How to read James Patterson’s Alex Cross books in order

As Aldis Hodge returns as Alex Cross in the second season of Prime Video's adaptation, simply titled Cross, now could be the perfect time to revisit or read for the first time the novels that inspired it.

Over more than three decades, Alex Cross has emerged as one of suspense fiction’s most enduring characters, appearing in 34 novels to date by James Patterson.

Of course, the Alex Cross series isn't the only one written by Patterson, but it is a fan favourite, with readers finding themselves hooked by the adventures of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Whether you're a newcomer who's enjoying the Prime Video series, a seasoned Cross-head who's read all of the novels, or someone looking for a lighter spin-off fix, you’ll find everything you need to know in this guide to Patterson’s most popular series.

Here’s how you read the Alex Cross books in order.

How to read the Alex Cross books in order

1. Along Came a Spider (1993)
2. Kiss the Girls (1995)
3. Jack & Jill (1996)
4. Cat & Mouse (1997)
5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)
6. Roses Are Red (2000)
7. Violets Are Blue (2001)
8. Four Blind Mice (2002)
9. The Big Bad Wolf (2003)
10. London Bridges (2004)
11. Mary, Mary (2005)
12. Cross (2006)
13. Double Cross (2007)
14. Cross Country (2008)
15. Alex Cross’s Trial (2009)
16. I, Alex Cross (2009)
17. Cross Fire (2010)
18. Kill Alex Cross (2011)
19. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012)
20. Alex Cross, Run (2013)
21. Cross My Heart (2013)
22. Hope to Die (2014)
23. Cross Justice (2015)
24. Cross the Line (2016)
25. The People vs. Alex Cross (2017)
26. Target: Alex Cross (2018)
27. Criss Cross (2019)
28. Deadly Cross (2020)
29. Fear No Evil (2021)
30. Triple Cross (2022)
31. Cross Down (2023)
32. Alex Cross Must Die (2023)
33. The House of Cross (2024)
34. Return of the Spider (2025)

What’s the appeal of the Alex Cross series?

Meet Alex Cross: a forensic psychologist turned DC detective, a widower raising children and a dogged crime-solver with a heart. Since the first novel was published in 1993, readers have followed Cross through gruesome murders, ruthless masterminds and personal heartache.

Patterson’s lightning-paced plotting and emotional chords – rooted in family, ethics and vengeance –have made Cross one of thriller fiction’s most iconic heroes. An ongoing theme in the earlier books is the unsolved murder of his first wife, Maria.

What happens in Along Came a Spider by James Patterson?

Along Came a Spider (1993) is the first book in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series and introduces the Washington DC detective/psychologist who will go on to anchor more than 30 thrillers.

The debut sees Detective Alex Cross pulled from a high-profile murder case in his own neighbourhood to investigate the kidnapping of two wealthy children from an exclusive private school. The abductor, Gary Soneji, is a math teacher with delusions of grandeur who dreams of committing “the crime of the century” and cementing his place in history alongside infamous criminals.

Cross teams up with Secret Service agent Jezzie Flannagan to track the missing children, but the deeper he digs, the more twisted the case becomes – blending abduction, murder, betrayal and psychological manipulation.

The first book in the Alex Cross series establishes the hallmarks of the series: Patterson’s short, punchy chapters, high-stakes suspense, and Cross’s personal tug-of-war between duty and family life. It’s also one of the most psychologically driven entries, with Cross pitted against a chillingly unpredictable villain.

When did Return of the Spider come out?

The latest novel in the Alex Cross series, Return of the Spider, was released on 9th October 2025. It takes us back to where it all began, with the infamous Gary Soneji case from Along Came a Spider.

When a hidden cabin yields a cache of grisly trophies and diaries, Alex Cross is forced to face a devastating possibility: he may have put the wrong man behind bars. As he retraces the steps of his rookie investigation, Cross learns the case was never truly closed... and the “Spider” might be deadlier than ever.

Short break: Alex Cross spin-offs and novellas

Novellas and spin-offs

If you want a shorter, faster-paced taste of Alex Cross, James Patterson has written a handful of novellas and side stories. These are designed as quick thrillers, perfect for reading between the main books, or if you want to see Alex in action without committing to a full-length novel.

• Cross Kill (2016) is part of Patterson’s BookShots series. This novella pits Alex against an old enemy thought to be long dead, blurring the line between past and present dangers.
• Detective Cross (2017) is another BookShots instalment where Cross investigates a deadly explosion in Washington, DC, racing against time to prevent more attacks.

Ali Cross series

These spin-offs follow Ali Cross, Alex’s son, who takes after his father’s detective instincts but navigates them through the lens of a teenager. Written as middle-grade/young adult mysteries (aimed at readers roughly 9–14), they blend Patterson’s trademark fast pace with themes of friendship, family and growing up under the shadow of a famous detective.

There are currently three books in the series:

1. Ali Cross (2019) follows Ali as he gets caught up in a case when one of his friends goes missing.
2. Ali Cross: Like Father, Like Son (2021) is a mystery that forces Ali to balance school life with living up to his dad’s legacy.
3. Ali Cross: The Secret Detective (2022) sees Ali take on a case involving a school field trip and missing items.

Which Alex Cross novels are the Prime Video Cross series based on?

Cross on Prime Video is actually not based on any of Patterson's novels, and instead tells new stories while utilising the characters from, and world of, the books.

Stars Aldis Hodge and Isaiah Mustafa previously discussed this when speaking with RadioTimes.com, with Hodge explaining: "What people will learn is that every season, the seasons aren't based on the books, right? They are new mysteries, new characters, new villains, with obviously your staple characters - your Cross, your Sampson, you know what I mean?

"The benefit is that we get to create a world that stands as an asset to the Cross universe as it is. So people get the books, and then when they come to the series, they get an extension of the world that they love and know. And we get to create these magnanimous characters that really are truly inspired, they're creative, there's depth to them, a lot of mystery going on.

"But we get the freedom to play and create how we do as artists, always celebrating the fabric and the foundation of the books. And we get to give the audience kind of like, again, the final full experience that they want to get out of the world of Cross that they love so much."

Meanwhile, Mustafa added: "I think they complement each other, whereas the books can kind of introduce you to the characters and the world, but our show will fill in any gap, and create new things that you never even thought.

"Like, 'I had no idea Sampson was like that, no idea that Alex was like that.' Like, it would create this world that is fully fleshed out and breathed into."

Read more:

• Holly Jackson: 'I'm surprised I wasn't arrested for research on Good Girl's Guide to Murder'
• Daisy Jones & The Six star: 'Taylor Jenkins Reid has a great ability to take you on an adventure in the world'

For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club.

Looking for more reading recommendations? Join the Radio Times Book Club here - we offer 3-month or 6-month memberships as well as monthly or quarterly subscriptions where you'll receive a new hardback chosen by the RT team delivered directly to your door!