Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, #20)

Title: Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, #20)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2013

Date read: 23rd August 2015

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Alex Cross, Run" plunges Detective Alex Cross into a whirlwind of professional and personal crises. The novel begins with Cross arresting Elijah Creem, a powerful and corrupt plastic surgeon. After his release, Creem undergoes extensive plastic surgery to evade detection and dedicates himself to exacting revenge on Cross.

Concurrently, a series of gruesome and seemingly unrelated murders terrorizes Washington D.C. Alex is called to investigate the horrific discovery of young women's bodies, often with missing babies, followed by other victims, suggesting multiple serial killers. As Alex's team strains to connect these baffling cases, a personal vendetta against him intensifies.

Ron Guidice, a man who holds Alex responsible for his pregnant fiancée's death in a past incident, launches a relentless campaign to destroy Alex's life. Guidice orchestrates false accusations, plants evidence, and infiltrates the Cross family's home with surveillance, threatening Alex's career, reputation, and the safety of his loved ones, including his foster daughter, Ava, who faces her own crisis.

As Alex delves deeper, the seemingly disparate murder cases begin to converge, revealing chilling connections. It's uncovered that Elijah Creem is indeed behind some of the killings, driven by a twisted desire for revenge against his ex-wife and daughters. His associate, Joshua Bergman, is also revealed to be responsible for other murders.

The novel builds to a dramatic climax as Alex confronts both the dangerous criminals and his personal stalker. In a series of intense confrontations, Alex, aided crucially by his wife Bree, fights to bring the perpetrators to justice and protect his family from the escalating threats, enduring immense physical and emotional toll.

Comments:
Another brilliant novel, sticking to the "priceless" formula that works so well.

Books that we've read by James Patterson (32):
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1) (1993), Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2) (1995), Jack & Jill (Alex Cross, #3) (1996), Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross, #4) (1997), Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross, #5) (1999), Roses Are Red (Alex Cross, #6) (2000), 1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1) (2001), Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, #7) (2001), 2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2) (2002), Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross, #8) (2002), The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross, #9) (2003), The Jester (2003), 3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club, #3) (2004), London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10) (2004), 4th of July (Women's Murder Club, #4) (2005), Mary, Mary (Alex Cross, #11) (2005), 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club, #5) (2006), Cross (Alex Cross, #12) (2006), The 6th Target (Women's Murder Club, #6) (2007), Double Cross (Alex Cross, #13) (2007), 7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club, #7) (2008), Cross Country (Alex Cross, #14) (2008), 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club, #8) (2009), Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross, #15) (2009), I, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #16) (2009), The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club, #9) (2010), Cross Fire (Alex Cross, #17) (2010), 10th Anniversary (Women's Murder Club, #10) (2011), Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #18) (2011), 11th Hour (Women's Murder Club, #11) (2012), Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #19) (2012), Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, #20) (2013)