Alex Cross is faced with several cases this time. The principal of his daughter's high-school has been shot in a car, together with his mistress Kay who is also an old acquaintance of Alex and the ex-wife of the sitting vice-president of the USA.
Additionally, there is a serial killer on the loose, who has been abducting girls and young women in D.C. for 15 years now.
And then there is also someone going around the capital and shooting rich & privileged people.
A lot to do for Alex Cross and his friends in the police and FBI!

Neither case was totally gripping for me. The storyline with the serial killer hasn't gotten much attention until the very end. The "Shoot the rich"-story is only a minor disruption. But Kay (and her past) was the most interesting person in this book anyway.
Thus I still enjoyed this newest Cross-book, the parts about his professional work - where it once again is down to Cross to solve all those cases - as well as about his personal life - where he has to deal with a big blow.
But Patterson has been better in the past.

Another brilliant book in the Alex Cross series.
This is James Patterson at his best.
The main story follows the shooting of the Vice President’s ex-wife and the local school headteacher. They are shot whilst in their car but also subject to theft of their personal belongings.
There’s another story running alongside this of teenage girls being abducted, raped and murdered, so Alex, Bree, Sampson and Ned definitely have their hands full.
As with all Alex Cross books, there’s plenty of focus on the crimes but equal time is given to Cross and his family, including his best friend John Sampson.
This could be read as a stand-alone book but you’d get more out of it if you’ve been following the series.
Reading this series feels like I’m catching up with old friends now.
This is a huge five star read for me as I loved everything about this book.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Deadly Cross is back, and he’s more deadly serious than ever.

One of my favourite crime thrillers is Alex Cross, and it's so good to be back in the world he lives with old friends and colleagues. They are all older, wiser and more active and action driven than before.

The suspense is higher now, because there are personal feelings and close friends involved. The crimes hit too close to home, and the author created yet another wonderful characteristic to this complex individual that I already love and feel like he's the perfect hero. His personal family drama is not missing, moreover it adds another layer to this thrilling story. It's not easy to give the best of you at home and at the office, but he's doing it all over and over again.

Another unmissable must read novel.

Deadly Cross (Alex Cross book 28) by James Patterson is a 5 star read.
I still get excited when James Patterson releases a new book, it doesn’t matter if it’s a new book in a series or a standalone book, I just know I’m in for a treat. The latest instalment of the Alex Cross series was an excellent read, it had me on the edge of my seat from the first to the last page, I would highly recommend everything by James Patterson.
I voluntarily reviewed and advance copy of this book through Netgalley.

I love James Patterson’s novels so was really excited to get the chance to read this one. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing!
Once again, it’s another absolute belter and a real page-turner! Lots of twists and turns along the way and characters that you really get attached to and feel you know!
A gripping, great book!

I’ve not read a James Patterson book for years and I’d forgotten just how good his writing is. This is the 28th book in the Alex Cross series, I think I’ve read about the first 10 and now I really want to go back and read all of those in between. I am so pleased that Patterson has kept up the quality of his writing, so often by the time you get this far through a series they seem to be formulaic and churned out. This really wasn’t the case with Deadly Cross. It had an original storyline and built on characters that Patterson readers have grown to love over the years.
Maybe I can have an Alex Cross binge month?

The main story follows the shooting of a high profile socialite who also happens to be the Vice Presidents ex-wife and the local school headteacher, with side stories of teenage girls being abducted, raped and murdered and a smaller still storyline of the very rich and famous being shot in the ass! As with all Patterson novels, there is plenty of focus on the crimes but equal time is given to Cross and his family, including his best friend John Sampson. One of the storylines featuring Sampson and his family will definitely mean more if you’ve kept up with the series and/or read the last few books but this book read great as a standalone.


I love that just when you think you have it all figured out, there’s another twist in the tail that sends things off in another direction. Patterson books aren’t one’s where you can predict the ending.. or the middle. Cross is a superb main character, he’s a detective with a heart, a family man. Patterson has a great way of showing you his softer side as a husband, father and grandson trying to overcome his fears of rock climbing and then flipping to his tough guy detective with a razor sharp brain. Cross’s willingness to listen to what others have to say and question his own judgement, making sure that things are done correctly, not just for convenience make him so relatable and someone you would trust if you were in trouble.

As a reader you are drip fed information but you know that there’s always vital clues that Cross and his team know that you don’t. I found myself desperately wanting to know what was in the file or what someone had told them. How dare they know more than me!!! Everything is pursued very logically, there’s never a sense of “why would they do that” or something obvious being missed. You’re fed just enough information throughout to have you guessing what’s going to happen or who did it without ever being given enough that you can foretell the future of the story.

Thanks to #RandomHouse and #Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion

Another brilliant read from the masterful James Patterson This book is almost back to the old school Alex Cross and John Sampson that we had in the earlier books in this series Much more emphasis on the police work and the search for he culprit. This intrepid team is called in when there is a high profile killing two people dead shot in the back seat of a car Both of the victims are know to Alex one his the principle of the school is daughter attends and the woman is the ex wife of the vice president. The media will be all over this high profile case just as they are with most of Alex and John's cases. While he works this case as a consultant for the FBI he is also working a case where young girls are going missing. It will take the combined efforts of all including Bree Alex;s wife to sort out this tangles mess. Can they solve it all before more lives and girls are lost.

Deadly Cross is yet another example of James Patterson's ability to enthrall readers in his amazing crime thrillers.

In true Patterson style, we have a number of high profile cases that have fallen into the laps of Dr Cross, his partners in both FBI and DC Metro Homicide and his wife, Chief of Detectives, Bree Stone.

Juggling family life, his practice and his commitment to law enforcement continues to be a balancing act with different facets of his life taking precedence over others in rotation. However, Alex Cross and his fans wouldn't have it any other way!

I love the 'readability' of Patterson novels, with short chapters, multi-faceted investigations and his amazing juggling act, is guaranteed to keep the reader turning the pages all the way to the end and the 'hoped-for' conclusions.

It was the first Alex Cross I read and loved it, reading it in one setting. It's gripping, fast paced and highly entertaining.
I loved the tightly knitted plot, the well thought characters and loved the mystery part that kept me guessing.
I'm sure I will read the other books in this series, this one is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another winner from James Patterson in the Alex Cross series. A smooth paced thriller with all the usual twists and turns to keep you guessing. The ending was not the one I was expecting which is always a nice surprise. Followers of Cross will be pleased to know that all the familiar characters are there - Bree, Sampson, Nana Mama and the children. A great read!

Two people are found murdered outside a charter school, the victims are the ex wife of the Vice President and the school principal. Alex Cross is called into assist with this high profile case, whilst fighting speculating that he had been in a relationship with one of the victims.

Running alongside this case is the rape and murder of several young girls locally, are the cases linked??

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was very well written, with great characters. There is a lot going on, but it's never confusing, and it is an absolute roller coaster ride, in fact extremely poignant at one stage, I will not reveal more!

The ending actually had me gasping out loud, didn't see it coming and could not put the book down.

Brilliant book and highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone, for the ARC.

Another excellent addition to the Alex Cross series - I just love these books!
Opening with two 16yr-olds coming across a luxury car parked in the grounds of Harrison Charter High School - containing two dead bodies. No-one around, they think, and proceed to rob the man and woman of their valuables. Kay Willington, a wealthy socialite and ex-wife of the serving Vice President, lay beside Randall Christopher, a respected educator with political ambitions. Alex is brought onto the case and he knows both the victims, but his past dealings with Kay lead an enthusiastic writer to try to smear Alex's reputation.
Randall Christopher's wife becomes prime suspect especially when they discover her missing from home, leaving an empty gun case behind. But is this all as it seems? What about the missing valuables?
Meanwhile Alex and best friend John Sampson are still working on the case of murders and rapes of young girls over the previous years - their bodies dumped into the Potomac. More girls go missing - what could be the connection between the Charter School, headed by Randall Christopher, and the missing girls?
Lots of questions and very few answers to begin with but several plot lines gradually converge via twists and turns, and surprises.

I love the way James Patterson weaves Alex's home life, his loves and his friendships throughout his stories - they feel rounded and real - a joy to read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publishers Random House Uk, Cornerstone for an eARC for an honest review.
This is the first Alex Cross novel I have read. I have seen the two films, Kiss the Girls and Along came a Spider. I didn’t realise this was number 28, so I have a lot of books to look forward to reading. A very enjoyable read, lots of characters to get through.
Over the course of years young girls have been raped and murdered, all unsolved at this point. Then a socialite has been found murdered in a car at the local high school along side the Principal of said school. Alex is investigating the socialites case and his wife Bree a detective herself,his long time friend and colleague are investigating the other cases, also ones where the rich are being shot at, in the butt, to be precise. Could these crimes all be connected?
Definitely a must read if your an Alex Cross fan, and for those who love police procedural books and thrillers. Recommended reading.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

it was lovely to visit cross and his family, see all the characters again and catch up with his sampson, sad times ahead for sampson and his family

but on the whole a better cross book than previous editions...with cross going back to what he is good at....

two high profile people are gunned down but also robbed
vice president involvement
missing girls
serial killer

all makes for cross having a busy time but the murdered victims are people that cross knows well and with blackmail coming in as well it all adds to the drama

one of patterson better books long may it continue

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I thought this was a very well written book with a great plot line, and one I really enjoyed reading Alex Cross investigates two murders where both victims are known to him. There are several other story threads that run alongside this main one which for me made the book a more exciting and thrilling read. I loved the plot twists, just when I thought I knew who the killer was there was another twist. Alex, his family and friends are such likeable characters you can’t help but root for them. Overall a fast paced, thrilling read that raced to an ending with all loose ends tied up nicely.

I’m a big fan of the Alex Cross series of books, and this, the 28th, is James Patterson still at the top of his game. The reason I love them is that we get the characters, warts and all, with families, real lives and problems, while still getting gripping tales, with several stories intertwined that keep you on the edge of your seat.

This time Alex is drawn into investigating a double murder, made all the more difficult by one of the deceased being the ex Vice President and someone that Alex knew. Add to that young girls being abducted and murdered, and it makes for a very fast paced read. Another book that I was really sorry to finish, I just didn’t want it to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Can you believe this is the 28th Alex Cross novel? I can't. It seems like only yesterday I was reading Along Came A Spider and although I've maybe missed a few Cross thrillers along the way, I love dipping into this so familiar series and getting my fix of the lovely Cross family.
This was the perfect lockdown read for me and I simply devoured it. I think James Patterson should publish a cook book of all of Nana Mama's brilliant recipes - but I digress. Mind you, the whole Cross family dynamics are one of the hooks that keeps me coming back for more.

In Deadly Cross, Bree and Alex have to work on their relationship as workloads and politics put them at cross purposes on occasion. Jannie, Damon and Ali all play their role in making this a book to just curl up with and indulge yourself. It's like hot chocolate on a snowy day, but with cinnamon and spice on top.

Deadly Cross, was an emotional rollercoaster for me and I found myself in tears at one point - but NO SPOILERS here! - you'll have to read it yourself to find out more. The things I really loved about this book was that the investigation was personal for Alex. It was also filled with high Adrenalin moments, clever plotting and short sharp chapters to keep you turning the pages.

I read this quickly - although to say read it is misleading - I actually devoured it in super fast time.

This is a lasting series that although, it has changed in intensity from the first in the series, it is still as readable and enjoyable as it's always been. Can't wait for more Cross.

With series books I'd always recommend you start from book one and read in order. That's the point of them as opposed to stand alones - to get to know the series characters and follow their development as the series progresses. But in this case, if you are new to this series - how, why? - there's a whole load of catching up to be done so, well, just do your best!
So, we start with the death of the wife of the current vice president, shot dead in a car along with a politically active school principal. Both have lead, shall we say, interesting lives so initially it is unclear who was the main victim and who collateral damage. Sampson and Alex split up. Sampson following up Randall Christopher and Alex, along with FBI Special Agent Mahoney, concentrate on Kay Willingham.
Even though this is book 28, and I have read most of the preceding books, this series shows no sign of flagging. Whether this is due to the storylines and individual plots for each book or the fact that I have invested so much time in the main characters and their respective families that I am so excited about reconnecting with every book that I would pretty much follow whatever they do... I have seen Sampson mature in his relationships, I have followed Alex's love-life and watch his kids grow up. They are almost like family to me after all these years. Maybe that makes me biased. TBH I don't really care. I just know that when I start a new book in this series I am unlikely to be let down.
As well as a great series cast, we also have some good episode extras all as well crafted as the main players. We have a tight, well executed plot with all the twists turns and duplicitous behaviour necessary to keep the reader intrigued and engaged. Pacing is good and follows the narrative well. There's a bit of padding but nothing over the top and we also hear quite a bit from Alex's family but, as I said, that's the point of series books - to engage with the cast.
All in all, a good addition to an already well established series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

As two prominent figures are found murdered Alex and his team must pull all their resources together to solve the crime, while also working on other cases at the same time.
Avid Alex Cross readers might find the pace of this one slightly slower to previous reads, but it will draw you in just the same! As ever with James Patterson, you will not want to put it down as you become more entwined with each chapter you read.

What I find amazing with this series is Patterson’s ability to write something new and different each time. With other authors and series you often find that a couple of books in and the storyline is similar and can become predictable. Not the Alex Cross series. It’s always something new and exciting, new evil characters and plots, but still the same Alex and his family and colleagues, which develops through each book.

I don’t want to give much away as you just need to delve in and read it!! But I will say, have the tissues at the ready for there is one heartbreaking part to this story.


Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Is it just me or does it feel like FOREVER since the last Alex Cross installment? Can you believe it's now book #28!

Well James Patterson most defhbrought him back with a bang!!

Once again we see Alex and John Sampson brought together to investigate a truly shocking double murder, but is all as it seems? As all of JP's novels there is always so much more going on than just one storyline.

I found myself 100% fully emerged by the end of the first chapter. Not only do we follow the investigations that are going on but as every Cross novel you find yourself within the bosom of the Cross Family. I think this is the first Cross book I have read though that doesn't overly focus on the children, they aren't in the forefront this time round which was a shame.

This time around brings some real sadness for John Sampson (no spoilers) so he may not play such a pivotal role within the crime investigation as per usual but his own story plays alongside.

You'll need to strap yourself in for this rollercoaster ride as you won't be able to let go until the very end.

5*

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.