A Book A Week

Despite a diminishing quality in his plentiful output, James Patterson's Alex Cross series has remained an annual reminder of all the reasons I became a fan of his writing in the first place. With Cross the Line, the twenty-fourth installment in the series, I'm reminded again of why I keep coming back for more. Patterson's short chapters make for a quick pace, and his characters, when given the proper time to develop, are the relatable kind of people that you can't help but root for. All in all, the Alex Cross series continues to be one that I consistently look forward to reading each year.

The novel begins with a lone gunman speeding through the streets of D.C. on a motorcycle. He shoots victims in other cars in a response to their traffic violations. Just as the news of these murders begins to surface, the DCPD takes a huge blow when their chief of detectives is gunned down outside of a grocery store. Alex Cross and his wife Bree quickly arrive on the scene. Alex worked closely with the chief, and the chief was Bree's mentor. Naturally they are both emotional about his death. More so, they are bound and determined to bring his killer to justice.

Just as the investigation begins, an even higher priority takes precedence. A commercial-level meth lab has been shot up leaving all those who worked in it dead. Worse, it appears to be the work of professional killers. When another lab is targeted a few days later, Alex becomes certain that someone has started an all out war. As always, he must balance the pressures of family life (his son is beginning college and his daughter is becoming a bonafide track superstar) while facing three high-profile investigations.

After a somewhat disappointing previous book, Cross the Line is a return to form for Patterson. While his plot is full of twists and turns and three seemingly disparate cases, they are unified by Alex's unwavering commitment to solve them and even deeper connections that are revealed as the story advances. I always turn to the Alex Cross series for the breakneck pace and thrills, but it his Patterson's focus on Alex and his family that keeps me coming back for more. It is always a joy to see how Alex's personal life has developed over the course of the series. Cross the Line continues that development and strikes a perfect balance between the mystery and character focus. Count me in for the next installment!