Cross and Sampson

Cross and Sampson (Alex Cross #35)-James Patterson and Brian Sitts, authors
Cross and Sampson are a team of investigators working for the FBI. When a professor from Chapel Hill calls Alex and Brie Cross about his son’s disappearance, they vow to search for him together. Apparently, Damon Cross has not attended class, and even his girlfriend Melissa has no idea where he is and is worried.
Meanwhile, a White Supremacist has been invited to the campus of this University of North Carolina. Damon, his girlfriend Melissa, and some of their friends have been engaged in a protest against the speaker. Has Damon somehow gotten involved with or been harmed by those supporting Jackson Thorne and The Young Freedom Fighters who are radicals and show more racists? Are any professors involved in this activism? Are they promoting, shielding or protesting the troublemakers?
When bombs suddenly begin to go off in Washington DC, terrorism is suspected and John Sampson cannot help Brie and Alex search for Damon, so they go to North Carolina alone. Soon, Brie is also called back to DC to investigate the series of bombings. They are sophisticated attacks using weapons very difficult to attain. C4 explosives have been used. It is therefore surmised that it has to be a professional, perhaps a veteran suffering from PTSD who is behind the bombings, perhaps someone who has been trained in the use and handling of explosives. Soon fingers point in one direction only, but is this person, Aiden Phillips, an expert bomb-maker guilty, or is he being framed? Is the government covering up their own actions? Can Damon’s disappearance be somehow related to the bombs going off in Washington DC?
The book introduces many ideas, and most are coming from the vantage point of a left-wing philosophy. Terrorism, white supremacy, racism, government corruption, a justice system that leaves a lot to be desired, and even a grown man obsessed with the Confederacy are involved in the investigations. It covers these ideas especially through the lens of the Cross and Sampson families. Their experiences are unique to the problems.
There are times when the novel feels contrived for the purpose of indoctrinating the reader to liberal ideas because of some subjects that seem to be randomly introduced. The color of the characters is pointed out, the history of slavery is featured, the support of the NRA is presented negatively, a speaker is chosen that is specifically a white supremacist fanatic, white privilege is suggested, and even January 6th is implied as an insurrection, not a march for election integrity, etc. The dialogue is sometimes a bit corny or overly sentimental, and is often repetitive. Still, the point of the book is that justice is at stake and Cross and Sampson are dedicated to seeing it is served.
There are many deadly forces at play in this novel, most of which are caused by the deranged or the fanatic. Contrast that with the family and home life of Alex Cross which seems to border on fairy tale in its treatment of problems and each other. If there is a perfect family, they are it. show less

James Patterson is one of my favorite authors because his writing flows so easily, his books are very quick, enjoyable reads for me. I love his Alex Cross books because the character is so relatable, someone I would love to get to know in real life. His friendship with John Sampson is special - they are more than friends, they are brothers. This book was actually divided into two separate stories, one for Alex and one for Sampson, which means you get double the fun. Alex is searching for his missing son, and John is trying to solve a rash of bombings in the DC area. Both stories are full of suspense and compelling mysteries.

The dual plots in this book were interesting and drew me in. Even though Alex and John were investigating show more separate mysteries, they still kept in touch and you could feel the connection between them. Alex and Bree are always good together, and bringing his son into the story as a missing person gave it a personal feel. The book was a quick read, as mentioned above, the pacing was perfect, and the characters were well developed. The ending was also very satisfying.

All in all, this is a very good book that draws you in and makes you feel like you are invested in the story. Highly recommend.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson, and Brian Sitts for the opportunity to read and review Cross and Sampson. show less

Cross and Sampson is the second book in the Cross and Sampson series, which is in addition to the Cross Series. Usually, we see the pair working together as a team, but in this edition, they are having to work apart but get to see the thinking processes behind the characters.

Alex Cross is contacted by Damon’s academic advisor at the University of North Carolina, wanting to know if he or Bree have heard from him recently. Which they have not. Alex cannot raise Damon’s girlfriend, Melissa, either, so Alex flies out to the university to hunt for his son. Alex is accompanied by Bree as they arrive at Chapel Hill.

John Sampson would normally be at Alex’s side, but a bomb has been detonated in the middle of rush hour. He is stood in the show more middle of a crater wondering who is going to claim this, as he calls the bomb squad. It does not help when a second bomb is detonated outside a veterans cemetery, both linked but with nobody claiming responsibility.

Alex and Bree meet the Chapel Hill Police Department, who do not seem all that interested in the case of an adult student who has gone missing. Bree and Alex have to search for Damon themselves, but they do get help from Melissa who he does not quite trust just yet. He knows she is hiding something. When Bree is called away by work, Alex has to work on his own in a county where his colour stands out. Some people are not even afraid to show their hostility to Cross due to the colour of his skin.

Sampson’s investigation takes an interesting turn when the CIA turn up on his doorstep, which certainly means he will have to listen to a story, which might be true, or there will be a grain of truth somewhere in the story. When he is informed by ATF that the C4 used in the bombings is part of a cache which was American issue in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sampson starts to see somethings falling in to place, like CIA damage control in action.

Both Cross and Sampson know they will have to trust people to help them, but they need to do the hard yards themselves. Both know they need to find the key, which will unlock their investigations, and some people are determined to make life harder for them.

A great detective story, which will keep the reader hooked from beginning to end. show less

Alex Cross receives a call from a professor at North Carolina telling him that no one has been able to contact his son Damon. Cross and his wife Brie go to Chapel Hill to begin search for Damon. Cross's best friend and partner John Sampson is about to join them when a car explodes on a street in DC. and Sampson is put on the case. Cross and Sampson is a thrilling page turner we've come to expect from James Patterson and this book does not disappoint.