Who wants to bring the country to its knees? Alex Cross is back and he will be in the thick of things in no time. The President has dropped down dead and the nation is mourning her loss, but everything is about to get even worse. The first killing will start a chain of events that will bring Alex & his wife Bree together to work the case of a murdered senator. Who wanted Senator Elizabeth Walker dead? Is the killing related to one of her cases? Bree knows that she needs to solve this case as her job is on the line but the FBI isn't allowing her in so she will need to follow the clues. Bree might have just got a break as a man has been murdered and she just knows that it is related to the murder of the senator. Can she really have found the killer and who killed him? She has a lot to prove as the Chief of Detectives and she just knows that she is on the right track. But before they can find anything the President is shot and wounded and now they know that the country is under attack. Unfortunately things are about to get worse as other important people that could have been the next president have been killed. Alex is brought onto the case to help the FBI. Alex knows that they are looking for at least five to six assassins and that they are still out there and no one knows if the attacks are over. Can Alex figure out who wants the destroy the country? Could be Russia, China or even Korea but why? The assassins all have their own reasons for doing their jobs but it all boils down to the money but will they all be caught? Alex has another problem, his new patient is acting strange and he just doesn't have the time to help her at the moment and that is going to have deadly consequences. Alex & the FBI have to find out who is doing this and stop them for good. Will they have enough time before too much damage is done? He can't walk away as he needs to be able to keep his family safe no matter what. So he will do whatever he can to help the FBI and the President but they have a big problem as their new leader isn't what he seems. A very good read. Just love Alex. He is such a good husband & father and he will always do whatever he can to keep them safe. He is a man of his word. And a good person to have on your side. So good to see the kids growing up and Nana still doing well. Bree is a strong woman that really is Alex's opposite they make a good match. Scary to think that money is always such a drawcard and that people will do whatever they can to get some. I would definitely recommend this latest book to everyone as it has everything that a reader is looking for. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

What an intense book! The story is exciting and races along, pulling you with it. A complicated plot has several assassins murdering senior members of the American government, then vanishing. Alex Cross and his team are in a race against time to round up the perpetrators. The assassins are also being duped, not paid for their task. The short tense chapters further rack up the urgency of the situation. When two of the people behind the plot are unmasked I realised that I had suspected them all along, without seeing a reason for them to do it, so I had dismissed their importance.

A great story. I have read a few James Patterson books, but this is my first Alex Cross. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do!

As always a great read, you know what you are getting with a JP read, Alex Cross is one of my favourite characters and as usual I wasn disappointed

I can't remember the last time I read a book by this author.
It was fast paced, full of action, but to be honest, I found it a bit unreal. I didn't feel any empathy with the main characters, never really got to know them somehow. And they did seem to charge from one 'derring-do' to another.
It was perhaps not a genre that I liked, but I was glad to try the book out nevertheless.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

James Patterson really never disappoints when it comes to Alex Cross!

Another excellent story keeping you on the edge of your seat as to what is going to happen next and are they going to catch the bad guy!

Target: Alex Cross tells of a series of co-ordinated, daring assassinations which lead to unprecedented political events in America. Alex Cross is part of the team trying to identify and stop those who are responsible. Unfortunately, I did not care who was behind the assassinations and I wasn’t bothered who was next on the list.

I know James Patterson is a very popular author and I know Alex Cross is a very popular character, both on paper and in film, so I was happy and eager to read this; apparently it is the 26th Alex Cross novel, so it must be good. But I’m sorry Century, this just did not grab me in any way though I don’t doubt others will be gripped.

The writing is not wordy nor crafted but the story is told in a simple “this, then this, then that and then this” way, which I know some readers love. However, it is not trashy, nor is it poorly written but for me, it felt like a list of events and even seeing Morgan Freeman in my mind’s eye didn’t help.

There was a side plot which seemed to be leading somewhere slowly but when it did conclude it was irrelevant and disappointing. There was an interesting character introduced who then left and of whom no more was heard. I’m not sure why she appeared, unless it helped with the word count but I would not have thought such a prolific author would need to do this; perhaps she’ll reappear in a later novel.

But, but, but…this is only my opinion, albeit an honest one. The genre is not one I lean towards but I know many of you do and many of you will probably wonder how I did not love it. We all have different tastes which allows many divers authors a readership and bookstores full of books for everyone.

I think the fault with Target is simply that it is not my preferred genre and it did not convert me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Century for the Advanced Reader Copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read. Fast paced, well written and good fun. It's a bit silly and far fetched, obviously, but in a good way. Well worth the time, and I've bought another Alex Cross book so I can read some more.

Believe it or not (and my dad raised an eyebrow in disgust) this was my first EVER James Patterson and I did enjoy it very much - more will be on my list soon. Good but complicated plot and some characters/backstories I had obviously not had the chance to get to know. However, that only marginally detracted, as did the pointless tangents e.g. a sporting event described in tedious detail. Hence 4*.

When the President of the United States is assassinated as she leaves home for an early morning yoga class, Alex Cross is immediately called in to try and help track down the assassin. However, a known assassin is identified entering the US at the time the murder was taking place it becomes clear that there is more than one trained killer for hire within the country. The events that follow lead to a virtual collapse of the US government, martial law being implemented and the possibility of War with Russia, Chine, North Korea or all three. It is up to Alex across to locate the assassins and find out who is behind the plot.

The high octane action certainly doesn’t slow down with this latest Alex Cross novel and I devoured it within a day. A fable for the modern world..

It has been a long time since I have read a James Patterson thriller, although I have read a couple in the Alex Cross series. This may be the 26th in the series, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone. It opens with Cross and his family's presence at the funeral of 47 year old President Catherine Grant, a woman of stature who managed to overcome many of the divisions in the US. Her death was unexpected, triggering an atmosphere of gloom and sorrow in Cross and the nation. The new US president is now James B Hobbs. Cross is called by the FBI's Special Agent Ned Mahoney into the investigation into the assassination of GOP California senator, Elizabeth 'Betsy' Walker. Cross's wife, Washington DC PD's Chief of Detectives, Bree Stone is being pushed by her Chief of Police to find the assassin before the FBI. A notoriously skilful Hungarian female assassin has been spotted entering the US under an assumed name, and there is a hunt to find her and speculation as to what she is up to.

Cross finds himself in a desperately complex case where he has a premonition of horrific and deadly actions about to befall the country, but without proof of this, nothing can be done. He is to find himself right but this brings no sense of comfort as the US finds itself shell shocked at a well organised and astutely planned conspiracy that leads to unimagined responses by the government that people thought would never take place in the democracy. There are additional global pressures faced by the US from Russia, China and Korea aiming to take advantage of the disarray in the nation. Cross, the FBI and Bree find themselves tested to their limits as they try to work what is happening and who exactly is behind the conspiracy that takes in a constitutional crisis, special interest groups, bitcoins, a diverse group of assassins, the dark web and more.

The plot lines outlined in this thriller are far fetched, but Patterson does a sterling job in making it seem believable. There is an additional thread about a client of Cross's that ends in a shock cliffhanger at the end of the novel. The author writes in his trademark short chapters, making the story fast paced and full of suspense and tension. The pages just seemed to turn themselves in this compelling and gripping addition to the Alex Cross series, with the ending leaving the reader eagerly anticipating the next book. This will appeal to all those who are fans of James Patterson and those who love their action packed thrillers. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.

Thanks to netgally and the publisher for opportunity to read and review this book.
I found it a bit slow to start with as I met all the different characters but then it grabbed me and I was away and hooked and it was a bit like being on a roller coaster. I didn't think anyone was going to survive (as if). Well done to this author.

Very current storyline. It is also very strong so you don’t need to have read all the Alex cross series. I have read most of them but missed few of the more recent ones although I do have them on my kindle waiting to be read. This certainly disappoint! Lovely catching up with Alex cross...does his nana ever age! Thanks so much for the preview,

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
Really very good. This is another intricate and well-planned plot from James Patterson. Such an imagination. His attention to detail totally immerses you into the action-packed sequences of close-shaves, narrow escapes, and the downright audacity of the criminal. As senior US politicians succumb to assassination Alex Cross explores the possibility of more than one assassin operating in the Country. But, who is pulling the strings and providing the money, and why? - you really do need to read the whole novel to find out, because there are so many twists being thrown into the mix - from perceived international sabre-rattling, cyber attacks and on-line gaming to a possible Government Coup.
Very enjoyable!

Another gripping installment of the Alex Cross series.
I have read many previous Alex cross novels and am yet to dislike a single one.
Exciting plots and well written as usual

Episode 26 in the Super-cop Alex Cross saga...

In Washington DC, a high-level senator is the target of an assassin. When other top-ranking politicians are murdered in different parts of the country, it brings the U.S. to a state of martial law.

Bree Stone, Cross’s wife and chief of detectives in DC have been ordered by her boss to find the killer of the first victim before the FBI or other security agencies can.

Added to this, other murders are surfacing. Initially thought to be unconnected to the political deaths, Cross is beginning to have his doubts.

All agencies across the entire USA are hunting these killers, and slowly a picture emerges of a mastermind behind the carnage. There is a higher than usual level of penetration of the US in cyberspace from China, Russia and North Korea.

Will they succeed in breaking the case before any of these states take advantage of the Americans’ weakened position? Or is it the work of a madman within the USA?

I’m sure fans of Alex Cross will lap up this latest instalment. It is a very exciting book and travels along at high speed and depth. With 100+ chapters over just 400+ pages, you know you only have to take little bites rather than huge chunks at a time and that, in its own way, keeps the pace going.

One of the things I found a little irritating is that over the years leading up to this 26th book the Cross family has grown apace; the children are growing, and his wife, Bree, is now chief of detectives in DC. His grandmother, Nana Mama, however, is an ageless nonagenarian who can still cook up a storm every day and keep the family firmly in line.

His former partner, John Sampson, has also receded into the background and merits only a few passing references here.

Still, these are small, personal, gripes. This is a fast-paced and exciting read. Recommended to all Cross fans and American crime readers in general. Well worth 4 stars.

Mr Bumblebee

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Exaclty what you'd expect form a James Patterson book: fast-paced, addictive, twisty and brilliantly written viallians. I raced through this book and am eagerly anticipating the next in the series. Granted it's been a while since I read an Alex Cross book but I'm glad I came back to them as I'd forgotten how much I love this character and his extended family - reading about them always adds another layer to the story.

Never disappoints have followed Alex Cross throughout his career almost believe he is real (yes l know it’s a shock but this is fiction) a very complex multi faceted crime with added players from other maybe future stories tagging along - what more can l say but l loved it

I was very grateful to receive my ARC from netgalley and the publishers as it's been a good few years since I read a James Patterson book. The formula remains the same and it obviously works for this best selling author. However, for me, it's a little like eating popcorn, it's enjoyable, but, just not satisfying.

Having said that, if you fancy an exciting journey that whizzes along, this is good fare. It's a well told tale about an assassin of a Senator and it's a fast paced thriller (26th in the series) that's cleverly constructed and with a good ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read in exchange for this honest review.

Another enjoyable page-turner from James Patterson.

As usual, I will give away no finer details about the plot in my review - there are plenty of others out there who already do that.

It was good to revisit Alex Cross and his family. This time Alex - and his wife Bree - are battling to unravel an assassination plot. As usual with Patterson books, there is more than one thread to the tale, in this case there is more than one plot - and more than one plotter!

Looking forward to the next book in the Alex Cross series to resolve some things further...

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Target Alex Cross, the twenty sixth novel to feature psychologist Dr Alex Cross.

When Senator Elizabeth Walker is shot dead by a sniper every agency is on high alert and the FBI drafts in Alex Cross to help in the investigation. At the same time his wife, Chief of Detectives for Metro PD Bree Stone launches her own investigation. Unfortunately for them this is only the start of a nefarious conspiracy.

I thoroughly enjoyed Target Alex Cross which is a white knuckle ride of a thriller with a tight plot and some amazing twists. It has been a while since I dipped into the series but this confirms why it is my favourite of Mr Patterson’s offerings. Obviously the plot is nonsense and requires a massive suspension of disbelief, but this only becomes apparent in retrospect as the reader gets so caught up in the nonstop action and breakneck pace that it doesn’t register at the time. This is a master storyteller at works and he does it well through various means. Short is the order of the day from words to chapters, even the novel isn’t overly long. This ramps up the tension and pace, giving the reader no time to breathe before moving on to the next scene. It works really well. The plot is clever and detailed with twist upon twist and I can’t begin to imagine how much planning has gone into it. It is slick, professional and engrossing. It all adds up to a very entertaining read.

This may be the twenty sixth novel in a long running series but it can easily be read as a stand alone as any backstory mentioned is explained. It is told on the whole from Alex Cross’s first person point of view in the second half. The first half of the novel is told from so many points of view I found it hard to keep all the characters in mind but as I had no clue about what they were up to or where their actions were leading I found it intriguing and compulsive. Only in the second half of the novel does everything start to become clearer and the reader gets a handle on all these characters and their actions. It’s not, however, home and hosed as I started to think because Mr Patterson has plenty more twists up his sleeve.

Target Alex Cross is an entertaining book which keeps the reader on edge throughout so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.