Alex Cross, Run
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | James Patterson |
| Products | Fiction book |
Alex Cross, Run represents the twentieth installment in the Alex Cross series authored by American writer James Patterson. The narrative centers on detective Alex Cross as he manages three intricate investigations amid widespread urban unrest.
Plot
Detective Alex Cross leads a raid on plastic surgeon Elijah Creem's penthouse, apprehending him for illegal dealings involving underage girls. Concurrently, Alex probes the mysterious death of Elizabeth Reilly, a young woman who died shortly after childbirth, with her newborn missing. At the same time, he is tasked with solving cases concerning a boy found murdered in the Potomac River and another deceased female victim, stretching his investigative capacity.
Ron Guidice, whose fiancé was killed by a Metropolitan Police Department officer during an incident involving Alex, directs his animosity toward Alex by operating a hostile website targeting him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s missing infant is located in the care of her grandparents. Further inquiry uncovers Elizabeth’s secret relationship with a man named Russell, who is connected to an older homicide involving a pregnant girl and a vanished child.
On the personal front, Alex faces difficulties when Ava, his soon-to-be adopted daughter, returns home late and appears to be under the influence of drugs. Unbeknownst to him, Guidice has secretly installed surveillance equipment inside the Cross residence.
It becomes apparent that Creem murders girls while his associate Joshua Bergman focuses on killing boys. When Alex confronts Guidice at a crime scene, a violent confrontation ensues resulting in Alex being incapacitated by an injected substance. Hospitalized and suspended from duty, Alex subsequently loses custody of Ava due to the damaging online campaign orchestrated by Guidice.
Guidice reveals his darker nature by abducting Elizabeth’s child after murdering her grandparents. Meanwhile, Creem intensifies his violent behavior by robbing his own home and killing neighbors to intimidate his ex-wife. Although Creem’s mistress is initially released owing to insufficient evidence, she is later found murdered by Bergman, who ultimately takes his own life when confronted by Alex. Creem is traced to Rhode Island where Alex prevents him from killing his ex-wife and daughters; Creem survives a fall but sustains severe injuries.
Following Ava’s disappearance from foster care and subsequent death in a flop house, John Sampson uncovers Guidice’s family connections and involvement in the crimes. The climax features a shootout during which Bree kills Guidice. DNA analysis confirms that Guidice fathered both Elizabeth’s child and another missing child from an earlier case.
The novel concludes with Alex reflecting on the hazards of his profession during therapy sessions, contemplating change while recognizing the persistent threats to himself and his family.
Characters
- Alex Cross, the central character.
- Elijah Creem, the primary antagonist whose life was devastated by Alex; he and his partner Joshua murder girls and homosexual boys.
- Ron Guidice, whose fiancé was killed by an MPD officer in an incident involving Cross. He harbors resentment towards Alex, closely monitors him, and runs a website called The Real Deal, disseminating allegations of drug abuse and assault against Alex. Ron is ultimately killed by Alex and Bree.
- John Sampson, Alex's closest friend.
- Joshua Bergman, accomplice to Elijah Creem in targeting homosexual boys; described as "gay" by Elijah.
- Nana Mama, Alex's elderly grandmother.
- Bree Stone-Cross, Alex's wife.
- Janelle, Alex's daughter.
- Ava, adopted by Nana and Bree in Kill Alex Cross, later removed from their care; she endures abuse and is killed by Ron Guidice.
- Ali, Alex's second son.
- Damon, Alex's eldest son.
- Ned Mahoney, FBI agent and friend of Alex with a minor role in this novel.
- Adele Finaly, therapist treating Alex.
Marketing
Prior to its official launch, the initial 10 pages, followed by the first 21 chapters, were made accessible on James Patterson's official website.
Reception
The book was generally well-received, achieving an average rating of 4.35 out of 5 stars on GoodReads.com. Several reviewers remarked that although Kill Alex Cross was a strong entry, Alex Cross, Run exceeded its predecessor. Upon release, the novel entered The New York Times Bestseller List at the top position and maintained that spot for a duration of four weeks.