With so much product put out by the prolific writer James Patterson, it’s really hard to say “his latest offering” because within a couple a months another title will be out. But if you happen to read this review while Cross is still on bookshelves in hardcover, then I can safely say that this is the latest offering from prolific writer James Patterson. Of course, Cross could only refer to Patterson’s long-running (and most popular) character Alex Cross, who was brought to life on the silver screen by none other than the legendary Morgan Freeman in films like Kiss The Girls and Along Came A Spider.

But is it the same old Alex Cross? Time stands still for no one, and Alex Cross is no exception. This audio production starts off in the past – 1993, to be exact - when Cross’s beloved wife Maria was murdered. For a full year, Cross worked the case but got nowhere. Ultimately, Cross moves on from the FBI and moves his family out of the home to start anew. At the same time, Michael “The Butcher” Sullivan is raping and murdering women as he does some dirty work for the mob.

The story then flashes forward to the present day. Alex is doing well with Nana and the kids, but Michael Sullivan (though he’s slowed down somewhat) is still on a raping/murdering rampage in the D.C. area. Cross’s former partner John Sampson gets the case of a serial rapist killer and asks Cross to help with it. Soon enough, a link between this case and the murder of his wife emerges, leading to the inevitable showdown between Cross and Sullivan.

The audio book moves at just as brisk a pace as Patterson’s books – meaning very fast. The voice performances by Jay O. Sanders and Peter J. Fernandez are absolutely superb. Also quite noticeable is the efficacious use of music. It is almost like listening to a movie score as the voice performers do their work. The combination of story, music, and two excellent voice performances makes Cross a very exciting, compelling, and intense listen. Easily the best of Patterson’s recent work, for sure.