I have read a ton of James Patterson books and have enjoyed them all. I like getting into a series and getting to know the main characters better. One of my favorites is the Alex Cross series. This book is part of that series, but it would be better to bill it as a jump off into a future John Sampson series. I've always enjoyed the character of John Sampson, and glad he's getting his due, but the book/crimes take a different path than the usual Alex Cross books. This was fine, and I'm guessing there will be more.
Shortly after the book begins, Alex Cross is out of the picture, and John Sampson, his longtime friend and fellow crime fighter dives in to save the country. There is a lot of terrorism going on, and it is tied back to military operations in Afghanistan a few years back. Mistrust is running rampant as the violence from opposing ideological groups escalates, but seems random. Who is funding these groups and why?
Fast paced and suspenseful.
ps. Although this book is part of a series, and you'll enjoy it more if you've read others you can easily pick this book and enjoy it. ( )

So anxious to read, did not disappoint. Sampson was cast as a much stronger character than I've ever read. ( )

Cross Down, by James Paterson & Brendan DuBois, is a wild ride from beginning to end. This book will grab you from the first chapters and take you on a Crack the Whip ride to the end, while you yell for more. Alex Cross and his partner John Sampson are caught in the middle of seemingly random deadly attacks occurring throughout the country threatening the very fabric of our union. The latest attack on the streets of Washington D.C. has taken down Alex Cross. John Sampson, of the Metro P. D. has taken out one of the attackers and driven off and possibly wounding one or two of the others. Alex has sustained a life threatening bullet wound that will put him out of action indefinitely. Sampson takes it as his mission to avenge his critically wounded friend and find who is behind these attacks. Can he put a permanent stop to them? Can he save the nation without the help of his long time friend and partner? Another excellent action packed book from the mind of James Patterson. This book was provided for review by novelsuspectsinsiders and published by Little, Brown & Co. ( )