The Recurring Cast
Character · The Cross family and friends · 35 books

John Sampson

Alex’s oldest friend and police partner · James Patterson

John Sampson is Alex’s oldest friend and police partner.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
Along Came a Spider (1993)
Latest appearance
The Family Cross (2026)
Books
35 (1 as lead, 34 major)
Series
Alex Cross
Author
James Patterson
Circle
The Cross family and friends

Where to meet John Sampson

John Sampson first appears in Along Came a Spider (1993), in a major role, book 1 of the Alex Cross series.

Buy Along Came a Spider

Every book with John Sampson

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1993MAlong Came a Spidermajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  2. 1995MKiss the Girlsmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  3. 1996MJack & Jillmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  4. 1997MCat & Mousemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  5. 1999MPop Goes the Weaselmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  6. 2000MRoses Are Redmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  7. 2001MViolets Are Bluemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  8. 2002MFour Blind Micemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  9. 2003MThe Big Bad Wolfmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  10. 2004MLondon Bridgesmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  11. 2005MMary, Marymajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  12. 2006MCrossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  13. 2007MDouble Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  14. 2008MCross Countrymajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  15. 2009MI, Alex Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  16. 2010MCross Firemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  17. 2011MKill Alex Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  18. 2012MMerry Christmas, Alex Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  19. 2013MAlex Cross, Runmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  20. 2013MCross My Heartmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  21. 2014MHope to Diemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  22. 2015MCross Justicemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  23. 2016MCross the Linemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  24. 2017MThe People vs. Alex Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  25. 2018MTarget: Alex Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  26. 2019MCriss Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  27. 2020MDeadly Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  28. 2021MFear No Evilmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  29. 2022MTriple Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  30. 2023MCross Downmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  31. 2023MAlex Cross Must Diemajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  32. 2024MThe House of Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  33. 2025MReturn of the Spidermajor role · Alex CrossBuy
  34. 2026LCross and Sampsonlead · Alex CrossShares the leadBuy
  35. 2026MThe Family Crossmajor role · Alex CrossBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Alex CrossWashington DC detective and forensic psychologist35
Damon CrossAlex’s elder son35
Jannie CrossAlex’s daughter35
Nana MamaRegina Cross, the grandmother who raised Alex35
Ali CrossAlex’s youngest son29
Bree StoneDetective, later Alex’s wife23