Reading order · 36 books · 1993 to 2026 · Set in Washington, D.C.
Alex Cross Books in Order
Alex Cross is a detective with the Washington police and a forensic psychologist, a widower raising his children with his formidable grandmother, Nana Mama. He hunts some of the most terrifying killers in American fiction, with his partner John Sampson. Fast, short-chaptered thrillers.
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Series facts
- Books
- 36
- Published
- 1993 to 2026
- First book
- Along Came a Spider
- Latest
- The Family Cross (2026)
- Setting
- Set in Washington, D.C.
The reading order
Every Alex Cross book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
36 books · Set in Washington, D.C.
- 1Along Came a Spider1993With Alex CrossGary Soneji, a maths teacher at an elite Washington school, kidnaps two children from wealthy families, and Detective Alex Cross is drawn into the case.Buy on Amazon
- 2Kiss the Girls1995With Alex CrossAlex Cross’s niece goes missing in North Carolina, one of a number of young women taken by a killer who calls himself Casanova.Buy on Amazon
- 3Jack & Jill1996With Alex CrossA pair of killers is targeting powerful people in Washington, while a child killer is at work in Alex Cross’s own neighbourhood.Buy on Amazon
- 4Cat & Mouse1997With Alex CrossGary Soneji returns, determined to take his revenge on Alex Cross.Buy on Amazon
- 5Pop Goes the Weasel1999With Alex CrossA British diplomat in Washington plays a deadly game, and Alex Cross’s fiancée is in danger.Buy on Amazon
- 6Roses Are Red2000With Alex CrossA series of violent bank robberies is masterminded by someone who seems to know Alex Cross’s every move.Buy on Amazon
- 7Violets Are Blue2001With Alex CrossA series of savage killings in San Francisco suggests killers who believe they are vampires.Buy on Amazon
- 8Four Blind Mice2002With Alex CrossJohn Sampson’s old army friend is accused of murder, and Alex helps him uncover a conspiracy.Buy on Amazon
- 9The Big Bad Wolf2003With Alex CrossAlex Cross joins the FBI and hunts a Russian crime boss known as the Wolf, whose gang is kidnapping people to order.Buy on Amazon
- 10London Bridges2004With Alex CrossThe Wolf threatens to destroy great cities around the world.Buy on Amazon
- 11Mary, Mary2005With Alex CrossA Hollywood actress is murdered, and the killer sends emails about the crime to a newspaper.Buy on Amazon
- 12Cross2006With Alex CrossAlex Cross finally hunts the man who killed his wife years ago.Buy on Amazon
- 13Double Cross2007With Alex CrossA killer is staging murders in Washington for an audience.Buy on Amazon
- 14Cross Country2008With Alex CrossAlex Cross travels to Nigeria to hunt the killer of an old friend’s family.Buy on Amazon
- 15Alex Cross’s Trial2009In 1906, a Washington lawyer, Ben Corbett, is sent to his Mississippi home town to investigate lynchings, helped by Abraham Cross, an ancestor of Alex.Buy on Amazon
- 16I, Alex Cross2009With Alex CrossAlex Cross’s niece is found murdered, and the trail leads to a secret club for powerful people.Buy on Amazon
- 17Cross Fire2010With Alex CrossA sniper is killing corrupt officials in Washington, and an old enemy of Alex returns.Buy on Amazon
- 18Kill Alex Cross2011With Alex CrossThe President’s children are kidnapped from their school.Buy on Amazon
- 19Merry Christmas, Alex Cross2012With Alex CrossOn Christmas Eve, Alex is called to a hostage crisis.Buy on Amazon
- 20Alex Cross, Run2013With Alex CrossAlex Cross juggles three murder investigations in Washington while a family crisis divides his attention, unaware that one of the killers is tracking him.Buy on Amazon
- 21Cross My Heart2013With Alex CrossA brilliant villain targets the people Alex Cross loves most, turning his devotion to his family into a weapon.Buy on Amazon
- 22Hope to Die2014With Alex CrossA psychotic genius takes Cross’s family and forces him into a deadly game to save them.Buy on Amazon
- 23Cross Justice2015With Alex CrossAlex Cross returns to the small North Carolina town where he was born, to help his cousin, who is accused of murder.Buy on Amazon
- 24Cross the Line2016With Alex CrossA police chief is shot dead in Washington, and a vigilante seems to be at work.Buy on Amazon
- 25The People vs. Alex Cross2017With Alex CrossAlex Cross is put on trial for murder after a shooting.Buy on Amazon
- 26Target: Alex Cross2018With Alex CrossThe President of the United States is assassinated, and Alex Cross joins the hunt.Buy on Amazon
- 27Criss Cross2019With Alex CrossA killer copies the crimes of a man Alex helped convict, who has just been executed.Buy on Amazon
- 28Deadly Cross2020With Alex CrossThe former wife of the Vice President is found dead, and Alex Cross investigates.Buy on Amazon
- 29Fear No Evil2021With Alex CrossAlex Cross and his friend Ned Mahoney go after a mysterious enemy in the Montana wilderness.Buy on Amazon
- 30Triple Cross2022With Alex CrossA serial killer called the Family Man is targeting wealthy families.Buy on Amazon
- 31Cross Down2023With Alex CrossWith Cross sidelined after a wave of military-style attacks, John Sampson must protect the Cross family and Washington from a shadow force.Buy on Amazon
- 32Alex Cross Must Die2023With Alex CrossCross and Sampson are hunting a serial killer when a plane is destroyed at Reagan Airport, and they must stop a heavily armed enemy.Buy on Amazon
- 33The House of Cross2024With Alex CrossA killer is targeting America’s top legal minds, and when Cross’s wife and Sampson go missing he must find them.Buy on Amazon
- 34Return of the Spider2025With Alex CrossAlex Cross confronts an old enemy he believed was gone for good.Buy on Amazon
- 35Cross and Sampson2026With Alex Cross and John SampsonSampson investigates a suspected bombing in Washington while Cross searches for his son Damon in North Carolina.Buy on Amazon
- 36The Family Cross2026With Alex CrossBuy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Along Came a Spider. Alex’s family life develops through the series.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Alex Cross | John Sampson | Nana Mama | Damon Cross | Jannie Cross | Ali Cross | Bree Stone | Kyle Craig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Along Came a Spider | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 2 Kiss the Girls | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 3 Jack & Jill | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 4 Cat & Mouse | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 5 Pop Goes the Weasel | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 6 Roses Are Red | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 7 Violets Are Blue | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 8 Four Blind Mice | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 9 The Big Bad Wolf | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 10 London Bridges | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 11 Mary, Mary | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 12 Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 13 Double Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 14 Cross Country | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 15 Alex Cross’s Trial | ·Minor | |||||||
| 16 I, Alex Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 17 Cross Fire | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 18 Kill Alex Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 19 Merry Christmas, Alex Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 20 Alex Cross, Run | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 21 Cross My Heart | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 22 Hope to Die | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 23 Cross Justice | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 24 Cross the Line | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 25 The People vs. Alex Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 26 Target: Alex Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 27 Criss Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 28 Deadly Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 29 Fear No Evil | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 30 Triple Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 31 Cross Down | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 32 Alex Cross Must Die | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 33 The House of Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 34 Return of the Spider | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 35 Cross and Sampson | LLead | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 36 The Family Cross | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
Characters in the Alex Cross books
15 characters from James Patterson’s chart, with the number of Alex Cross books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Alex CrossWashington DC detective and forensic psychologist | 36 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| John SampsonAlex’s oldest friend and police partner | 35 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Nana MamaRegina Cross, the grandmother who raised Alex | 35 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Damon CrossAlex’s elder son | 35 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Jannie CrossAlex’s daughter | 35 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Ali CrossAlex’s youngest son | 29 | Violets Are Blue 2001 |
| Bree StoneDetective, later Alex’s wife | 23 | Double Cross 2007 |
| Kyle CraigFBI agent and friend who turns out to be the Mastermind | 5 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Christine JohnsonSchool principal, Alex’s partner and Ali’s mother | 5 | Jack & Jill 1996 |
| Ned MahoneyFBI agent and Alex’s friend | 5 | The Big Bad Wolf 2003 |
| Gary SonejiKidnapper and killer | 3 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Maria CrossAlex’s first wife, killed before the series begins | 2 | Along Came a Spider 1993 |
| Kate McTiernanDoctor who escapes a serial abductor | 1 | Kiss the Girls 1995 |
| Geoffrey ShaferBritish diplomat and killer known as the Weasel | 1 | Pop Goes the Weasel 1999 |
| Michael SullivanHitman known as the Butcher | 1 | Cross 2006 |