Return of the Spider: An Alex Cross Thriller

Alex Cross #34

by James Patterson

An instant New York Times bestseller!

Return of the Spider is the stunning companion novel to Along Came a Spider, the New York Times bestselling classic thriller from the world’s most popular storyteller.

Enter the thrilling world of the #1 bestselling detective series that inspired the Prime Video show, Cross.

Along Came a Spider introduced Detective Alex Cross to readers around the globe and delivered an unsurpassed Cross—named the “human superhero” by The New York Times—versus Gary Soneji, who the Lexington-Herald Leader called the “most deliciously wicked character since Hannibal Lecter”. But that wasn’t their first meeting ...

Police discover that Soneji kept a murder book, Profiles in Homicidal Genius, detailing his transformation from substitute teacher to hardened serial killer—including clues that imply missteps that Alex Cross may have made a rookie homicide detective.

Now, Alex must retrace the steps of that long-ago investigation and face ... the Return of the Spider.

“Patterson knows how to sell thrills and suspense.” —People, on Along Came a Spider

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2025

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the thirty-fourth installment of the Alex Cross series, James Patterson has catapulted us back to the beginning with a prequel to Along Came a Spider. Not only taking us into the past but also giving us a closer look at Alex Cross himself, Return of the Spider was a fast-paced, twisty rollercoaster ride that kept me glued to the pages. Developing the main characters even more all while introducing a few new—or should I say old—characters into the mix, it was our old enemy, Gary Soneji, who chilled me to the bone once again with his villainous behavior. Between the two, there was an epic game of cat-and-mouse as well as a refreshing look back to Cross’s past when he was just a fresh-faced detective. Adding complexity and depth to his persona, I suggest reading the series a bit before diving in even though you could easily read it as a standalone novel. After all, you don’t want to miss getting to know Detective Alex Cross better.

All said and done, thanks to the short, cliffhanger chapters, action-packed scenes, and nostalgic time period, I had no trouble at all falling into this story. Did it have James Patterson’s somewhat formulaic feel? Well, yes… But then again, if it didn’t work so well, this series wouldn’t be as prolific as it is, now would it? Besides, Patterson always seems to deliver a plot that keeps me firmly in suspense. With dual timelines and multiple POVs, I loved all of the insight into the characters’ lives as the heart-pounding events exploded onto the page. Twisting and turning all while delivering that classic thriller tension on top of a deep-dive into the emotions driving the characters, it was a fantastic read even if it wasn’t my favorite by Patterson. That being said, I loved how Cross was forced to reexamine his past and the missteps he might’ve made while pursuing the Spider. In the end, I ate up every word as I raced through the pages in one very, very late night of reading. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

The suspense classic Along Came a Spider introduced an unsurpassed Detective Alex Cross, the "human superhero" (New York Times), versus Gary Soneji, the "most deliciously wicked character since Hannibal Lecter" (Lexington Herald-Leader). But that wasn't their first meeting...

At a desolate cabin in the woods, police discover a hidden journal titled "Profiles in Homicidal Genius." Evidence points to it being a murder book kept by Soneji.

As Alex studies the clues, he's enmeshed in a web of evil Soneji designed to ensnare him all along. Plunging into the past, Alex must now retrace the steps of a long-ago investigation and face...the Return of the Spider.

Thank you to James Patterson and Little, Brown and Company for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: November 17, 2025

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fan of some books series penned by James Patterson, I have always enjoyed the Alex Cross collection. I respect that Patterson has tried to tackle it on his own, a rarity in his ever-growing stardom. Detective Alex Cross versus Gary Soneji emerged in the opening novel of this series, creating one of the greatest cat and mouse clashes in crime thrillers. However, their connection precedes Patterson's Along Came a Spider in this prequel story that lays the groundwork for the entire Cross series. During a police sweep of an abandoned cabin in the woods, the Metro Police discover a hidden journal. The title, “Profiles in Homicidal Genius”, is penned by none other than Gary Soneji. His criminal mastermind seeps from every page and explores many of the crimes Soneji committed before his apparent death. While Detective Cross wants to keep the past locked away, Soneji's writing stirs up memories and leads to some worrying revelations. When Cross was a rookie detective, he actually crossed paths with a young and determined Gary Soneji, honing his craft and beginning to sample with various types of murder. This journal and these memories help to form a chilling sentiment for Cross, as he comes to terms with the return of the spider, his greatest enemy! Patterson delivers a strong story that impressed me more than I thought it might!

I have long had a love/hate relationship with James Patterson novels. This series has usually been able to push me into the contented column, as Patterson takes time to craft a decent piece. The story is electric from the opening pages, leaving series fans to wonder what's coming next. There is little time to rest, as the quick chapters with which Patterson is renowned provide the reader with something they can enjoy. Tapping into early Cross themes and ideas, the story's pace kicks up even more as the reader seeks to piece things together over a thirty-four novel arc. With some decent ideas, Patterson keeps Alex Cross fresh and intriguing, which has me wanting to see how long the calculating detective has left before hanging up his cuffs.

Characters work well to complement the story, mixing series regulars with new (old?) faces. Alex Cross remains a character that keeps impressing the reader, though I feel this book sought to add some backstory to someone whose development has reached its limits. The story adds some familiar characters whose backstories emerge at times, though many remain in the background, as the likes of John Sampson (Cross' longest friend and fellow cop) and Gary Soneji play strong roles. Even Cross' first wife, Maria, serves to flavour the story and injects some excitement into the protagonist's step.

Plot points help keep the surprise factor as the story progresses. While this was meant to be a quasi-prequel to the larger series, it straddles past and present to keep things surprising. I was not shocked by too much in the piece, but Patterson ensured that things were not too predictable for series fans. There were some decent twists and it helped enrich the reading experience, leaving me, once more, to wonder how much longer Alex Cross has left before he fades into the background.

Kudos, Mr. Patterson, for a nice addition to your well-established series.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always so thrilled to be an early reviewer for one of my all time favourite authors, James Patterson, so a massive thank you to Little,Brown and Company for the opportunity.

I flew through this book, elate, once you start you won’t want to stop. As a longtime reader of the Alex Cross series, the thought of going back to where it all began was so exciting. Gary Soneji was such an evil, twisted psychopath and Alex’s nemesis. Years after his death, his cabin in the woods is discovered, along with his murder weapons, research and a murder book, a book that blows Alex’s world apart. Did he get it all wrong?

It was fascinating to see Alex Cross and John Sampson as young, green detectives at the start of their careers in law enforcement. They are still learning the job, but still have that same determination that we have been used to throughout the series. This is now book number 34, and this was a brilliant way to bring the worst killer they have ever faced back to life for a while. We see how Soneji started his killing spree, what was going through his mind, how he picked his victims and now he was going to kill them.

It was lovely to see Alex as the family man too. Back when his first love Maria was pregnant with their second child, Damon was a little boy and Nana Mama was a younger but still feisty woman.

I will never tire of reading about these characters, and getting more insight into their personalities and younger lives was brilliant. I could have kept reading this for days, but as always with James Patterson, I just had to keep reading. I think this may be one of my favourites in the series, a thrill ride from the past, full of tension and drama.

Published on November 17th, a must read for Alex Cross fans.

[Karen Chong · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0 / 5.0

Disappointment is an understatement- because what the heck did I just read. Admittedly this book centres around the first book realised 22 years ago, which if I’m honest I haven’t read. This book feels like a literal scam because quite literally it’s a re-hash of what I’m assuming is in the first book but with more information. The hard work has already been laid out only for Patterson to use the same plot and go down memory lane. It’s disappointing because as good as the trip down memory lane is - it’s a very low quality book which probably took less than a week to write (because you’re using the events of the first book with added extra bits). It’s frustrating because after the last couple books with similar plots, dipping quality (weird Mastero mastermind plot), crazy plots and strange direction this book felt like the return of the psychological, thriller vibes the Alex Cross series were. It’s purely the reason why I was so keen to get my hands on this book because I thought finally it’s going to change. Finally we are going to get the old vibes back. But no, this feels like going back to your ex even though your friends have spent ages convincing you not too. I feel horribly gaslight reading this book because I thought I was in for a thrilling read!

I’m disappointed because in actually if you take the events in portions of the book, 90% is quite literally a rehash of the past with only 10% of current time. I don’t know whether this is Patterson why of indicating that the end is near for the Cross series but it’s disappointing when nothing really happens after the past is revealed. We see this moral questioning of Cross but it comes across too late in the book and before you know it the book ends quite literally 2 pages after this revelation. For me this just reads as a ploy for Patterson to spit out more Cross books and get more money. Not worth the investment, seriously questioning whether this series is even worth it or not.

[Cheryl Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Patterson’s best Alex Cross books! I read it in one sitting!

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Okay Read But Nothing Special!

After being a very loyal reader of James Patterson’s first ten Alex Cross books and some of his earlier books, I gave up on his books years ago when he decided to become a publisher industry unto himself. Having loved his Along Came A Spider, which I read as an ARC in 1993, I decided to lift my ban on his books and read Return Of The Spider. This book forces Cross to revisit his rookie-investigation years and face the possibility that he and his best friend and partner, Sampson, may have caused the wrong man to be convicted.

Bottom line is that it is just an okay read, making it mostly a letdown relative to my expectations. Here are some reasons why:
…While Cross and Gary Sonegi remain well drawn, richly developed characters, many of the supporting characters are just serviceable at best;
…With multiple timelines, flashbacks, revelations, supporting characters and shifting motives, the plot at times seemed overburdened and some plot threads are less developed that I wanted;
…Some of the thriller mechanics Patterson uses tread on well-worn ground, making the book at times seem more stale than fresh; and
…For a thriller, many of its intended thrills were often expected and not very thrilling.

All in all, I’m glad I read Return Of The Spider but it is not a book I’d recommend anyone but diehard Alex Cross fanatics rush out to read.

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow – this is the 34th book featuring detective and psychologist Alex Cross? Believe it or not, I’ve read almost all of the others. One of the most popular repeat characters in this series featured another noteworthy character – serial killer Gary Soneji – a nasty dude who (ahem) Crossed paths with Alex in a few books before finally getting his due.

Well, Soneji is long dead, but the author has found a creative way to bring him back to life in this installment; apparently, the killer’s debut in Along Came a Spider wasn’t the first time the two (ahem again) Crossed hairs previously. Now a homicide detective with the Washington, D.C., Metro Police, Alex and his department friend John Sampson are called by Alex’s old partner Ned Mahoney to a house that once belonged to Soneji (a.k.a. Gary Murphy). Among other things, they find a hidden notebook that clearly belonged to Soneji; as Alex begins to read it, he’s taken back to those long-ago cases.

And of course, he takes readers with him. For the most part, current wife Bree and his delightful Nana Mama are left behind except for an occasional chapter that returns to the present. Back in Soneji’s heyday, Alex was a rookie cop married to first love Maria, already the mother of a son and not far from delivering their second one. Readers follow the progression and conclusion of the detectives’ case back then as they learn how the facts impact a current one (with a few that take both the detectives and readers by surprise.

Did I love the book? You bet. Do I recommend it to all mystery/thriller readers? In that it stands alone well, sure; but I do think that while those who are not regular followers of the Cross series will enjoy the journey, those who are well-seasoned travelers are likely to get a few more miles to the gallon. In any event, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for taking me on a great ride by way of a pre-release copy. Well done!

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 34th (!!!!) installment in the Detective Alex Cross series, which began in 1993 with “Along Came a Spider.” I know I read the first one near when it was first published and I definitely finished all the ones with titles that mimicked children’s rhymes. In “Cross time,” only eighteen years have passed, but it’s long enough in the past for cellphones and GPS not to be universal technology. Only an expensive car phone the size of a brick seems to be the height of twenty year old tech in this flashback thriller.

An old journal is found in a secret room and we then get a backstory on Cross’s first deadly enemy, Gary Soneji, as well as the early tale of the Cross/Sampson partnership, when they were investigating multiple earlier murders by serial killer Soneji without knowing it. In the early Cross books, Alex’s wife Maria was always an off-screen memory, having already been killed in a drive-by shooting, but she’s a full fledged character here, pregnant with their daughter while Damon is a toddler. I did open up the original “Along Came a Spider” to try to reconcile the timeline, and I was mostly reminded why I loved the Alex Cross stories so long ago.

The flashback story gets a bit bogged down as Cross and Sampson juggle multiple other murders unrelated to the Spider, but it does show their development as young detectives, using their own dedication skills prior to the advent of DNA evidence and ubiquitous camera surveillance. Bringing back Cross’ greatest nemesis creates a suspenseful timeline — and you’ll be tempted (like me) to read “Along Came a Spider” if you never did so (warning: female characters wear leg warmers). 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Soneji used green colored contacts as a disguise.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although kudzu is used as a green drapery to hide the suspect.

Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[Chevelle Medew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first James Patterson book, I didn't find this thriller.. Particularly thrilling but it was still a good read. I'd give it 3.5 stars. I just personally like more twists and turns and a touch of mystery.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Why dredge up the past, even with a prequel premise, when we’ve been through this already. Was really looking forward to this, but was let down big time. 3stars.

[quinnster · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was sweet to get to experience Alex's life with Maria this felt like a reach. As if maybe Patterson has run out of ideas for Cross. It just felt like a waste, a filler.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a certain sense of nostalgia I get every time I pick up a new Alex Cross book. I was first introduced to James Patterson’s bestselling series back in 2005 when my mom handed me a paperback copy of Mary, Mary. I devoured it in a single weekend and immediately began working my way backward, starting with the first book, Along Came a Spider. I’ve been a fan ever since. I’ve read all thirty-three novels, watched the various attempts at film adaptations, and recently enjoyed the latest effort to bring Patterson’s hero to life in the Amazon Prime TV series. Every time I return to the series, I’m greeted by the familiar blend of heart, suspense, and Patterson’s signature breakneck pace. The newest novel, Return of the Spider, feels especially nostalgic as it resurrects Gary Soneji—the villain who started it all in those early Cross stories. But would this long-awaited return mark a fresh new chapter for Alex Cross, or simply revisit old ground?

The novel is unique in that it serves as a kind of prequel to the series opener. In the present day, Alex Cross and his longtime partner John Sampson are called to a remote cabin in the woods, where the human remains buried around the property aren’t the most disturbing thing discovered on the scene. That honor belongs to a hidden journal titled Profiles in Human Genius. Strange enough on its own, but it’s the contents of the journal that truly bring Cross to his knees. Inside are detailed accounts of murders committed by none other than Gary Soneji.

The name catapults Alex back decades, to the days when Soneji terrorized the city with a string of abductions and murders. But as Alex reads, he comes to a chilling realization: his connection to Soneji began much earlier than he ever imagined. Back when he was a young detective with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, the seeds of this nightmare were already being sown. As he reads on, Alex becomes ensnared in a web of evil Soneji seems to have spun just for him. Plunging into the past, he must retrace the steps of an old investigation and face the truth about the monster who’s been haunting him from the very start.

With Return of the Spider, James Patterson proves he’s far from done finding new ways to thrill readers with his Alex Cross series. The last book, The House of Cross, brought a long-running thread to its climax, leaving me wondering where Patterson could possibly take the story next. It turns out, he’s taken it all the way back to the beginning. Gary Soneji was one of the most terrifying and relentless foes Alex ever faced, so it was thrilling to see his origins finally revealed.

By taking the series back in time, Patterson adds new depth to both his hero and his villain, breathing fresh life into the world of Alex Cross while still honoring the familiar beats longtime readers have come to love. The ending jumps back to the present day, forcing Alex to face a moral reckoning—about his past, the truths he’s built his life upon, and what the future might hold. I, for one, can’t wait to see where Patterson takes him next. It proves that even after three decades, James Patterson still knows how to keep us turning the pages.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A return to Alex Cross's early days on the Washington DC detective squad, partnering with John Sampson. In the present, Alex and John are called to a remote cabin by their FBI contact where a hidden stash of journals and trophies belonging to Gary Soneji have been found, including his murder book, Profiles in Homicidal Genius. Soneji was a twisted maniac, studying the methods of famous serial killers, while masquerading as a family man and substitute teacher at elite prep schools. Questions are raised about conclusions reached by Alex and John, who are also working on a second case involving a separate gang war, an undercover cop, and wanton killings of DC youths. This seemed like ancient history to me, and a step back from some of the better books of late.

[Tom M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure did miss reading these James Patterson detective novels. This was fast paced and reminded me of how much I liked, Along Came a Spider.
Over a long career, at some point you may put the wrong guy in prison, and have to admit that you were outsmarted by the killer and must do all you can to help the victims rebuild what’s left of their lost lives.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary is a ghost that won’t go away and we love it! He’s formidable villain for a tenacious and perspective hero like Alex Cross.

This rewind in time is great for avid Cross fans looking for a peak behind the invincible man. We wince at every loss and cheer at every win because we just love Alex and that’s exciting. Fingers crossed we get to see some of this moments in the TV series!

Favorite chapter

Chapter 26 is so cute with lots of family vibes and it really humanizes this superhero of a character. I love how his family is always down to encourage him. It makes us feel like we are around the table too.

Favorite quote: "Use your imagination, but make sure it's imagination rooted in experience and reality. My mother taught me that was what being creative was — learning a skill well enough that you can use your imagination to improve it."


Thank you @Little, Brown and Co and @James Patterson for the advance reader copy.

[Steph Ingram · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a huge Alex Cross fan (like first thrillers I loved, kind of fan) this was so weak. Clearly I’m the minority but this fell so flat and took me an age to read!

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along Came a Spider is classic Alex Cross…fast, tense, and creepy in all the best ways. Return of the Spider brings back Gary Soneji, one of the series’ most unsettling villains, and adds a great twist: a “murder book” where Soneji recorded his rise from harmless substitute teacher to full-blown serial killer. Even worse, it hints that Alex may have overlooked something major back when he was a rookie.

Now Cross has to dig into his own past and revisit an investigation he thought was closed for good. The story mixes mystery with psychological tension, and it keeps you hooked as Alex pieces together what really happened. If you enjoy thrillers with sharp detectives and villains who seriously get under your skin, this is a fun, fast read.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The backstory of Gary Soneji is revealed in this book that I would almost classify as a prequel to the other “spider” books featuring Alex Cross. In this novel, Gary is younger and hungrier to kill and make a name for himself as an accomplished serial killer. Revealing details about some of his first victims and how Gary metamorphosed from a copycat killer to a unique serial killer makes this book fascinating as well as horrifying at times. The book also gives the backstory about Alex and Maria and their early married years as well as their established relationship with Nana Mama. I especially liked how the story unraveled the clues methodically, with a few red herrings along the way as well as plenty of suspense and drama. The characters who were on the trail of the killer, including Alex and John Sampson, were realistically portrayed and relatable as they dove into their work and tackled it with an intensity that showed their dedication to the job. Having read all of the previous Alex Cross books, this one was like frosting on a well-made cake. It answered some questions and created a few more, but it also made my desire to read more about Alex and his career since this book gave him a definitive human and flawed side that I had not seen before. With the author’s signature short chapters and propensity to build the suspense so well that I was immersed in the story, this book is one of the best and a not-to-be-missed addition to the Alex Cross collection.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Will Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“You can always make some good out of the worst situations.”

This is book 34 in the Alex Cross series and it proves that Patterson still has it and Cross is one of the greatest characters.

I loved the story going back in time to give Cross fans insight to how one of the evilest monsters in this series got his start. This novel gave us even more character development to Cross and Sampson and gave us a look at life when Maria was still alive.

It was very nostalgic with many new twists and turns. It would be fitting to have this book be the end of this series, but I do hope for more.

[Leslie M. Cann · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start with, I absolutely love the Alex Cross series by Patterson even though I’ve fallen behind by several. I read this one because it was a prequel to the first Cross book, Along Came A Spider. I preordered Return of the Spider and just could not wait for it to get here. Gary Soneji is probably my favorite villain in the series. This book took me on a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Just not the kind of ride I was expecting. For the first 300 pages I felt like I stood in line and got on the coaster and after it took off I realized I boarded a kiddie coaster by mistake. Then as the coaster was pulling into the station it jumped tracks for the final 100 pages and that’s where the twists and turns came. I must admit this wasn’t exactly as I hoped it would be but was still a good story. Fans of Alex Cross should still enjoy this read.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the prequel to Alex Cross books. Alex and Sampson are fledging detectives trying to solve some very complicated murders. One of the perpetrators just happens to be Gary Soneji, a prolific serial killer that they deal with later on in their careers.

In addition, there is a gang war. It is okay, although I was not that interested. And of course, there is the drama of starting a new career and contending with building trust with fellow detectives.

Nice tie in to the other 33 Alex Cross books. However, the epilogue seems a bit rushed.

[Nicole Wuthering Vines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured Along Came a Spider years ago, both the book and the film, and several more in the Alex Cross series, so I practically gasped when I learned we were getting a prequel. It delivered all the nostalgia and took me right back to where it all began.

Told across dual timelines and multiple POVs, this one shines in its character work, offering a fascinating look at a younger, unseasoned Alex Cross just starting his career. It adds a fresh depth to the series, and Patterson extends the world with impressive care and intention.

Patterson remains a masterful storyteller, unmatched in crafting high stakes cat and mouse thrillers. The drama hits hard, the tension never lets up, and the ride is as gripping as ever.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 34th installment of James Patterson’s Alex Cross series, we find a very readable prequel that seamlessly integrates into the contemporary lives of Alex and Sampson, with their earliest years on the Metro Homicide beat. The story unfolds with the discovery of a serial murderer’s dump site and a trove of arch-villain Gary Soneji’s journals and trophies. These chilling discoveries force them to confront the unsettling realization that they may have imprisoned the wrong men. As Alex and John diligently work to rectify their initial mistakes, the pages fly by with excitement and suspense. This installment promises more captivating content from the renowned author, Patterson.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good prequel!

For the very long running Alex Cross series, Patterson (minus any dodgy co-authors) reminded me why I started reading him all those years ago.

This instalment gives readers an insight into Alex Cross in his early career before ‘Along Came A Spider’. He is a young father, still married to Maria and friends with Sampson.

If only Patterson wrote more of his own books! Don’t miss this one.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Return of the Spider" takes all the way back to the beginning of the Alex Cross series. It's actually a prequel to "Along Came a Spider". It's touching to see Maria, Alex's 1st wife, in the present instead of in memories and fun to see Damon as a toddler. It's also nice to see John & Alex in the beginning, getting their feet wet. On the darker side, it was intriguing to see the early days of a key seriel killer in this series.

[Gail Souter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inconsistencies with dates

I cannot believe that James would make the mistake of saying that in the book's present day, Alex's son had an Ipad,went to see Hamilton and they watched Yellowstone! Ipads came out in 2010 , Hamilton the musical,2015 and Yellowstone in 2018! The books jumps back 20 years to 1985 so that implies it was 2005 and not 2025 in their present day! Ali is still a child so it CAN'T be 2025. But in 2005 none of the 3 above mentioned things existed!
Story was so so! I don't like when there are two other minor stories in the plot that have nothing to do with the main story! The one about the gangs and then the Irish hitman were all irrelevant and weakened the book. As for Gary Soneji, he has been done to death.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Charlotte Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cat and mouse thriller…We find out more background about Alex Cross and his patter, John Sampson in this “throw back” about a serial killer who has plagued these two Detectives. An excellent page turner, was the right man convicted ?, with some gruesome premeditated murders. Enjoy

[Brian Tooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this better than The House of Cross yet this ending of this book felt rushed. Alex Cross is my favorite series.