Cross Country by James Patterson is a novel that I could not put down.
Not the typical Alex Cross series, Patterson takes a successful leap into an unpredictable role for his famous leading character.
The short chapters, typical of Patterson’s style, make you want to read the next short chapter though you can barely hold your eyes open.
Alex Cross, the protagonist, has made his 14th appearance in a Patterson novel.
Cross is a gritty, smart, introspective Washington, D.C. detective, known for his heroics and always “bagging the bad guy.”
Cross, however, was a different character in this novel.
The famous detective was blindly forcing himself into situations he would not usually enter, all without that careful forethought in which readers have become accustomed. But this time he is pursuing one of the most ruthless killers he has ever encountered, the Tiger.
Typically the hunter, Cross is the hunted in this thriller.
Called into the senseless killing of a D.C. family, Cross begins a never-ending investigation into a horrible new breed of killer. The violent acts continue getting worse as time progresses.
More families are being slaughtered and Cross and his team of detectives must find the notorious killer.
While digging deeper into the case, Cross becomes entangled in the deadly African underworld of D.C.
The Tiger has international ties, which throws Cross into a new realm. He tracks the killer to Africa, but because of the corrupted government and its ties to the Tiger, Cross immerses himself into a world in which he may not survive.
Without the help of the government on his side, Cross tries to bring the Tiger to justice on his own.
‘Cross is exposed to gangs and mobs unlike the ones he encounters in the D.C. streets at home. The Tiger leads a group of vicious teenage boys who will protect their leader and eliminate anyone who stands in their way.
Cross’ life and those who assist him are at risk to the terrors of the Tiger and his young gang.
Eventually, Cross has to make the unfortunate decision to leave Africa before he is captured and possibly killed by his enemies.
But leaving the hell he encountered in Africa is nothing comparable to his own family being missing when he returns.
Expecting the worst, but determined to find what has happened to his family, Cross comes face to face with the ruthless killer, and his life is changed forever.
A page-turner from the beginning, Patterson takes this thriller to the next level. As a James Patterson fan, I think this is his best novel to date.
The violence is a little extreme, so this book is not for the faint at heart.
But if you love a mystery with constant twists and turns, I recommend this suspense novel for any thrill-seeking reader.
Patterson published his first thriller in 1976, and he has become of the best-known and bestselling writers of all time.
He is the author of the two most popular detective series featuring Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club. His novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, were made into feature films starring Morgan Freeman, staring as Alex Cross.
Other books featuring Alex Cross are Double Cross, Cross, Four Blind Mice, and Violets are Blue.