Cross Out: An Alex Cross Thriller (2024)

The best part about this novel is the octopus near Cape Town in S. Africa. If you haven't watched "My Octopus Teacher", tsk tsk tsk, what are you waiting for?🥹🐙

There are two titles for #32, "Cross Out" and my library's edition "Alex Cross Must Die", neither title fits the story, IMO. A lot is going on with 3 plots; a commercial plane crash, a shooter, and a missing CEO. All stories take place in the greater DC area. Unfortunately, this one didn't rise to the level of #30, Triple Cross. Need more "M" and Alex Cross.

Less is more for side stories and secondary characters.

3.0 / 5

Honestly, this is a downgrade to his previous books, felt like too much was going on in this book that hindered the quality of the plot. At times we were jumping from one story line to another and then going south for another. There is around 3 mains plots in this with two additional perspectives shown in this book. At points it got convoluted due to how after chapters we were trying to understand another part of the plot. At points particularly 100 to 150 pages in, is the deadest part of the book. There’s filler scenes, we see the perspective of the ‘culprit’ and the small minutes he had in this book. The story line for Bree was choppy and convoluted, and made her involvement and literal presence completely useless. I don’t like the direction the book is going towards in all honestly.

Honestly, everything in this book was convoluted. Patterson tried to pull off the double name game, like Gynthia Lodge and her series and it seriously backfired on this one. The main plot is about how an American airline plane is shot down using a rare machine gun and there’s a terrorist on the loose tryna be someone else. Whilst cross and Sampson are trying to catch a serial killer dubbed the dead hours murders killing men across different states. On top of that you have Bree stone trying to track down a missing CEO and solve a murder of a young runner who’s friends with Alex cross daughter, Janine. Don’t forget the little adventure Ali cross goes on, and the killers POV. It’s one big mess pot of a book.

Due to the juggling act of keeping so many plots alive, one thing is sacrificed- yup that’s quality. The minute we started jumping from one plot to another is where the quality continuously drops. It’s a frustrating read, reading one of your favourite series and finding out there’s triple the amount of plots needed in the book- with filler scenes and dips in quality. I dislike where the direction this is going in. Its going more action and less psychological. As an avid fan of this series, it’s going downhill.

It has been several years since I read an Alex Cross book but they were always a favourite so I was delighted to get this ARC.

The book has three strands - the bringing down of a plane killing all its passengers, the disappearance of a CEO and the murders of several men by a killer who shoots our both eyes.

Bree is dealing with the missing CEO which then morphs into a different case entirely. Alex and Sampson are on the trail of the man they're calling the Dead Hours Killer when they are set to work trying to find whoever blasted a plane out of the sky and why.

As always Patterson keeps the action fast-paced and introspection to a minimum. There are appearances by Nana Mama, Jannie and Ali who are, as usual, making Alex's busy life bearable.

I liked both the CEO and Dead Hours parts of the story but the story involving the plane devolved, for me, several times into farce. At times, the perpetrator was just one fluffy white cat away from Bond Villain.

That aside I enjoyed the book. Patterson rarely lets you down but I'd have preferred two (or even three) different books for the 3 strands. It felt a little two busy at times. Otherwise its great. If you're a Cross or Patterson fan you'll love it. If not it's still very much worth a read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance review copy.

I’ve been a reader of the Alex Cross novels for over 20 years now and have read every single book in the series - most of which I have thoroughly enjoyed and I would say it is my favourite of all of the many series by James Patterson and co. So I suppose at some point in such a long running series that there’s going to be some bad ones, well this one was the worst of the lot for me and it really seems odd giving a book in such a much loved series for me a 2 star review but I really didn’t enjoy this one.

The story is so cluttered and jumps from one case to the other all the time - none of which were actually that interesting anyway but I found it hard to follow (or care!) what was going on half the time. Quite a few times I was going to quit as I was so bored with it but I really don’t like to DNF books so I carried on but by the end I wish I’d saved my time.

A real shame as Cross Down (released earlier this year) was brilliant but this had pretty much nothing to do with that and didn’t follow on. The title is quite misleading too as there was no plot for someone to kill Alex Cross, so seems like a lucky dip title pick right there.

Here’s hoping to a better entry next year 🤞

Alex Cross is back in book 32 with no signs of letting up. I just cannot get enough of these face paced, page turning crime thrillers from one of my favourite authors of all time. You always know when you pick up an Alex Cross book that it will be non-stop action and you will be reading until you finish. His punchy, short chapters make for a fabulous reading experience every single time.

This time we have quite a bit going on… a commercial plane full of passengers is shot down killing all on board, there is a serial killer out there, nicknamed the Dead Hours Killer and Bree is looking for a missing Company CEO. On top of all this, Ali is getting himself into trouble again, Nanna Mama is going back to work and so much more. How could you not want to read this. And the ending..,another to be continued… ahhh!!!

Thanks so much to Random House UK for allowing me to read such an earl copy of this book. Always a pleasure and an honour to read a Patterson novel. Published on October 26th.

Retuning for another instalment of James Patterson’s cornerstone series, I eagerly wondered what Alex Cross would find himself doing. The series, which has ebbed and flowed—much like the author’s story writing—has proven to be somewhat more entertaining of late. Alex Cross may have formally left police work behind, but has investigative skills that have never waned. In a piece that explores numerous crimes, jammed into a single novel, Patterson helps advance his protagonist and the entire Cross family in this great book.

While Detectives Alex Cross and John Sampson are busy working to track down a serial killer who has been hunting young men in the middle of the night, they are alerted to a new and more troubling case. The ‘Dead Hours’ killer will have to wait, as a radio dispatch calls them to the scene of an American Airlines jet that has been shot down as it was making its approach into one of DC’s airports. There is little time to waste, as the explosion rocked the area and countless bodies are strewn across a wide area.

After some probing, it becomes apparent that the weapon used to shoot down the plane was a Vietnam-era machine gun with significant fire power. There are few who could handle such s weapon, and even fewer with the wherewithal to possess one for themselves. Still, Cross and Sampson will have to hurry to narrow that list down and discover the killer, as each passing moment ensures that things become less clear.

With the killer on the loose and looking for another airborne target, the discovery of a young woman’s body shocks Bree Cross and Cross’ eldest child, who knew the victim from her various track meets. What begins as a simple mystery turns ugly where a high school track coach’s antics come to the surface and show a different side to the man who has been targeting and grooming young women who are under his apparent protection.

With three crime circles progressing in tandem, the Cross family has a great deal on their plates, which leaves young Ali Cross trying to keep being an amateur sleuth. While his desires are good, he can sometimes blur the lines and become unaware of what his curiosity can breed, especially when safety is shelved. What happens next is a shock to everyone within the Cross family. Patterson weaves a decent story here, sure to interest the curious Alex Cross series fan.

My love/hate relationship with James Patterson has not abated, but I have always held out that this series would remain above the fray of mediocrity . Patterson has done a decent job of protecting it, but thirty-two books intro the series, there is surely some room for waning. Exhilarating at times, I have always enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the series. The narrative can sometimes get bogged down with trying to handle too much in a single story. I found myself pulled in many directions at times, though each case was highly entertaining.

Character development is hard to find with a protagonist who has been on the go for all thirty-two novels. Still, Cross and his family find ways to eke out some development throughout the piece, adding some depth to the series that needs it to remain buoyed up. There are some interested supporting characters, who use their limited time in the spotlight, to impact and flavour things well.

The twists and turns throughout this novel and the series as a whole have become what one might expect, though there are sometimes a little too many to juggle. Patterson knows how to pack them all in and things appear to come together in a decent amount of time, but it is sometimes a little too much to process, especially when the reader is used to short chapters that push things along so well. Patterson has done a lot with this series and one has to imagine that Alex Cross is about ready to hang up those handcuffs. While I have yet to have it happen, I am hoping for some protagonist sharing amongst some of Patterson’s longer and more developed detective series—Alex Cross, Lindsay Boxer, and Michael Bennett. It has yet to happen, but I can hope that Patterson, master of the collaborations, can make it happen soon.

Kudos, Mr. Patterson, for another winner.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

Bree has two cases. Cross has two. Sampson is alone at times. Flipping between these elements shortens chapters.

Now we are told who is guilty of main investigation along with having secondary Cross case killer exposed from start. Bree has only mysteries but unconvincing picking through the detail.

Read the title.
He is shot at a few times but nothing in the book supports a title that implies that he is the target inferred.

Unlike many other books the 4 elements identified very early on do not merge into a single story. It is not one book but 4 short stories.

Bree investigates a missing person and finds her as a victim in the terrorist attack but carrying a false passport in a previous name. And this climaxes by being taken away from her into a fraud investigation by FBI. No explanation of the need for such a passport.

Her second starts as a favour for stepdaughter Jannie. It becomes another missing person found murdered and when she stumbles on pertinent evidence the killer immediately commits suicide. Absolutely no tension or depth to the story.

The opening story for Cross and Sampson is a serial killer. This is interspersed with the other three but is basically a short story that is stretched for most of the book. The culprit is arrested and is more than willing to let us know the reasons for the spree. Money!! Killer for hire. No admission about hirer. He dies of cancer in days but leaves behind a possible reference to a previous mastermind who has evaded Cross.

And what should be the central story line of a massive terrorist storyline turns out to have two people using the same name which meant for me, at least, that I had no idea which version is in the earlier chapters. The real version is missing for an unexplained period and a second spell briefly explained.

And the bogus version is killed by Cross.....

Another short story where most of the investigation appears off story with conclusions fed in so that Cross is directed to a car chase using data from onboard computer from the bogus version's car.

Patterson has painted himself into a corner with Stone and Sampson. She has no public job anymore but cannot follow a life of a housespouse, NanaMama is fulfilling that domestic base. Stories for her are shoehorned into this ineffectively.

Sampson is a Washington policeman as far as I can remember but ends up in stories linked to FBI although he is not employed by them. In this book he also works in other police areas where FBI has a remit but is not partnering Cross all of the time.

And NanaMama does YouTube. Filler.

A very unsatisfactory book that is loose bits of ideas cobbled together.

Book 32 : a kind rounding up to a 2.5 star read.

There is so much going on in this book I never truly felt connected to anyone plot line/character/scenario. It felt like a collection of ideas pasted together with a sprinkling of favourites to make a novel.

Ali is the only family member whom we learn a little more about. Nanna Mama makes a brief appearance as do Bree and Jannie. Cross continues to never need to eat or sleep, be more important to every US law enforcement agency than anyone in history, and solves everything in the nick of time.

However, not once does anyone try to kill him …so not sure if the wrong title was used or some random AI title generator, but I’m still waiting for that particular penny to drop!

The one series Patterson still writes that will be on my list to read, but I’ll borrow Book 33.

James Patterson MUST stop. I am fan of his books. Across the board. He writes a great thriller. I especially like Alex Cross. A series with many things to recommend it. Characters, sub plots, continuing themes. great family, friends, love, food - it's all delivered very well and I have read him for years. But he has got to slow down. His last title, #32, WORE ME OUT. Let's face it...Alex is not a kid anymore nor is John Sampson. They both push the envelope and we all know that envelopes are fragile at their strongest. And I am also beginning to anticipate Nana Momma slowing down and I dread it. ( Because I am not sporty Jannie holds little interest for me- but she's definitely a winner - had to just mention it to be fair). It's Ali I see as the star of the show and for this, I will stay the course and see what he becomes. He is one smart cookie and solved #32, whether they like it or not. But the physical action has grown exhausting. Mangled bodies thrown from mangled planes get old; not to mention bad for the Airline industry. And I don't quite get the #32 title itself. I see every book as a chance for Alex to die. Someone wants this - Many do. How was this different?

Alex Cross did not die. But these two are gonna' keel over at the rate they are going. He and Sampson are burning the candle and are courting the lick of the flames. I still for hold my breath for Nana Momma...now a You Tube sensation and Ali is cruisin'...you know for what. I think Patterson may not be sure who or what to do next with this series. I enjoy them...but .....

Oh please somebody chime in.....my main concern is young smart-ass Ali, who may well be the best reason for Patterson to keep writing the series. Anyone? Speak!!! This is my own add-on to my comments!!

I think the title is inaccurate.
This is an action packed book.
Alex, Bree & Sampson are all busy with cases.
Easy reading & enjoyable.

I recommend this novel.

Alex Cross Must Die (also titled Cross Out) is the thirty-second book in the Alex Cross series by American author, James Patterson. Neither title bears even the vaguest relation to anything that happens in the plot. Investigation consultant to Washington’s MPD and the FBI, Alex Cross and his friend, MPD Senior Detective John Sampson are investigating the case of the Dead Hours murders, a serial killer who shoots his victims in the eyes, then covers them with a sheet, always in the early hours.

While with the family of the fourth victim, they are urgently called away to the scene of a downed American Airlines jet: it’s quickly apparent that, as it was landing, the plane was shot down from a nearby park, but a separate explosion obliterates most evidence of the perpetrator. Work on all manner of clues by seven different law enforcement bodies eventually identifies a football coach whose former US Airforce career took him to the Middle East. But do they have the right man?

Meanwhile, former MPD chief, Bree Stone is asked by her boss at international security company, Bluestone Group, to look into the recent very uncharacteristic media silence of her friend, Lee Anne Asher, an entrepreneur whose successful high-profile IT company is about to go public.

Lee Anne’s last contact was three days earlier, and Elena is worried, as is Lee Anne’s PA Jill. As Bree delves into the CEO’s emails, she learns that her boss hasn’t been completely honest about her friend. And as Bree investigates further, it looks like Lee Anne might be one of over a hundred casualties on the downed flight. But that immediately raises the question of why she was on the flight under another name.

Back at the Cross home, as Nana Cross tries to look after the physical and mental needs of her brood whilst also launching a teaching career on Zoom, Jannie asks for Bree’s help with a running friend who is apparently being blackmailed. It turns out, though, that Bree’s expertise has to take a different direction.

It’s not until the Dead Hours killer has claimed a seventh victim that the particular feature linking all the victims is identified, that the killer’s misstep with one victim, and Ali Cross’s covert surveillance of the crime scenes reveal the perpetrator. Lots of action and a dramatic climax or two: standard Patterson fare.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK

I’m thoroughly confused by the title. This book contained no plots to kill Alex Cross.

The last few Cross books have been so off for me. Patterson feels the need these days to tell this big elaborate story with all these characters and storylines and it just gets confusing and twisted up and jumbled together. I missed the old days of Alex Cross going after one big bad the entire book and that’s the entire book. Now we have a storyline with his wife and a case of hers. His daughter and a friend being murdered. The storyline of his son Ali trying to help, plus two cases of his own. Just seems like he’s trying to jam too much into these books these days. Go back to what made cross good to begin with. Simple storylines. I didn’t hate the book, and the red herring with captain Davis was a bit of a surprise for me cause we don’t get too many of those with Patterson anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Alex Cross, these just need to get better.

I’ve been reading James Patterson books for over twenty-five years. During that time, like most of his fans, my favorite character has always been Alex Cross. He was Patterson’s first detective series that helped lay the foundation for his kingdom of several bestselling series and stand-alone novels. For me, Alex has remained a fierce, intellectual knight of moral character and the proper use of action. I remember reading the Alex’s first adventure, “Along came a Spider” and almost cried when Alex, then a widower, faced the loss of his new love in an ending twist I would never forget. In the twenty-seven years following, there have been some good (and excellent) adventures and some less-than-stellar outings along the way, but I generally looked forward to the end of each year when another Alex Cross adventure was published.

Now, the 32nd book in the series – “Alex Cross Must Die” – has been read, and it is one of my last reviews of 2023.

“Alex Cross Must Die” opens with Alex and his partner, John Sampson, being called to Reagan National Airport, where American Airlines Flight 839 has been shot down during landing by an unknown sniper, killing all of the passengers onboard. Alex and John join FBI focal, Ned Mahoney, and all of the other government and local law enforcement organizations in trying to find the sniper before he or she strikes again.

At the same time, Alex’s wife, Bree Stone, is investigating the disappearance of her boss’s friend, the founder and CEO of a major IT company, Amalgam, about to go public in a major IPO.
This is a busy book, with a lot going on. Usually, Cross novels have one to three plots going on simultaneously, but this one has more - four plots - all running parallel, and bouncing the reader back and forth at a frantic and chaotic pace. Alex literally gets by on 2-3 hours of sleep a day and a lot of coffee in this one.

Alex and John have two mysteries to deal with it. They are working with the FBI to find the sniper who shot down the airplane. They are also working with the Washington D.C. police department to find and stop a serial killer, responsible for the Dead Hours Killings, victims being ambushed during the early morning hours. The killer’s trademark is shooting them in both eyes and covering them with a white sheet.

In addition, Bree Stone, also has two cases that she is working on. Her professional job search for the missing CEO, as well as Jannie’s friend asking to meet because she is being blackmailed and is very afraid. However, she never shows up and goes missing. Before she knows it, Bree is working with Jannie to find her and unravel what is really going on with the threats.

The good news is that this was a typical Patterson thriller recipe for the most part. The tempo was fastmoving with lots of drama. The plotlines pretty much followed his standard developments and delivery, including a few curveballs thrown in to make the outcome more interesting. There’s a lot of running around and chasing down clues while the side characters keep moving things forward. Although the spotlight was primarily on Alex and Bree, there was family development with Alex’s kids, Jannie and Ali, which was interesting and enjoyable. In addition, there was a special development with Nana Mama that was both surprising and awesomely delivered. That was a winner.

Although I love the Alex Cross series and consider it to be James Patterson’s best work, there are some things that I struggled with a bit. Having four plotlines was probably too much. The way they interspersed throughout the book, it almost came across as four short stories thrown together. The readers spend all of their time running around for about three-hundred pages and then all of the sudden the right clue pays off or a piece of evidence reveals the guilty party and each of the mysteries get solved and a guilty party caught. And then, of course, there’s the big ending chase seen with Alex braving bad weather and impossible odds to save many lives… Things always get resolved in about 400 pages… And this one in particular fell into the trap of the last few books, which we all knew was coming. I will be careful of not sharing any spoilers but will just say on word. Maestro. That should be enough for Patterson readers.

Overall, this outing was pretty good and enjoyable. Somewhere in the middle, a bit above average. 3.5 stars out of 5 stars for me.

I also repeat what I sis in my review of last year’s book, it looks like Patterson is still teasing a potential showdown in Alex Cross’s future...

Another action packed thrilling read, a series i've finally caught up with and loved each and every book that I have read. I like the characters, having grown with them over a number of years I can't wait to find out about them with each new book.
I look forward to being reunited with the characters as much as i look forward to seeing what new story line we have. Never disappointed when reading this series.

The author has delivered time and time again with this series, it really does not get boring as a long running series sometimes can. The author manages to keep the action and the tension throughout each and every story. Another first class read and a great addition to the series.

Alex Cross #32

The advantage of being behind in the series was I got to read quite a few of the books back to back. The disadvantage is as I feel I've recently spent so much time with these characters I can't wait for the next one.

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 416

Publisher - Randomhouse UK

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

Detectives Cross and Sampson are tracking a serial killer who's fatally ambushing young men in the “Dead Hours” murders. They don't hear the machine gun fire. At first.

“Drop whatever you're doing, Dr. Cross, and head to Reagan Airport,” DC Metro Police dispatch says. “A plane just crashed and exploded on the runway. The chief and the FBI want you and John Sampson there pronto.”

The weapon that took down the plane is a remote-controlled Vietnam-War-era machine gun. The list of those who possess the training and expertise to operate the stolen, .50-caliber weapon is short. And time runs even shorter.

As Cross and Sampson race to prevent another mass murder, their fearsomely armed opponent once again looks skyward.

My Review

It has been a few years since I picked up a James Patterson and more so since I read an Alex Cross. I LOVE the Alex Cross series and going on the title I thought this would be a cat and mouse with Cross and a baddy/taunting him. Maybe that is why I liked but didn't love this one.

There are a fair few storylines, we have a terrorist attack on a commercial plane, a missing friend in the process of making a multimillion business launch, one of Alex's kids friends has gone missing, a killer targeting runners and if that isn't enough a teacher loved and trusted by all may not be all he seems to be.

I love a busy book and there is no denying there is plenty to keep you hooked by I think maybe there was so much we spread just a little thinly. I felt like we hardly seen a whole lot of Alex Cross because there were so many characters to visit/see/chase/action.

Page turner yeah, short chapters - we love but I think had we maybe had a wee bit less we may have had more if that makes sense. I liked it I just didn't love it so therefore 3.5/5 for us, terrorism, murder, families, dark web the book has loads to keep you occupied.

This, currently, is the only series that James Patterson writes solo and it shows why he's so highly rated as a story teller!
Taut, pacy and humming with energy,this novel takes you on a roller coaster ride for solving not one but three mysteries which is so mouthwateringly good to read!

Another brilliant crime thriller in the Alex Cross series.
It’s always great to catch up with Alex and his family but with two cases to solve, he’s not at home much in this book.
There’s a killer who is striking in the early hours of the morning, called the Dead Hours killer and the body count is rising.
There’s also a nasty attack on a plane where it’s shot down and all passengers die from the impact and explosion.
Bree also has her hands full with a couple of cases as well so there’s definitely lots going on in this book.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Mmmm, wow, way too many plots to follow! The three plots get confusing with Bree, Alex and Sampson working to find a plane that was shot out the sky, plus a CEO missing and more…a mass murderer. I love this author but not this particular book.

3.6 stars?? I'm rounding down because I have no interest in nor do I care for any of Bree's chapters 😒

“Alex Cross Must Die” is the brilliant new action-packed thriller in James Patterson’s best-selling Alex Cross series.

In typical Patterson style, the plot moves at breakneck speed, barely leaving the reader time to catch their breath.
Several different cases dominate the plot. Alex Cross and John Sampson are trying to catch the “Dead Hours” serial killer who stalks DC at night, killing young men in the early hours. But when a terrorist shoots down a plane at DC Reagan Airport, killing everyone on board and DC Metro Police and the FBI task them with this case as well, they must work non-stop to catch both the terrorist and the serial killer.
Meanwhile, Alex’ wife and private investigator Bree Stone tries to get to the bottom of the disappearance of tech mogul and CEO Leigh Anne Asher, who is also the best friend of her boss Elena Martin. Jannie, now a student Howard university, has a track and field team mate go missing, which Bree gets to the bottom of.
Investigative talent seems to run in the family, as Ali, Alex' 10-year old son, secretly follows his father to the Dead Hours killer’s crime scenes and provides vital information that helps solve the case.
All the while Nana Mama continuously cooks delicious food and looks after Alex, Bree and the kids, while also having her YouTube premiere.

Alex Cross is one of the most-beloved heroes in the action thriller genre and a long-time favourite of mine and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Random House UK, Cornerstone and James Patterson for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's my favorite series of books, so it's not surprising that I give it five stars. It seems each book in this series is better than the last. This one has Alex and John investigating who fired a missile that took down a jetliner at Reagan International. There is also a subplot that has Alex's wife; Bree Stone dealing with the disappearance of a friend of a friend and looking for who could have killed a young woman in D.C. for a track meet that was a friend of her step daughter Jannie. She was on the verge of telling Bree she was being blackmailed over a video of a consensual relationship with her track coach.

Alex Cross returns to headline his series after sitting most of the last one out, letting his partner John Sampson do the heavy lifting.

In this instalment of the wildly popular series, an airplane is bought down by a terrorist action and a serial killer stalks the D.C. streets. The action is fast-paced and the writing breakneck.

James Patterson does churn these novels out, but he has a winning formula, and if you've loved any of the other books in this series, then this one will work for you too.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

After reading this book and being a fan of this author for a very long time. This book does not disappoint. It has non stop action and sequences that keep me engaged throughout the story until the end.

I wanted to hate this because it seems like the thing to do. I’m not a huge fan of the Alex Cross series and Patterson can be SO needlessly graphic. But this one actually had several mysteries that seemed decently intertwined and so I became invested. Turns out, they weren’t all that much intertwined and none of them bore any resemblance to the title.

Another Alex Cross thriller with not one but four heart-stopping cases to solve: an American Airlines crash, with all the passengers killed; a serial killer whose targets all die with their eyes shot out; a classmate of Bree’s step daughter, who was being blackmailed, and Bree’s boss’s missing friend.

This all keeps Alex, his partner John Sampson and his wife Bree busy, looking for the perpetrators and any possible connections. There are bombings, terrorist attacks, plenty of dead people, and lots of avenues to follow, with plenty of false starts. But all in all, a pretty good Alex Cross saga, although the ending seems a bit rushed.

I started reading books by James Patterson many years ago. I've read all the ones about Alex Cross. I prefer the ones about Michael Bennett and Billy Harney. This book doesn't feel like it was written by James Patterson at all.

There was too much going on. There were too many separate stories that had nothing to do with each other!

Nana Mama was old 30 years ago, she even had heart problems and wasn't doing so well. Somehow she's still going strong cooking, baking and taking care of Ali and Willa! On top of that she's started teaching kids on YouTube!

This book could have been good instead it was several short stories made into one book. The title is even misleading. 3.5*

Yes. Quite a few storylines, but enjoyed it.

What's in a name? When James Patterson's publisher initially provided me with a copy of his latest Alex Cross novel, the book bore the title Cross Out. However, by the time the story reached bookshelves and readers' hands, it had transformed, emerging with the new title Alex Cross Must Die. Given my tradition of receiving the latest Cross book from my mom every Christmas, I had to wait a few weeks to determine which title better suited the narrative. Now that I've read it, I find myself questioning whether the name of this book truly holds significance. It stands as another robust thriller from the bestselling author, but neither title appears to align more fittingly with the story than the other. The name change offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of book marketing and publication, yet at the end of the day, the crucial question for most readers remains: Is the book any good?

While investigating a series of murders perpetrated by the 'Dead Hours Killer,' Alex Cross and his partner John Sampson find their focus diverted when news breaks of a commercial airliner shot down near a D.C. airport. The aftermath of this apparent act of terror is vast, with debris and remains scattered over miles. Temporarily putting aside their murder case, the duo lends their expertise to this national security crisis. As details emerge, it is revealed that the weapon used was a Vietnam-era machine gun with significant firepower, yet the path to answers remains murky.

Simultaneously, Alex's wife Bree becomes entangled in an unexpected murder case, brought to her attention through Alex's daughter, who sought help for a troubled friend. The discovery of the friend's body unveils a disturbing pattern of abuse and grooming that sends shockwaves through their community. With three cases encroaching on the lives of the Cross family and their youngest, Ali, delving into amateur sleuthing, the entire clan is pushed to the limits of their investigative skills, jeopardizing their safety in the process. Complicating matters further is the lingering presence of the mysterious M, an enigmatic figure who has taunted Cross across several books, adding a deeper layer of suspense to the entire narrative.

Alex Cross Must Die is a novel burdened by an abundance of plot that exceeds what can be effectively contained within its pages. While Patterson's trademark short chapters contribute to a fast-paced reading experience, the narrative is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of events. The three distinct cases presented could have each been expanded into their own works, allowing for more thorough exploration and attention. Instead, Patterson navigates swiftly from case to case and character to character, resulting in a narrative that, while thrilling, lacks the emotional impact that a more focused approach could have delivered. The enduring strength of the series has often rested on the nuanced growth of its characters, but in this installment, the crowded plot leaves little room for reflection or development. While it provides an entertaining read, the novel lacks the lasting resonance found in the series' best entries.

The audio book is narrated by William Christopher Stephens, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Jim Meskimen, Inger Tudor, Zeno Robinson, Peter Giles, and Wayne Carr.

Alex Cross Must Die (also titled Cross Out) is the thirty-second book in the Alex Cross series by American author, James Patterson. Neither title bears even the vaguest relation to anything that happens in the plot. Investigation consultant to Washington’s MPD and the FBI, Alex Cross and his friend, MPD Senior Detective John Sampson are investigating the case of the Dead Hours murders, a serial killer who shoots his victims in the eyes, then covers them with a sheet, always in the early hours.

While with the family of the fourth victim, they are urgently called away to the scene of a downed American Airlines jet: it’s quickly apparent that, as it was landing, the plane was shot down from a nearby park, but a separate explosion obliterates most evidence of the perpetrator. Work on all manner of clues by seven different law enforcement bodies eventually identifies a football coach whose former US Airforce career took him to the Middle East. But do they have the right man?

Meanwhile, former MPD chief, Bree Stone is asked by her boss at international security company, Bluestone Group, to look into the recent very uncharacteristic media silence of her friend, Lee Anne Asher, an entrepreneur whose successful high-profile IT company is about to go public.

Lee Anne’s last contact was three days earlier, and Elena is worried, as is Lee Anne’s PA Jill. As Bree delves into the CEO’s emails, she learns that her boss hasn’t been completely honest about her friend. And as Bree investigates further, it looks like Lee Anne might be one of over a hundred casualties on the downed flight. But that immediately raises the question of why she was on the flight under another name.

Back at the Cross home, as Nana Cross tries to look after the physical and mental needs of her brood whilst also launching a teaching career on Zoom, Jannie asks for Bree’s help with a running friend who is apparently being blackmailed. It turns out, though, that Bree’s expertise has to take a different direction.

It’s not until the Dead Hours killer has claimed a seventh victim that the particular feature linking all the victims is identified, that the killer’s misstep with one victim, and Ali Cross’s covert surveillance of the crime scenes reveal the perpetrator. Lots of action and a dramatic climax or two: standard Patterson fare.