Deadly Cross: (Alex Cross 28) Patterson, James

Alex Cross is pulled into a case that starts with a shotgun murder in the capital and spirals into something far darker. A string of ritualistic killings points to a serial predator with a taste for the theatrical — someone who wants Cross to watch. Patterson keeps the pace relentless, chapters short, and the body count climbing. Cross juggles the investigation while his personal life frays at the edges, juggling fatherhood and a relationship under strain. This is Patterson in his lane: fast, brutal, efficient. If you're deep in the Cross series or just want a thriller that doesn't slow down for breath, this delivers exactly what it promises. For fans of Michael Connelly's Bosch novels or anyone who likes their crime fiction with zero fat.