Join best-selling author James Patterson, known for his iconic Alex Cross series, as he delves into the creative inspiration behind his latest novel, The House of Cross. He shares fascinating insights on crafting compelling villains and the intertwining of crime fiction with real-life issues. The conversation also explores the challenges characters like Alex Cross face within the labyrinth of crime, all while paralleling the host's investigative journey into dark web crimes. Patterson’s take on character development and moral dilemmas is both enlightening and entertaining.
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Alex Cross Inspiration
James Patterson worked at McLean Hospital, observing psychologists and patients.
This experience influenced his creation of Alex Cross, a detective and psychologist.
insights INSIGHT
Worthy Villains
Walt Disney believed great stories need great villains, crucial for Patterson's books.
A worthy villain must challenge Alex Cross intellectually, not just physically.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Elena's Husband
Elena's husband hired a hitman on the dark web, then rented a room with weapons.
He considered killing her himself, highlighting the danger of such situations.
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In this first book of the Alex Cross series, James Patterson introduces Alex Cross, a Washington D.C. homicide detective with a Ph.D. in psychology. The story revolves around the kidnapping of two children, Maggie Rose Dunne and Michael Goldberg, by their school teacher, Gary Soneji, who aims to commit the 'crime of the century'. Cross, along with Secret Service agent Jezzie Flanagan, must navigate a complex web of crimes and deceit to rescue the children. The novel explores themes of suspense, psychological insight, and the personal challenges faced by Cross, including a forbidden love affair with Flanagan. The plot is marked by multiple twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged as Cross and Soneji engage in a cat-and-mouse game.
The House of Cross
James Patterson
In this thriller, Detective Alex Cross is drawn into a high-stakes investigation involving the murders of Supreme Court candidates. As the president-elect prepares for her inauguration, Cross must delve into the mind of a diabolical killer to stop the murders. Complicating matters, his wife Bree and best friend John Sampson go missing while following leads, forcing Cross to balance his professional obligations with a desperate search to save them. The story unfolds against a backdrop of corruption, vigilantism, and the personal risks Cross faces to protect his family and country.
Jack and Jill
James Patterson
In this third installment of the Alex Cross series, Detective Alex Cross is faced with two complex and interconnected murder cases. The first involves the murder of a controversial U.S. senator, with the killers leaving a mysterious rhyme signed 'Jack and Jill'. The second case is closer to home, as a beautiful little girl is savagely beaten and left in front of the elementary school Cross's son attends. As Cross delves deeper into both cases, he must navigate a web of high-profile targets, including politicians and celebrities, while the killers continue to strike. The novel is a relentless roller coaster of heart-pounding suspense and jolting plot twists, testing Cross's skills and courage to the limit.
On this special episode, Kill List host Carl Miller sits down for an in-depth conversation with best-selling crime novelist James Patterson, whose long-running Alex Cross book series is the inspiration for the new Amazon Prime series Cross. They’ll discuss where Patterson gets his inspiration, and draw parallels between the challenges Carl faced investigating Kill List, and the obstacles Patterson’s famous fictional detective goes up against when trying to catch his villains. Patterson’s latest Cross novel, The House of Cross, hits shelves this month.
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