Author: James Patterson; Brian Sitts
Series: Alex Cross #35
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 368
Date of Publication: February 9, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Detectives Alex Cross and John Sampson are better together—until they’re called to separate locations to investigate a pair of serious crimes.
In Washington, DC… Metro PD detective John Sampson stands in a crater in the middle of a DC street, calling in the bomb squad. “Dispatch, this is Sampson. Contact the FBI and the ATF. We’ve got a suspected terrorist attack here.” In Chapel Hill, NC… Alex Cross searches the apartment of a missing psychology grad student—his own son Damon. Has following in his famous father’s footsteps made Damon a target? From FBI headquarters, in police stations, on airplanes, and at murder scenes, the detectives track crimes committed hundreds of miles apart. It will take more than distance to weaken the partnership of Sampson & Cross.
In Washington, DC… Metro PD detective John Sampson stands in a crater in the middle of a DC street, calling in the bomb squad. “Dispatch, this is Sampson. Contact the FBI and the ATF. We’ve got a suspected terrorist attack here.” In Chapel Hill, NC… Alex Cross searches the apartment of a missing psychology grad student—his own son Damon. Has following in his famous father’s footsteps made Damon a target? From FBI headquarters, in police stations, on airplanes, and at murder scenes, the detectives track crimes committed hundreds of miles apart. It will take more than distance to weaken the partnership of Sampson & Cross.
MY THOUGHTS:
In Cross and Sampson, Detective Alex Cross, his best friend and fellow officer John Sampson, and Alex’s wife Bree find themselves locked in a race against time. When Alex learns that his college-aged son, Damon, has gone missing, he and Bree immediately fly to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, launching a desperate search for answers.
In nearly every major case Alex has faced, Sampson has been right by his side. This time, however, a deadly bombing in Washington, D.C. forces Sampson to remain behind, separating the partners as they pursue parallel investigations under mounting pressure.
From the moment Alex and Bree arrive in Chapel Hill, the urgency is relentless. Damon, who lives off campus in an apartment he shares with his girlfriend, becomes the focal point of Alex’s frantic search. The story moves at a fast pace, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.
The cases faced by both Alex and Sampson are equally gripping, and Alex’s fierce love for his family is palpable throughout the story. Just as powerful is the deep bond between Alex and Sampson, whose long-standing friendship adds emotional weight and depth to the high-stakes thriller.
I’ve been a devoted fan of the Alex Cross series since its inception and thoroughly enjoyed Cross Down, the 31st installment in the series. As it is also the first book in the John Sampson series, Sampson played a significant role there and that strong presence continues in Cross and Sampson.
While I always look forward to more Alex Cross stories, it’s refreshing and exciting to see Sampson take on a more prominent role as well. I’ll be eagerly awaiting future installments in either or both series.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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