2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Cross, the twelfth book in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson.

Pages: 393 pages

Length: 1 month (November)

Participants: Beth, Dominique, Blagica, Cordelia

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?

I had the audio available and finished it. L`m not going to continue the series.

(view spoiler)[ The story about his job and family is on repeat in every book. Each book the author tries to make him more horrible and brutal. Rape, dismembering youg women, incest. Every book, he has female problems and it ends in breakup (hide spoiler)]

I agree with you about the repetition of the content, Dominique! I do get tired of Alex saying he believes himself to be a great family man yet runs out his family whenever he gets a call about a case. I get he is an important guy, but at some point, he has to give up the idea that he's father of the year.

I also find it tedious that he seems to float in and out of relationships. I realize that one woman was murdered, a couple made the decision to end the relationships (because of his over-commitment to work!), but he seems to eye up every new woman that comes across his path as a potential partner. Is that how people really interact? Maybe I'm just missing something in my life.

All that said, I will continue with the series. I am curious to see how Alex's story progresses. I am enjoying watching the kids grow up, and I'm still completely on team Nana Mama. And Samson!!

As for this book, it was just ok. I did appreciate getting the story of Maria's death, even though (view spoiler)[I hated how Samson resolved the "issue." (hide spoiler)]