Cross (Alex Cross, #12)

Title: Cross (Alex Cross, #12)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2006

Date read: 1st August 2013

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Cross" by James Patterson is a pivotal and intensely personal novel in the Alex Cross series, marking the culmination of his long-standing, obsessive hunt for one of his most tormenting adversaries.

The story opens with a shocking and devastating event: the brutal murder of Alex Cross's beloved wife, Maria. This act shatters Alex's world and fundamentally alters his perspective, turning his professional pursuit of justice into a deeply personal quest for vengeance. The immediate investigation reveals little, and the case goes cold, leaving Alex consumed by grief and a burning desire to find Maria's killer.

Years later, while working on a new murder case that involves the disturbing abductions and killings of children, Alex receives a taunting phone call from a man who claims responsibility for Maria's murder. This chilling revelation ignites Alex's dormant rage and redirects his focus. The caller, who identifies himself with the chilling moniker "The Weasel", forces Alex to confront his past trauma and the possibility that his most personal loss is connected to a larger, more sinister plot.

As Alex delves into the new child abductions, he begins to see unsettling similarities to Maria's cold case. The killer is meticulous, cunning, and seems to delight in tormenting Alex, hinting at a long-held grudge or an intimate knowledge of his life. This intense psychological game pushes Alex to his limits, blurring the lines between his professional duties and his personal vendetta.

The investigation leads Alex through a complex web of clues, red herrings, and confrontations, forcing him to revisit painful memories and confront the depths of human depravity. He races against time to prevent further atrocities and, more importantly, to finally unmask and confront the individual responsible for shattering his life. The novel culminates in a brutal and emotionally charged showdown where Alex must face his demons and decide how far he is willing to go for justice and revenge. "Cross" is a raw and gripping tale of loss, obsession, and the unrelenting pursuit of a killer who made it personal.

Comments:
Excellent, thoroughly enjoyed it - tied in the story about his missing wife, that event has been waiting to be explored for 11 books.

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)