2022 Book Review #3:Deadly Cross

 

Another absolutely amazing novel featuring Alex Cross.   This is the 28th book in the Alex Cross Detective series.  I have read every single book in order.  Truly my favorite mystery author.  I started when the first one Along Came a Spider came out in 1993. This one did not disappoint. 

STORY SUMMARY

Kay Willingham is the ex-wife of J. Walter Willingham, the Vice President of the United States. She is a very glamorous socialite in Washington, D.C and is originally from a large plantation in Alabama. She is also a very wealthy Southern heiress, power broker and philanthropist. 

Early one morning, she is found in her blue Bentley convertible.  She has been shot dead.  Another person is in the car, shot dead as well.  His name is Randall Christopher and he is the beloved founder and principal of Harrison Charter High School. Christopher is African-American, married and has twin teen daughters Tina and Rachel.  They are friends with Alex Cross' teen daughter Jannie. 

The shocking double homicide rocks the nation's capital. Willingham had once been Dr Alex Cross's patient when he was doing clinical psychology. 

While Cross's best friend John Sampson of the DC Metro Police begin to investigate this crime, he and Ned Mahoney of the FBI find unanswered questions from Kay's past....particularly the time she spent in a mental institution while in Alabama. They soon learn of a world with corruption, greed, and secrets.....all closed to outsiders like Cross and Mahoney. Willingham had many enemies.  But all of them seemed to need her alive.  So who killed her and her lover? The harder the investigators push, the more resistance they face.  Cross will need to use all of his skills as a doctor of psychology, as a detective and as a family man to prevent that resistance from turning lethal....again......

MY THOUGHTS

In true Patterson fashion, this book is a fast-paced, page turning, keep you up at night reading kind of story.  He's just such a remarkable author making Cross the character you wish was real. 

I was shocked by one event that happens in the book invovling a beloved minor character.  I actually cried tears of sorrow. I don't want to give anything away so I won't go into detail here but let's just say I did NOT see this coming and it was gut wrenchingly sad. But the ending was precious as it involved something to do with this sad part.  It was very touching.

As always, the character development is superb.  Of course the main characters, Alex Cross, Ned Mahoney, Bree, Nana Mama, the children (Damon, Jannie, Ali), John Sampson, Billie, have all been developed many novels ago.  

The new characters for this particular story were very well described and I loved that there was (again, true Patterson fashion in many of his Cross books) another sub plot going on.....that ties the first crime with the other crimes.  The sub-plot was also fast paced, exciting and on the edge of your seat captivating.  I thought I had figured out the perp like I often do, but this time, it was a complete surprise. 

I liked that Patterson spent a bit of time having Bree (Alex's wife)  change careers/job direction.  This will be interesting to see played out in future novels.  

The ending always seems a bit much....like too good to be true..at least in this particular plot.....but they do find the perp and they do get justice.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to some mature content).

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.