This book veers away from the suspense thriller of serial acts and it’s more focused on the military/ army aspect, following on John Sampsons history. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Effing Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Princess Diana, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. The brilliant crime-solving duo of Washington, DC’s, Metro PD and the FBI has a proven MO: Detective Alex Cross makes his own rules. In the twenty-seven years following, there have been some good (and excellent) adventures and some less-than-stellar outings along the way, but I generally looked forward to the end of each year when another Alex Cross adventure was published. I remember reading the Alex’s first adventure, “Along came a Spider” and almost cried when Alex, then a widower, faced the loss of his new love in an ending twist I would never forget.

He was Patterson’s first detective series that helped lay the foundation for his kingdom of several bestselling series and stand-alone novels. It was a great series while it lasted; hoping that maybe, just maybe the next installment (Cross Out in 2024) will be minus a coauthor and we will see the old Alex back. If I’m correct, this is the first time Patterson has used a co-author on this series and, IMO, a huge mistake. Alex of course knows that they aren't random but the day he goes to share, he and John find themselves amid gunfire and Alex is shot - hence the title "Cross Down".Plot lines develop with ease and propel the narrative forward, keeping the reader engaged and wondering where things are headed. The book delves into the character of John and his history which we wouldn’t have gotten if Alex was not sidelined. As Sampson discovers a lead through an ex-military contact, his partner Alex Cross is brutally side-lined, leaving him certain about one thing: he can trust no one. This is a highly unusual Alex Cross book; makes me wonder if Alex Cross is on his way out and John Sampson is on his way in.

Patterson and DuBois work well together in this collaborative effort that moves the spotlight off Cross himself. And now a cross book strictly focused on insurrections and takeovers of the White House by conservative patriots.This time it was John Sampson’s turn, and in my opinion, he delivered an entertaining edge-of-your-seat thriller that kept my interest.

Such as, the one character going to extremes to find out who was doing the voice recordings from his boss and found out it was a woman. There may be a clue to discover the plot to unleash a nuclear blast within the United States, devastating the country as a whole. I received a copy of this book from NovelSuspects and Little, Brown in exchange for an honest review. The story focuses largely on John Sampson this time (with the regulars of the series appearing here and there).This is a big first in the series; Alex Cross was shot at the beginning of the book; and hospitalized in critical condition.