Merry Christmas, Alex Cross

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross – James Patterson

It is Christmas Eve, and Detective Alex Cross is looking forward to spending the holiday with his family. His wife, Bree, his children and his grandmother, Nana Mama, are all at home, and for once, Alex hopes that work will not get in the way. But in Washington, DC, crime does not take a holiday.

In Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, the nineteenth novel in James Patterson’s bestselling Alex Cross series, Alex is called away from his family to deal with a tense and dangerous hostage situation, in which a desperate man is holding members of his own family at gunpoint. As the standoff stretches on and lives hang in the balance, Alex must use all his skills as a detective and psychologist to bring the situation to a safe end.

Then, as the holiday season continues, an even greater threat emerges, putting the city in danger and testing Alex’s courage and endurance to the limit. Torn between duty and family, Alex must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to protect others, knowing that his loved ones are waiting for him to come home.

Combining Patterson’s trademark fast pace and short chapters with a holiday setting and a focus on family, the novel offers suspense, action and emotional moments, as well as a glimpse of the warmth of the Cross household at Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is a gripping read for fans of the Alex Cross series and of fast-paced crime thrillers. It can be enjoyed on its own, though longtime readers will appreciate the familiar characters. It contains violence and mature themes.