Alex Cross
Encyclopedia
Alex Cross is a fictional character, the protagonist in a series of books by novel
ist James Patterson
.
and psychologist
living and working in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C.
He works in the homicide
division of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
(MPD), but eventually becomes a Senior Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI). After his stint with the FBI, Alex returns to private psychology
practice, but continues to consult for the MPD and the FBI as needed, ultimately rejoining the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Case Squad.
As portrayed by Patterson, Cross is a cynical, deeply lonely man, but nevertheless a model father and quite empathetic
in dealing with the public. Despite the fact that he is well-educated and makes a decent living, he chooses to live in the Southeast quadrant of D.C. He is very involved in the community, most notably volunteering at St. Anthony's Parish in his neighborhood.
a year before his father died. He was sent to Washington to live with his grandmother, whom he calls Nana Mama. He received a doctorate
in psychology
from Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon graduation, he worked as a migrant farm worker for a year. He started a private practice and worked as a psychologist for two years. He eventually decided to become a policeman after he became disillusioned with the politics of the medical community.
Cross joined the police force because the people in his neighborhood could not afford his services, while white people would not see a "black shrink". He never expected to like it, but he became hooked on solving crimes. He remembers the first case he solved was that of two men who were shot in Southeast Washington, and their killing was written off as drug-related. Alex knew the men and began to investigate on his own. One of the men was dating a woman the local drug dealer thought he owned and had the men killed. Once he solved that case he left private practice.
He lives with his grandmother (Nana Mama) and three children, Damon, Janelle (Jannie), and Alex Jr. (Little Alex). His wife Maria Simpson Cross, a social work
er, is deceased. Alex fathered Damon and Jannie with Maria. He fathered Alex Jr. with his ex-fiance Christine Johnson. Alex Jr. comes to live with Alex, Nana Mama and the kids in Roses are Red
Cross initially carries a revolver
in Along Came a Spider
, but then changes sidearms to a Glock
pistol. He drives a 1974 Porsche
and bought a Mercedes-Benz
R350 as a replacement for Maria's old Toyota, which served as the family car. He plays the piano to relax and owns an Abyssinian
cat named Rosie, who showed up one day and never left. In Jack and Jill
, villain Gary Soneji telephones Cross saying that it was he who left the cat. Cross teaches his two elder children boxing
in his home's basement.
Cross volunteers at St. Anthony's soup kitchen
frequently, where he is known as the "Peanut Butter Man". He began doing this with Maria. His partner in the PD, John Sampson, also volunteers there. Sampson calls Cross "Brown Sugar" as a term of endearment. Cross calls Sampson "Man-Mountain" or "Two-John". They have been best friends since the age of 10.
Alex has had bad luck with women. His wife Maria was murdered. His lover in Along Came a Spider
, Jezzie Flanigan, is involved in the kidnapping of two children, for which she is executed by lethal injection
. His fiance, Christine Johnson, was kidnapped for almost a year by Geoffrey Shafer. An FBI agent with whom he had been partnered, Betsey Cavalierre, was murdered by a serial killer
called The Mastermind. Cross also developed a deep friendship with Dr. Kateyla "Kate" McTiernan, whom he met before Christine. There were hints of a possible romantic relationship, but they preferred to remain friends. Later he met a San Francisco Police Department
inspector, Jamilla Hughes, with whom he struck up a relationship, but they ultimately parted company. He began a new relationship with Dr. Kayla Coles, a resident physician at a local hospital in Southeast Washington D.C. They were both born in North Carolina
but raised in Washington D.C. She has since moved back to North Carolina. His next romantic involvement is with a rising star in the PD, Det. Brianna (Bree) Stone, whom he has married in the 2010 book Cross Fire.
Maria was originally thought to have been killed in a drive-by-shooting. However, in Cross
, Dr. Cross learns that his best friend, John Sampson, and another detective, Rakeem Powell, killed Maria's murderer. Sampson couldn't bring himself to tell Cross because he knew that Cross would be unable to deal with the fact that he never did it, himself.
When Cross needs to talk to someone about his problems, he meets with another psychologist, Dr. Adele. Ultimately, Cross goes to work for her as an analyst.
, Cross deals with the kidnapping
of two wealthy children at the hands of Gary Soneji.
In Kiss the Girls
, Cross battles the serial killers Casanova and The Gentleman Caller, who "collects" beautiful women, including Cross' niece Naomi.
In Jack & Jill
, Cross goes up against three killers: two who kill high-profile people and one who kills children.
In Cat and Mouse, Cross engages Gary Soneji again and after dealing with him crosses paths with another killer, Mr. Smith.
In Pop Goes the Weasel
, Cross matches wits with a serial killer
named Geoffrey Shafer, a British man with diplomatic immunity
.
In Roses Are Red
, Cross goes against a criminal calling himself The Mastermind, who commits several brutal bank robberies.
In Violets Are Blue
, Cross goes against a cult
of vampires and learns the true identity of the Mastermind, whom he takes down.
In Four Blind Mice
, Cross and his friend, John Sampson, investigate three killers who are framing seemingly innocent soldiers from the Vietnam War
.
In The Big Bad Wolf
, Cross, now a member of the FBI, tries to stop a Russia
n mobster known only as the Wolf.
In London Bridges
, Cross tries to stop the Wolf once and for all, but the Wolf has enlisted the Weasel, Geoffrey Shafer, to help him take Cross down.
In Mary, Mary, Cross tries to stop Mary Smith, a psychopathic killer targeting Hollywood stars and powerbrokers.
In Cross
, Cross, who has left the FBI to open up a private psychology practice, and John Sampson try to stop The Butcher, a serial rapist/murderer who may be somehow connected to the murder of Alex's wife Maria.
In Double Cross
, Alex, still in private practice, rejoins the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Crimes Squad and is joined by John Sampson and new love interest, Det. Brianna Stone, in an effort to stop the DC Audience Killer, a serial killer with a flair for showmanship who may also have some connection to a previous Cross nemesis, The Mastermind.
In Cross Country
, Cross travels to Africa
to investigate the death of an old friend, where he is brutally beaten several times. He ultimately unravels a conspiracy linking the killers with the US and African governments.
In Alex Cross's Trial, Cross writes a novel based on the experiences of his great-uncle Abraham Cross, who in 1906 worked with attorney Ben Corbett (at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt
) to investigate the lynching of Black citizens by the Ku Klux Klan
in Eudora, Mississippi
.
In I, Alex Cross
, Cross gets involved in the investigation of the death of a relative, which leads into a world of fantasy and violence. All leads points to a brutal murderer with White House
connections known only as Zeus.
In Cross Fire, Cross attempts to capture a sniper who is assassinating corrupt politicians. In the midst of the investigation, the Mastermind resurfaces.
In Kill Alex Cross, The two children of the President of the USA have been kidnapped, with Det. Alex Cross being one of the first to attend the scene and investigate the crime. However, there's a shadowy figure who is using the CIA, FBI and Secret Service to stop him from being involved in the case and shedding light on the disappearances.
Merry Christmas Alex Cross
, and are former members of the Soviet Union
's KGB
security intelligence agency.
of the British Army
who later received a posting in the MI6 Intelligence Service and then served as a diplomat in the British embassy in Washington, D.C.
In Pop Goes the Weasel
, he waives his diplomatic immunity
to stand trial for the murder of Detective Patsy Hampton and is acquitted in a case marked by considerable sensationalism. Shafer survives his encounter with Cross in the Bahamas and under a disguise, returns to England to murder his wife Lucy. By the events of London Bridges, Shafer settles in Salvador, Brazil
but he is caught by "The Wolf" and forced to work for him, being assigned to kill Cross. In London, England, Shafer held Cross at gunpoint but failed to anticipate that the latter would fight back; Detective Cross gets the upper hand in the scuffle and shoots Shafer dead.
) is considered Cross' biggest nemesis. He was a close friend of Alex and worked with him to solve big cases, including the kidnapping of his niece in Kiss the Girls. The Mastermind is first introduced in Roses Are Red as the head of a local crime spree involving robberies and murder. At the end of the novel Alex's partner is raped & murdered and the reader is made aware that Kyle Craig is the culprit. In Violets are Blue Alex discovers his identity and the two have a physical confrontation but eventually Kyle is captured and taken to a maximum security prison in Colorado
. Alex visits him often to consult with him on cases until Kyle eventually escapes in Double Cross
. Craig continues to taunt Cross throughout the next few novels. In Cross Fire, Craig disguises himself as FBI agent Max Seigel, and gets himself assigned to a case that Cross is investigating. After the case is solved, Craig decides to go after Cross's family while on the beach. At the end, Craig shoots an oxygen tank, killing him.
in the films Kiss the Girls
and Along Came a Spider
.
British actor Idris Elba
had signed on to star as Alex Cross in the upcoming film adaption of Cross
, but was replaced with American actor/filmmaker Tyler Perry
. The film will be directed by Rob Cohen
and is slated for release in 2012.
Each of the Alex Cross novels has been released in Audiobook format. Peter J. Fernandez portrayed Cross on seven Audiobook adaptations. Various other actors have portrayed the character, including Shawn Andrew, Andre Braugher
, Tim Cain, Keith David
, Robert Guillaume
, Ruben Santiago-Hudson
, Blair Underwood
, and Alton Fitzgerald White.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist James Patterson
James Patterson
James B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
.
Character overview
Cross is a Black detectiveDetective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
and psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
living and working in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He works in the homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
division of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
The Metropolitan Police Department, also known as the DC Police, DCPD, MPD, and MPDC is the municipal police force in Washington, D.C...
(MPD), but eventually becomes a Senior Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI). After his stint with the FBI, Alex returns to private psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
practice, but continues to consult for the MPD and the FBI as needed, ultimately rejoining the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Case Squad.
As portrayed by Patterson, Cross is a cynical, deeply lonely man, but nevertheless a model father and quite empathetic
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
in dealing with the public. Despite the fact that he is well-educated and makes a decent living, he chooses to live in the Southeast quadrant of D.C. He is very involved in the community, most notably volunteering at St. Anthony's Parish in his neighborhood.
Character biography
Cross' mother died of lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
a year before his father died. He was sent to Washington to live with his grandmother, whom he calls Nana Mama. He received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon graduation, he worked as a migrant farm worker for a year. He started a private practice and worked as a psychologist for two years. He eventually decided to become a policeman after he became disillusioned with the politics of the medical community.
Cross joined the police force because the people in his neighborhood could not afford his services, while white people would not see a "black shrink". He never expected to like it, but he became hooked on solving crimes. He remembers the first case he solved was that of two men who were shot in Southeast Washington, and their killing was written off as drug-related. Alex knew the men and began to investigate on his own. One of the men was dating a woman the local drug dealer thought he owned and had the men killed. Once he solved that case he left private practice.
He lives with his grandmother (Nana Mama) and three children, Damon, Janelle (Jannie), and Alex Jr. (Little Alex). His wife Maria Simpson Cross, a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er, is deceased. Alex fathered Damon and Jannie with Maria. He fathered Alex Jr. with his ex-fiance Christine Johnson. Alex Jr. comes to live with Alex, Nana Mama and the kids in Roses are Red
Cross initially carries a revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
in Along Came a Spider
Along Came a Spider
Along Came A Spider is the first novel in a series of books written by James Patterson, about forensic psychologist Alex Cross. It was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2001, starring Morgan Freeman as Cross.-Plot Summary:...
, but then changes sidearms to a Glock
Glock
Glock Ges.m.b.H. is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock...
pistol. He drives a 1974 Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
and bought a Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
R350 as a replacement for Maria's old Toyota, which served as the family car. He plays the piano to relax and owns an Abyssinian
Abyssinian
Abyssinian may refer to:* Abyssinian, Habesha people and things from parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea, formerly known as Abyssinia* Abyssinian , a cat breed* Abyssinian, a breed of guinea pig* The Abyssinians, a Jamaican roots reggae group...
cat named Rosie, who showed up one day and never left. In Jack and Jill
Jack & Jill (novel)
Jack & Jill is the third book in a series written by James Patterson which features Washington, D.C. psychologist, homicide police detective Alex Cross. The previous two books are Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls.-Plot summary:...
, villain Gary Soneji telephones Cross saying that it was he who left the cat. Cross teaches his two elder children boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in his home's basement.
Cross volunteers at St. Anthony's soup kitchen
Soup kitchen
A soup kitchen, a bread line, or a meal center is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price. Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups...
frequently, where he is known as the "Peanut Butter Man". He began doing this with Maria. His partner in the PD, John Sampson, also volunteers there. Sampson calls Cross "Brown Sugar" as a term of endearment. Cross calls Sampson "Man-Mountain" or "Two-John". They have been best friends since the age of 10.
Alex has had bad luck with women. His wife Maria was murdered. His lover in Along Came a Spider
Along Came a Spider
Along Came A Spider is the first novel in a series of books written by James Patterson, about forensic psychologist Alex Cross. It was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2001, starring Morgan Freeman as Cross.-Plot Summary:...
, Jezzie Flanigan, is involved in the kidnapping of two children, for which she is executed by lethal injection
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
. His fiance, Christine Johnson, was kidnapped for almost a year by Geoffrey Shafer. An FBI agent with whom he had been partnered, Betsey Cavalierre, was murdered by a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
called The Mastermind. Cross also developed a deep friendship with Dr. Kateyla "Kate" McTiernan, whom he met before Christine. There were hints of a possible romantic relationship, but they preferred to remain friends. Later he met a San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
inspector, Jamilla Hughes, with whom he struck up a relationship, but they ultimately parted company. He began a new relationship with Dr. Kayla Coles, a resident physician at a local hospital in Southeast Washington D.C. They were both born in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
but raised in Washington D.C. She has since moved back to North Carolina. His next romantic involvement is with a rising star in the PD, Det. Brianna (Bree) Stone, whom he has married in the 2010 book Cross Fire.
Maria was originally thought to have been killed in a drive-by-shooting. However, in Cross
Cross (novel)
Cross is James Patterson's twelfth book featuring his most famous character, Alex Cross.- Part 1 :Alex Cross narrates the opening section of the book in flashback from 1993, Washington, D.C....
, Dr. Cross learns that his best friend, John Sampson, and another detective, Rakeem Powell, killed Maria's murderer. Sampson couldn't bring himself to tell Cross because he knew that Cross would be unable to deal with the fact that he never did it, himself.
When Cross needs to talk to someone about his problems, he meets with another psychologist, Dr. Adele. Ultimately, Cross goes to work for her as an analyst.
Appearances in the Alex Cross series
In Along Came a SpiderAlong Came a Spider
Along Came A Spider is the first novel in a series of books written by James Patterson, about forensic psychologist Alex Cross. It was adapted into a movie of the same name in 2001, starring Morgan Freeman as Cross.-Plot Summary:...
, Cross deals with the kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
of two wealthy children at the hands of Gary Soneji.
In Kiss the Girls
Kiss the Girls
Kiss the Girls is a psychological thriller novel by American writer James Patterson, the second to star his recurrent character Alex Cross, an African-American psychologist.-Plot summary:...
, Cross battles the serial killers Casanova and The Gentleman Caller, who "collects" beautiful women, including Cross' niece Naomi.
In Jack & Jill
Jack & Jill (novel)
Jack & Jill is the third book in a series written by James Patterson which features Washington, D.C. psychologist, homicide police detective Alex Cross. The previous two books are Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls.-Plot summary:...
, Cross goes up against three killers: two who kill high-profile people and one who kills children.
In Cat and Mouse, Cross engages Gary Soneji again and after dealing with him crosses paths with another killer, Mr. Smith.
In Pop Goes the Weasel
Pop Goes the Weasel (novel)
Pop Goes the Weasel is the fifth novel in the Alex Cross series written by James Patterson.-Plot:The book begins by introducing the villain, Geoffrey Shafer. He is a well-dressed and wealthy man who lives in Kalorama, Washington, D.C. and drives a Jaguar XJ12...
, Cross matches wits with a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
named Geoffrey Shafer, a British man with diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments that ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws...
.
In Roses Are Red
Roses are Red (novel)
Roses Are Red is the sixth book featuring the Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist Alex Cross written by James Patterson.-Plot summary:...
, Cross goes against a criminal calling himself The Mastermind, who commits several brutal bank robberies.
In Violets Are Blue
Violets Are Blue (novel)
Violets Are Blue is the seventh book by James Patterson to feature the Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist Alex Cross.-Plot summary:...
, Cross goes against a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
of vampires and learns the true identity of the Mastermind, whom he takes down.
In Four Blind Mice
Four Blind Mice (novel)
Four Blind Mice is the eighth book featuring the Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross written by James Patterson.- Plot :...
, Cross and his friend, John Sampson, investigate three killers who are framing seemingly innocent soldiers from the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
In The Big Bad Wolf
The Big Bad Wolf (novel)
The Big Bad Wolf is an English language thriller written by James Patterson and published in November 2003. It is the ninth book in the Alex Cross series. The novel was the seventh best-selling novel in 2004.- Series overview :...
, Cross, now a member of the FBI, tries to stop a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n mobster known only as the Wolf.
In London Bridges
London Bridges
London Bridges is the tenth book by James Patterson featuring the former Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist and current FBI agent Alex Cross.-Plot summary:A terrorist by the alias of "The Wolf" engages Alex Cross' old enemy, Col...
, Cross tries to stop the Wolf once and for all, but the Wolf has enlisted the Weasel, Geoffrey Shafer, to help him take Cross down.
In Mary, Mary, Cross tries to stop Mary Smith, a psychopathic killer targeting Hollywood stars and powerbrokers.
In Cross
Cross (novel)
Cross is James Patterson's twelfth book featuring his most famous character, Alex Cross.- Part 1 :Alex Cross narrates the opening section of the book in flashback from 1993, Washington, D.C....
, Cross, who has left the FBI to open up a private psychology practice, and John Sampson try to stop The Butcher, a serial rapist/murderer who may be somehow connected to the murder of Alex's wife Maria.
In Double Cross
Double Cross (novel)
Double Cross is the thirteenth book in the Alex Cross series featuring Detective Alex Cross by James Patterson. It was released on November 13, 2007.On December 2, 2007 Double Cross became the number 1 best seller in the New York Times.-Plot summary:...
, Alex, still in private practice, rejoins the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Crimes Squad and is joined by John Sampson and new love interest, Det. Brianna Stone, in an effort to stop the DC Audience Killer, a serial killer with a flair for showmanship who may also have some connection to a previous Cross nemesis, The Mastermind.
In Cross Country
Cross Country (novel)
Cross Country is a crime novel, by American author James Patterson, and the 14th in his Alex Cross series. According to the Library Journal it was the second most borrowed fiction book in United States libraries in 2009.-Synopsis:...
, Cross travels to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
to investigate the death of an old friend, where he is brutally beaten several times. He ultimately unravels a conspiracy linking the killers with the US and African governments.
In Alex Cross's Trial, Cross writes a novel based on the experiences of his great-uncle Abraham Cross, who in 1906 worked with attorney Ben Corbett (at the behest of President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
) to investigate the lynching of Black citizens by the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
in Eudora, Mississippi
Eudora, Mississippi
Eudora, Mississippi is an unincorporated, rural community located in southwestern DeSoto County, Mississippi about south of Memphis, Tennessee...
.
In I, Alex Cross
I, Alex Cross
-Plot summary:Detective Alex Cross is enjoying a birthday party with his family when he receives a call from his bosses informing him that Caroline, the 24-year old only daughter of his late brother Blake, has been found murdered in Virginia...
, Cross gets involved in the investigation of the death of a relative, which leads into a world of fantasy and violence. All leads points to a brutal murderer with White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
connections known only as Zeus.
In Cross Fire, Cross attempts to capture a sniper who is assassinating corrupt politicians. In the midst of the investigation, the Mastermind resurfaces.
In Kill Alex Cross, The two children of the President of the USA have been kidnapped, with Det. Alex Cross being one of the first to attend the scene and investigate the crime. However, there's a shadowy figure who is using the CIA, FBI and Secret Service to stop him from being involved in the case and shedding light on the disappearances.
Merry Christmas Alex Cross
Wolf
"The Wolf" actually consists of several different people. Except for Klara Lodge, all of the individuals known as "Wolf" share common characteristics: they are Russian males of considerable height, build, strength, and athleticism, are currently mobsters in the Red MafiyaRussian Mafia
The Russian Mafia is a name applied to organized crime syndicates in Russia and Ukraine. The mafia in various countries take the name of the country, as for example the Ukrainian mafia....
, and are former members of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
security intelligence agency.
- In The Big Bad WolfThe Big Bad Wolf (novel)The Big Bad Wolf is an English language thriller written by James Patterson and published in November 2003. It is the ninth book in the Alex Cross series. The novel was the seventh best-selling novel in 2004.- Series overview :...
, Pasha Sorokin is initially believed to be the Wolf. He is known by several aliasPseudonymA pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
es, the best known one being Ari Manning, a businessman originally from Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and now based in Miami, FloridaMiami, FloridaMiami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, who is well-connected to the community's professional athletes and politicians. Detective Cross traces Sorokin's human smuggling and sex slave ring by taking down Sorokin's associates such as Potter (Homer O. Taylor) and Sterling (Lawrence Lipton), eventually leading to Sorokin's being arrested at his Palm BeachPalm Beach, FloridaThe Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
mansion, though Sorokin denies that he is the Wolf. While Sorokin is in custody, his or the Wolf's associates have Sterling and the rest of the Lipton family in Dallas murdered. Enroute to the courthouse for his first appearance, the police convoy transporting Sorokin is ambushed. A Russian mobster, who is also known as the Wolf, blows up Sorokin with a rocket launcherRocket launcherA rocket launcher is any device that launches a rocket-propelled projectile, although the term is often used in reference to mechanisms that are portable and capable of being operated by an individual....
to prevent the latter from betraying their organization.
- In London BridgesLondon BridgesLondon Bridges is the tenth book by James Patterson featuring the former Washington DC homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist and current FBI agent Alex Cross.-Plot summary:A terrorist by the alias of "The Wolf" engages Alex Cross' old enemy, Col...
, the Wolf threatens to bomb New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, FrankfurtFrankfurtFrankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
if his multi-billion dollar ransomRansomRansom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
demand is not met, bombing a small town in NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
prove his point. There are three individuals who go by the alias, The Wolf.- One suspect who may be the Wolf gets facial surgery in order to elude the NYPD, but during the pursuit he gets fatally shot by Cross while attempting to jump from one rooftop to another.
- The second Wolf is Klara Lodge, the Czech widow of the head of Scotland YardScotland YardScotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
, Martin Lodge, who holds Cross' family hostage in order to ensure that she receives the ransom money, so she can use it to stop the other terrorist "Wolves". - Cross later learns that the real Wolf is Anton Christyakov, who had been recruited by CIA Director Thomas Weir and brought out of Russia in 1990. Christyakov was transported to England to meet with agents, including Martin Lodge. Christyakov was then moved to Paris, where he was reunited with his family. However, his family was killed when their home blew up in 1994, which Christyakov blamed on the CIA. He is known to squeeze a black rubber ball his son had given him whenever he is angry or upset. When Cross finishes his meeting with Tolya Bykov, the man at or near the top of the Red Mafiya, he notices one of the bodyguards squeezing a black rubber ball. Alex chases him down and jumps into the car just as the Wolf starts the car, punching and breaking the Russian's nose. The Wolf admits defeat and congratulates Cross, committing suicide by taking a cyanideCyanideA cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
pill. Alex retrieves the ball as a trophyTrophyA trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
, telling himself that the Wolf is finally dead.
Weasel
Geoffrey Shafer is a ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
who later received a posting in the MI6 Intelligence Service and then served as a diplomat in the British embassy in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In Pop Goes the Weasel
Pop Goes the Weasel (novel)
Pop Goes the Weasel is the fifth novel in the Alex Cross series written by James Patterson.-Plot:The book begins by introducing the villain, Geoffrey Shafer. He is a well-dressed and wealthy man who lives in Kalorama, Washington, D.C. and drives a Jaguar XJ12...
, he waives his diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments that ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws...
to stand trial for the murder of Detective Patsy Hampton and is acquitted in a case marked by considerable sensationalism. Shafer survives his encounter with Cross in the Bahamas and under a disguise, returns to England to murder his wife Lucy. By the events of London Bridges, Shafer settles in Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
but he is caught by "The Wolf" and forced to work for him, being assigned to kill Cross. In London, England, Shafer held Cross at gunpoint but failed to anticipate that the latter would fight back; Detective Cross gets the upper hand in the scuffle and shoots Shafer dead.
The Mastermind
"The Mastermind" (aka FBI agent Kyle CraigKyle Craig
Kyle Craig is a fictional character in James Patterson's series of novels featuring Washington, D.C. detective Alex Cross. Craig, a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is initially a close friend of Cross and assists the detective in his high-profile investigations, and also...
) is considered Cross' biggest nemesis. He was a close friend of Alex and worked with him to solve big cases, including the kidnapping of his niece in Kiss the Girls. The Mastermind is first introduced in Roses Are Red as the head of a local crime spree involving robberies and murder. At the end of the novel Alex's partner is raped & murdered and the reader is made aware that Kyle Craig is the culprit. In Violets are Blue Alex discovers his identity and the two have a physical confrontation but eventually Kyle is captured and taken to a maximum security prison in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Alex visits him often to consult with him on cases until Kyle eventually escapes in Double Cross
Double cross
Double Cross may refer to:In film and television:* Double Cross , a film by Albert H. Kelley* Double Cross , a Bollywood action film* Double Cross , a Bollywood film...
. Craig continues to taunt Cross throughout the next few novels. In Cross Fire, Craig disguises himself as FBI agent Max Seigel, and gets himself assigned to a case that Cross is investigating. After the case is solved, Craig decides to go after Cross's family while on the beach. At the end, Craig shoots an oxygen tank, killing him.
The Tiger & Ian Flathery
In Cross Country Alex, while investigating the murder of his former girlfriend, Eleanor Cox, encounters the Tiger and his crew of savage African teenager boys. Ian Flathery, Alex's CIA agent, seems to set him up before he even steps foot in Africa.Portrayal in media adaptations
Cross was portrayed by Morgan FreemanMorgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
in the films Kiss the Girls
Kiss the Girls (film)
Kiss the Girls is a 1997 American thriller film directed by Gary Fleder and starring Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes and Ashley Judd. The screenplay by David Klass is based on the best-selling novel Kiss the Girls by James Patterson.-Plot:Washington, D.C...
and Along Came a Spider
Along Came a Spider (film)
Along Came a Spider is a 2001 American mystery film directed by Lee Tamahori. The screenplay by Marc Moss was adapted from the 1993 novel of the same title by James Patterson, but many of the key plot elements of the book were eliminated...
.
British actor Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
had signed on to star as Alex Cross in the upcoming film adaption of Cross
Cross (novel)
Cross is James Patterson's twelfth book featuring his most famous character, Alex Cross.- Part 1 :Alex Cross narrates the opening section of the book in flashback from 1993, Washington, D.C....
, but was replaced with American actor/filmmaker Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
. The film will be directed by Rob Cohen
Rob Cohen
Robert "Rob" Cohen is an American film director, producer and writer.-Early life:Cohen was born in Cornwall, New York. He was raised and spent his childhood in the Town of Newburgh and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1967...
and is slated for release in 2012.
Each of the Alex Cross novels has been released in Audiobook format. Peter J. Fernandez portrayed Cross on seven Audiobook adaptations. Various other actors have portrayed the character, including Shawn Andrew, Andre Braugher
Andre Braugher
Andre Braugher is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Thomas Searles in the film Glory, as the fiery detective Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to 1998 and again in the 2000 made-for-TV film Homicide: Life on the Street, and as Owen Thoreau Jr...
, Tim Cain, Keith David
Keith David
Keith David Williams , better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, voice actor, and singer. He is perhaps most known for his live-action roles in such films as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work...
, Robert Guillaume
Robert Guillaume
Robert "Bob" Guillaume is an American stage and television actor, best known for his role as Benson Du Bois on the TV-series Soap and the spin-off Benson, voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night...
, Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Ruben Santiago-Hudson is an American actor and playwright, who has won national awards for his work in both areas. In November 2011 he will appear on Broadway in Lydia Diamond's play .-Early life:...
, Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood
Blair Underwood is an American television and film actor. He is perhaps best known as headstrong attorney Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law, a role he portrayed for seven years. He has gained critical acclaim throughout his career, receiving numerous Golden Globe Award...
, and Alton Fitzgerald White.