Despite the countless books he has produced over the years, I still consider the Alex Cross thrillers to be my favorite James Patterson novels. Lately, we have seen Detective Cross vying against the mysterious group Maestro and their leader, known only as M. Thankfully, THE HOUSE OF CROSS not only continues this battle but provides readers with answers they have been seeking about Maestro and M.

"It is such a pleasure to spend time with James Patterson and his greatest creation. I already am looking forward to the next entry in this stellar series."

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Margaret Blevins has a close call (medically speaking) at the start of the book. Thankfully, she survives. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for three Supreme Court candidates, who are killed in brutal fashion as the president-elect is getting ready for her inauguration. Working the case from different angles are Cross; his longtime partner, John Sampson; and his wife, Bree, who is now employed by the international investigative and security firm Bluestone. Ned Mahoney of the FBI elite squad tabs Cross to work with him as they delve into these murders.

While all this is going on, reclusive billionaire Ryan Malcomb supposedly dies in a van accident. But it turns out that the founder of Paladin, the data-mining company used by all U.S. government branches, may not be dead after all. He also is suspected of being M and may have a twin brother.

Of course, both sets of investigations will cross paths when the third Supreme Court candidate is murdered by a mysterious woman who is recorded making reference to Maestro after dealing the fatal blow. Cross and company are eventually apprehended by Maestro, and M lays out the impetus for his great villainous plan. From a global preservation perspective, it actually makes sick sense to our heroes. To make matters even more confounding, M infers that he plans to blackmail them in exchange for their lives. That means providing support to the Maestro effort if called upon in the near future.

Patterson really knows how to plot a novel, and the twists come at you fast and furious. Even as you learn the true identity of M and the intentions of Maestro, there is still no clear answer as to whether or not they will be successful or if there is anything Cross and his team can do to stop them. The skirmishes between the two sides are legendary and beyond exciting. With all the questions that are answered, new ones are created, and the inevitability of those playing a role in future Cross novels can be almost guaranteed.

It is such a pleasure to spend time with James Patterson and his greatest creation. I already am looking forward to the next entry in this stellar series.