Alex Cross Books in Order

The Alex Cross series follows Washington, D.C. detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross as he investigates kidnappings, serial murders, political crimes, and cases that often involve his own family. He works with D.C. Metro, the FBI, and his longtime friend John Sampson, while his home life with Nana Mama, his children, and later Bree Stone is a main part of the series.

James Patterson started the series in 1993 with Along Came a Spider. It became his best known adult crime series and has continued for more than thirty books, including recent novels that make John Sampson a more important character. The series has also been adapted for film and television, including the Morgan Freeman films, the Tyler Perry film Alex Cross, and in 2024, Amazon Prime launched the TV series Cross, starring Aldis Hodge, which introduced Alex Cross to a new generation.

For a complete list of books by James Patterson, see James Patterson Books in Order.

Latest Alex Cross Books

Cross and Sampson (Alex Cross 35), January 2026

More upcoming releases:

  • The Family Cross (Alex Cross #36), October 2026

Alex Cross Series in Order (Publication Order)

The Alex Cross books are best read in publication order, starting with Along Came a Spider. Most cases can be followed on their own, but Alex’s family life, his work with John Sampson, and several recurring enemies make more sense if you read from the beginning.

The series starts as a Washington, D.C. police thriller with Alex working as a detective and forensic psychologist. Later in the series, Alex goes through several stages in life, working with the FBI, taking on consulting roles, dealing with family crises, and bigger national threats, but the core of the series stays the same: Alex Cross is trying to stop violent criminals while keeping his family safe.

  1. Along Came A Spider, 1993
  2. Kiss the Girls, 1994
  3. Jack & Jill, 1996
  4. Cat and 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
  35. Cross and Sampson, 2026
  36. The Family Cross, 2026

Reading notes:

  • Along Came a Spider is book 1 and the best way to start the main Alex Cross series.
  • Alex Cross’s Trial is different from the modern-day Cross novels. It is introduced as a book written by Alex Cross about his great-uncle, so keep it in publication order, but it has a historical story rather than a standard Alex Cross case.
  • Cross Down and Cross and Sampson give John Sampson a larger role, but they still belong with the main Alex Cross series.
  • Return of the Spider is a companion to Along Came a Spider, but it was published much later.
  • The Family Cross is the next confirmed Alex Cross book and is scheduled for October 2026.

Who Is Alex Cross?

Alex Cross is a Washington, D.C. detective and forensic psychologist. He grew up in Southeast D.C. after losing both parents and was raised by his grandmother, Nana Mama. She is a character who remains one of the most important people in his life throughout the series.

In the first books, Cross works with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and later he works with the FBI, while also taking on consulting and psychology work. His training in forensic and abnormal psychology trained him to see and reads crime scenes, suspects, victims, and patterns in a different way that other investigators may miss.

His closest professional partner is John Sampson, his childhood friend and longtime police partner. At home in the family house on Fifth Street, Alex is a father to Damon, Janelle, and Ali, and later starts a new life with Bree Stone, former chief of detectives at Metro. Bree also appears often in later books. The series works because the books don’t focus solely on the cases he solves. Alex’s work follows him home, so there is a background story about his life that is constant in the entire series.

Physically, James Patterson describes Alex Cross as an imposing figure, and he compared him more than once to Muhammad Ali in his prime. He’s also known for being a skilled pianist. He often plays Gershwin on his baby grand piano.

Where to Start with the Alex Cross Series

New to Alex Cross? Start here:

  • Start with Along Came a Spider if you want the easiest way to see what the series is all about. It introduces Alex Cross, his work in Washington, D.C., and the kind of case that made the series famous.
  • If you came from the Prime Video series Cross, start with Along Came a Spider. The TV series uses the character, setting, and family setup, but it is not a straight book-by-book adaptation.
  • If you came from the Morgan Freeman films, read Along Came a Spider first, then Kiss the Girls. The films were released in the opposite order from the books.
  • Most Alex Cross’s cases can be followed on their own, but Alex’s family life, his grief, his marriage, his children, and his history with recurring enemies build over time, in the order the books were published.

Related James Patterson Series

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.
Reading order last verified: