funny.

I have a little confession regarding this book!

My initial thought was that the author writes better independently than in those collaborations I've come across. The second thought that crossed my mind was that I was certain Alex Cross had a large number of children, yet only three are mentioned. Subsequently, I realized that I was confusing the Cross Series with the Michael Bennett series, which indeed has a lot of kids and is generally written in collaboration with someone else - Silly me!

Oh well! In this book, we encounter a criminal who seems to be connected to Cross's past life. As always, the chapters pass by quickly since they are so short, and most of them attempt to end on a cliffhanger to draw you in (I'm quite fed up with this by now). There aren't really any significant twists and turns as you know who the criminal is from the start, but it's an easy read that requires minimal brain power, which is precisely what I needed at the moment.

It was an easy read and a great murder mystery book.

The story was filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The author did a wonderful job of creating a vivid and engaging world, complete with complex characters and a thrilling plot.

Each chapter brought new revelations and surprises, making it impossible for me to put the book down.

The murder mystery aspect was particularly well-done, with plenty of clues and red herrings to keep me guessing until the very end.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller. It's a quick and entertaining read that will leave you satisfied and wanting more.

Overall, it was a great experience reading this book, and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 393

Publisher - Little Brown and Company

Source - Poundshop

Blurb from Goodreads

Alex Cross was a promising star in the Washington, DC, Police Department. But his world was shattered when an unknown shooter killed his wife, Maria, right in front of him. The killer remained unidentified, and the case went cold, lost among the unsolved drive-bys in the rough neighborhoods of D.C.

Years later, still tormented by his wife's death, Cross makes a significant change in his life. He leaves the police and the FBI and resumes his practice as a psychologist. His life with Nana Mama, Damon, Jannie, and little Alex is finally stabilizing. He even has the possibility of a new romance.

Then, Cross's former partner, John Sampson, asks for a favor. He is追踪 a serial rapist in Georgetown whose brutal作案手法 reminds him of a case they worked on together years ago. When the case reveals a connection to Maria's death, Cross becomes determined to solve it, embarking on the most urgent and terrifying journey of his life.


My Review

I'm a huge fan of Alex Cross. I read the series whenever I come across them, not in order, which leads to spoilers. I really should stop doing that. In this book, we see Alex revisit the past when his wife died and then move forward to the present day when he has the opportunity to leave the force and start his own business. But we all know that Alex can't resist his true calling, especially when there's a clue that might lead him to the truth about what happened to his wife all those years ago.

We have a police chase, Cross doing what he does best - investigating, a bit of the past, and Alex's family life. I love Nana. She's a smart and strong woman who holds the Cross family together. We don't see her often, but when we do, she's usually in charge with her sharp wit and tongue!

If you liked the previous books in the series, I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy this one. It's the 12th book, with the short chapters that we've come to know and love. I would have liked to have more of Alex's backstory. The focus is mainly on the investigation, and the bad guy is truly brutal. He abuses women, commits rape, controls them, uses violence, and even mutilates and murders them. He's rotten to the core, very skilled in his madness, and fears no one. Overall, it's a good page-turner, but while I liked it, I didn't love it. I give it a 3/5 this time.

As a long-time enthusiast of the Alex Cross series, I couldn't wait to crack open my copy of CROSS. Many of the elements that I adore about the series and Patterson's writing were present within the pages of this book. The short chapters made for a quick and easy read, while the straight-to-the-point dialogue added a sense of authenticity. The fast-moving plot kept me engaged from start to finish. However, there was one major issue that really bothered me.

The plot, in general, left me feeling frustrated and wanting to shout at someone. I could overlook the fact that Alex Cross's wife didn't die in the way he initially claimed. I could even forgive the fact that after fourteen years and several other relationships, including one that resulted in a son, Alex now seems fixated on "getting over" his long-dead wife. But what I couldn't ignore was the fact that this book seemed to lack substance.

Besides a detailed account of his wife's murder and Alex's new determination to find her killer, there wasn't much else going on. The Alex in this book is moody, melancholy, and completely different from the character I've come to know and love. In fact, halfway through the book, I wasn't even sure if I was reading about the same person. And it's not just Alex. His children, his friends, and even Nana Mama are all behaving out of character, and not in a good way.

On the positive side, the "mystery and suspense" aspect of the story was quite good. Patterson's writing style is always a refreshing change for me. But overall, CROSS is one Alex Cross story that I could have easily skipped.

**Book Summary**

The book features Alex Cross as the main character. His wife has been brutally murdered, and his motive is to seek justice and find the culprit. He is a dedicated detective, but initially, he is distracted by other cases and tasks. However, when he finally zeroes in on the case related to his wife's murder, his determination pays off, and he discovers the man responsible.

**Favorite Line**

"As I got to the doorway, Maria gave me that goofy smile of hers again. And a wink. She whispered—and I will never forget what she said—‘I love you, Alex. No one will ever love you the way I do.’" This line infers the deep and unique love between Alex and his wife. It shows that their bond was special and that Alex's drive to solve her murder is not just about justice but also about honoring their love.

**Book Review**

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a captivating mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The detective work and the twists and turns in the plot were engaging. I gave it five stars because James Patterson is a master at creating realistic and relatable characters. His ability to incorporate real-life elements into the story makes it even more compelling. The book was a page-turner from start to finish, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.

It is especially fun and interesting because of the remarks made by his ex-wife Maria.

Maria's words seem to add an extra layer of mystery and excitement to the whole situation.

Her insights and perspectives might offer a unique view into the life and relationship of the person in question.

Maybe her toedracht reveals some hidden aspects or secrets that were previously unknown.

It could also spark curiosity and speculation among the listeners or readers.

The way she presents her thoughts and feelings might be engaging and captivating, making it even more enjoyable to listen to or read.

Overall, her toedracht is a significant factor that contributes to the overall entertainment and interest value of the story or situation.

The thrills just keep on coming in the Alex Cross books! James Patterson, the master of suspense, gives us yet another firecracker of a page-turner. From the very first page, the reader is hooked and simply can't put the book down until the last page is read.

The central characters are as real as ever. We find ourselves living and breathing their highs and lows throughout the crazy plotline that seems almost too real. Even the bad guys are so well-developed that they completely reel us in. And when we reach the end, all in all, the reader is left wanting more.

As with all the Alex Cross books, there are adult themes throughout the story. They can be quite aggressive at times, but that's what makes these books so thrilling. I highly recommend this book, and all the others in the series, to anyone 18+ who enjoys a really good thriller. It's a wild ride that you won't want to miss!

I have to say that this is by far the best Alex Cross book I've read.

Although I've never been a die-hard fan of this character, preferring those from the Women's Murder Club and Michael Bennett instead, this book really impressed me.

Cross is often portrayed as a Supercop, which I used to find a bit too perfect. He constantly leaves his kids while emphasizing how precious they are, and he claims to love his dead wife Maria and wants to move on, yet in almost every book, he has a new love interest. In this one, he loved Kayla, and I thought they only went out a few times.

However, there were many great aspects to this book. The villain was one of the best Patterson has created, more believable than previous ones, and I really enjoyed the chapters featuring him.

I also liked reading about Alex quitting the police, although in the interest of the story, he didn't stay away for long and was soon back solving crimes like no one else could. At least he spent more time with his kids this time, and maybe he's finally starting to put his family first.

Overall, I found this book hard to put down. The mystery of Maria's death was a major part of the story, culminating in a confession from Sampson at the end. I hope this strengthens their friendship rather than harming it. I can't wait to start the next book, especially since it features the return of Kyle Craig, another great creation by Patterson.

In this thrilling book, Alex Cross finds himself in a complex and emotional journey. He is constantly reminiscing about his beloved wife, the memory of her always fresh in his mind. At the same time, he is on a desperate hunt for the newest and most menacing foe, known as the Butcher. This deranged individual has a sickening penchant for cutting up his victims and taking pictures of them to add to his twisted scrapbook.

Alex Cross suspects that this very same man might be the one responsible for the brutal murder of his wife. As the story unfolds, it becomes a tense showdown of who will come out victorious, especially when the powerful and dangerous Mafia gets involved. The web of mystery and danger continues to expand, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

I have truly fallen in love with this series and I am determined to continue reading it. The captivating plot, well-developed characters, and heart-pounding action make it impossible to put down. I can't wait to see what other adventures and challenges Alex Cross will face in the upcoming books.