Cross Fire (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | November 15, 2010 |
| Products | Book |
Cross Fire represents the 17th installment in James Patterson's Alex Cross series. This narrative marks the return of the deranged ex-FBI agent and serial murderer Kyle Craig, who is determined to eliminate Alex Cross. At the same time, Alex is preparing for his upcoming marriage to Brianna 'Bree' Stone. Published on November 15, 2010, in hardcover, paperback, and audiobook versions, Cross Fire follows I, Alex Cross and precedes Kill Alex Cross. The novel centers on Alex's wedding to Bree and culminates with Kyle Craig's demise after a fierce showdown.
Plot
After escaping from ADX Florence in Double Cross, Kyle Craig assumes the identity of FBI agent Max Siegel by murdering him. In Washington, D.C., Alex Cross—a psychologist and Metro police detective—prepares for his nuptials with Bree but becomes involved in investigating a sniper case targeting politically influential individuals. While others fail to recognize the pattern, Cross quickly identifies the killings as sniper attacks. Kyle Craig, disguised as Siegel, confronts Alex with a vendetta stemming from his prior incarceration.
Alex’s close ally John Sampson requests his assistance in probing a string of murders where victims have numbers marked on their faces. Concurrently, the sniper team Mitch and Denny carry out attacks under orders from an unidentified wealthy patron. They alternate between suburban residences and homeless shelters as they continue their violent spree. After several shootings, Alex deduces that the perpetrators operate from a white suburban vehicle and escalates investigative efforts.
The impersonator Kyle Craig/Max Siegel commits further homicides aimed at misleading law enforcement by connecting him to unrelated serial crimes. Mitch and Denny steal a computer from teenagers to dispatch threatening emails to a Washington newspaper, prompting police involvement. Mitch’s troubled personal circumstances come to light when Denny secretly murders Mitch’s mother during a visit.
Alex, Sampson, and Siegel pursue suspects across various shelters but lose track of one named Sajiwa, who is later found dead at Kyle Craig’s hands. Mitch and Denny abandon their vehicle to evade detection and execute a final sniper attack targeting a disgraced politician responsible for major layoffs. After this assassination, Denny kills Mitch in what he calls “just business.” Alex discovers Mitch’s corpse at the scene.
Denny confronts Alex but is killed by Siegel before he can inflict harm. This incident leads to an uneasy collaboration between Alex and Siegel. Following their wedding ceremony, Bree and Alex enjoy their honeymoon until Kyle Craig reveals himself by contacting Alex. A violent pursuit unfolds; Alex wounds Kyle before paramedics arrive on scene. During transport, Kyle seizes an officer’s firearm and shoots an oxygen tank inside the ambulance, resulting in his own death along with two officers and paramedics.
With Kyle Craig’s death bringing relief, Alex contemplates writing a novel about their intense rivalry. He and Bree then resume their honeymoon peacefully.
Notes:
- Bree and Alex spend part of their honeymoon at a hotel featured in the James Bond film Casino Royale, highlighting Alex’s admiration for the iconic character.
- Kyle Craig is depicted as profoundly psychotic; his final act implies suicidal intent during ambulance transport.
Plot summary
The narrative unfolds through two connected storylines. The main thread revolves around a sequence of sniper attacks targeting prominent figures. Detective Alex Cross and Bree Stone are forced to interrupt their wedding preparations to investigate the initial shootings and pursue the assailants as the violence escalates. The subplot focuses on Kyle Craig, a former FBI agent turned deranged murderer known as "The Mastermind" from earlier novels Roses Are Red and Violets Are Blue. Early in the story, Craig commits a murder to assume another person's identity through plastic surgery, allowing him to approach Cross covertly with the intent of exacting revenge for his incarceration. Craig had previously escaped from Florence Supermax prison in Double Cross. Concurrently, the FBI becomes involved in the sniper investigation, assigning agent Max Siegel, whose initially strained relationship with Cross improves after Siegel rescues him. Nonetheless, Siegel harbors startling secrets that impact both Cross and Stone.
Sequels
Following Cross Fire are the novels Kill Alex Cross, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, Alex Cross, Run, and Cross My Heart.
Kill Alex Cross
The 18th installment in the Alex Cross series features MPD detective Alex Cross alongside his longtime friend John Sampson as they confront one of their most challenging investigations: the abduction of President Coyle’s children. With no substantial leads and minimal assistance from the FBI and other agencies, Cross encounters resistance from influential parties determined to impede his progress. He is compelled to make difficult choices that test his ethical boundaries.
The title refers to the notion that "the only way to kill Alex Cross is to kill Alex Cross." The book attracted mixed to negative reactions, with many readers criticizing its recycled storyline involving the kidnapping of a government official’s children, reminiscent of the series debut, Along Came a Spider. Roughly 45% of fans responded positively; however, most considered it the weakest entry in the series, noting it diverged from James Patterson’s usual quality. Its follow-up, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, was widely regarded as a marked improvement.
This reception is mirrored in ratings: while Cross Fire received four and a half stars, Kill Alex Cross earned just two and a half stars; Merry Christmas, Alex Cross garnered mixed to favorable reviews. Earlier works such as Double Cross and I, Alex Cross achieved higher acclaim, stronger sales figures, and more positive feedback overall.
Critical reception
Cross Fire garnered generally favorable to mixed reviews and maintained a presence on the 2010 New York Times Bestseller List for several weeks. By May 2012, Amazon.com hosted 186 reader reviews with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. On Good Reads, there were 598 reviews and 5,689 ratings averaging 3.93 out of 5 stars.