The People vs. Alex Cross

By James Patterson, Century, £20

James Patterson returns to his incredibly popular Alex Cross series with the latest instalment, The People vs Alex Cross. The charismatic FBI Detective and psychotherapist Alex Cross now faces the case of his life — only this time he is the one being accused.

Suddenly finding himself on the wrong side of the law, Cross is being used as an “example” in both the courtroom and the media as a trigger-happy cop who deserves to be punished.

But of course, Cross doesn’t plan on going down without a

mighty fight, and neither does his supportive multi-generational family, that are all determined to help preserve his freedom.

Running parallel to the courtroom drama is a mysterious case involving kidnapped blonde teen girls and the dark web. Despite Cross being suspended from his department,

his former partner John Sampson persuades him to help solve the case — before it’s too late for these missing adolescents.

While it’s certainly a page turner, the predictability of the plot is a tad disappointing.

Patterson (left) has Cross once again investigating violent and sexualised crimes made against beautiful women,

which, while engrossing, is undeniably familiar. And without giving too much away, Cross’s 9-year-old son provides a pivotal courtroom revelation, that unfortunately does little to boost the believability front.

Fast-paced and action-packed, this should please the most devoted Alex Cross fans, but as a casual crime novel reader, it was hard not to finish this one without feeling slightly cheated, on both the predictability and farfetchedness of it all.