Part of Alex Cross, book 1
First published 2003
Detective Alex Cross faces his most dangerous case when a psychopathic killer named Gary Soneji begins terrorizing Washington D.C. First, a family of three dies brutally in the city's projects. Then an elementary school teacher becomes the victim of a thrill killing. The violence escalates when Soneji kidnaps young Maggie Rose, determined to pull off what he calls the crime of the century. Cross partners with Jezzie Flanagan, the Secret Service's first female supervisor, as they attempt to track down this brilliant predator. The FBI, Secret Service, and local police struggle to stay ahead of Soneji's twisted game. Cross and Flanagan develop feelings for each other despite the terrible timing. Their forbidden romance complicates an already impossible situation. When Soneji strikes again in Cross's own precinct, right under Flanagan's watch, Cross must confront the ultimate challenge of his career. He needs to outthink a psychopath who seems always one step ahead.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, forbidden-romance, genius-criminal
Setting: Washington D.C., Projects
Period: Contemporary
449 pages · Paperback · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: murder, violence