James Patterson’s Ali Cross

Move over Dad, there is a new detective in town! James Patterson’s Ali Cross, published on November 25th, 2019, is the first book in an “Alex Cross‘ spin-off, a new mystery/thriller series for kids! This young adult series features Alex Cross’s son ‘Ali’ who has always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a detective. #2 Ali Cross: Like Father, Like Son, and #3 Ali Cross: The Secret Detective follow.

Ten-year-old Ali may be the youngest of the Cross children but he is wise beyond his years. Kids ages 09 to 12 will likely enjoy Ali Cross the most, however, Alex Cross fans of ALL ages might want to read this series just as much. I know I can’t wait to see what comes next!

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Q & A

• Is Ali Cross a book for kids? Yes, it is recommended for ages 9-12 but don’t let that stop you. : ) Ali Cross is Alex Cross’s 10-year-old son.
• Do I need to read the Alex Cross Series before reading Ali Cross? No, Ali Cross can be read on its own, however, it wouldn’t hurt. Also, keep in mind Ali Cross is a book recommended for ages 9-12 and these kids are probably not reading the Alex Cross series just yet. 
• How many Ali Cross books are there? As of right now, there are three, however, I have a sneaky suspicion and very high hopes that Ali Cross will continue.
• What sort of message does Ali Cross send to kids? Ali Cross is filled with messages of love, family, friends, loyalty, and kindness.

Who is Ali Cross?

Alex Cross Jr. (Ali) was nicknamed after the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali. He lives in Washington D.C. with his family. The youngest of the Cross children has two older siblings, Damon and Jannelle ‘Jannie’, his step-mom Brianna Stone ‘Bree’ (also a detective), and his grandmother ‘Nana Mama’.

If you’ve read the Alex Cross series you probably remember that Ali’s mother, Christine Johnson, was the principal at Damon’s school before Ali was born. After her kidnapping and giving birth to Alex Jr. in captivity, she left Ali to be raised by his father Detective Alex Cross.

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Ali Cross (2019)

Ali loves watching Law & Order and not that he is supposed to, he also reads about his dads’ cases online, He has always wanted to be a detective like his dad, and now is his chance. Alis’ best friend Gabe Qualls has gone missing and everyone else seems to be too busy to do much about it. So he takes it upon himself to investigate the disappearance of his friend.

Ali Cross has always looked up to his father, former detective and FBI agent Alex Cross. While solving some of the nation’s most challenging crimes, his father always kept his head and did the right thing. Can Ali have the same strength and resolve?

When Ali’s best friend Gabe is reported missing, Ali is desperate to find him. At the same time, a string of burglaries targets his neighborhood and even his own house. With his father on trial for a crime he didn’t commit, it’s up to Ali to search for clues and find his friend. But being a kid sleuth isn’t easy especially when your father warns you not to get involved! Ali soon learns that clues aren’t always what they seem. Will his detective work lead to a break in Gabe’s case or cause even more trouble for the Cross family?

Ali Cross: Like Father, Like Son (2021)

Ali Cross just solved his first real case. Alex Cross knows it’s only a matter of time before his son finds his way into more trouble. Neither of them expected Ali to get caught up in another case so quickly.

Ali and his friends were just hanging out in Anacostia Park when they became witnesses to a crime.
Alex wants Ali to stay far away from the investigation, but Ali isn’t going anywhere, not when his new friend Zoe is in trouble. It’s up to Ali to figure out why she’s lying to the police, and who she’s protecting.

This is Ali’s toughest case yet. As long as he trusts his Cross instincts, he may just have a shot at solving

Ali Cross: The Secret Detective (2022)

Ali Cross has always looked up to his father, the famous detective Alex Cross. And after helping to solve two big cases, Ali knows he has what it takes to follow in his father’s footsteps. Eager to keep solving crimes, Ali and his friends hack into police calls and go to crime scenes to watch the detectives at work, and try to crack the cases themselves.

But when Ali witnesses something horrible, he has to grapple with tough questions about what it means to be a detective and a detective’s son. Will Ali find a way to follow in his father’s footsteps…or will he be the one in danger’s path?

Conclusion

I think kids that love a good mystery will really enjoy Ali Cross. The really cool part is that the parents who enjoyed the Alex Cross series now have something to share with the kids. The fact that you get a perspective from both, Alex Cross and Ali Cross is just incredibly awesome, read it together. Ali Cross was very well written, it won’t be an easy one to put down. Thanks for visiting, leave your questions and comments below, and as always, Happy Reading!

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