Washington DC police detective and psychologist, Alex Cross is no stranger to gruesome crime scenes, but even he was disturbed by what he and fellow detective (and lady love) Brianna "Bree" Stone find in a Georgetown townhouse one winter's evening. The residents--a family of four --have been brutally and seemingly randomly murdered and chopped into pieces. Even worse, Cross knows the mother; she's his college sweetheart.
Into Africa
The few leads they find seem to point to a group of Nigerians operating a crime gang in and around the DC area. What could be the connection between these thugs and the murdered middle-class family? Also puzzling is the appearance of two CIA operatives at the crime scene. What do they know and what is their connection?
When another DC family is slain, Cross vows to do all that it takes to solve these vicious murders...including traveling to West Africa. When the prime suspect takes flight to Nigeria, Cross is close behind. But, he is ill-prepared for what he finds there. That part of Africa operates on a code of bribery and survival of the fittest. Cross' status as a police officer does him no good in Nigeria; it possibly even makes him a greater target for his enemies.
Pursuing the Tiger
As Cross chases the killer, a powerful brute of a man who recruits his young assistants from the throes of the refugee camps of Darfur, he learns more and more about the exotic and dangerous culture of West and Central Africa. He also meets a charming and beautiful journalist who helps he unlock some of the mysteries of the region. Will he learn enough fast enough to keep him and his family safe? As usual in a Patterson thriller, the answer lies in unexpected places.
Cross Country is a very readable, typically Patterson-style thriller. While enjoyable to read and to visit Alex Cross and his family and associates, the reader is likely to be left wanting to learn more about the exotic locale and the characters met throughout the story.
About James Patterson
James Patterson has published more than 40 novels. He is best known for his Alex Cross series and his Women's Murder Club Series. He has also recently branched out into young adult fiction with Maximum Ride, published in 2006. He has won numerous writing awards. In addition to the Edgar, he has won the BCA Mystery Guild's "Thriller of the Year" award and was the 2007 recipient of the "Thrillermaster" Award.
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