A Book A Week

For over twenty years, the Alex Cross series has been the flagship of author James Patterson's prolific output. While the bestselling author notoriously employs co-authors to aid in his writing, Alex Cross remains one of the only series to be credited entirely to Patterson himself. As such, the Alex Cross series has always seemed to maintain the thoughtful mysteries, thrilling pace, and honest characters that gained Patterson the acclaim and notoriety that he enjoys today. True to form, Cross My Heart delivers all of these elements, proving that Patterson is still at the top of his game.

Thierry Mulch is a scorned man looking for revenge. As a college psychology professor he studied and wrote a book about a spree of unsolved murders committed by, as he claims, the perfect criminal. His writing on this super criminal captured the imaginations of countless readers, leading to many speaking engagements and book signings. Despite the almost universal praise, Mulch finds himself obsessed with  his biggest critic. . . DC Metro Police Detective Alex Cross.

Things seem to be going well for the Cross family. Alex and his wife Bree are busy working on two separate murder cases, all three of the cross children are enjoying success at school, and Nana Mama the family matriarch is overseeing a massive kitchen renovation. Little do they know that life as they know it is about to come crashing down. One man is planning the perfect crime. One man has made it his mission to destroy the Cross family. One man want to bring Alex Cross to his knees.

This is one of the best Alex Cross novels in recent years. This series has always stood out due to the strong writing of the family dynamic. In each novel, the reader checks in with the Cross family, and, over the course of 21 books, the Cross family has become close to the hearts of those who read about them. As always, Patterson writes with a quick pace that keeps the pages turning and the tension high. By changing Alex from the hunter to the hunted, Patterson puts a unique twist on his usual formula. This is the kind of novel that keeps readers up at night, unable to sleep until every twist of the plot has been resolved. There has been much written about the cliffhanger at the end of this novel. I have been vocal about my disdain of incomplete endings in series mysteries, especially when they seem unnecessary. That being said, I felt that this novel had a defined stopping point, while still leaving the larger story open for completion in the next installment. For fans of James Patterson and thrilling mysteries, this is an exceptional installment in a stellar series.

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(2015, 7)