Part of Alex Cross, book 18
First published 2011
Detective Alex Cross arrives at a crime scene unlike any other. The President's son and daughter have vanished. Cross expects to lead the investigation, but powerful forces within the FBI, Secret Service, and CIA work to shut him out completely. The situation grows worse when a biological weapon contaminates Washington's water system. Half the capital falls ill from the deadly outbreak. Cross realizes the kidnapping and the attack connect to something larger. Someone plans to strike America harder than ever before. Time runs short as Cross fights against his own government to solve both cases. The agencies that should help him become obstacles instead. High-ranking officials block his access to evidence and witnesses. Cross faces an impossible choice between following orders and saving lives. The detective must decide whether to break every rule he has followed throughout his career. His choice will determine not just the fate of two children, but the future of the entire nation. Cross discovers that sometimes doing right means going against everything the system demands.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, high-stakes
Setting: Washington, United States
Period: 21st-century
Kindle Edition · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: violence