Series: Alex Cross
(#19)
Publisher: Little,
Brown and Company
Publication Date: November 12, 2012
Publication Date: November 12, 2012
Review: Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is the nineteenth installment in James
Patterson's Alex Cross Series. Initially, I was hesitant to dive into this
novel. Despite having read all of the previous books, and enjoying most of
them, giving Alex Cross a Christmas story seemed to be stretching things a bit
thin. The Alex Cross series is one of the few projects that Patterson has
maintained sole writing credit on, so I decided to trust that he would continue
to deliver the quality that has remained in tact throughout the series.
The novel opens on Christmas Eve, as Alex is
enjoying the holiday festivities with his family, after a mostly normal day. In
this opening, we reconnect with Alex's children, wife, grandmother, and newly
adopted daughter who readers of the previous novel will remember. As always,
Patterson writes these family scenes with an honesty that is undeniable.
Perhaps this is why Alex continues to be one of my favorite Patterson
characters.
Of course, all of this peace and goodwill
doesn't last. Soon, Alex is called to intervene on a hostage situation. A disgraced
lawyer has taken his young children, ex-wife and her new husband, and a
senator's wife hostage in his former home. Alex learns that the man, who
suffers from severe drug addiction, is seeking revenge on the people he blames
for his downward spiral, his family. As the hours progress, Alex tries to use
his expertise and personal experiences to convince the man to free his family
before he destroys Christmas for both his and Alex's families.
Across town, more trouble is brewing as a known
terrorist is spotted in Union Station. The FBI has tried to keep tabs on her,
but is genuinely surprised at her resurfacing. Alex was the lead the profiling
on the initial investigation on her, and is called by the FBI to discover her
motives before she takes action. As he attempts to unravel the details of her
plans, he uncovers a terrorist mission that threatens the security and well
being of the entire nation.
After a disappointing effort in the previous
novel, Kill Alex Cross, I was happy to see Patterson return to top form with
what is certainly the best Alex Cross novel in years. As with most of my
favorite Patterson novels, this story finds the perfect balance between fast
paced action and relatable character development. More than any of his previous
novels, Patterson delves into the psyche and motivations of the villains and
reveals deeper connections between them and his hero, Alex Cross. More so, Alex
begins to question his years of risking his life and family for the well-being
of others. This kind of tragic outlook juxtaposed against the cheery backdrop
of the holiday season makes Merry Christmas, Alex Cross an undeniable hit.
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