Part of Alex Cross, book 2
First published 2000
Alex Cross faces his most complex case yet when murders begin spanning the entire country. A journalist dies in Los Angeles while investigating a string of killings. Meanwhile, a medical intern vanishes without a trace in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Cross realizes these aren't random crimes. Two murderers are working together, sharing methods and competing with each other as they kill from coast to coast. The killers follow distinct patterns, but their collaboration makes them nearly impossible to track. Cross must decode their system before more victims disappear. He races against time to understand how these criminals think, communicate, and choose their targets. The case pushes Cross beyond his usual methods as he confronts killers who treat murder like a game. Each new crime scene reveals more about their twisted partnership, but also shows how dangerous they become when working together. Cross discovers that stopping one killer won't end the threat.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, race-against-time
Setting: Los Angeles, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
481 pages · Paperback · Warner Books
Content warnings: murder, violence