Alex Cross (novel series)

Plot overview

Characters

• Alex Cross, the main character of the series. His wife was murdered by an assassin, which leaves Cross a widower with two children and his grandmother, Nana Mama. In the first few books he is alone until meets and falls in love with a woman named Christine, who he has a third child—a boy—named Alex Jr or Ali with. During the books Cross is hunted by a criminal/threat in Washington, D.C., where he lives, which causes Christine to leave him out of fear. He is a detective who tries to be as close to his family as can be. After Christine left him, Alex later started dating again, but some of the women have either died and left him over the course of the novels. By the novel Cross, Alex discovers that an assassin named Jimmy Hats Galati, murdered his wife and was killed by his best friend, John Sampson, who didn't want Alex to go down the road of revenge. Now having solved the murder of his wife, Alex finds the will to move on with his life, finding peace for the very first time. In the newest books, he begins a relationship with Bree Stone, whom he eventually marries. Since Roses Are Red up to Cross Fire, The Mastermind, Kyle Craig, has been his primary enemy. It is unknown exactly why Craig wants to kill Alex however. Craig is to have supposedly died in Cross Fire. Cross allows the adopted girl, Ava, to live with his family. Alex marries Bree in Cross Fire and is finally at peace with her. He has had three major love interests throughout the series, Maria Cross, Christine Johnson, and Bree. He has been friends with Sampson since he was 10, meaning they've been friends since he first arrived in Washington, D.C. In Alex Cross, Run, Alex faces several cases and his life becomes severely complicated. When Ava is murdered, he finds her killer and avenges her death along with Bree. However, he still faces several issues: problems with his new wife, Bree; what he will do after Ava's death and whether he will continue being a detective; if he may have children with Bree; and if he will ever stop having to face the recurring problem in his life - endangering himself and his family all the time. His shrink, Finally, says she will help him deal with his life for as long as it takes.
• John Sampson, is Cross's best friend since childhood and also his partner. Sampson, in Cross is known to have killed Jimmy Hats Galati, Alex's deceased wife's killer. John explains that he didn't want to see Jimmy get away with murdering Alex's wife and also didn't want to see Alex go down a road of revenge and had decided to avenge Alex's wife for him. In another book, Double Cross he is taken hostage while trying to solve the case with Cross's new love interest, Brianna Stone. In earlier books, the first few, he is seen to have had been in love with Nina Childs, who dies in Pop Goes the Weasel causing him to vow to find the killer and get him. In Along Came a Spider some background history is told, one being that when Alex moved to Washington, D.C., after his parents' death he instantly became friends with Alex. They were known for robbing grocery stores when they were teenagers. Sampson got married in Four Blind Mice to a woman, who he fell in love with, named Billie, despite his reluctance since he is afraid of being a father because his parents were so horrible. It is said that Billie is first and only girl that he has ever made love to. In Alex Cross, Run Sampson informs Alex that Ava has been killed and later assists Bree and Alex in avenging Ava's death.
• Brianna Stone/Cross, who is Cross' girlfriend/now wife, and was also a detective. She first appeared in Double Cross, having started a relationship with Alex and falling in love with him. Bree is described as a tough Bureau detective, and is put on the case for DCAK, which she works with Alex and Sampson. At the beginning and near the end of the novel, she professes her love for Alex. In Cross Country, Bree and Alex's relationship continues to grow stronger. She helps him investigate The Tiger, especially when his family is kidnapped by the killer also. In I, Alex Cross, Bree is shown living with Alex at the Cross home. She continues to stay at the Cross house to take care of Nana Mama, after Nana nearly dies. In the end of the book, Alex proposes to her and she happily accepts. In Cross Fire, both Bree and Alex look forward to their wedding, while at the same time dealing with Kyle Craig. They get married after facing off against Kyle Craig "the Mastermind" one final time. At the end of the novel, Kyle is killed and Bree and Alex are finally enjoying a life of peace together. In Kill Alex Cross she discovers a homeless girl trying to steal from the Cross house, and later agrees to adopt her due to Nanna's wishes. In Merry Christmas, Alex Cross she seems distraught and annoyed that Alex must be away from his family on Christmas. However, at the end of the novel, Alex and her share a dance while on a double date with Sampson and Billie, and they share a kiss. In Alex Cross, Run she is distraught and wants vengeance when Ava, a young girl she and Nana adopted, is burned alive. She and Sampson assist Alex in capturing Ava's murderer and killing him. At the end of the novel, she and Alex continue to recover from the death of Ava and their love for each other remains strong.
• Nana Mama, the matriarch of the Cross family. She is Cross's grandmother that took him in when he was 10, since both his parents had died. She is currently entering her 90s, having nearly died in I, Alex Cross and adopting a young girl named Ava in Kill Alex Cross. She is described as a very "old woman", but tough for her age. She is also described by Alex as "stubborn". She usually argues with Alex over several things thus Alex dumbs her as "old woman" and "stubborn". She approves of Alex's new wife, Bree Stone, and considers her to be a daughter to her. Nana was once married to Alex's grandfather, who she was deeply in love with. Once he died, Nana never married again or dated, as it was mentioned in Four Blind Mice. She is also known for always having the last word against Alex.
• Damon, Janelle, Ali, Ava, Alex's children. Damon and Janelle were the first to be born, born to Maria Cross—Damon is the oldest—while "Ali" Alex Jr. has a different mother and is the youngest too. His mother is a woman that Alex has known since Jack & Jill, but started dating in Cat and Mouse named Christine Johnson. In Pop Goes the Weasel, she gives birth to Ali, while being held by Geoffrey Shaffer. She leaves Ali with Alex in Roses Are Red. In Double Cross Damon goes away to a prep school in Massachusetts called 'Crushing' and doesn't return until Cross Country. Ali, however, is not featured in Merry Christmas, Alex Cross since he is supposedly spending Christmas with his true mother, Christine, who is briefly mentioned in the book. Ava, a girl that Nana Mama finds in Kill Alex Cross and adopts, is first seen/mentioned in Kill Alex Cross where she tries to steal but is caught by Bree and Nana Mama. She returns, along with Damon and Jannie in the 19th novel in the series, Merry Christmas. Ava is sent to a housing home for orphans again sometime during the events of Alex Cross, Run, for doing drugs. At the end of the novel, she is burned alive by one of Alex's newest nemesis. Alex's deceased wife, Maria, was once pregnant with his third child, before Ali came along, but died when Maria was killed.
• Christine Johnson is Alex's one-time-girlfriend and ex-fiancé. She first appeared in Jack and Jill where her husband is killed and she meets Alex. In Cat and Mouse she begins dating him and the two fall in love with each other. In Pop Goes the Weasel she is kidnapped for over a year; during that time she is pregnant with Alex's child and gives birth at the end. Alex is able to find her and their new born son, Ali. In Roses Are Red she becomes paranoid since the events of the previous novel, and the baby, who she names after Alex, is living with her. She has changed and begins to distant herself from Alex, fearing the work he does and believes that her life is ruined because of him. She eventually leaves for Seattle and also leaves Alex "Ali" with Alex. She returns in Big Bad Wolf to claim custody over Ali. In Mary, Mary she appears in court for custody of Ali and wins, but near the end of the book, she gives Alex Ali. She returns in Cross Fire to spend time with Alex, after hearing that he was going to marry Bree Stone, but ends up angering him and leaves after her time with Ali. During the novel, it is hinted that she still harbors some love for Alex. She, though does not appear, is mentioned to be spending Christmas with Ali in Merry Christmas, Alex Cross.
• Maria Simpson/Cross is Alex Cross's deceased wife and first love. Despite only being mentioned in the first eleven books in the series, Maria makes her very first appearance in a flashback setting in Cross. She is described as being "too short" and having a "beautiful smile". Before being killed, Maria was working as a social worker in Washington D.C. when she met Alex Cross for the very first time. They first met at St. Anthony's Hospital and fell in love soon after. They married and moved into an apartment together. Damon was born later in the marriage and Janelle was born sometime before Maria's death. Maria was revealed to be pregnant with their third child, during the events of Cross. When Alex came to pick up Maria from her work place, Maria was shot by an unknown sniper and died in Alex's arms. Her last words to Alex were that she loved him. It remains unknown if the shooter was aiming for Maria or Alex. After her death, Alex moved out of the apartment and back to his grandma's place. Maria's murderer was never caught, until the novel Cross, where it is revealed that a mob assassin named Jimmy Hats Galati, was responsible for killing Maria. John Sampson was the one to avenge Maria, to spare Alex from losing what was left of his soul. Maria has been the reason for Alex's motivation of taking on cases from the very beginning of the series. After the events of Cross, Alex has managed to let go of Maria, allowing himself to move on with his life.

  Notable antagonists

• Kyle Craig/The Mastermind, the main antagonist of the series. He is first introduced in the earlier novels, but doesn't become an actual villain until Roses Are Red where he robs the bank and goes on a killing spree while trying to kill Cross. He is stopped by Cross in the following book Violets Are Blue and is put into prison. In Double Cross he escapes from prison and begins a new massacre while another murderer, known as DCAK begins a new reign of terror, and runs away. He gives a taunting phone call, foreshadowing his return, in I, Alex Cross and he in fact does return in Cross Fire in which he disguises himself as Max Siegel and tries to kill Alex again. He once again fails and, shortly before going to prison again, picks up an officer's gun and kills himself—as well as two officers—by shooting a gas tank. He was once a FBI agent and friend of Alex, but was later explained to have always been a murderer. He had killed his abusive father, presumably killed one of his brothers, and later killed his mother. In Violets Are Blue several things are explained about Craig: in Kiss the Girls he went to college and killed with the villains; he is presumably an atheist, believing he is second to no one; he wants to kill Alex because he wants to prove to himself that he is truly smarter than Cross—but his reason is later changed to be for ruining Kyle's life by sending him to prison. He is described as a "woman hater" despite possibly having a crush on Kate McTiernan in Kiss The Girls. Craig helps Alex on several cases since the first book, and even offers Alex a job at the FBI at one point, which Alex accepts after Kyle is arrested. Kyle is briefly seen in the films Kiss The Girls and Along Came a Spider. In the new novel, Double Cross, Kyle escapes from prison and murders a few people while on the loose, with his mother being one of the victims. At the end of the novel, he is still at large, despite being wounded by Alex and his girlfriend, Bree Stone. Kyle makes another full return in Cross Fire, where he takes the identity of Max Siegel by plastic surgery. He uses his new identity to gain the trust of Alex once more before revealing himself at the end of the novel. He engages in a final fight with Alex and his wife, Bree Stone, where he is wounded and arrested. Not wanting to go back to prison, Kyle kills himself by shooting an oxygen tank.
• Gary Soneji/The Son of Lindbergh: is the main antagonist of Along Came a Spider, where he kidnaps two children from rich families and is captured later on. He meets Alex for the first time and promises to kill him in the nearby future. He is sent to prison by the end of the book and is still there in Kiss the Girls. However, he escapes in Jack & Jill and later calls Alex by the end, promising to see him soon. In the fourth book Cat and Mouse he tries to kill Cross, but is defeated/killed by Cross when he tries to throw a fire grenade but accidentally drops it on himself, burning him alive. Later on in the novel, his friend later attacks Alex as instructions from Soneji. While, Kyle Craig is the series' main antagonist, Soneji is Alex's deadliest adversary, and is therefore much more powerful in his own way than the "Mastermind" who is not as deadly as Soneji but is depicted as the main villain. Soneji appears in the movie adaptation Along Came A Spider, but dies in the film—which does not happen in that novel, as he dies in Cat and Mouse. He also gave the Cross family a cat in Jack and Jill which they keep and start getting attached to it; despite Alex's initial hesitant response—thinking the cat to be rigged with a device of some sorts or some such. The cat is forever mentioned and sometimes seen in most books. Soneji is also seen in two books; and is mentioned in several others.
• DCAK standing for DC Audience Killer, brother and sister Anthony and Sandy start a killing spree, which Bree Stone is put on the case, while Alex decides to help and nicknames them 'DCAK.' They appear in Double Cross. In the book they are believed to be lovers, while brother and sister. In the novel they kidnap Sampson — keeping him hostage — while Alex and Bree stop them. Sandy is killed while Anthony is chased in hot pursuit by Alex. He is eventually shot and defeated; while Alex learns that Kyle Craig is back and in D.C., after learning DCAK was sort of working with the Mastermind. Craig is shot and flees; at a hospital, Anthony vows revenge on Alex.
• Geoffrey Shafer/The Weasel, the antagonist of Pop Goes the Weasel and secondary antagonist in London Bridges. Shafer is responsible for kidnapping Christine Johnson, Alex's fiancée at the time, and killing his own wife, Lucy, in Pop Goes the Weasel. He is not seen until three or four books later where he is forced to work with the Wolf, a serial killer and powerful organized crime boss. He is then assigned to keep Alex Cross busy and later decides to hunt down Alex in London, only to be fatally wounded and killed by Cross when he confronts him. In the novel Pop Goes The Weasel, Geoffrey competes with a small group of other people, known as The Horsemen to kill people, or "live their fantasies". He is also known to have started killing many years before he was even introduced and has gone over 100 murders. Shafer is described as one of Alex's worst enemies.
• The Wolf, is the antagonist of both The Big Bad Wolf and London Bridges. The Wolf is considered to be the first and only super-villain that Alex Cross has ever faced in the series. He is responsible for a network of human smuggling in The Big Bad Wolf and is never caught. His identity remained unknown until the end of London Bridges, when he returns with Geoffrey Shafer to take on Alex. The Wolf's real name is revealed to be "Anton Christyakov". The Wolf is in control of an organization that proves to be very powerful in the events of the novel. At the end of London Bridges, Anton kills himself with poison, in order to avoid the authorities. Despite Kyle Craig, Gary Soneji, and Geoffrey Shafer, The Wolf has proven to be more dangerous than any of them. Being able to keep his identity safe, forcing other killers to do his bidding, and taking on world governments.

  Book list

1. Along Came a Spider : In the original and first chapter of the Cross series, Gary Soneji, a "math teacher", kidnaps Maggie Rose Dunne, famous actress, Katherine Dunne's daughter, and her best friend. However, as things start to with one of them being kidnapped—again—and the other killed, Alex Cross, a Washington, D.C. detective is on the case with Secret Service agent Jezzie Flannigan to discover what really happened.
2. : In 2001, the novel was adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross, Monica Potter as Jezzie Flannigan, and Michael Wincott as Soneji.
3. Kiss the Girls : Casanova, a new murderer and collector, strikes and even kidnaps Alex's niece, Naomi, forcing Alex to come into uncharted territory. While working with Kate McTiernan, a surgeon who escaped Casanova, Alex discovers that this new murderer is in fact a woman collector and that there are more women, along with Naomi, being held captive. But there is another killer doing the same thing on the opposite side of the country as well.
4. : In 1997, the novel was adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross and Ashley Judd as Kate McTiernan.
5. Jack & Jill : Alex faces against Jack and Jill, a new pair of murderers, who kill famous people and name one of their targets to be the President of the United States. While Alex tries to stop Jack and Jill, there is a new killer at Damon's school, forcing him to work two cases at once. But that isn't all that has hit Alex's life, especially when meets a strange woman named Christine Johnson.
6. Cat and Mouse : Now dating Christine, Alex feels that he is ready to move on, until Gary Soneji strikes back at Alex, forcing him to go after his oldest nemesis one more time. While Alex is chasing Soneji, a new killer, Mr. Smith, is running across Europe as well.
7. Pop Goes the Weasel : As Alex proposes to Christine, a series of murders rage out of hand in Southeast, forcing Alex to investigate. But when Christine is kidnapped—and the kidnapper possibly the Southeast killer—Alex will do anything to solve the case and save his love.
8. Roses are Red : As Alex struggles with internal problems with his life, he is forced to investigate a series of bank robberies and a new killer, The Mastermind. Assigned with a new partner, FBI agent Betsey Cavalierre, Alex will stop at nothing to know the identity of the Mastermind himself.
9. Violets Are Blue : With the Mastermind still on the loose, Alex must investigate a series of killings that relate to cult of vampires. Assigned with San Francisco Inspector, Jamilla Hughes, Alex travels across the United States to find out who are doing all of these murders. Meanwhile, the Mastermind is planning his own mission to kill Alex once and for all.
10. Four Blind Mice : As Alex prepares to retire from the police department, his partner, John Sampson, asks him to investigate a recent murder and help clear the name of his friend, who is being accused of the crime. As Alex and John go after three Army Rangers, who have served in Vietnam War, they discover that the murders may go on farther than they originally realized.
11. The Big Bad Wolf : With Alex officially working for the FBI now, he faces his first assignment to take down a network that is kidnapping people and selling them for sex slavery, which is being controlled by "The Wolf", an unknown Russian mobster. Meanwhile, Alex also faces the return of his ex-fiancée, Christine.
12. London Bridges : As Alex investigates a bombing in New Mexico, he also discovers that Geoffrey Shafer has returned and is teaming up with The Wolf. Facing two of his biggest enemies yet, Alex travels from the United States to London, Paris, and back again in order to take them down. The mystery of The Wolf's identity lingers on, forcing Alex to do whatever it takes to discover who he is, but it may cost him his life.
13. Mary, Mary : While on vacation in Los Angeles with his family, Alex is pulled onto a last minute case to chase down a mysterious murderer, who is killing famous people. But at the same time, Alex must face a new threat that Christine, his ex-fiancée, may cause to his family. While facing many problems at home, Alex must solve the murders before it's too late and also make a powerful decision in the end as well.
14. Cross : In the 12th book in the Cross series, Cross retires from the FBI and from his life as a detective. Now returning to private practice, Alex is enjoying his new life, until an old enemy from his past resurfaces, forcing him to work with his former partner, Detective John Sampson to find him. But this killer isn't like any other. This killer just may be the one who killed Maria Cross, Alex's long deceased wife...
15. : In 2012, the novel was adapted into a film, titled Alex Cross, starring Tyler Perry as Alex Cross and Matthew Fox as The Butcher.
16. Double Cross : Alex has found love with his new girlfriend, Detective Bree Stone, and is enjoying his retired life. But when a new killer, known as DCAK, starts killing people in front of an audience, Alex comes out of his retirement and is officially reinstated with the police department. Working with Bree and his former partner, John Sampson, Alex goes on a hunt for not one, but two killers at the same time. Meanwhile, Kyle Craig, escapes from prison and plans to finish his rivalry with Alex.
17. Cross Country : When a woman that Alex knew is killed by the Tiger, a new murderer, who is traveling between America and Africa, killing people along with his group of teenagers, Alex heads to Africa. But this time he is faced with a whole new challenge that will test him in every way. But what Alex experiences and discovers will change everything.
18. Alex Cross's Trial : In this story within a story concept, Alex writes about one of his ancestors, Abraham Cross, who teams up with a lawyer named Ben Corbett to help end the series of lynching that are happening in Eudora, Mississippi. But as they continue to investigate, they discover that the Ku Klux Klan may be resurfacing and a dark secret is revealed.
19. I, Alex Cross : When Alex's niece, Caroline, is murdered by a serial killer/rapist known as Zeus, Alex takes on the case and will go to the ultimate depths to find the killer. But as he and his girlfriend, Bree Stone, uncover secrets to Caroline's past, they also uncover a darker secret about the killer. Whilst in the midst of the investigation, Alex has problems at home and comes to a decision about his relationship with Bree.
20. Cross Fire : As Alex and Bree Stone prepare for their wedding, a series of murders causes Alex to investigate as he begins to chase after two specialized killer who are killing off corrupt officials. Meanwhile, Kyle Craig comes back to finish off what he began in Double Cross, going as far as he never has before, he is out to exact revenge upon Cross and his family.
21. Kill Alex Cross : When the President's children are kidnapped. Alex is put on the case and seems relentless to give up, while DC faces a threat from a society known as the "Family".
22. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross : When Cross' church is robbed he goes to investigate and is later put on a case of a series of murders. As he struggles to make it home for Christmas, a new and terrible threat forces him to investigate, making his wife, grandma, and children scared from him. Will Alex be needing a miracle to make it home for Christmas?
23. Alex Cross, Run : In the 20th novel in the series, Alex must take on three crimes at the same time and must chase down three killers. But while he is struggling to do his job, he also faces problems at home as well. But all the while, a new enemy is stalking Alex and is wanting to claim vengeance. Can Alex survive?
24. Cross My Heart : Alex Cross has been a family man at heart—he loves his children, his grandmother, and his beautiful wife Bree. Alex Cross has managed to stop serial killers and survive. But all of that is about to change. When a brand-new foe targets Alex's family, our hero finds himself in a whole new game. If he tries to save his family or tries to stop the killer, they die. Can Alex protect his family and stop a new killer at the same time?
25. Hope to Die, Detective Alex Cross is being stalked by a psychotic genius, forced to play the deadliest game of his career. Cross's family—his loving wife Bree, the wise and lively Nana Mama, and his precious children—have been ripped away. Terrified and desperate, Cross must give this mad man what he wants if he has any chance of saving the most important people in his life. The stakes have never been higher: What will Cross sacrifice to save the ones he loves?
26. Cross Justice : When his cousin is accused of a heinous crime, Alex Cross returns to his North Carolina hometown for the first time in over three decades. As he tries to prove his cousin's innocence in a town where everyone seems to be on the take, Cross unearths a family secret that forces him to question everything he's ever known. While on a case to catch a killer, Alex also tries to find out the truth about his own past but the answers he finds might be Fatal.
27. Cross the Line : Shots ring out in the early morning hours in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. When the smoke clears, a prominent police official lies dead, leaving the city's police force scrambling for answers. Under pressure from the mayor, Alex Cross steps into the leadership vacuum to crack the case. But before Cross can make any headway, a brutal crime wave sweeps across the region.
28. The People vs. Alex Cross : Alex Cross is on the wrong side of the law. Serving a suspension from the force while he awaits trial for murder, Cross has been branded as a trigger-happy cop, another bad apple walking the streets with a gun, an accusation that Cross will do anything to refute. To make himself feel useful again, Cross opens a counseling office in the basement of his home. When his former partner Sampson shows up needing his help, Cross jumps at the chance, even if it may end up costing him what's left of his career. When a string of young, blonde women go missing, the investigation leads Cross and Sampson to the most depraved, darkest corners of the internet. Struggling to prove his own innocence and uncover the truth lurking online, Cross must risk everything to save his most at-risk patient of all... himself.
29. Target: Alex Cross : A leader has fallen, and the procession route from Capitol Hill to the White House is lined with hundreds of thousands of mourners. None feel the loss of a President more keenly than Alex Cross, who has devoted his life to the public good.
30. Criss Cross : Copycat crimes.

1. Cross Kill : Along Came a Spider killer Gary Soneji has been dead for over ten years. Alex Cross watched him die. But today, Cross saw him gun down his partner. Is Soneji alive?
2. Detective Cross : An anonymous caller has promised to set off deadly bombs in Washington, DC. A cruel hoax or the real deal? By the time Alex Cross and his wife, Bree Stone, uncover the chilling truth, it may already be too late....

   Film adaptations

Films

Release

Critical reception