James Patterson’s new novel Cross features Michael Sullivan, “the Butcher,” (a psychopath) who exhibits no sense of humanity and is unbelievably far more sinister and evil than Patterson’s other villains that included Gary Soneji, Casanova, and even Kyle Craig. The importance of “The Butcher” becomes evident when Alex’s partner Sampson finds evidence during the course of an investigation into the assassination of several mafia members and young college women that ties him to the 1993 murder of Alex’s wife, Maria. The question throughout the narrative, however, is whether Alex will finally be able to solve Maria’s murder and be content with turning the perpetrator over to the criminal justice system or if he will take justice into his own hands thus culminating his own deadly obsession.

Patterson creates a terrific, fast paced story which will keep his fans following page after page as he recaps Alex’s life with Maria, with attention to the poignant feelings that both Alex and his wife had for each other, which included Maria’s last words to Alex before her murder: “I love you, Alex. No one will ever love you the way I do.” Those haunting and prophetic words touched my heart and allowed me to feel his loss and pain and then he continues on to seek out her killer.

Some problems did exist in the book; however that showed it did need a better effort at fact checking and editing. For example in one chapter, the Butcher supposedly left his house in Florida, Massachusetts “drove west” and headed to the Massachusetts Turnpike but a little investigation would have shown that Florida is northeast of Stockbridge and is inaccessible to the Massachusetts Turnpike unless you drive via a series of hard to navigate back roads. Another somewhat disturbing issue was the continual use of name brand products such as “Sweet Tarts” that are used throughout this novel causing one to wonder if Patterson was getting paid to advertise these products.

Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense that is highlighted by Alex’s pulsating energy as he deals with threats against his extended family (which includes Nana Mama, Damon, Jannie, and little Alex), but if you aren’t a hardcore reader of horror novels Patterson’s descriptive genius may make it hard for you to handle some of the macabre exploits performed by the creepy and compelling butcher who at first evokes admiration, then sympathy, but ultimately the man’s evil colors everything else.

Tags: book review, james patterson, cross, horror, mystery, suspense