A missing little girl named Maggie Rose.
A family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C.
The thrill-killing of a beautiful elementary school teacher.
A psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who calls himself the Son of Lindbergh. He is so terrifying that the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police cannot outsmart him — even after he’s been captured.
Gary Soneji is a … been captured.
Gary Soneji is a mild-mannered mathematics teacher at a Washington, D.C., private school for the children of the political and social elite. He’s so popular that the kids all call him “Mr. Chips.” And he’s very, very smart. Growing up, he always knew he was smarter than the rest of them — he knew that the Great Ones always fooled everybody. He kidnaps Maggie Rose, the golden-haired daughter of a famous movie actress, and her best friend, Shrimpie Goldberg, the son of the secretary of the treasury, right out from under the noses of their two Secret Service agents. But Gary Soneji is not surprised at his skill. He’s done it before. Hundreds of times before.
Alex Cross is a homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology. He looks like Muhammad Ali in his prime. Cross works and lives in the ghettos of D.C. He’s a tough guy from a tough part of town who wears Harris Tweed jackets and likes to relax by banging out Gershwin tunes on his baby grand piano. He has two adorable kids of his own. They are his own special vulnerabilities.
Jezzie Flanaganis the first woman ever to hold the highly sensitive job as supervisor of the Secret Service in Washington. Blond, mysterious, seductive, she’s got an outer shell that’s as tough s it is beautiful. She rides her black BMW motorcycle at speeds of no less than 100 mph. What is she running from? What is her secret?
Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to have a forbidden love affair-at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji, who wants to commit the “crime of the century,” is playing at the top of his game. The latest of the unspeakable crimes happened in Alex Cross’s precinct. They happened under the protection of Jezzie Flanagan’s men. Now Soneji is at large again, still wreaking havoc.
Alex Cross must face the ultimate test as a psychologist: how do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath? Especially one who appears to have a split personality — one who won’t let the other half remember those horrific acts?
Soneji has outsmarted the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim?
Gary Soneji is every parent’s worst nightmare. He has become Alex Cross’s nightmare. And now, reader, he’s about to become yours.
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This is a great read, I love the characters and the book is always better than the movie. But the movie did do it justice with Morgan Freeman.
Once you start reading it,it’s hard to put down
Did not like I skipped chapters
ONE OF HIS BEST
It was so long ago I forgot, except I think this was the volume when Alex’s wife was killed
I love reading Patterson books, they keep me guessing and I’m always waiting for something to happen.
There were a few situations I found disturbing. They kept me from giving this book five stars. But it was a story that grabbed you and made you want to keep reading.
The original Alex Cross book: introduced this new, exciting character, all tough & determined cop, yet grieving widower trying to raise 2 children with the help of his aging grandmother in inner city Washington, DC. An evil criminal who could even fool Alex for a while…and scare him how easily he can be blinded. Very human character, very real …
This is my first James Patterson book I ever read & my first book I read in a long time. Its such a thiller, when I turned the page I got a shocking surprise. I enjoyed it so much I really couldn’t put it down. I am going to read all the Alex Cross series books. i will read more James Patterson books if they are as thilling as this one.
I remember being blown away by Along Came a Spider in the late 90’s. Its fast pace, intriguing mystery, and non-stop action convinced me to be a thriller writer. Twenty years later, after watching James Patterson’s MasterClass, I was finally determined to take all of those unfinished drafts and complete my first novel. For me, this is the book …
Vintage Alex Cross