Double Cross

Title: Double Cross (13th book in the Alex Cross series)

Author: James Patterson

Type: Suspense

Pages: 400

Published: 2007

Synopsis: Dr Alex Cross is finally enjoying a quiet life full of family and his private practice ... until he is suddenly brought in on an FBI case by his current girlfriend Detective Brianna Stone. This new case involves a criminal mastermind like Cross has never seen. There have been several murders around the D.C area ... all involving a growing amount of media attention. This killer loves to have an audience for his kills and sets up elaborate schemes to ensure that people are watching him. On top of all of this, Cross learns that his former friend and now arch nemesis, Kyle Craig, has escaped from a high security prison ... Cross knows it's only a matter of time before Craig tracks Cross and his family down to even the score.

My Thoughts: As per usual, Patterson has written a fast-paced suspense novel. It keeps up a fairly fast pace ... but just barely. I did feel that the ending was a little abrupt and didn't quite get the closure I was hoping for.

He did focus on the relationship between Brianna Stone and Cross ... a little too much for my tastes actually. I would have preferred Patterson to focus more on the motivations behind why the killer was on such a rampage. Seemed like a lot of work setting up these elaborate schemes for the high-profile murders ... but why? He didn't go into that at all, which was disappointing.

I also thought it was disappointing (and unbelievable) at how Cross did nothing to ensure the safety of his family when he knew that Craig was on the loose. Plus, it's a little hard to swallow the fact that Cross and his gaggle of cops/FBI can let the bad guy go so often. I think Patterson needs to figure out some new 'bad guys' for Cross to go after. Craig has run his course, imho.

My Rating: 3/5 (aka a decent read)