I have long been a fan of the Author and his long running Alex Cross series and this book does not disappoint .

Alex watches the execution of a serial killer he helped convict ………. however a short time afterwards he is called upon to investigate a murder ……..... one that shares many similarities with the previous case .
Is this just a coincidence or is a copycat at work ………. has Alex helped convict an innocent man ?
As more and more links to old cases start to emerge Alex becomes concerned for not just himself but also for his family , even his children might not be safe .
Who is targeting him ?
Could it be ex FBI agent Kyle Craig, or the mysterious “M” once thought to dead ?
With the help of John Sampson, his long-time friend and partner and detective with the Washington Police’s Major Case Squad , Alex must try to solve the puzzle …….. who is determined to bring him down .
As with normal Detectives case loads - Alex and John must also work a kidnapping case and try to solve the case of an FBI agent being set up for murder ,

In this thriller the action is fast paced with flashbacks to previous cases , full of suspense , with many twists and turns , a real page turner .


I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.



















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Another thrilling book from the greatest writer ever
I enjoy the cross books and really do think of the series will start to become boring and repetitive but oh no !!!
They grab you from the first page and keep you going until the early hours
Another must have read
Highly recommended

Alex across watches the execution of a serial killer he helped convict. Shortly afterwards, he’s called into a new murder investigation which shares many similarities. Is it a copycat, or did Alex get an innocent man executed? As more links to old cases start to emerge, it’s clear that M has scores to settle with Alex and his family.

I’ve been a fan of James Patterson and Alex Cross since Along Came a Spider way back when, and Criss Cross didn’t disappoint. Fast paced and action packed, the pages flew by as I couldn’t stop reading, so desperately did I want to find out the identity of M. I did find the resolution slightly disappointing, in that I wasn’t totally clear on why M had been targeting Cross, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable story nonetheless.

A good story from a good author.

A very good Alex Cross novel. It meshed flashbacks and a current case very well and developed Cross’s family story.

If you have read any of James Patterson’s Alex Cross books, you will know what to expect with his latest offering, which, I am sure, will certainly not be a disappointment. If you are not familiar with the author and Alex Cross, a Washington DC based psychologist turned consultant detective, this would make a great start, as this story provides a look back over some of Alex’s past and his clashes with two of his long term nemeses, ex FBI agent Kyle Craig, and the mysterious “M”. This book starts with Alex and John Sampson, his long-time friend and partner and detective with the Washington Police’s Major Case Squad, attending the execution of a serial killer that they had been involved in apprehending. The killer had been convicted of numerous murderous sexual assaults on young women, all of whom had been finally strangled with a silk tie. Shortly after this, the pair are called to the scene of a new homicide, where the female victim has been assaulted and finally killed with a silk tie! Is this a copy-cat killer, or has the wrong man been executed? To make things worse for Alex, a message has been left for him saying he has messed up badly, with the message apparently coming from “M”, an old adversary he was convinced was dead. This sets the stage for a roller coaster ride of a thriller with flash backs to Alex and John’s earlier clashes with “M” and with Kyle Craig, whom Alex had also witnessed dying – or so he thought! The book moves at the usual rapid pace of a James Patterson novel and also features some of Alex’s family, with daughter Jannie trying out for an athletics scholarship and son Alex Jr’s newly discovered passion for mountain bike riding. Realistically for detectives, Alex and John get embroiled in more than one case in this book and whilst trying to solve a kidnapping, and clear the name of an FBI agent whom they believe has been wrongly accused of murder, Alex learns that Alex Jr has gone missing on a bike ride, which seems to be yet another kidnapping. Pulling all these strands together leads us eventually to a thrilling and surprising climax to what I think is one of the best of the Alex Cross books that I have read – so far! Many thanks go to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book for review.

This book was sent to me to read and review in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Alex Cross goes through a really gruelling time in this book - from witnessing an execution to having to revisit past cases and events from the resurfacing of someone who has been taunting him for years - the mysterious M.
A fast paced story full of action, this book was fantastic from start to finish.
Everytime I thought I had M figured out the book twisted and I had to rethink the direction of the story.
Will he uncover who M is? And can he protect those he loves most from danger?
Find out for yourself - you wont be disappointed!
James Patterson has done it again and created another fantastic read!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Criss Cross, the twenty-seventh novel to feature psychologist Dr Alex Cross, consultant to the FBI and Washington DC Police Dept.

Hours after watching Mikey Edgerton executed for serial rape and murder Alex Coss is called out to a copycat murder. Has he made a mistake or is there more to it? A note from the mysterious M who has been contacting him for years would suggest so. As M ramps up his campaign it would seem that everything Alex Cross holds dear is under threat.

I thoroughly enjoyed Criss Cross which, as ever, is a high octane thriller with several twists and what seems like action in every chapter. Obviously the reader has to park their scepticism about realism, like how M could know so much and be so flawless in his planning and execution, on page one and go with the flow. It’s worth it as this is an exciting read that seems to fly by. It is told in the first person from Alex Cross’s point of view and is mostly set in the present although there are flashbacks to some of his previous crimes that link to the present. It could be confusing in the hands of a lesser storyteller but it all makes sense within the reality of the novel. I particularly liked the final twist which seems fitting, given the rest of the novel.

This is not a novel that requires much in-depth thought, being more of a series of action scenes with the thread of catching M. It does, however, present a more reflective Alex Cross who has doubts and despair about catching M but who never gives up the effort, to the extent of recklessness, another out of character trait. It all adds up to a compulsive narrative.

Criss Cross is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a fan of James Patterson and have read all of the Alex Cross books. This is the 27th in the series. The earlier books were really excellently constructed but over the years they have become very formulaic.

This is a simple thriller, prefect for the beach (where I read it) or when you want something less taxing. Its still a page turner but everything is so obvious, i felt I was reading to confirm if my suspicions were correct - and they were. But there's a comfort and enjoyment that I get from reading this series that means I will be eagerly waiting for the next instalment and hoping for a return to the Alex cross of old.

Not the best but still worth a read if you like this sort of thing.

After a pretty gruesome start where Cross has to witness the electric chair execution of the man they convicted of a series of killings, another body is found with a message from M. Suddenly we’re back into a very dangerous scenario...
There’s no doubt that this M is involved in some unpleasant stuff. He is managing to manipulate events and it seems to be for one purpose only - to get Cross involved.
As expected, there’s a fair amount of graphic violence and some pretty tense misdirection. We’re never quite sure who to trust, and we get a little further into Cross’s psyche as he battles his demons.
I found myself waiting for this to unravel, and we definitely get placed in a very uncomfortable situation as we wait for things to resolve. Once again, Cross is put in a situation that would have most people running a mile and determined to do whatever is needed to protect their family.
A chilling end that shows this is still far from over.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me review this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

James Patterson at his best. Familiar likeable characters and great storyline. He makes you care what happens to the family and keeps you guessing until the last page . Perfect holiday read, pure escapism.

James Patterson was the catalyst for my interest in crime fiction. It started with the very first in the Alex Cross series, Along Came A Spider. I was hooked and continued to devour every book until around book 13 when I felt they were becoming a little predictable and repetitive. Since that time I have read and lately reviewed many crime fiction authors, good and bad. When I was offered Criss Cross to review, I knew I had to read it. I needed to know how good I would find James Patterson after all this time. It was like discovering an old friend and finding out what they had got up to in the intervening years since we last met. How were the family? His colleagues? His enemies? While it was nice to be reacquainted with his family and colleagues, it was with utmost disappointment that some of the book went over old ground and crimes and even reincarnated one old enemy. I felt the book was churned out in a hurry to appease the publishers and although there were some tense, fearful moments and some clever and evil plots, I found it all rather predictable. I am in two minds whether to read No.28 when it is published. On the one hand it is like a comfort blanket with familiar characters but on the other I feel I know what is coming and the cliffhanger of Criss Cross could well continue into book 29 and beyond. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Michael Edgerton has always maintained that he was innocent, framed by Dectective Alex Cross and the other investigators of his case.  When Cross and his partner attend Edgerton's execution they are hoping that they can finally put the case behind them.  When a body turns up killed in the same way Edgerton killed his victims, and with a note signed by the mysterious M, Cross realises that this nightmare is only just beginning.

I've been following the Alex Cross novels for a long time, I think I've read all but the one before this, so Cross and his family and friends are characters that are well cemented into my reading life.  Although the books are a series, each one can be read individually, however the character back stories do add an extra level of enjoyment to them so it's worth reading them in order.

As I'd expected this was really easy to get into, and had a fast moving plot in the typical style Patterson writes in.  It doesn't take long to get caught up in the case, and given that I've become so attached to these characters I found I was on edge for them from really early on.  There was one character development for Alex Cross in this book that really took me by surprise. It didn't fit with the character I've had built up in my head for so long and just didn't sit well with me, it makes me wonder where Patterson is going to go with it and whether there is a side to Cross that we have yet to see.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.  The Alex Cross books for me are what I consider comfort reads  - you know what you're getting, they're easy to read, enjoyable and there's a familiarity to them.  They're a series I'll always come back to, and this one fitted in almost perfectly.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK and Cornerstone for an arc in exchange for an honest review

James Patterson is a great storyteller. This may not be prize winning literature but you will turn the pages to find out what happens next. This is the 27th Alex Cross novel and I confess I have not read them all. I dip in and out and I do enjoy the plots and Alex's family interactions, especially nana mama who is still ruling the roost. I think one of my issues with Patterson is that the characters don't always do what you expect - and that isn't a complement. Cross does something in the book and you're thinking "no, he wouldn't do that" but it is necessary to move the plot and create the tension. There are some genuinely great scenes and some rather silly ones but the narrative moves quickly and you're swept along as Alex tries to find "M" and stop any further chilling.

If you've read Patterson - and that is likely given his sales - you will know what to expect. This is good storytelling and a tense ending gives some satisfaction.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

A well-written crime thriller in the latest of Dr Alex Cross' investigations. The death penalty for a killer should be the closing chapter on his crimes but Patterson ensures things are not that simple with 'Criss Cross'. Dr Cross and the readers find themselves in the middle of a confusing web of murders that are further complicated as the killer ensures Cross is personally involved.
Definitely one for fans of Patterson and those readers not yet familiar with his writing but who love Detective thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company (Penguin Random House) for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

have to say i was a bit disappointed with this one...it felt like an overview of his life in his work and his family, every so often we would get a better glimpse but that would be all...skimmed over version

but i like cross the family man and this just wasnt enough time with anyone..even when the crisis happened i would think that all family members would be there and there wasnt...it just touched on base that was about all

but after years of writing about cross, we know enough background information to see it in our minds and he can write a good story, it was just missing the heart that is all...

m the mysterious person who has framed a man to go to jail and now could he be kyle craig who never died...cross has his work cut out for him trying to unmask the man that is m.....

a quick read that brings you into cross world again

I’ve not read an Alex Cross book for a while so I forgot how good a writer James Patterson is. I loved the fact I didn’t feel like I was missing out by reading the first of his books in the series and then stopping for a while and picking up with this new one.
Fast action thriller as always. Alex seems to have calmed a little now he is getting older but is still a tough and likeable character. His past is back to haunt him in this book and the writing was gripping as ever. .

Cross is up to his eyes in danger - yet again.

Detectives Cross and John Sampson are in Virginia witnessing the execution of Michael Edgerton, a killer they helped convict. Edgerton’s family are there, screaming that he was innocent. Cross is equally convinced he was guilty and deserved to die.

Cross is then called to investigate another murder, and the modus operandi is similar to that of the killer just executed. Has he caused the wrong man to die?

A disgraced FBI agent is in prison following a multiple murder in Florida. He calls Cross to say he was set up for the murders. Texts and notes are received signed “M”. Cross begins to believe that his old nemesis, Kyle Craig, long thought to be dead, is alive and well and still taunting him.

Cross goes back over his files, both of Edgerton and Craig, a one-time star FBI Agent turned killer, to try to get to the bottom of the mystery.

This is the 27th book in the Alex Cross series, and for me, this series has truly run its course. Dedicated Cross fans will find the action fast and furious. Cross is pursued by deadly enemies, his family is in the line of fire and he has to do everything in his power to protect them and banish his own demons. Nuff said.

Mr Bumblebee

Breakaway Reviewers received the book for review.

3.5 stars.
This is the 27th book in this very successful series and, although I do admit that I haven't read them all, I have read enough of them that I understood the main background necessary to read this latest offering.
We open with Alex and John Sampson attending the execution of Mikey Edgerton for the crimes that they previously solved. On his deathbed (chair) he still protests his innocence and encourages his family to avenge him, but Cross and Sampson are convinced otherwise. But the dust hasn't finished settling on this episode when Cross and Sampson are called to the scene of a fresh murder. A very familiar scene is in front of them, along with a note addressed to Alex telling him that he messed up, signed by "M". But the obvious suspect is dead. Could this be the work of a copycat, determined to undermine Alex and make him question his past and indeed his idea of Mikey's guilt/innocence.
Meanwhile, the incarcerated Martin Forbes is still protesting his own innocence and pleads with Alex to help him prove it. The waters are further muddied by the apparent reincarnation of one of Alex's past nemeses which causes him to start to question everything. The body, and head count rises as Alex and Sampson chase their tails, beaten to the quick every time. Just how is the elusive M managing to evade their every turn? Things come to a head when the action comes closer to home than Alex would have liked when one of his family members is targeted. Can he hone in on his tormentor and bring them to justice before time runs out?
This is quite a convoluted plot which brings together a number of Alex's past cases, as well as continuing the stories of his family and what they are up to. It's definitely a very busy book. But, having previously invested in the lives of Bree, Nana Mama, Ali and Jannie (with Damon also popping in) I was happy to catch up with them and see how they were going.
What I am not really happy about is the number of unanswered questions and things that have been left unresolved. Having invested quite a bit of time and energy in playing along with the cat-and-mouse guessing game along the way, I was a bit disappointed by the way the final reveal went and then, after that, how the book ultimately ended. I always feel a bit cheated when I don't get the satisfactory ending I feel I deserved. I guess certain things may be carried forward into the next book but I'm not a fan of that stuff either! Alex himself swings between being brilliantly clever and downright dumb, both depending on how fast the plot needs to develop. He's not as consistent as I remember him being at all.
All in all, it was nice reconnecting with some old favourite characters but the story itself, the point of reading the book, just didn't really do it for me. I think maybe my relationship with this series could have run its course. Shame really as I did used to enjoy it.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A fast moving, hard action novel. I wouldn’t expect anything else from James Patterson. Dr Alex Cross shares his warm, friendly family life with his children, wife and Nana Mama and his work as a Police psychologist with his readers. Dr Cross and Detective John Sampson work together to uncover the identity of the mysterious M who is killing and maiming indiscriminately., but is it? Can they stop M before it becomes personal.

Okay, I’ve enjoyed many a James Patterson book and particularly the Alex Cross series. Unfortunately, there’s formulaic and then there’s repetitive formulaic, to the extent any originality is gone.
I fear this to now be the case. Is book 27 a good few too many? I think so.

I continue to enjoy the family and the Dave of Alex Cross, but, this just felt very ‘same old’ and I found myself flicking through some chapters.

I’m sure there are sufficient diehard JP fans who will continue to devour these stories, but, I think I may be sated.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.

A 2* OK read.