Cross Country
An
Alex Cross Mystery
James Patterson
Little Brown (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-316-01872-4 (0316018724)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-01872-2 (9780316018724)
Publication Date: November 2008
List Price: $27.99
Synopsis (from the publisher): When the home of Alex Cross's oldest friend, Ellie Cox, is turned into the worst murder scene Alex has ever seen, the destruction leads him to believe that he's chasing a horrible new breed of killer. As Alex and his girlfriend, Brianna Stone, become entangled in the deadly Nigerian underworld of Washington D.C., what they discover is shocking: a stunningly organized gang of lethal teenagers headed by a powerful, diabolical man-the African warlord known as the Tiger. Just when the detectives think they're closing in on the elusive murderer, the Tiger disappears into thin air. Tracking him to Africa, Alex knows that he must follow. Alone.
Review:
Alex Cross is drawn into the ruthless underworld of Washington D.C. on
the hunt for a man known only as "The Tiger" in Cross Country, the
14th thriller featuring the forensic detective in this series by James
Patterson.
When Ellie Cox, a college friend of Cross, is killed and mutilated
along with her family, the crime attributed to a gang of fearless,
riotous teenage boys, Cross knows that he will hunt down their leader,
a mysterious figure called the Tiger, no matter how long it takes or
where it takes him. Anyone who was known writing about, or checking
into the background of,
an organization or individuals dealing in drugs, oil, money laundering,
and more in the nation's capital become a target for this diabolical
warlord. The
cold-blooded, brutal murderers he had encountered in the past do not
compare with the callous ruthlessness he would soon be a part of.
Cross' quest ultimately takes him to Africa where he meets a
reporter who had known Ellie and was also seeking information about the
Tiger and his murderous escapades for the press. The person or persons
giving the orders on what family should be killed next remains,
however, a mystery. Alex turns to the CIA for help but their help is in
short supply. Soon Cross the hunter becomes Cross the hunted in the
decrepit, dilapidated, and decaying cities of Africa. He is arrested,
jailed and tortured for three days, before the CIA is able to get him
released. Cross sees the most horrible situations for men, women and
children that could possibly exist. And he is forced not only to watch
it as it happens, but to become a part of it.
Cross Country
is one of the most perplexing entries in this long-running series. In
many ways it is atypical and fans of the Cross mysteries may be
disappointed that the plot is more action-oriented adventure than
psychological thriller. As in previous books, Cross is expected to deal
with the worst kind of criminal, but here, the images evoked are far
more horrific than anything previously written. It's really
overwhelming. One might wish that Cross finally marry his sweetheart
and take Nana and the kids on a long vacation together somewhere sunny
and warm, far away from what he experiences here, and leave the
horror of murder to someone else. But what makes Cross such a powerful
character in crime fiction is that he perseveres, always certain that
his work makes a difference, if only to just one person.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Cross Country and to Margo Nauert for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Have you read Cross Country? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series ...
Along Came a
Spider
Little Brown (Hardcover), March 1993
ISBN-10: 0-316-69364-2 (0316693642)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69364-6 (9780316693646)
Kiss the Girls
Little Brown (Hardcover), December 1994
ISBN-10: 0-316-69370-7 (0316693707)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69370-7 (9780316693707)
Jack and Jill
Little Brown (Hardcover), September 1996
ISBN-10: 0-316-69371-5 (0316693715)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69371-4 (9780316693714)
Cat and Mouse
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 1997
ISBN-10: 0-316-69329-4 (0316693294)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69329-5 (9780316693295)
Pop Goes the
Weasel
Little Brown (Hardcover), October 1999
ISBN-10: 0-316-69328-6 (0316693286)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69328-8 (9780316693288)
Roses are Red
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2000
ISBN-10: 0-316-69325-1 (0316693251)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69325-7 (9780316693257)
Violets are Blue
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2001
ISBN-10: 0-316-69323-5 (0316693235)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69323-3 (9780316693233)
Four Blind Mice
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2002
ISBN-10: 0-316-69300-6 (0316693006)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-69300-4 (9780316693004)
The Big Bad Wolf
Little Brown (Hardcover), January 2003
ISBN-10: 0-316-60290-6 (0316602906)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-60290-7 (9780316602907)
London Bridges
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2004
ISBN-10: 0-316-71059-8 (0316710598)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-71059-6 (9780316710596)
Mary Mary
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2005
ISBN-10: 0-316-15976-X (031615976X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-15976-0 (9780316159760)
Cross
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2006
ISBN-10: 0-316-15979-4 (0316159794)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-15979-1 (9780316159791)
Double Cross
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2007
ISBN-10: 0-316-01505-9 (0316015059)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-01505-9 (9780316015059)
Cross Country
Little Brown (Hardcover), November 2008
ISBN-10: 0-316-01872-4 (0316018724)
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-01872-2 (9780316018722)
Omnimystery keywords for Cross Country ...
Location(s) referenced: Washington DC.
