The People vs. Alex Cross

Regular readers of James Patterson’s Alex Cross novels may need to reach back to the bestselling author’s Book Shots for answers regarding his latest book, “The People vs. Alex Cross.”

At the end of “Cross Kill,” released September 2016, Cross is charged in multiple homicides. Book Shots is a line of short novellas written by Patterson and other authors. 

The murder charges were not even mentioned in the last full-length novel, “Cross the Line,” and were not resolved in “Detective Cross,” the second Cross Book Shots released earlier this year.

Considering Book Shots promises self-contained, short stories, that’s a long time to wait for resolution and quite a chunk of change if you’re purchasing these volumes. And unfair for readers who look for Patterson’s annual Alex Cross novel but were unaware of the Book Shots storyline.

“The People vs. Alex Cross” deals with the trial in the wake of the murder charges from the Book Shots case. Meanwhile, though suspended pending the trial verdict, Cross tracks a case involving the kidnapping of several teenage girls.

One of the fun things regarding “The People” is Patterson reviews how many times Cross has lethally used his gun during the popular series. The firearms use seems fitting within the context of an ongoing series of thrillers but it would be a shocking number if it occurred in the real world. Patterson portrays this well.

Patterson fans know what to expect from an “Alex Cross” novel. There is a formula and it still works successfully. What will be unexpected for some dedicated fans is the feeling they have stepped into the middle of an ongoing story and not knowing why.