There are very few writers who manage to stand the test of time and keep bringing something fresh and new for their fans every time they create something. As far as creative immortality is concerned, James Patterson’s name should surely be included in the list.
Having published his very first novel back in 1976, there are over 200 novels to his name so far. Among the various series he has created, the one that has managed to win the hearts of millions worldwide is the Alex Cross series.
Dipped in mystery and crime, this thriller series follows the story of Alex Cross, a detective in the Metropolitan Police Department whose life is unfolded to the readers through every mystery he solves.
A total of 32 novels have been released in the series so far, with the last one being called Cross Out, which came out in 2023.
If you have always wondered whether you should read the Alex Cross series or not, this article is here to provide you with interesting details regarding the series that will help you in making up your mind.
Table of Contents
The Chronological List of Alex Cross Series
- Along Came a Spider, 1993
- Kiss the Girls, 1995
- Jack & Jill, 1996
- Cat and Mouse, 1997
- Pop Goes the Weasel, 1999
- Roses are Red, 2023
- Violets are Blue, 2009
- Four Blind Mice, 2002
- The Big Bad Wolf, 2003
- London Bridges, 2010
- Mary, Mary, 2005
- Cross, 2006
- Double Cross, 2007
- Cross Country, 2008
- Alex Cross’s Trial, 2009
- I, Alex Cross, 2009
- Cross Fire, 2010
- Kill Alex Cross, 2011
- Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, 2012
- Alex Cross, Run, 2013
- Cross My Heart, 2013
- Hope to Die, 2014
- Cross Justice, 2015
- Cross the Line, 2016
- The People vs. Alex Cross, 2017
- Target: Alex Cross, 2018
- Criss Cross, 2014
- Deadly Cross, 2020
- Fear No Evil, 2021
- Cross Over, 2022
- Cross Down, 2023
- Alex Cross Must Die, 2023
Summary of the Alex Cross Series
The Alex Cross series is made up of 32 books so far, with different characters, mysteries, and villains populating the novels. The most significant thing to know about these books is that the central presence in the series is that of Alex Cross, the man after whom the series is named.
Alex is a detective by profession, but he is also a single father who looks after his two kids after his wife passes away. The detective is mostly shown struggling to try to balance his personal and professional life.
The unsolved mystery of Alex’s dead wife often becomes the recurring theme throughout the novels, and Alex is seen joining hands with the Secret Service or working for the President every now and then.
The first 10 novels in the series were released between the years 1993 to 2004. Listed below are the summaries of those novels:
| Sr. No. | Title | Publication Date | Print Length | Publisher | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Along Came a Spider (1993) | February 1, 1993 | 448 pages | Little Brown | |
| 2 | Kiss the Girls (1995) | January 11, 1995 | 464 pages | Little, Brown and Company | |
| 3 | Jack & Jill (1996) | January 1, 1996 | 432 pages | Little, Brown and Company | |
| 4 | Cat and Mouse (1997) | November 5, 1997 | 338 pages | Little, Brown and Company | |
| 5 | Pop Goes the Weasel (1999) | October 19, 1999 | 423 pages | Little, Brown and Company | |
| 6 | Roses are Red (2000) | January 10, 2023 | 400 pages | Grand Central Publishing | |
| 7 | Violets are Blue (2001) | January 1, 2009 | 393 pages | Headline Book Publishing | |
| 8 | Four Blind Mice (2002) | November 18, 2002 | 400 pages | Little, Brown | |
| 9 | The Big Bad Wolf (2001) | November 1, 2003 | 400 pages | Little, Brown and Company | |
| 10 | London Bridges (2004) | January 1, 2010 | 464 pages | Headline Book Publishing |
1. Along Came a Spider (1993)
Alex must stop Gary Soneji, who wants to commit a crime that everyone will forever remember. The Secret Service hired its first female supervisor named Jezzie Flanagan. They join hands to defeat Soneji.
2. Kiss the Girls (1995)
The trouble is double in amount in this novel as Alex is tasked to catch two pattern killers working at the same time. With a reporter and medical intern having been killed and kidnapped, respectively, Alex must work quickly to stop the killers.
3. Jack & Jill (1996)
A senator gets killed, and the killers leave a mysterious note. Alex comes across a mystery located closer to home. He begins to wonder if the two cases could be connected and then follows a roller coaster ride of twists and turns.
4. Cat and Mouse (1997)
Gary Soneji gets out of prison and is hell-bent on murdering Alex. On the other hand, another pair of rivals have a cat-and-mouse chase going on. With two killers around town, Alex must stop them before further destruction prevails.
5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)
Alex Cross is in love, but his happiness is interrupted by a series of murders. His investigation makes him believe that perhaps the criminal behind these acts is a diplomat, meaning that the case is about to get infinitely trickier.
6. Roses are Red (2000)
Bank robbers are threatening Washington, D.C., and laying demands, promising to kill the bank employees along with their families. As Alex takes on the case, he realizes he is up against a criminal striving for perfection.
7. Violets are Blue (2001)
Vampire-like wounds are found on murdered victims, making Alex question his beliefs. On the other hand, another deadly criminal emerges, calling himself the Mastermind. Alex must face them both at the same time and save the city.
8. Four Blind Mice (2002)
As Alex wishes to resign from the Force, his partner shows up with an intriguing case, doubting that his friend is being framed for murder. The duo has to go beyond the boundaries of the law to ensure that justice prevails.
9. The Big Bad Wolf (2001)
Men and women keep disappearing in a new series of crimes. When Alex digs in deeper, he realizes that it’s a case of human trafficking. Despite the help from the FBI, he goes out on his own to solve the mystery of the evil criminals.
10. London Bridges (2004)
A bomb goes off in Nevada, signaling that one of Alex’s old enemies is back. The Wolf aims to destroy major cities with the help of another assassin. Alex must cross international waters to stop the two criminals.
The rest of the books are named:
- Mary, Mary (2005)
- Cross (2006)
- Double Cross (2007)
- Cross Country (2008)
- Alex Cross’s Trial (2009)
- I, Alex Cross (2009)
- Cross Fire (2010)
- Kill Alex Cross (2011)
- Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012)
- Alex Cross, Run (2013)
- Cross My Heart (2013)
- Hope to Die (2014)
- Cross Justice (2015)
- Cross the Line (2016)
- The People vs. Alex Cross (2017)
- Target: Alex Cross (2018)
- Criss Cross (2019)
- Deadly Cross (2020)
- Fear No Evil (2021)
- Cross Over (2022)
- Cross Down (2023)
- Alex Cross Must Die
Review of the Alex Cross Series
There is a reason why the Alex Cross series has remained popular enough for decades for the author to have released over 30 books in the series, and one of those reasons is the attachment you form with the protagonist and the other recurring characters in the series.
With each book, James Patterson introduces new antagonists and new horror for the detective to uncover and solve. The readers embark on this exciting yet horrifying journey from the very beginning, which often ends up being the most remarkably chaotic joyride.
As Alex Cross attempts to discover the motives of the killers and villains, he goes on a personal journey as well, dealing with loss, grief, and emotions as he grapples with the mind games being played by the antagonists.
With every chase, every murder committed, and every vile intention that is revealed, it almost feels like witnessing various facets of the human psyche.
A fascinating element of this book series is the way in which the writer amalgamates Alex Cross’ professional commitments with his personal life.
While on the one hand, we see him dealing with the loss of his wife and the responsibility of his children, on the other hand, he attempts to give love a second chance and welcome happiness into his life.
Overall, it’s a series that will keep you hooked and make you bite your nails till you’ve discovered what the gruesome reality is.
Characters in the Alex Cross Series
The characters developed in the Alex Cross series are as intriguing as the mysteries depicted in the novels. A couple of the characters we come across in this series are as follows:
1. Alex Cross
Alex Cross is the main character of the entire series. Holding a doctorate degree in psychology, he has worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as for the Washington DC Police Department. He is left to take care of his grandmother and his two kids after his wife is killed by an assassin.
2. Brianna Stone/Cross
Brianna starts off as Alex’s girlfriend at the beginning of the series and eventually becomes his wife. She is also a detective, and the first time we see her is in the novel titled Double Cross, and through the course of that novel, she falls in love with Alex.
3. Nana Mama
Nana Mama is Alex’s grandmother who took her in after the demise of his parents. Although she is quite old while the events of the books play out, she is described as being a tough woman and is often thought of as stubborn by Alex himself.
4. Maria Simpson/Cross
Maria was Alex’s wife who passed away after being murdered. She is known to have been a social worker.
Quotes
James Patterson has the unique ability to keep his readers guessing till the last minute, and one of the ways in which he does this is through his dialogues and deep quotes. Some of the quotes from the Alex Cross series that stay with you include:
“It’s all right to put the weight of the world on your shoulders sometimes if you know how to take it off.”
“The doors of every house have a unique sound when they open and close.”
“Oh, I guess I want to fall in love, to stay in love for a while. I want to feel real romance every day that I possibly can. I want to feel something special in my life. I want to experience intimacy with another person. I’m not that different from everyone else. Except that I act instead of daydream.”
“A victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle.”
“Failure isn’t falling down, it’s staying down.”
“The truth has always been far too dangerous for the public to know. The truth didn’t usually set people free, it just got them crazier. Most people just couldn’t handle the truth.”
“Society prepares the crime; the criminal only commits it.”
“Don’t mistake the edge of a rut for the horizon.”
Movies and TV Adaptations
Several of James Patterson’s works have been made into TV shows and movies, and the same holds true for the Alex Cross series. Funnily enough, the movies weren’t made in the same order as that of the books. The adaptations from this series to know about are:
- Kiss the Girls: Based on the second book in the Alex Cross series, the movie was released in 1997 and was directed by Gary Fleder. The cast of the movie included Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, and Ashley Judd.
- Along Came a Spider: Directed by Lee Tamahori, this movie is based on the first book in the series of the same name. The film was released in 2001 and starred actors such as Jay O. Sanders, Morgan Freeman, and Monica Potter.
- Alex Cross: Released in the year 2012, this particular movie is based on the 12th novel in the Alex Cross series. The movie starred Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox, Rachel Nichols, and Edward Burns and was directed by Rob Cohen. It was distributed by Lionsgate Films and did not do well at the box office.
Conclusion
Being able to keep the readers interested through the course of a single thriller novel is a difficult task as it is, but to be able to do so for over 30 books is almost an impossible feat, and yet somehow, James Patterson has successfully done so through the Alex Cross series.
So, the next time you find yourself thinking as to which gripping thriller novels you should pick up as your next read, do consider reaching out for this delicious series that will most certainly keep you entertained till the last minute.
