CROSS by James Patterson
James Patterson's most fascinating creation is the forensic psychologist named Alex Cross. He has been the focal point for many of Patterson's most successful novels. In his latest novel CROSS, Patterson involves Alex Cross in one of his most personal cases, the search for his wife's killer. The novel contains more suspense than ever, more heart and humor than ever, and more personal involvement for Cross than ever. This all means it is one of the most enjoyable of reads for Patterson fans.
The biggest tragedy of Alex Cross' life is the death of his wife Maria. CROSS takes us back to the night she died and gives more details into that event than have been shared in previous books. We understand a little bit of Cross' guilt and understand why he is so hung up on finding her killer.
We also get a picture of the mind and acts of a serial killer. In this book his name is Michael Sullivan, AKA "The Butcher." And a butcher he is, killing people in the most gruesome of ways. Patterson gives us the gory details and makes Sullivan one of the most despicable characters possible.
The book is the story of two lives that are on a collision course. Alex Cross and Michael Sullivan live in different worlds with different mindsets, but there is no doubt their lives are going to meet at some point in time. And when they do, one of them will probably die.
CROSS is pure Patterson, full of short chapters that grab our attention and move us forward in the story. Each chapter has a nugget of information but there is never an overabundance of data given. The reader comes to know the characters but not in as much depth as other authors would provide. Patterson builds his characters slowly, over a book or two.
James Patterson is a reader's writer. He knows how to grab attention, how to hold it, and how to satisfy. He has shown this talent in novel after novel, and he churns out more books than anyone in the writing world today. Still it is the "Alex Cross" series that is the most popular and the most beloved. He has captured the imagination of countless readers and they devour any new book with this character in the forefront.
So prepare to be entertained as you read CROSS. It is a fast moving and violent look at the world of Alex Cross. He is on the search for a killer and the killer is one of the most deadly in the world. When this death match is resolved Cross will finally know the true story of what happened to Maria.
CROSS is published by Little, Brown. It contains 400 pages and sells for $27.99.