Part of Alex Cross, book 9
First published 2004
Alex Cross starts his new position with the FBI facing a case that baffles his colleagues. People vanish in daylight kidnappings across the nation. Cross discovers these victims are not held for money. They are commodities in a human trafficking operation. A criminal called the Wolf controls this trade in human lives. Cross admires the FBI's resources but grows frustrated with bureaucratic delays. He breaks protocol to hunt the Wolf alone and save victims before they disappear forever. The investigation puts Cross at odds with FBI procedure. His personal life complicates when Christine Johnson returns unexpectedly. She brings complications Cross did not want. Cross must navigate professional conflicts and personal turmoil while racing to stop the Wolf's expanding criminal empire. The case tests Cross's ability to work within federal constraints while innocent people suffer.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, personal-conflict
Setting: United States
Period: Contemporary
400 pages · Paperback · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: kidnapping, trafficking, violence