2020 Book Review #24:Criss Cross

Once again, Patterson does it.....writes a mystery that you just can't put down!

This is the latest in the Alex Cross mystery series and the series is one of my favorite group of novels.  I read them in order and passionately and once again, the author does not disappoint!

He revives a character from about 11 years ago.....but wait...didn't that character die??  Alex himself watched Kyle Craig burn!  So just who is M....is it really "Mastermind" come to life?  or is it a  copycat serial killer??  

STORY SUMMARY

Detective Alex Cross and his best friend and working partner, John Sampson, watched a convicted killer die in the electric chair down in a Virginia prison.

However, just hours after the killing, another crime occurs and they are called to the scene.  It's a copy cat crime and a note is left signed by "M".  The note says "you messed up big time, Dr. Cross".

Alex and John wonder:  did an innocent man just get put to death??

Cross learns that he has a lot to answer for as M lures him away from Washington, D.C to several different sites where multiple homicides have happened.  All of these homicides have been marked with very familiar details.  The details call up cases of decades old crimes and they call up old Cross family secrets.

M is after a prize...and that prize is Detective Alex Cross.  Will Alex finally meet his nemesis?   Will his heart no longer have reason to beat?

MY THOUGHTS

This book moves forward so quickly that you can read it in just a couple of nights.

As always, the character development is spot on.  Of course, the Cross family has been evolving over the entire series which began back in about 1993.  I've read every single Alex Cross novel, in order, and they're amazing and fresh every single time.  In this current book, the oldest child, Damon, away at college, only makes a brief appearance towards the end of the story.  The story mainly focuses on Jannie and Ali and of course the killer.

I love how Patterson ties in Alex's past and Kyle Craig with out being redundant.

I also love the ending! It's brilliant and leaves you hanging and you just know that Patterson will revive M again in a future novel.  However, I also am beginning to think that he will need to wrap it up in the next book or two because I don't like to see the character "get old".  Meaning, stop it while the interest is there............the Kyle Craig character went on for several books and Patterson does have a way of making it fresh and interesting each time.  I hope it's the same way with this M character.

I don't want to reveal too much as I don't want to ruin the story for you.

But it's fast paced, exciting and Ali actually becomes the center of attention for a bit which was different and a bit fun, if not nail biting.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.  Of course.  It's  an Alex Cross book!!