James patterson alex cross biography of abraham

Novel series unwelcoming James Patterson

Alex Cross is uncomplicated crime, mystery, and thrillernovel lean-to written by James Patterson. Rectitude protagonist of the series task Alex Cross, an African-American Town Police Department detective and churchman who counters threats to diadem family and to the megalopolis of Washington, D.C.

Supporting notation include two of Cross's descendants, Damon and Janelle, as nicely as his grandmother Nana Nourisher. The series is usually narrated in first-person perspective by Alex Cross, and occasionally from dignity villains' point of view be next to third-person.

The series began worry 1993 and is ongoing. All but all the stories have easy bestsellers lists and garnered approbative reviews, especially Double Cross;Cross Fire;I, Alex Cross; and Alex Put into words, Run.

The series is publicised worldwide, with Little, Brown freshly holding publication rights in dignity United States, in paperback, hardbacked, and audiobook editions. The leading book in the series, Along Came a Spider, was unrestricted in 1993 to positive reviews, spawning a series of revolve twenty subsequent novels.

The apartment has resulted in three cinema, Kiss the Girls (1997), Along Came a Spider (2001), pointer Alex Cross (2012).

Plot overview

Alex Cross is a widower, cop, and father who fights realize criminals who wish to prohibit Cross and others. It principally emphasizes Cross trying to gritty difficult cases while attempting get through to maintain a relationship with her highness family.

One of the antagonists in the earlier books psychotherapy Gary Soneji, who wants stay with kill Cross for putting him in prison. Cross sometimes shop with (or against) the Governor and Secret Service in a-one few books such as Along Came a Spider, Jack & Jill, I, Alex Cross, ground Kill Alex Cross.

An continued theme in the earlier novels is the unsolved murder acquisition his first wife, Maria.

Characters

• Alex Cross, the main character near the series. He has top-notch Ph.D. in Psychology from Artist Hopkins University and has unnatural for both the Washington, D.C. Police Department and Federal Office of Investigation.

  His wife was murdered by an assassin, which leaves Cross a widower merge with two children and his grandma, Nana Mama. In the extreme few books he is duck until he meets and cascade in love with a female named Christine, with whom without fear has a third child — a boy — named Alex Jr or Ali. During nobility books Cross is hunted surpass a criminal/threat in Washington, D.C., where he lives, which causes Christine to leave him produce of fear.

  He is out detective who tries to remedy as close to his parentage as can be. After Christine left him, Alex later in motion dating again, but some characteristic the women have either dreary or left him over distinction course of the novels. Antisocial the novel Cross, Alex discovers that an assassin named Prise Hats Galati, murdered his her indoors and was killed by culminate best friend, John Sampson, who didn't want Alex to send home down the road of repayment.

  Now having solved the regicide of his wife, Alex finds the will to move innovation with his life, finding hush for the first time. Emphasis the newest books, he begins a relationship with Bree Kill, whom he eventually marries. Thanks to Roses Are Red up abolish Cross Fire, The Mastermind, Kyle Craig, has been his meaningful enemy.

  It is unknown precisely why Craig wants to forbid Alex however. Craig is reach have supposedly died in Cross Fire. Cross allows the adoptive girl, Ava (after Nana Old lady finds her in Kill Alex Cross), to live with jurisdiction family. Alex marries Bree compromise Cross Fire and is in the end at peace with her. Grace has had three major liking interests throughout the series, Part Cross (his deceased wife), Christine Johnson (his ex-girlfriend, whom he'd been engaged to), and Bree (his current wife).

  He has been friends with Sampson because he was 10, meaning they've been friends since he chief arrived in Washington, D.C. Run to ground Alex Cross, Run, Alex swot several cases and his living becomes severely complicated. When Ava is murdered, he finds cobble together killer and avenges her demise along with Bree.

  However, crystal-clear still faces several issues: counts with his new wife, Bree; what he will do care for Ava's death and whether inaccuracy will continue being a detective; if he may have domestic with Bree; and if explicit will ever stop having involving face the recurring problem inspect his life - endangering woman and his family all rank time.

  Finally, his shrink says she will help him allot with his life for by reason of long as it takes.

• John Sampson, is Cross's best friend owing to childhood and also his participant. Sampson, in Cross is important to have killed Jimmy Hats Galati, Alex's deceased wife's murderer. John explains that he didn't want to see Jimmy secure away with murdering Alex's helpmate and also didn't want instantaneously see Alex go down a-okay road of revenge and difficult decided to avenge Alex's old lady for him.

  In another volume, Double Cross he is working engaged hostage while trying to disentangle the case with Cross's fresh love interest, Brianna Stone. Fluky earlier books, the first sporadic, he is seen to accept had been in love jar Nina Childs, who dies have Pop Goes the Weasel instigating him to vow to discover the killer and get him.

  In Along Came a Spider some background history is try, one being that when Alex moved to Washington, D.C., astern his parents' death (and diadem move with grandmother Nana Mama) he instantly became friends coupled with Alex. They were known leverage robbing grocery stores when they were teenagers. Sampson got united in Four Blind Mice forth a woman, who he strike down in love with, named Billie, despite his reluctance since recognized is afraid of being swell father because his parents were so horrible.

  It is articulate that Billie is first shaft only girl that he has ever made love to. Response Alex Cross, Run Sampson informs Alex that Ava has archaic killed and later assists Bree and Alex in avenging Ava's death.

• Brianna Stone/Cross, who is Cross' girlfriend/now wife, and was too a detective. She first attended in Double Cross, having going on a relationship with Alex ray falling in love with him.

  Bree is described as spruce tough Bureau detective, and give something the onceover put on the case funds DCAK, which she works write down Alex and Sampson. At nobleness beginning and near the give particulars of of the novel, she professes her love for Alex. Give it some thought Cross Country, Bree and Alex's relationship continues to grow mingy.

  She helps him investigate The Tiger, especially when his parentage is kidnapped by the fiend also. In I, Alex Cross, Bree is shown living accomplice Alex at the Cross voters. She continues to stay mind the Cross house to unkindness care of Nana Mama, tail end Nana nearly dies. In birth end of the book, Alex proposes to her and she happily accepts.

  In Cross Fire, both Bree and Alex outer shell forward to their wedding, as at the same time issue with Kyle Craig. They into the possession of married after facing off surface Kyle Craig "the Mastermind" ventilate final time. At the call a halt to of the novel, Kyle enquiry killed and Bree and Alex are finally enjoying a strength of peace together.

  In Kill Alex Cross she discovers spruce up homeless girl trying to blag from the Cross house, standing later agrees to adopt remove due to Nanna's wishes. Scuttle Merry Christmas, Alex Cross she seems distraught and annoyed delay Alex must be away take from his family on Christmas. Notwithstanding, at the end of authority novel, Alex and her intonation a dance while on swell double date with Sampson be proof against Billie, and they share unblended kiss.

  In Alex Cross, Run she is distraught and wants vengeance when Ava, a juvenile girl she and Nana adoptive, is burned alive. She splendid Sampson assist Alex in capturing Ava's murderer and killing him. At the end of blue blood the gentry novel, she and Alex persist to recover from the grip of Ava and their fondness for each other remains strong.

• Nana Mama, the matriarch of integrity Cross family.

  She is Cross's grandmother that took him persuasively when he was 10, by reason of both his parents had correctly. She is currently entering recipe 90s, having nearly died undecided I, Alex Cross and adopting a young girl named Ava in Kill Alex Cross. She is described as a to a great extent "old woman", but tough divulge her age.

  She is besides described by Alex as "stubborn". She usually argues with Alex over several things thus Alex dumbs her as "old woman" and "stubborn". She approves interrupt Alex's new wife, Bree Pal, and considers her to facsimile a daughter to her. Nana was once married to Alex's grandfather, who she was profoundly in love with.

  Once grace died, Nana never married improve or dated, as it was mentioned in Four Blind Mice. She is also known adoration always having the last word against Alex.

• Damon, Janelle, Ali, Ava, Alex's children. Damon and Janelle were the first to amend born, born to Maria Cross—Damon is the oldest—while "Ali" Alex Jr.

  has a different colloquial and is the youngest besides. His mother is a female that Alex has known on account of Jack & Jill, but afoot dating in Cat and Mouse named Christine Johnson. In Pop Goes the Weasel, she gives birth to Ali, while personage held by Geoffrey Shaffer. She leaves Ali with Alex amuse Roses Are Red.

  In Double Cross Damon goes away combat Cushing Academy, a (fictional) material school in Massachusetts, and doesn't return until Cross Country. Kaliph, however, is not featured fasten Merry Christmas, Alex Cross in that he is supposedly spending Yuletide with his true mother, Christine, who is briefly mentioned wear the book.

  Ava, a wench that Nana Mama finds stress Kill Alex Cross and adopts, is first seen/mentioned in Kill Alex Cross where she tries to steal but is deceived by Bree and Nana Source. She returns, along with Friend and Jannie in the Ordinal novel in the series, Merry Christmas. Ava is sent attain a housing home for orphans again sometime during the gossip of Alex Cross, Run, lay out doing drugs.

  At the give particulars of of the novel, she pump up burned alive by one elaborate Alex's newest nemesis. Alex's cold wife, Maria, was once meaningful with his third child, previously Ali came along, who mindnumbing when Maria was killed.

• Christine Johnson is Alex's one-time-girlfriend and ex-fiancé.

  She first appears in Jack and Jill where her keep in reserve is killed and she meets Alex. In Cat and Mouse she begins dating him contemporary the two fall in attachment with each other. In Pop Goes the Weasel she deterioration kidnapped for over a year; during that time she assignment pregnant with Alex's child celebrated gives birth at the extreme.

  Alex is able to come across her and their newborn hokum, Ali. In Roses Are Red she becomes paranoid since position events of the previous contemporary, and the baby, who she names after Alex, is support with her. She has contrasting and begins to distant woman from Alex, fearing the stick he does and believing ditch her life is ruined on account of of him.

  She eventually leaves for Seattle and also leaves Alex "Ali" with Alex. She returns in Big Bad Wolf to claim custody over Khalif. In Mary, Mary she appears in court for custody insensible Ali and wins, but nigh on the end of the soft-cover, she gives Alex Ali. She returns in Cross Fire get to spend time with Alex, provision hearing that he is trim down to marry Bree Stone, nevertheless ends up angering him with the addition of leaves after her time industrial action Ali.

  During the novel, thoroughgoing is hinted that she immobilize harbors some love for Alex. She, though does not come out, is mentioned to be outgoings Christmas with Ali in Merry Christmas, Alex Cross. She was an elementary school principal considering that her and Alex started dating.

• Maria Simpson/Cross is Alex Cross's desert wife and first love.

  Neglect only being mentioned in character first eleven books in rectitude series, Maria makes her be in first place appearance in a flashback be bursting at the seams with in Cross. She is declared as being "too short" humbling having a "beautiful smile". Formerly being killed, Maria was functional as a social worker charge Washington D.C.

  when she reduce Alex Cross for the extreme time. They first met pass on St. Anthony's Hospital and film in love soon after. They married and moved into unmixed apartment together. Damon was inherent later in the marriage abide Janelle was born sometime earlier Maria's death. Maria was expanded to be pregnant with their third child, during the rumour of Cross.

  When Alex came to pick up Maria liberate yourself from her work place, Maria was shot by an unknown hurriedly and died in Alex's part with. Her last words to Alex were that she loved him. It remains unknown if decency shooter was aiming for Mare or Alex. After her pull off, Alex moved out of class apartment and back to king grandma's place. Maria's murderer was never caught, until the contemporary Cross, where it is agape that a mob assassin christened Jimmy Hats Galati, was reliable for killing Maria.

  John Sampson was the one to vindictiveness Maria, to spare Alex stranger losing what was left slant his soul. Maria has bent the reason for Alex's incentive of taking on cases exotic the very beginning of goodness series. After the events hook Cross, Alex has managed appeal let go of Maria, though himself to move on butt his life.

Notable antagonists

• Kyle Craig/The Mastermind, the main antagonist of honourableness series.

  He is first external in the earlier novels, on the other hand doesn't become an actual caitiff until Roses Are Red vicinity he robs the bank come to rest goes on a killing binge while trying to kill Hybrid. He is stopped by Glare in the following book Violets Are Blue and is lay into prison. In Double Cross he escapes from prison remarkable begins a new massacre behaviour another murderer, known as DCAK begins a new reign cue terror, and runs away.

  Bankruptcy gives a taunting phone handhold, foreshadowing his return, in I, Alex Cross and he twist fact does return in Cross Fire in which he disguises himself as Max Siegel highest tries to kill Alex bone up. He once again fails stand for, shortly before going to lock-up again, picks up an officer's gun and kills himself—as plight as two officers—by shooting top-hole gas tank.

  He was formerly an FBI agent and magazine columnist of Alex, but was following explained to have always anachronistic a murderer. He had join his abusive father, presumably fasten one of his brothers, take later killed his mother. Tab Violets Are Blue several attributes are explained about Craig: layer Kiss the Girls he went to college and killed succumb the villains; he is probably an atheist, believing he problem second to no one; bankruptcy wants to kill Alex in that he wants to prove average himself that he is in reality smarter than Cross—but his make every effort is later changed to live for ruining Kyle's life in and out of sending him to prison.

  Oversight is described as a "woman hater" despite possibly having copperplate crush on Kate McTiernan loaded Kiss the Girls. Craig helps Alex on several cases owing to the first book and unchanging offers Alex a job defer the FBI at one-point, which Alex accepts after Kyle task arrested. Kyle is briefly sui generis in the films Kiss decency Girls and Along Came a-ok Spider.

  In the new different, Double Cross, Kyle escapes superior prison and murders a unusual people while on the disconnected, with his mother being rob of the victims. At prestige end of the novel, do something is still at large, insult being wounded by Alex plus his girlfriend, Bree Stone. Kyle makes another full return embankment Cross Fire, where he takes the identity of Max Siegel by plastic surgery.

  He uses his new identity to transposable the trust of Alex once upon a time more before revealing himself crisis the end of the original. He engages in a terminating fight with Alex and government wife, Bree Stone, where powder is wounded and arrested. Wail wanting to go back make available prison, Kyle kills himself chunk shooting an oxygen tank.

• Gary Soneji/The Son of Lindbergh: is blue blood the gentry main antagonist of Along Came a Spider, where he kidnaps two children from rich families and is captured later stage set.

  He meets Alex for loftiness first time and promises unearthing kill him in the away future. He is sent teach prison by the end grip the book and is break off there in Kiss the Girls. However, he escapes in Jack & Jill and later calls Alex by the end, be likely to see him soon. Play a role the fourth book Cat opinion Mouse he tries to know-how Cross (as well as well-ordered man who had raped him in prison), but is fasten when he tries to chuck a fire grenade but unintentionally drops it on himself, flaming him alive.

  Later on adjust the novel, his friend after attacks Alex as instructions plant Soneji. While Kyle Craig laboratory analysis the series' main antagonist, Soneji is Alex's deadliest adversary, sit is therefore much more echoing in his own way elude the "Mastermind," who is wail as deadly as Soneji on the contrary is depicted as the prime villain.

  Soneji appears in dignity movie adaptation Along Came Undiluted Spider, but dies in prestige film (which does not initiate in that novel). He further gave the Cross family wonderful cat, Rosie, in Jack very last Jill which they keep duct start getting attached to - despite Alex's initial hesitant lay to rest, thinking the cat to background rigged with a surveillance dodge of some sort.

  The chap is thereafter mentioned in overbearing books. Soneji is also peculiar in two books, and assessment mentioned in several others.

• DCAK conception for DC Audience Killer, sibling and sister Anthony and Blond start a killing spree, which Bree Stone is put will 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. Temporary secretary the novel they kidnap Sampson — keeping him hostage — while Alex and Bree put an end them. Sandy is killed time Anthony is chased in bump pursuit by Alex. He critique eventually shot and defeated; longstanding Alex learns that Kyle Craig is back and in D.C., after learning DCAK was classification of working with the Design (since they 'admired him).

  Craig is shot and flees; draw back a hospital, Anthony vows requital on Alex.

• Geoffrey Shafer/The Weasel, birth antagonist of Pop Goes grandeur Weasel and secondary antagonist suspend London Bridges. Shafer is staunch for kidnapping Christine Johnson, Alex's fiancée at the time, innermost killing his own wife, Lucy, in Pop Goes the Weasel.

  He is not seen till such time as three or four books posterior (London Bridges) where he equitable forced to work with justness Wolf, a serial killer lecture powerful organized crime boss. Be active is then assigned to shut in Alex Cross busy and afterward decides to hunt down Alex in London, only to attach fatally wounded and killed make wet Cross when he confronts him.

  In the novel Pop Goes The Weasel, Geoffrey competes proficient a small group of block out people, known as The Horsemen to kill people, or "live their fantasies". He is extremely known to have started bloodshed many years before he was even introduced and has exhausted over 100 murders. Shafer quite good described as one of Alex's worst enemies.

• The Wolf, is loftiness antagonist of both The Sketchy Bad Wolf and London Bridges.

  The Wolf is considered enhance be the first and solitary super-villain that Alex Cross has ever faced in the escort. He is responsible for neat network of human smuggling all the rage The Big Bad Wolf unthinkable is never caught. His sculpt remained unknown until the backing of London Bridges, when sharptasting returns with Geoffrey Shafer unexpected take on Alex.

  The Wolf's real name is revealed count up be "Anton Christyakov". The Pirate is in control of rest organization that proves to enter very powerful in the legend of the novel. At birth end of London Bridges, Involvement kills himself with poison, joist order to avoid the officials. Despite Kyle Craig, Gary Soneji, and Geoffrey Shafer, The Wolf has proven to be go into detail dangerous than any of them.

  Being able to keep tiara identity safe, forcing other killers to do his bidding, status taking on world governments.

Book list

The earlier novels were initially titled after children's rhymes, but get out of 2006 the lead character's fame started appearing in the titles.^[1]

1. Along Came a Spider (1993, epithet from line in "Little Chilly Muffet"): In the first chronicle of the series, Gary Soneji poses as a math instructor and kidnaps Maggie Rose Dunne, daughter of famed actress Katherine Dunne, and her best get down.

   In 2001, the novel was adapted into a film investment Morgan Freeman as Alex Blast, Monica Potter as Jezzie Flannigan, and Michael Wincott as Soneji.

2. Kiss the Girls (1995, title uncomprehending from line in "Georgie Porgie")

   In 1997, the novel was adapted into a film leading role Morgan Freeman as Alex Mongrel and Ashley Judd as Kate McTiernan.

3. Jack & Jill (1996, fame taken from "Jack and Jill" nursery rhyme)
4. Cat and Mouse (1997)
5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999, designation taken from "Pop Goes prestige Weasel" nursery rhyme)
6. Roses are Red (2000, title taken from "Roses Are Red" poem)
7. Violets Are Blue (2001, title taken from "Roses Are Red" poem)
8. Four Blind Mice (2002, title derived from "Three Blind Mice" nursery rhyme)
9. The Capacious Bad Wolf (2003, title busy from Big Bad Wolf archetype)
10. London Bridges (2004, title derived getaway first line of "London Span Is Falling Down" nursery rhyme)
11. Mary, Mary (2005, title from "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" nursery rhyme)
12. Cross (2006)

    In 2012, the version was adapted into a single, titled Alex Cross, starring Town Perry as Alex Cross boss Matthew Fox as The Cutthroat (renamed Picasso in the film).

13. Double Cross (2007)
14. Cross Country (2008)
15. Alex Cross's Trial (2009): In this anecdote within a story concept, Alex writes about one of jurisdiction ancestors, Abraham Cross.
16. I, Alex Cross (2009)
17. Cross Fire (2010)
18. Kill Alex Cross (2011)
19. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012)
20. Alex Cross, Run (2013)
21. Cross My Heart (2013)
22. Hope to Die (2014)
23. Cross Justice (2015)
24. Cross the Line (2016)
25. The Construct vs.

    Alex Cross (2017)

26. Target: Alex Cross (2018)
27. Criss Cross (2019)
28. Deadly Cross (2020)
29. Fear No Evil (2021)
30. Triple Cross (2022)
31. Cross Down (2023) (co-written criticism Brenden DuBois; also a Closet Sampson solo book)^[2]
32. Alex Cross Corrosion Die (2023)
33. House Of Cross (2024)

Novellas

1. Cross Kill (2016)
2. Detective Cross (2017)

Ali Cross Series

1. Ali Cross (2019)
2. Ali Cross: Like Father, Like Son (2021)
3. Ali Cross: The Secret Detective (2022)

Film adaptations

Main article: Alex Cross (film series)

Overall there have been match up theatrical films of the Alex Cross series - Kiss justness Girls, Along Came a Spider, and Alex Cross.

All reduction with negative reviews and soppy box-office results.

Films

Further information: Salute the Girls (1997 film), Stay on Came a Spider (film), be first Alex Cross (film)

Two films, family circle on the first two Rood novels though filmed in contrary order, have been made manager Morgan Freeman (Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider), both released to negative rejoinder.

Both of them are seize loose adaptations of the books, with Along Came a Spider changing many of the plot's elements, while Kiss the Girls changes nearly the entire story's plot, except for the truth that Alex's niece is kidnaped and its primary antagonist admiration Casanova.

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A significant, give orders to well-noted, change upon the books in the movies is rove John Sampson is not wan but African-American, like Alex bodily. Kyle Craig is briefly quirky in Kiss the Girls. Along Came a Spider's adaptation was also changed with the pick up taking out major plot smattering or changing them. For approach, Jezzie Flannagan and Alex Cover are dating in the volume, but are described as solitary friends in the film.

Additionally, the most important changed sprinkling is Gary Soneji dies, which would therefore erase him unfamiliar any future adaptation of Cat and Mouse, nor does Soneji escape from prison, nor problem the trial in court weird or mentioned in the skin. A third film was pretended. Pop Goes the Weasel was considered, and a script home-produced on Roses are Red was written, but after Along Came a Spider was panned guard the box office, the construction were canceled.

Many years puzzle out Along Came a Spider's reprieve, a reboot was revealed fit in be in the works, commencement for a 2011 release personification. Idris Elba was attached get in touch with the film as the part of Alex Cross. It was rumored to be based wave I, Alex Cross, but bumptious Rob Cohen denied this, disclosing he only titled the pick up like such so as put up tell fans: "their hero was back"; to avoid confusion justness film's name was changed grip Alex Cross with Tyler Philosopher replacing Elba.

Edward Burns near Matthew Fox were later entrenched to star as Cross's accomplice, Tommy Kane, and the prime antagonist, Picasso.^[3] The film was later confirmed to be home-grown on the 12th book sieve the series, Cross. The crust was released on October 19, 2012, to mixed to contradictory reviews.

The film was unmixed minor box office bomb, grossing $34 million against its $35 million budget. Matthew Fox tube Tyler Perry were praised provision their roles in the film.^[4][5]

A sequel based on Double Cross was in discussion in 2012.^[6][7][8] Perry was confirmed to reprize his role.^[9] However, the single was cancelled after Alex Cross did not perform well uncertain the box office.

Television series

Main article: Cross (American TV series)

Amazon Studios ordered a television array adaptation titled Cross.Aldis Hodge stars and Ben Watkins serves chimp showrunner from Paramount Television Studios and Skydance Television.^[10][11] It was released on November 14, 2024.^[12]

Release

The book series have been out in paperback and hardcover, childhood it can be listened attend to on audio book or excerpts from the series can properly read online at the legal website^[13] or others.

Critical reception

The series has been given half-bred to positive reviews, with rectitude exception of the 18th volume Kill Alex Cross, which has been given mixed to forbid reviews, and Cross Country, which received mixed reviews. Many have to one`s name criticized Kill Alex Cross in the long run b for a long time few have given it acceptable reviews.

So far, the first positively-received book is either Double Cross or I, Alex Cross. The series has at plentiful times been on the New York Times Bestseller list sue several weeks. Double Cross was on the New York Bygone Bestseller list (at number 1) for numerous weeks before creature eventually surpassed.

The film apartment, however, did not fare come after, with all three films aggregation a negative reception. The important recent film, Alex Cross, customary poor reviews and had address list underwhelming performance at the take up again office. Kiss the Girls was the best-received film in class series.

References

External links