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Cross Fire (Alex Cross #17)

by James Patterson (Goodreads Author)

3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 · rating details · 11,106 ratings · 776 reviews

Wedding bells ring

Detective Alex Cross and Bree's wedding plans are put on hold when Alex is called to the scene of the perfectly executed assassination of two of Washington D.C.'s most corrupt: a dirty congressmen and an underhanded lobbyist. Next, the elusive gunman begins picking off other crooked politicians, sparking a blaze of theories--is the marksman a hero or a vi...more

Hardcover, 356 pages

Published November 15th 2010 by Little, Brown and Company (first published November 28th 2009)

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Aug 07, 2012 Monique rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mrs-officer-cops-and-robber-storie

So my first novel by James Patterson which is surprising because even I know he has written a ton of novels..and I must check out more as his writing is crisp, engaging and easy to read, you find yourself tearing through pages and looking up to see half the book is gone and that is wonderful talent...In this seventeenth installment (I know I know I have to read more of the series) Detective Alex Cross is newly engaged and back in touch with his arch nemesis Kyle Craig who basically wants to dest...more So my first novel by James Patterson which is surprising because even I know he has written a ton of novels..and I must check out more as his writing is crisp, engaging and easy to read, you find yourself tearing through pages and looking up to see half the book is gone and that is wonderful talent...In this seventeenth installment (I know I know I have to read more of the series) Detective Alex Cross is newly engaged and back in touch with his arch nemesis Kyle Craig who basically wants to destroy him. As always I am immediately drawn to the bad guy, the pyscho killer to find out why they do what they, what drives them, and how can they be smart enough to elude capture for so long and pull off some sick kills. I loved Kyle Craig in this book from his intriguing intro where he is getting a face lift to look like another FBI agent he has killed, new face, walk, talk everything--brilliant. I didn't really care for his methods as an ice pick to the neck was kinda..yawn..LOL...But I enjoyed everything else about him and the mounting tension in the relationship between Alex and Max Siegel/Kyle Craig. It was really a distraction to read about another serial killer as he was not very developed so I didnt really care too much for him..I really enjoyed the suspense of the meeting between Max Siegel/Kyle Craig when he would reveal who he is but found that scene a little disappointing for the time it was drawn out..Alex Cross was interesting as a character and I get that he is the good guy who we should root for but I have to read more to gauge my feelings for him. I mean you know he's gonna win and defeat the elusive Kyle Craig its just a race to end to figure out how and when..I suppose finding out more of that backstory would definitely help me accurately rate this book but as a stand alone novel highly recommended as "the best in the series" I did enjoy it..thanks for the fast read and recommended for those that like a great cat and mouse kinda cops and serial killers thrill ride LOL..(less)

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Mar 04, 2011 Daniel Audet rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished Cross Fire a couple of days ago and amid the storm of activity around the ranch here I tried to best organize my thoughts to a point where this review would not be too rambling. The thing that stands out the most for me with this newest edition in the Alex Cross saga series is this: No matter what you may read posted by book reviewers, book critics, literary purists(if there is such a thing), thriller genre fans and writer bloggers is this: James Patterson IS and has a style all his o...more
I finished Cross Fire a couple of days ago and amid the storm of activity around the ranch here I tried to best organize my thoughts to a point where this review would not be too rambling. The thing that stands out the most for me with this newest edition in the Alex Cross saga series is this: No matter what you may read posted by book reviewers, book critics, literary purists(if there is such a thing), thriller genre fans and writer bloggers is this: James Patterson IS and has a style all his own and he has a razor sharp, clear and familiar voice. I am often surprised at his really clever single word usage to describe gesture, or indicative body motions, or to narrate and announce pivot moments in the plot by a single one word thought which bring us deep, deeper or back into the characters mind and effortlessly manipulates our thoughts as readers. Even those of us, as writers, who read his work can't out think him or race ahead in terms of what we might expect. Yes, to an extent we can pretty much guess Alex will survive and live on to battle the crime world's best efforts to wreak havoc on the earth, but still, Patterson's skill level is so high we feel as though we've been upgraded to first class from the baggage compartment after just a few pages into any book we read from him. We love Alex's family too, we think some of his co-workers need to be smacked while others need to be commended for seeing him as WE do. We pull for him when he's in danger, which is a lot, urge him to look behind himself as the maniacal evil genius Kyle creeps up behind him now and again. Cross Fire, for me was part formulaic mastercraft(newsflash kids - so is everyone else's in one way or another) and ALL brilliance. I never struggle to read on, I am never disappointed in the overall "concept" (whatever that REALLY means), and I walk away, as a writer, feeling like I should go back to school.....
Whatever reasons motivate you to read, this book will not, should not, disappoint you. There are many genres and sub-genres but in the field of bestselling thriller fiction there's a real and good reason Patterson is KING and Cross Fire is another example of that. And, you can bet that the next installment in the Alex Cross series will be in my hands soon enough.
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I started reading Cross Fire the other day. In typical James Patterson style, Alex Cross, our hero, is thrust into 2 very serious situations right off the bat. His old enemy is back which adds a deep and heavy dose of poison tension to the mix while Alex tries to stabilize his life with girlfriend Bree, also a capable law enforcement agent. Patterson's writing has become a benchmark in the publishing world, and in my opinion for good reason. His trademark quips, one word descriptions, such as "chinned" (meaning a physical indication head movement) and many others keep me as a writer looking for the method to his success in every book he writes. For me, the first person narration is a key element in Patterson's appeal. He is able to take us into the mind of the characters and it's as if we are seeing and feeling what they do. I believe this is one of Mr. P's big attractions to so many millions around the world and because he makes it look so easy, for me, as a writer, his work is a case study in writing style and technique both in the craft of writing and the art of story telling.
I'm coming up on page 200 or so and will read a bit more today. You don't need me to tell you what or whom to read folks but this should be on your list of books to read, no matter what genre you like. Formula? Yeah maybe, but don't let that stop you from studying yet another in the series by a modern master, you can't help but be better off as a writer and/or be entertained as a fan. More on this fast read soon!(less)

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May 06, 2013 Gareth Otton rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 11, 2013 Sebastian rated it 4 of 5 stars

"It was all part of my punishment for catching him the first time"

It is official, Patterson has hit his stride again with this series, and it is a very welcome change. He is basically taking us back to the basics of what made him a favorite among many, a fast-pace thrilling plot that has enough surprises and chilling moments to keep us reading non-stop until we are done. Those that have read the previous book in the series already know what was coming in this one: Kyle Craig is back! And he is b...more

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Oct 24, 2012 David Savage rated it 5 of 5 stars

Detective Alex Cross is back in the 17th novel of this best selling series. In my opinion it is the best Alex Cross novel to date, James Patterson at his best.

It starts with a chilling murder committed by ‘The Mastermind’, readers of the previous novels will know who this is. From here on it just gets better and better.

A sniper is going around Washington killing “the bad guys from the newspapers”, high profile targets including politicians, judges and heads of companies. Is the killer working al...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Best Crime Books rated it 2 of 5 stars

I feel a terrible burden when I pick up a James Patterson book these days. The man is a legend who has produced some fantastic work that has earned him the right to be called one of the bestselling authors of all time. A staggering figure is that in 2007 one in every fifteen hardback books sold was a James Patterson. I myself seem to have a love-hate relationship with his work. Lately I haven't been over enthused with any of his offerings and his best book in the last few months has been without...more I feel a terrible burden when I pick up a James Patterson book these days. The man is a legend who has produced some fantastic work that has earned him the right to be called one of the bestselling authors of all time. A staggering figure is that in 2007 one in every fifteen hardback books sold was a James Patterson. I myself seem to have a love-hate relationship with his work. Lately I haven't been over enthused with any of his offerings and his best book in the last few months has been without a doubt `Worst case' which is another popular series of books featuring Michael Bennett. It seems that all of his co-written books have been a pile of rubbish and it makes me wonder just how bad his books can get. I was however looking forward to his new release Cross Fire, his 17th in the Cross Series of books. When the book arrived my first thought was that this book would be the one that cemented my loyalty to JP and why I always pre-order his books no matter how disappointed
I was with the last one.

In this latest instalment we again get drawn straight in at chapter one. JP's infamous style of his short sharp chapters is there in abundance, which I confess I love. Alex is written exceptionally and as soon as you pick the book up you feel like you are getting reacquainted with an old friend. Nana is also still around as are the kids and you felt like you are once again part of the Cross' hectic family life. The story itself is the major let down for me. James Patterson in the past has come up with storylines that have had me staying up overnight to finish a book or being so engrossed that I miss my train stop. This book is certainly not up to what I would call his best standards. I thought the plot jumped and many of the chapters felt almost unfinished.

We see the re-appearance of an old adversary in the form of Kyle Craig. I was looking forward to this element of the story as you feel like you have seen Alex' life up close and personal in all of his books. For me the first half of the book featuring Kyle Craig was okay but the second half was abysmal. It felt rushed and unfinished and had an element of laziness to it. Overall the book was very average and again I finished it feeling that dreaded sense of disappointment returning. I don't know why his books just don't seem to hit the mark anymore and I find myself wondering if Alex Cross is running out of steam. In comparison his Michael Bennett novels are picking up pace and fast becoming favourites of mine. All in all, if you are expecting another corker in the Alex Cross series you may be disappointed.
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Dec 31, 2011 Ron rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In the days before "jumping the shark" became the standard to mark the decline of a television show, I used to apply my own standard, the "evil twin." You know, when an evil twin pops up, the show has officialy run out of ideas.

This book runs a variation on the evil twin. The villian, apparently a long time foe of series hero Alex Delaware, stalks and kills an FBI agent named Max Siegel, then has total facial reconstruction surgery to look like him. He also learns to speak exactly like him. Then...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Bracy Ratcliff rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like Alex Cross--Patterson can keep using him indefinitely and probably get away with it. A lot of the Patterson machine stuff is like this. It's a formula--first develop the good guy (Cross in this case), he loves his family, believes in truth and justice, and is respected in his profession. Then break the bad guy out of jail, establish him as really bad, he does a couple of random murders, then in this case have him (Kyle Craig) assume the identity of a Fed--and not just the guy's social se...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Kat rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 11, 2011 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-thriller, family-relationships, mystery, police-procedural, read-in-2011, reviewed, thriller

One of Det. Alex Cross's hated enemies is Kyle Craig. Craig has escaped from prison and
is seeking revenge against Cross. Craig kills FBI agent Max Siegel and then has plastic surgery to make himself look like Siegel then he learns everything he can about Siegle's life.

In Washington, D.C. Alex Cross has proposed to Brianna Stone. Shortly thereafter he's called to investgigate a sniper assassination of two of Washington's politicians who were under investigation for corruption.

When another sniper...more

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Aug 13, 2011 T. Edmund rated it 3 of 5 stars

Crossfire is comprised of three main narrative threads - our well known detective Alex, our well known nemesis Kyle, and 'The Patriots' sniper criminals based loosely on the Washington snipers.

Of course the real meat of the story is the conflict between Kyle and Cross, and Patterson's decision to include The Patriot's point of view slows (and probably was only ever intented to pad out) the plot. Despite this the drama between the two main characters carries this book most of way, unfortunately a...more

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Jul 30, 2011 David Roth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Psychologist turned cop turned FBI Agent-turned cop Alex Cross ever since I read Along Came a Spider, James Patterson’s first Alex Cross story. I’ve been reading James Patterson ever since. From Alex Cross, to The Woman’s Murder Club, to Maximum Overdrive, to Daniel X to Michael Bennett, I’ve enjoyed them all, but Alex Cross has been my favorite.
Patterson describes his protagonist this way:

“Alex Cross is six foot three, weighs 200 pounds, and is athletic. He still lives on F...more I have been a fan of Psychologist turned cop turned FBI Agent-turned cop Alex Cross ever since I read Along Came a Spider, James Patterson’s first Alex Cross story. I’ve been reading James Patterson ever since. From Alex Cross, to The Woman’s Murder Club, to Maximum Overdrive, to Daniel X to Michael Bennett, I’ve enjoyed them all, but Alex Cross has been my favorite.
Patterson describes his protagonist this way:

“Alex Cross is six foot three, weighs 200 pounds, and is athletic. He still lives on Fifth Street in D.C., with girlfriend, Brianna (Bree) Stone, Nana Mama, Ali and Jannie, and Rosie the cat. Damon is away at prep school in Massachusetts. He drives a Mercedes Benz R 350. PH.D. in psychology from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Special concentration in the field of abnormal psychology and forensic psychology.”

The ‘teaser’ to the newest Alex Cross story , Cross Fire, says “Detective Alex Cross and Bree's wedding plans are put on hold when Alex is called to the scene of the perfectly executed assassination of two of Washington D.C.'s most corrupt: a dirty congressmen and an underhanded lobbyist. Next, the elusive gunman begins picking off other crooked politicians, sparking a blaze of theories—is the marksman a hero or a vigilante?”

This is the seventeenth Alex Cross story, and the fifth to use the character’s name in the title, and it may very well be Patterson’s best Alex Cross story.

The description above only gives you a little hint of the story, because there are in reality four separate yet carefully interwoven plots winding throughout this delightfully snappy read. You have the vigilante snipers, who call themselves the Patriot Killers – a name press and civilians quickly pick up on; you have the budding romance of Alex and Bree, and perhaps best of all, you have the return of Cross’s most brilliant and dangerous foe – former FBI agent, and former friend turned killer, Kyle Craig. And, just to make it interesting, the three plots are sprinkled with a fourth one – the Numbers Killer.

This is Alex Cross…and James Patterson at their very best. It’s a fast paced, yet intricately detailed without becoming bogged down in the myriad of minutia.

It is, in a word, a must read for Alex Cross Fans.

Four out of five stars because the series is a little formulaic. But it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Jul 29, 2011 Mike Tueros added it

I continue to read this series only because I've committed to the first 16 of the series (or however many there have been). There isn't much substance as Patterson churns out 20 novels a year and Cross Fire was more of the same formula I've come to expect. Alex Cross continues on in his perfect life, and for probably the 6th time in the series faces off against Kyle Craig (aka the Mastermind). This time Craig has gotten a new face through plastic surgery and has found a new angle to battle his l...more

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May 02, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cross Fire by James Patterson

Kyle Craig is back. If you have read any of the Alex Cross books, that four word sentence is enough for you to want to read this one. Multiple plots, multiple villains and an intense climax make this a speedy read.

Alex is in love again. This Time Bree Stone is the object of his affection. This guy has had more deep loves than Jacque Cousteau. A wedding is planned and surprisingly Nana is on board. The kids are also in favor of Bree. Sounds like a love story but the...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Kay Van Slyke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good one! Alex finally gets married and we see the last of Kyle Craig. Thank goodness. There are a couple of other killers running loose. Kyle Craig spends lots of money making himself looking like a former FBI agent named Max Siegel. He is still determined to kill Alex Cross but to do so he works hard to become Max and gets assigned to a couple of Alex's cases. A numbers killer named Stanislaw Wajda who is pretty much insane. Kyle even commits a few murders of his own to make them look like Waj...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Patterson brings back fan favorite Alex Cross for a 17th time with this volume, and this time it is an opportunity to come up with his former friend and nemesis, Kyle Craig, who has been lurking around in the background of the last few books. The novel starts with Craig getting the finishing touches on a round of plastic surgery that will allow him to work his way back into the FBI under the guise of another agent who had been working undercover on a case for the last few years. As a result, he...more Patterson brings back fan favorite Alex Cross for a 17th time with this volume, and this time it is an opportunity to come up with his former friend and nemesis, Kyle Craig, who has been lurking around in the background of the last few books. The novel starts with Craig getting the finishing touches on a round of plastic surgery that will allow him to work his way back into the FBI under the guise of another agent who had been working undercover on a case for the last few years. As a result, he will be back in the Washington area to get get his final revenge on Alex for sending him to a high security, solitary confinement prison in Colorado for years before escaping.

Life for the Cross family seems to be going well. The two older kids are making their way in the world, settling into successful school careers and Nana Mama still sticking around to take care of the whole gang. Alex and his girlfriend and fellow police officer Bree Stone are getting really serious, and there is talk about wedding bells in the air.

All of this is taking place as two series of killings seem to be hitting the capital city. The first set is targeting good folks turned bad in what appears to be a vigilante sniper shooting spree. The victims include company executives that cheated employees out of the retirement investments and a number of others who seem ripped from the headlines of the last few years. In some ways, the public seems to be on the side of the snipers since they are being viewed as messengers of justice.

The other murders seem to be drawn from one of Alex's former cases as all the bodies are turning up with numbers carved into their bodies. Other than that, the clues are pretty limited.

Alex is working frantically to get to the bottom of the cases while also trying to fend of Kyle Craig who has sent a message that he is keeping his eye on the whole Cross family. While Alex doesn't know that he is working directly with him under his new guise. Will they be able to work together to solve the cases? Could Craig actually be connected (or even directing) the murders? Will Alex be able to find Craig before any of the Cross clan end up hurt or dead themselves?

This is a typical Cross tale, though I thought it was a off to a slow start. I did end up enjoying it quite a bit, though I am a bit baffled by the fact that Patterson once again brought back Christine, the former school principal and mother of Alex's youngest son Ali, to once again show off how crazy she is. It seems to serve no purpose other than to further debase the poor woman, whose life seem to flip out of control after she was taking hostage to punish Alex by one of his other criminal targets because she was his wife. If anything, I think these little cameos make Alex seem like a totally selfish and unsympathetic character when you figure how much Christine has lost because of him, yet he fells no compassion for her. To make matters worse, the events never seem to add anything to the novels in which they occur go figure.

If you are into the Cross series, then this is definitely a must read because Kyle Craig as a challenger for Cross is always a guaranteed hit. As usual, it is a quick read high on action and conversation between characters, but not really all that literary.

The book does end with a sneak peak at a return of another one of Cross' former challengers so it seems that there will at least be a number 18 in this series, which (prior to this addition) seemed to be getting a bit stale.(less)

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Jan 21, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Alex Cross is back and it's not a surprise that the case he has to solve involves a whole lot of drama and mystery. With Alex Cross , comes a lot of Family drama , work commitments and the life of serial killers and pyschos. In Cross Fire we see Alex Cross's ol' enemy and ex-best friend Kyle Craig - "Mastermind" escape from prison and read as he kills an Undercover FBI agent Max Siegel and takes his place as a field agent. Meanwhile Alex Cross and his good friend/partner John Sampson are working...more

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May 30, 2011 Mom rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Series mystery lovers

Shelves: mystery

Tight, suspenseful and engaging, "Cross Fire" was a quick read that I couldn't put down. Alex Cross is one of my favorite characters in fiction. He was present in this novel in all of his fatherly doctor of psychology and sleuth behaviors. He is also hopelessly romantic.

Of course, Kyle Craig is back in one of his most ingenious evil plots to kill Alex and his family. But that plot line is supplemented with a sniper team doing a Robin Hood type campaign of serial killings and another killer carvi...more

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May 29, 2011 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

James Patterson is a prolific writer - he has the ability to make you "see" the events of his novels as they unfold. And, his Alex Cross character is by far one of my favorites, so I was looking forward to sinking my teeth in this next installment.

I was a bit disappointed, however. Although Patterson did a great job of keeping my interest throughout the book, I found that the ending left a lot to be desired. He wrapped things up too quickly and too neatly for my taste. In addition, based on the...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Paranormal Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-read-by-stephanie

Detective Alex Cross is back and this time on the trail of a gunman who is killing of some of Washington's corrupt politicians. Besides having to stop a killer who some are calling a hero, Alex's one time friend and now most dangerous enemy Kyle Craig is back in D.C.. Kyle has returned to take his revenge on Alex for sending him to prison and this time it's more personal than ever.

In this latest installment in the Alex Cross series, Alex is working homicide in Washington and getting ready to mar...more Detective Alex Cross is back and this time on the trail of a gunman who is killing of some of Washington's corrupt politicians. Besides having to stop a killer who some are calling a hero, Alex's one time friend and now most dangerous enemy Kyle Craig is back in D.C.. Kyle has returned to take his revenge on Alex for sending him to prison and this time it's more personal than ever.

In this latest installment in the Alex Cross series, Alex is working homicide in Washington and getting ready to marry his girlfriend and fellow detective Brianna Stone but their plans are put on hold when two corrupt congressmen are killed. The case quickly explodes and when the FBI gets involved, Alex is forced to work with agent Max Siegel who challenges him at ever turn. Else where Kyle Craig, also known as Mastermind, has come up with a plan to take down Alex and all those close to him and finally make Alex suffer for imprisoning him.

I love Alex Cross. While I thank J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood for kicking off my paranormal romance obsession, it was James Patterson that got me really into reading to start with. That being said, this was not my favorite of the series but I thought it was better than the last few released. The book started out scattered. It jumped from one person to the next and was a bit confusing at first. Once the murders and investigation started, things started to come together and it felt like earlier books in the series. We are allowed into the mind of a really great character then are given a chance to see through the murder's eyes and see the story from his perspective. Kyle Craig even comes back in a more prominent role. Kyle is bad to the core and his arrogance is impressive. He really believes he is a genius and artist and that Alex deserves to pay for catching him. I can't help but like villains and to me Kyle is one of my favorites to hate.

But then things start to scatter again. Another murderer with a different agenda is brought in that could have been left out, things fall a little too conveniently in place and the big face to face between Kyle and Alex that has been building up for a few books felt rushed and fell short of my expectations. There was enough suspense and action to keep me going till the end but this was another book that failed to capture everything that got me hooked into reading that the earlier books had. Even with its faults, Cross Fire was better than the last few Alex Cross books and it did capture some of the same spark the first books in the series had. It just didn't hang on to it but it gives me some hope that the next book will improve even more.

Stephanie(less)

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Mar 07, 2011 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

I enjoyed listening to this Patterson novel on audio book. I like the Alex Cross books more than those that Patterson writes without a co-author. In “Cross Fire” Alex Cross is again in danger from an old foe, Kyle Craig. The twists come as Craig take the identity as a fellow law enforcement officer working for the FBI. He and Alex have to work together on unsolved murders and those that continue to happen as they are working together. In order to get to this point, Craig has had extensive plasti...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another page turning thriller by James Patterson. This time (and this is a spoiler, but also on the dust cover) Alex Cross gets married, and the villianous Kyle Craig is back in persona you will not recognize. Snipers are killing the most corrupt of Washington D.C.'s high profile celebrities. The killers are working for someone, who are they? One of the snipers is mentally challenged, the other a mastermind. First there are two snipers, then one, then none. An agent, recently returning from work...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Alex Cross has decided to settle down with Bree Stone for good - he's proposed marriage and she's accepted. However, there is a more pressing matter - a sniper is going for the one-shot kill on corruption by taking out dirty politicians and lobbyists. The killer is trained, deadly, and disappears with the wind. On top of dealing with a high-profile politically charged serial killing case, Alex has been receiving calls from Kyle Craig - the Mastermind - again and this time Kyle's going for the en...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: james-patterson, alex-cross, 2011, books-i-own, new-books

A bit of a slow starter but once it got going became a very good addition to this already briliant series. Some of the plot lines were a little too far fetched in this book but do fit in with the story very nicely. Also one of the plots was quite similar to Play Dead by Harlan Coben which I have only recently read. James Patterson seems to have adopted the process of having a few seperate plot lines in his books recently and this book was no different. Despite it's flaws this was the best book I...more

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May 09, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Mar 19, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, murder-mystery, series, thriller

This review contains spoilers. I'm glad Alex FINALLY got married and has found happiness. It's cute that Nana Mama, his grandmother, has weathered all his battles with him, but it's time for her to do. That might sound callous, but the woman is ancient, and it's getting unrealistic that she's still above ground. Having Cross' old nemesis Kyle Craig back in this story made it interesting,but his revealing of his true identity to Cross and his demise was quite anticlimactic. And the two separate s...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Jeremy Muse rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The difference between the Cross books and the other books I have read by James Patterson is that I love the Cross family. After reading 17 books with Alex Cross, it's almost like returning to old friends. When Nana almost died last book, I think I even whispered "oh no." That's why I love these books.

This time, Cross is up against some snipers and also, in a way, Kyle Craig. Now if your hoping for a full book of Craig vs Cross, this isn't it, and I'm not sure now if we are ever going to get tha...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Josh Singer rated it 4 of 5 stars

As part of the esteemed Alex Cross series, this book lived up to its saga. The novel begins with the reappearance of the fundamental antagonist throughout the series: Kyle Craig. Alex, a detective, must balance his relationship, must counter pseudo left-winged sniper men, and must combat the arcane attempts of homicidal psychopath in an effort to live up to his standard of valor in this riveting book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the sequential shift of perspectives within the novel; this style of writin...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Jolene rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW!!!! James Patterson did it again!!! Alex Cross was AWESOME in this book!!

Right when Cross thinks his life couldn't get any better. After all he's got the loves of his life: His grandmother- Nana Mama, his fiance'- Bree, his children- Damon (who's away at school), Jannie (an exact replica of Nana Mama), and Ali (better known as Little Alex) and of course his best friend and partner- John Sampson.

While hunting "The Patriot Killers" he teams up with someone from the FBI known as Max Siegel, b...more

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About James Patterson

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The subject of a Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In the past three years, James has sold more books than any other author (according...more

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Quotes from Cross Fire

“This was the weird, scary stuff Denny and Mitch lived for. Every afternoon, they would gather up their papers to sell and hoof it over to the library to check the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) website for wherever rush-hour traffic was at its worst. Logjams were their meat.” — 1 person liked it

“coalesce” — 1 person liked it

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Cross Fire (Alex Cross #17)

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