Cross Fire

I've been following the Alex Cross series by James Patterson for years now, although I certainly wouldn't call myself a die hard fan. Readers who follow this crime series will know that Kyle Craig was a mentor to Alex until he became his ultimate enemy and was eventually captured and incarcerated. Kyle is always referred to in the series but returns in Cross Fire in a very big way.

Instead of being exciting, I found Cross Fire to be a real let down. I knew from the beginning that Kyle Craig wasn't going to get his man, Alex Cross, in the same way that when you're watching a James Bond movie, you know he's not going to come to any serious harm.

There were also a few cringe-worthy attempts at sexy scenes and one just made me put the book show more down so I could roll my eyes right back into my skull and groan out loud in disgust! Let me set the scene for you: Alex takes his love interest to a swanky hotel suite, they are in the huge jacuzzi /spa together, drinking champagne. He gets out and makes a faux bear skin rug out of the thick hotel room towels on the bathroom floor and lays her down on them and they make love there for hours. I mean, c'mon!!!! If you you're staying in a luxurious hotel suite, you're not going to pile the towels up on the bathroom floor to make love!!! Ugh! And for hours??? Who is he trying to kid here?

The only saving grace in this book is that this time he allocates enough security detail for his family - in my opinion - and there was one part of the sub-plot that did not follow the predictable path I had been expecting. I think Patterson still has it as an author, but I think he's trying (or has been forced) to spread himself to thinly over too many books and his writing is suffering as a result. That's just my humble opinion. show less

It was really impossible for this novel to fail. Without a doubt, Kyle Craig is the best Cross villain. He is such a foil to the main character that it is always entertaining to read about their encounters. On the human side, Patterson delivers with a potential wedding (Bree is the perfect match for Alex), and Nana's ever present health issues. This is Patterson at his best.

Wow, wow and Wow, I didn't want to stop reading once I started but once again life got in the way. Why the hell cannot I just read whenever I want to. I love this series of books and once again Patterson gripped me fromt he beginning. With KC back in this book there was a lot of suspense wondering when he was going to show his hand to Cross. A couple of other interesting cases in this book but Kyle was the main suspense again. He is one evil character. Thanks Patterson for another great read.

Cross Fire is the 17th book in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series. In this instalment, a sniper (or, more probably, a pair of them) are picking off victims with long-range shots. The victims are all hated public figures: corrupt politicians, judges, public servants and lobbyists are assassinated with single shots to the head. Alex has to take a break from planning his wedding to Bree Stone to investigate the case. He is forced to work with FBI agent Max Siegel, who, unbeknownst to Alex, is not what he seems. And just to round things off nicely, that pesky Kyle Craig rings Alex to let him know he’s around and hasn’t forgotten his promise to eliminate him and his family. After the absolutely woeful Cross Country, this Cross book is show more back up to the standard we have come to expect. Fast paced, excellent plot, a few red herrings, a twist or two: this is Patterson at his best. Who ordered the assassinations and their motive is left unresolved, leaving the way open for a continuation of this theme. There’s also a hint that the next book may see an appearance by Lindsay Boxer. A good read. show less

A series of murders have taken place in Washington, D.C., Cross's base. The victims include a corrupt politician, a crooked lobbyist, and a venal tycoon. These were people hated by many, but Cross is determined to solve the case. While investigating the murders, he finds a complex math formula in a most unusual place, gets a big lead from a submerged Suburban, and makes a life-long commitment.

The question is... could a person assume another person's identity so well that not even the person's co-workers suspect anything? The reader must suspend their belief that this could happen. Overall, this is a good read.

Cross Fire first published in 2010 is the seventeenth book in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. This book returns to the earlier form where suspense and thriller comes smashing together to create an excellent read. It also helps that Kyle Craig is thrown into the mix.

When a black Lincoln Navigator pulls up outside a well-known Washington restaurant a sniper team is ready and waiting. Once they have completed their task there are two dead bodies from Washington’s elite dead on the sidewalk. Alex Cross is called in to investigate but little does he realise that Kyle Craig will insert himself into the investigation. He may be too close for comfort.

John Sampson has been given a homicide investigation to head up and Cross helps out show more his old friend on this too. Known as ‘the numbers killer’ someone is going around killing homeless men. They just seem to be random numbers carved on to the victims’ bodies. Cross knows a maths professor at Georgetown University, and she casts light on the numbers as ‘The Riemann’s Zeta’ function. A theoretical mathematics problem, which arguably one of the biggest unsolved problems in mathematics. Someone is clearly obsessive.

Cross and Bree are beginning to get their ‘act’ together concerning their relationship, but it does not help when Christine Johnson turns up unannounced and is causing problems. We do finally see that Cross and Bree do get married and Kyle Craig had always promised he would allow them to marry. Unfortunately for them he turns up during their honeymoon, but at least he kept his promise.

This story brings Cross face to face with his nemesis which makes for a pulsating read. It is good to have the Alex Cross of old back! show less

Maybe it was the reading experience and circumstances that left me feeling this way, but I did not enjoy this Alex Cross book as much as others. My official rating would have to be something closer to 2.5-2.75*.

The plot was a good, fast paced one which left you wondering when Alex was going to catch the bad guy. There were multiple murder investigations going on at the same time and usually something like that wouldn't bother me, but I'm wondering if that was one aspect of the reading that kept the reading slow for me. Perhaps I was just in a bit of a slump towards the end of September.

I like that Kyle Craig came back in this book, but I didn't like the way everything wrapped up at the end concerning Kyle. It didn't feel true to what show more we all know about Kyle Craig's character. (That is all I'm going to say in order to not spoil anyone.)

I'm glad Alex finally found a woman to "settle down with and spend the rest of his life with" because those aspects of the Alex Cross series could start to feel a little old after a while - he couldn't seem to stay with a girl any longer than about two books.

I still enjoyed this Alex Cross book, but something about it towards the beginning of my read left things feeling a little lacking and I therefore couldn't bring myself to give it any more than 3 stars...

I'll see you again soon Alex! show less