Double Cross (novel)

Last updated
Double Cross
Double Cross.jpg
Author James Patterson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Series Alex Cross
Genre Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher Little, Brown
Publication date
November 13, 2007
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages400 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN 0-316-01505-9 (first edition, hardback)
OCLC 128237623
813/.54 22
LC Class PS3566.A822 D68 2007
Preceded by Cross  
Followed by Cross Country  

Double Cross is the 13th novel in the Alex Cross series featuring Detective Alex Cross by James Patterson. It was released on November 13, 2007.

Contents

On December 2, 2007 Double Cross became the number 1 best seller in The New York Times . [1]

Plot

Four years prior to the beginning of the story, Kyle Craig is sent to prison for his crimes in Roses Are Red and Violets Are Blue and swears revenge upon Detective Alex Cross, who was responsible for his capture. In the present day, Alex Cross is on a date with police officer, Brianna 'Bree' Stone, when they are interrupted by the news of crime-writer author Tess Olsen's death. Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., Alex decides to help, even though he is no longer a detective. The investigators find a Hallmark greeting card and a tape featuring the killer throwing Olsen from a balcony in her apartment. In the video, the killer turns toward the camera and says "In your honor." Alex, Bree, and John Sampson, Alex's best friend and co-worker, discover that the footage of the murder was used twice. Later, the murderer goes to a play and kills Matthew Jay Walker, an actor, and posts videos of his murders on the internet. Alex realizes that the murderer wants an audience, and therefore is nicknamed "DCAK" (an abbreviation of "DC Audience Killer"). At his psychology practice, Alex talks to Sandy Quinlan, a sex-crazed woman and meets another patient, Anthony Demao. Anthony is a war-veteran who killed his partner, Matthew, after Matthew had ordered him to due to his terminal health.

As the murders get more serious, Alex decides to once again work with the DC Metropolitan Police Department while continuing his work as a psychologist. It becomes apparent that the DCAK role-plays as a different alter-ego during each murder. The killer sets up multiple websites featuring footage, pictures, and messages from him and his victims. In a federal prison in Colorado, Kyle Craig receives a visit from his lawyer, Mason Wainwright. Wainwright puts on a human-like mask of Kyle's face and gives one with his face to Kyle, allowing Kyle to escape and Mason to stay in his place. Wainwright dies shortly afterward. Alex learns of Craig's escape and goes to Florence where he reviews footage of Olsen interviewing Kyle for her latest book. Back in D.C., FBI agent, Brian 'Kitz' Kitzmiller is assigned to help Sampson, Bree, and Alex. A DCAK copycat, wearing a Richard Nixon mask, kidnaps a teen couple. The copycat killer kills the boy, while the girl is run over. Meanwhile, Kyle visits his mother, who he blames for letting his father beat Kyle as a child. Kyle steals money from his mother, then shoots and kills her.

In Iowa, Kyle murders a woman after pretending to wish to sleep with her. Alex goes to his office where he witnesses Sandy giving Anthony a hand job. Alex demands to speak with Sandy while Anthony waits outside, but Anthony leaves. Later that day, the Sandy and Anthony meet at a coffee shop, where they make-out as Sandy shouts to the onlookers in the restaurant that Anthony is her brother. Anthony reveals to Sandy that he has received a message from Kyle announcing that he wishes to see DCAK, implying to the audience that they are the DCAK. Alex, Sampson, and Bree go to a press conference in Baltimore, where Alex finds a message from DCAK stating that Alex is missing the "show". Alex learns the attempts to track the woman who had delivered the message, but she escapes in her car. Alex then heads to Washington where a pregnant woman has been found murdered at the National Air and Space Museum. Upon returning home, Alex learns from his kids, Alex 'Ali' Jr. and Jannie, and his grandmother, Nana, that his oldest son, Damon, has run away. Sampson finds Damon playing basketball. Alex scolds Damon, who is frustrated that Alex missed a meeting to allow Damon to attend a prep school, Cushing Academy, in Ashburnham Massachusetts. Alex apologizes to Damon and takes him home. Trying to find peace for a moment, Alex and Bree go to a hotel and make love.

Eventually, Alex receives a message from DCAK, who announces he has caught the copycat. DCAK throws the copycat's body from a helicopter onto a nearby roof. Alex and Bree use a ladder to get to the roof where they find Kitz's dead body. Back on the street, Bree is asked for an interview from a "reporter", Neil Stephens, who punches Bree and flees. Alex later suspects that Tyler Bell, the brother of a murderer, Michael Bell, that Alex had killed is DCAK. Kyle Craig kills a maid in his hotel in Paris before heading to Washington. Kyle arrives in Washington and murders Judge Nina Wolff, who had sentenced him to prison. At Alex's practice, Sandy tells Alex that she will be leaving for Michigan and gives Alex a kiss. While tracking down Bell's former house, a cabin in the woods, Alex and Bree learn that Bell had purchased milk days before he was last seen, causing Alex to get suspicious. Alex then discovers DCAK has kidnapped Sampson. When he returns to Washington, Alex finds a phone attached to his car. He is given directions from the phone to DCAK's hideout.

After arriving at the destination, Alex and Bree are tied to chairs. DCAK reveals himself to be the man Alex knew as Anthony in addition to Neil Stephens, the reporter. The mysterious woman from Baltimore is revealed to be his sister, who had been posing as Sandy. After angering DCAK, who reveals he had killed Bell, Bree manages to escape her bounds and shoot and kill Sandy. DCAK escapes with Alex in pursuit, leading to a chase through a Mexican-food restaurant. Alex catches and stabs DCAK, who survives. However, Kyle Craig appears, revealing he and DCAK are mutual fans. Alex is nearly killed by Kyle before Bree arrives and shoots and apparently kills him. Craig, who is not dead, attempts to shoot Bree but purposefully misses. He is able to flee. At the hospital, Alex realizes DCAK and his sister are really Aaron and Sarah Dennison. Aaron curses at Alex, vowing revenge, which Alex dismisses. The book ends with Alex taking Damon to Massachusetts to go to Cushing Academy, when Alex receives a message stating there has been a murder in Georgetown, setting up the events for Cross Country .

Release details

Related Research Articles

<i>Along Came a Spider</i> (novel)

Along Came a Spider is a crime thriller novel, and the first novel in James Patterson's series about forensic psychologist Alex Cross. First published in 1993, its success has led to twenty six sequels as of 2021. It was adapted into a film of the same name in 2001, starring Morgan Freeman as Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bree Van de Kamp</span> Fictional character on Desperate Housewives

Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is played by actress Marcia Cross, who has received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, three Golden Globe Award nominations, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Cross' portrayal of Bree has been widely praised by critics and fans.

<i>Copycat</i> (film) 1995 American film

Copycat is a 1995 American psychological thriller film directed by Jon Amiel and starring Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and Dermot Mulroney. The score was composed by Christopher Young.

<i>Kiss the Girls</i> (novel)

Kiss the Girls is a psychological thriller novel by American writer James Patterson, the second to star his recurring main character Alex Cross, an African-American psychologist and policeman. It was first published in 1995, and was adapted into a movie of the same name in 1997.

<i>Mary, Mary</i> (novel)

Mary, Mary is the 11th novel by James Patterson featuring the former Washington, D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist and current FBI agent Alex Cross.

<i>Violets Are Blue</i> (novel)

Violets Are Blue is the seventh novel by James Patterson to feature the Washington, D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychiatrist Alex Cross.

<i>Cross</i> (novel)

Cross is James Patterson's 12th novel featuring his most famous character, Alex Cross. It was released in 2006. This novel was also released in some markets under the title Alex Cross. This book is followed by Double Cross.

<i>Countdown to Final Crisis</i> Comic book limited series published by DC Comics

Countdown, also known as Countdown to Final Crisis for its last 24 issues based on the cover, was a comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It debuted on May 9, 2007, directly following the conclusion of the last issue of 52. The series is written primarily by Paul Dini, along with a rotating team of writers and artists.

A copycat crime is a criminal act that is modelled after or inspired by a previous crime.

<i>Cross Country</i> (novel) 2008 novel by James Patterson

Cross Country is the 14th novel in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. According to the Library Journal it was the second most borrowed fiction book in United States libraries in 2009.

Kyle Craig is a fictional character and antagonist in James Patterson's series of novels featuring Washington, D.C. detective Alex Cross. Craig, a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is initially a close friend of Cross and assists the detective in his high-profile investigations, and also occasionally asks Cross for help with his own cases. However, in the 2000 novel Roses Are Red, Craig is revealed to be a criminal who calls himself "The Mastermind", having organized a series of brutal bank robberies and murders. He is eventually brought to justice by Cross. From Violets Are Blue onwards, Craig is one of Cross' most formidable adversaries. In the film adaptations of Patterson's novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, Craig is played by Jay O. Sanders.

<i>I, Alex Cross</i> Novel by James Patterson

I, Alex Cross is the 16th novel in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. It was released on Hardcover and Paperback on November 16, 2009 to positive reviews and positive reception. It is preceded by Alex Cross's Trial. Its success led to 5 sequel novels, Cross Fire, Kill Alex Cross, Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, Alex Cross, Run and Cross My Heart.

"Bloodlines" is the eleventh episode of the first season of The CW television series The Vampire Diaries, and the eleventh episode of the series overall. It originally aired on January 21, 2010. The episode's story was written by Sean Reycraft and the teleplay by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. It was directed by David Barrett.

<i>Cross Fire</i> (novel)

Cross Fire is the 17th book of James Patterson's Alex Cross series. In the novel, Kyle Craig has come back for one final scare to finally kill Alex Cross, but Alex has a special day ahead of him, one that concerns Bree and his relationship. The novel was released in hardcover, paperback, and audio book on November 15, 2010. It was preceded by I, Alex Cross and was followed by Kill Alex Cross. The book sees Alex marrying Bree after proposing to her in the previous book; the book also sees the final appearance of Kyle Craig, who dies by shooting an oxygen tank, killing him and two cops before he can be sent to prison again by Alex.

<i>Kill Alex Cross</i> 2011 novel by James Patterson

Kill Alex Cross is the 18th novel in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson, following fictional detective Alex Cross as he tries to solve two crimes – one involving the president's kidnapped children and the other a case of someone poisoning the water supply.

Alex Cross is a crime, mystery, and thriller novel series written by James Patterson. The series focuses on Metropolitan Police Department detective and father Alex Cross as he faces threats to his family and the city of Washington, D.C. Supporting characters include two of Cross's children, Damon, and Janelle, as well as his grandmother Nana Mama. The series is usually narrated in first-person perspective by Alex Cross, and occasionally from the villains' point of view in third-person.

John Sampson is a fictional character in the mystery novel series Alex Cross and is one of the main characters.

<i>Alex Cross, Run</i> Novel by James Patterson

Alex Cross, Run is the 20th novel in the Alex Cross series written by American author James Patterson. The novel focuses on the protagonist, detective Alex Cross, who must solve three cases at once with the whole city in a frenzy.

<i>Cross My Heart</i> (novel)

Cross My Heart is the 21st novel in the Alex Cross series written by author James Patterson. The novel takes place after Alex Cross, Run, in which Alex tries contemplating a life outside the Metro Police after the apparent death of Ava, an orphan girl they took in. It was initially not planned by Patterson, but was later confirmed to be in the works. The novel once again features Metro Police detective Alex Cross. Cross My Heart was released 20 years after the original novel, Along Came a Spider. The novel's events, having ended on a cliffhanger, were continued in the next novel, Hope to Die.

Alex Blake (<i>Criminal Minds</i>) Character in American television series Criminal Minds

Dr. Alex Blake is a fictional character on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds, portrayed by Jeanne Tripplehorn. Blake first appeared in "The Silencer", replacing Agent Emily Prentiss who had resigned to go and run Interpol in "Run".

References