Review - The House of Cross

Title:   The House of Cross

Author:  James Patterson; Brian Sitts

Series:   Alex Cross #33

Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company 

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   416

Date of Publication:   November 25, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The thirty-third installment in James Patterson's globally bestselling Alex Cross series. It’s time to put the guns down, Detective Cross. Even if you knew the way out of this place, we would catch you.

A serial killer is taking out America’s finest legal minds, and Alex Cross is called to investigate their brutal murders. But during a dangerous mission to track down the killer, his wife, Bree, and best friend, John Sampson, go missing. To save the people he loves most, Cross has only three goals: 

Number one: Find Bree and John.

Number two: Escape.

Number three: Survive.

If he fails, there will be no one left in the House of Cross.

Link to purchase the series

MY THOUGHTS:

Some of the best legal minds are being assassinated. They had the potential of going even higher in their careers. Alex Cross will go to any lengths to stop the killer, but, as always, continues to strive to be a balanced family man. As Alex begins working alongside Ned Mahoney of the FBI, they realize they are both in a race against time. Meanwhile, Alex’s wife Bree Stone and his former partner John Sampson are after an elusive criminal known as “Maestro “. 

Both Alex and Bree are determined in their searches, and it is also the Christmas season. Neither wants to miss their long-held Christmas traditions with their family, and this includes Sampson and his young daughter Willow.

Although traveling from here and there while searching for answers, Alex and Bree always manage to find their way back to one another. However, when their cases converge, and Bree and Sampson suddenly disappear, Alex hopes and prays he will see his beautiful wife and best friend again. 

With its exceptional pacing, thrilling scenes, and near-constant danger, this 33rd installment in the Alex Cross series is an irresistible read. Not only does this long-running series deliver the action that fans have come to expect, but it also features heartwarming family moments that provide a poignant balance to the narrative. Nana Mama, a one of my favorite fictional character known for her strength and vitality, plays a central role in these moments. The rest of the family also appears in warm and affectionate scenes.

Then, the injustice. Read this book and you will see how both Alex and Bree do their best to balance the scales. While these Alex Cross novels could likely be read as standalone novels, reading this series in order will help readers to see the intricate dynamic between the characters and the seamless integration of recurring events into the contemporary narratives. I’m totally hooked on this series and can’t wait for the next book!

Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

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