First published 2022
Ali Cross idolizes his detective father Alex Cross and dreams of following the same path. After successfully helping crack two major cases, Ali feels ready to take on more challenges. He teams up with his friends to intercept police radio communications, then rushes to active crime scenes to observe professional investigators in action. The young sleuths attempt to solve cases on their own, treating real crimes like puzzles to crack. Ali balances this dangerous hobby with ordinary school life, moving between homeroom and homicide scenes. But when Ali sees something terrible happen, he must confront difficult truths about detective work and what it costs to pursue justice. The experience forces him to question whether he truly understands what being a detective means and whether he can handle the weight of following his father's career. Ali faces a choice between continuing down this perilous path or stepping back before he becomes the next victim.
Genres: mystery, crime, detective, action, young-adult
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
273 pages · Kindle Edition · jimmy patterson