For James Patterson fans around the world, the only thing better than a dedicated day to sit and read an Alex Cross novel from cover to cover s to know that when you put your current book down, there’s a new release around the corner.

We are often left in suspense, wondering and questioning. The good news is, Alex is at it again, with a new release on 19 November 2018. This time he is on the hunt to find a sniper who killed the President. Sourced by the new President, he joins the FBI, leading a full-blown, unparalleled investigation.

Cross fans are tremendously grateful that James Patterson and his co-authors have speedy fingers and plots for years when it comes to Alex.

Behind the Scenes

We first met the Forensic Phycologist in 1993, in the page turning, thrilling suspense Along came a Spider which was later released as a movie starring Morgan Freeman.
In this narrative, we were introduced to most of the characters who would play a part in Cross’ life and indirectly in ours.

Nana Mamma, Cross’ supportive yet tough loving Grandmother who took him and his two children in after the death of his first wife, Maria. If we were all raised by a “Nana Mamma”, the world would most definitely be a better place. We meet his best friend and partner, John Sampson, who, to Cross, is more like a brother than anything else, and they protect each other as such. Janelle and Damon, Alex’s first two children who lost their mother and unborn sibling in a shooting prior to Along Came a Spider.

This seems to be a common thread throughout his life, as family, friends and love interests often face danger, being threatened by those Alex is chasing, and those he has caught.
Cross’ life is riddled with bad men and women from kidnappers, to terrorists, to schizophrenic psychopaths yet we can’t seem to get enough of the constant multi-directional pull of solving criminal cases, keeping healthy relationships and protecting his nearest and dearest.

Alex Cross Biggest nemesis

In Along came a spider we are introduced to Kyle Craig, a Special Agent with the FBI. At first Cross and Craig are friends, consulting on each other’s cases. He appears in a total of 14 of the Alex Cross novels but is later found to be a serial killer and the brains behind brutal bank heists, calling himself The Mastermind.

One of his plans involved killing an FBI agent and assuming his identity after plastic surgery. His victims also include one of Alex’s girlfriends, Betsey Cavalierre. After Alex catches Craig, he vows to get revenge, later breaking out of prison and stalking Alex on his honeymoon. This ends badly for Craig as he is recaptured who can’t understand why Alex refuses to kill him. Craig later dies while he is being taken into custody in an explosion, caused by himself. This criminal makes the most appearances in the Cross series.