#CrissCross #NetGalley James Patterson is a master of his craft and this latest installment of Alex Cross is no exception.  Lots of action which is what a love in a crime thriller, lots of twists and turns sending you down the wrong path before you are back on the right trail again.  I love the short chapters which keep me reading 'just one more chapter' late into the night!!  As well as the crime, there is the family element running alongside the story line and which, in this novel particularly, there is a lot of overlap.  A cliffhanger leaves the story not entirely finished and the reader waiting eagerly for the next installment in the series!!  Loved it!

I did not think that this was the best Alex Cross book and felt that it lacked the pizazz that I had come to expect. However it was still a good read with a plot that kept me trying to resolve who M was. I loved the telling of his past exploits/cases which tied in nicely with this story but it did mean that it reduced the depth  and hence the length of this story somewhat.

Book Review: Criss Cross by James Patterson, the 27th book in the series and in this one perhaps the past comes back to haunt Alex.
James Patterson is one of the most prolific writers in the world and I remember his first few Alex Cross books with warmth. They were stunnigly written with real attention to the psychological state of the villains. Over the years I have dipped in and out of the Cross novels, secure in the knowledge that Alex and his family will welcome me back with open arms and some of Nana Mama's wonderful chicken.


Blurb
Could a ghost from his past take everything away from Alex Cross?
Mere hours after witnessing the execution of a killer he helped put behind bars, Alex Cross is called to the scene of a copycat murder. A note signed 'M' rests on the corpse: 'You messed up big time, Dr. Cross.'
Was an innocent man just put to death? As the executed convict's family launch a vicious campaign against Cross, his abilities as a detective are called into question.
The enigmatic 'M' lures Cross out of Washington, DC to the sites of multiple homicides, all marked with distressingly familiar details that conjure up decades-old cases and Cross family secrets.
Details that make it clear M is after a prize so dear that – were the killer to attain it – Cross's life would be destroyed.

My Thoughts
Criss Cross,  the 27th Alex Cross book  has the usual tantalising mix of action and family. Cross, a family man, is morally bouunfd to find the truth and when copycat crimes emerge after hes just witnessed the perpetrator be executed, Cross wonders just what mind games are being played. 
In Criss Cross though, danger cmes a llittle too close to the Cross family's front door which edges up the tension quite a bit. 
The dynamics between Cross and his work colleagues and his family bring the book alive for me. It's a pacy, thrilling read with a great storline.  If it lacks the depth of the first Cross books, maybe that's to be expected. I enjoyed it  and am grateful to Netgalley for receiving a copy.

As always, a great Alex Cross story, keeps you turning the pages for sure and waiting for the sequel!

It started with Alex Cross at the execution of Michael Edgerton a person that Alex helped put there.  He chose to die in the Electric Chair (Old Sparky) and requested that Alex Cross be there.  Then the murders start and the perpetrator signs each one with M.  Did Alex put and watch the wrong man die?  A good few murders are committed and all seem to taunt Alex Cross, another adversary no doubt like Kyle Craig was, but by all accounts, Cross is beginning to wonder if indeed he is dead as he has seen him.  There is a lot going on with this story and it's been a while since I've read an Alex Cross and to my surprise, Nana Mama is still alive and kicking according to the book 90yrs old.  I sometimes wonder if it's about time for Cross to bale out and retire but again as with all the Cross novels its left unfinished so there will be another book.  I will most probably read another one just to see what happens next but it does make you wonder what else can Cross go through as he can't be that young anymore, and I do sometimes wonder that the books can become a bit repetitive. Plenty of action and the story has some value, and they can be read as standalone's although Alex Cross is African/American but not much description is laid out in this novel so that's ok if you know the story and have read a few novels but, to the newby it lacks  description and scenery

Yet another great book in the Alex Cross series, I can believe this is book 27 !!  If you’ve read the previous 26 you know what to expect, if not you need to get reading !!

Alex Cross has just witnessed the execution of Michael Edgerton, after Alex helped convict him of several murders, when a call comes in to what looks like a copycat murder.  Michaels family have always been convinced he is innocent, did Alex make a mistake ?

Determined to prove he was right and to find out who is copying the murders Alex goes on a mission to find the culprit. However it will cost Alex the safety of his family, how far is he willing to go ?

As with all the Alex Cross books it is as much about detective work than his family life.  The lovable Nana Mama is back looking after the family and cooking fabulous meals, as well as Ali and Jannie (2 of his children), his wife, Detective Bree Stone and his old partner John Sampson. 

As always there are plenty of false leads and twists to keep you hooked. A great addition to the Alex Cross series, already looking forward to the next.

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher.  Good old Alex Cross saves the day again,   Must be honest this is not so good as previous novels hence only 3 stars

Criss Cross is the twenty-seventh instalment to feature psychologist, police force and FBI consultant Dr Alex Cross, and I am amazed at how the series continues to go from strength to strength. The plotline is very much ripped from today's headlines: terrifyingly a convicted killer and serial rapist Mikey Edgerton who was handed the death penalty as punishment has just been executed when a murder using his very modus operandi occurs. Is someone taunting the police to make sure they know they got the wrong man and he is still free or is it merely a sick hoax and a copycat killer? Alex finds a letter from the enigmatic person known only as M who has been dropping hints and guiding him in the right direction in terms of this case for years. But who knows who can really be trusted in a game where everyone plays to win.

As always with Patterson's books so long as you can suspend your disbelief and turn a blind eye to the believability factor then you're going to enjoy the ride. Every chapter has action and thrills and this serves to keep you reading just one more even when you really should be doing other stuff. Patterson knows exactly how to grip you and not let you go and this book is no exception; it's a page-turner simply overflowing with wicked deeds, twists and surprises, exciting action and a fast-moving narrative. I always try to savour his books because they are so riveting and addictive but it's an impossibility. This is an absorbing, high-octane and compulsively readable thriller that will delight fans both old and new. Many thanks to Century for an ARC.

James Patterson is back at the top of his game with this one.

It is intense, fast paced and full of twists. Just when you think you know what's going to happen.......... you don't!

His trademark short chapters keep you hooked and guessing until the last page.

Reading about Alex, Bree, Jannie, Ali and of course Nana Mama is like catching up with old friends.

A taught, thrilling plot will keep you reading into the early hours!

Can't wait for the next one.

I have been an avid reader of the Alex Cross novels. The format could maybe do with a revamp as this seemed samey to me that said there were enough twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Enjoyed the flashbacks to previous cases which intermeshed well with the storyline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I'm a massive fan of the Alex Cross series so I jumped at the chance to review the latest installment, and I'm so pleased it didn't disappoint.
When a potential copy cat killer calling himself "M" starts taunting Detective Alex Cross, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous game that threatens those he loves. The story is full of twists, gruesome crime scenes and plenty of Cross family moments - everything you'd expect from an Alex Cross novel! 
It's action packed right from the start and had me gripped straight away. With short chapters the story moved at a quick pace and I raced through it. In my opinion this is one of the best Alex Cross books in a long time, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for the Cross family. Thankyou to netgalley and random house uk for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alex Cross is a determined man who cares about justice and helping others. But, a ‘mastermind’ M has taunted him for years with his crimes and the number of deaths are escalating. Who is M? 
This book is fast paced with lots of twists and turns. My first James Patterson but not my last, really enjoyed and so will you.

I read of the early Alex Cross books but after a while I started to lose interest so when I was offered the opportunity to read the latest I was hoping my love for the early books would be rekindled. The kindle definitely sparked but throughout I felt it followed the same format as the others. Having said that, I absolutely ploughed through the book and it was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing right to the end.

I have long been a fan of the Author and his long running Alex Cross series and this book does not disappoint .

Alex watches the execution of a serial killer he helped convict ………. however a short time afterwards he is called upon to investigate a murder ……..... one that shares many similarities with the previous case .
Is this just a coincidence or is a copycat at work ………. has Alex helped convict an innocent man ?
As more and more links to old cases start to emerge Alex becomes concerned for not just himself but also for his family , even his children might not be safe .
Who is targeting him ? 
Could it be ex FBI agent Kyle Craig, or the mysterious “M” once thought to dead ?
With the help of John Sampson, his long-time friend and partner and detective with the Washington Police’s Major Case Squad , Alex must try to solve the puzzle  ……..  who is determined to bring him down .
As with normal Detectives case loads -  Alex and John must also work a kidnapping case and try to solve the case of an FBI agent being set up for murder ,

In this thriller the action is fast paced with  flashbacks to previous cases , full of suspense , with many twists and turns , a real page turner  . 


 I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.



















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Another thrilling book from the greatest writer ever 
I enjoy the cross books and really do think of the series will start to become boring and repetitive but oh no !!! 
They grab you from the first page and keep you going until the early hours 
Another must have read 
Highly recommended

Alex across watches the execution of a serial killer he helped convict. Shortly afterwards, he’s called into a new murder investigation which shares many similarities. Is it a copycat, or did Alex get an innocent man executed? As more links to old cases start to emerge, it’s clear that M has scores to settle with Alex and his family.

I’ve been a fan of James Patterson and Alex Cross since Along Came a Spider way back when, and Criss Cross didn’t disappoint. Fast paced and action packed, the pages flew by as I couldn’t stop reading, so desperately did I want to find out the identity of M. I did find the resolution slightly disappointing, in that I wasn’t totally clear on why M had been targeting Cross, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable story nonetheless.

A good story from a good author.

A very good Alex Cross novel. It meshed flashbacks and a current case very well and developed Cross’s family story.

If you have read any of James Patterson’s Alex Cross books, you will know what to expect with his latest offering, which, I am sure, will certainly not be a disappointment.  If you are not familiar with the author and Alex Cross, a Washington DC based psychologist turned consultant detective, this would make a great start, as this story provides a look back over some of Alex’s past and his clashes with two of his long term nemeses, ex FBI agent Kyle Craig, and the mysterious “M”.  This book starts with Alex and John Sampson, his long-time friend and partner and detective with the Washington Police’s Major Case Squad, attending the execution of a serial killer that they had been involved in apprehending. The killer had been convicted of numerous murderous sexual assaults on young women, all of whom had been finally strangled with a silk tie. Shortly after this, the pair are called to the scene of a new homicide, where the female victim has been assaulted and finally killed with a silk tie!  Is this a copy-cat killer, or has the wrong man been executed? To make things worse for Alex, a message has been left for him saying he has messed up badly, with the message apparently coming from “M”, an old adversary he was convinced was dead. This sets the stage for a roller coaster ride of a thriller with flash backs to Alex and John’s earlier clashes with “M” and with Kyle Craig, whom Alex had also witnessed dying – or so he thought!  The book moves at the usual rapid pace of a James Patterson novel and also features some of Alex’s family, with daughter Jannie trying out for an athletics scholarship and son Alex Jr’s newly discovered passion for mountain bike riding. Realistically for detectives, Alex and John get embroiled in more than one case in this book and whilst trying to solve a kidnapping, and clear the name of an FBI agent whom they believe has been wrongly accused of murder, Alex learns that Alex Jr has gone missing on a bike ride, which seems to be yet another kidnapping. Pulling all these strands together leads us eventually to a thrilling and surprising climax to what I think is one of the best of the Alex Cross books that I have read – so far! Many thanks go to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book for review.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book

A bit slow to get going and I nearly gave up but it eventually took off and it was a very good ending.

This book was sent to me to read and review in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Alex Cross goes through a really gruelling time in this book - from witnessing an execution to having to revisit past cases and events from the resurfacing of someone who has been taunting him for years - the mysterious M.
A fast paced story full of action, this book was fantastic from start to finish. 
Everytime I thought I had M figured out the book twisted and I had to rethink the direction of the story. 
Will he uncover who M is? And can he protect those he loves most from danger? 
Find out for yourself - you wont be disappointed!
James Patterson has done it again and created another fantastic read!