Alex Cross Reading Order

James Patterson's Alex Cross books are one of the biggest modern thriller runs: fast chapters, recurring villains, and a lead character who has been carrying the series for decades. With a list this long, the important question is not finding a clever reading order, but finding the right starting point and deciding how deep you want to go.

Our Recommendation: Read in Publication Order Read in publication order. Alex Cross is the kind of series where you can stop whenever you want, but if you are going to start, you should start at the beginning and let the long-term continuity accumulate properly.

All 33 Alex Cross Books in Order

  1. Along Came a SpiderBuy NowAudible
  2. Kiss the GirlsBuy NowAudible
  3. Jack & JillBuy NowAudible
  4. Cat & MouseBuy NowAudible
  5. Pop Goes the WeaselBuy NowAudible
  6. Roses Are RedBuy NowAudible
  7. Violets Are BlueBuy NowAudible
  8. Four Blind MiceBuy NowAudible
  9. The Big Bad WolfBuy NowAudible
  10. London BridgesBuy NowAudible
  11. Mary, MaryBuy NowAudible
  12. CrossBuy NowAudible
  13. Double CrossBuy NowAudible
  14. Cross CountryBuy NowAudible
  15. Alex Cross's TrialBuy NowAudible
  16. I, Alex CrossBuy NowAudible
  17. Cross FireBuy NowAudible
  18. Kill Alex CrossBuy NowAudible
  19. Merry Christmas, Alex CrossBuy NowAudible
  20. Alex Cross, RunBuy NowAudible
  21. Cross My HeartBuy NowAudible
  22. Hope to DieBuy NowAudible
  23. Cross JusticeBuy NowAudible
  24. Cross the LineBuy NowAudible
  25. The People vs. Alex CrossBuy NowAudible
  26. Target: Alex CrossBuy NowAudible
  27. Criss CrossBuy NowAudible
  28. Deadly CrossBuy NowAudible
  29. Fear No EvilBuy NowAudible
  30. Triple CrossBuy NowAudible
  31. Cross DownBuy NowAudible
  32. The House of CrossBuy NowAudible
  33. Return of the SpiderBuy NowAudible
Own the Complete Series Buying the whole series at once is usually cheaper than individual books, and box sets make a great gift. See Alex Cross box set options on Amazon ›

You Do Not Have to Read All 33

One practical note: starting Alex Cross does not mean committing to every single book on this page. Publication order is still the best route, but it is perfectly reasonable to read the early run, decide whether the series works for you, and then keep going only if you want more.

Where to Start

Best starting point: Along Came a Spider

Start with the first novel. It is still the clearest gateway into the character and gives you the best test of whether you want to keep going deeper into the series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I read Alex Cross in order?

Yes. The early books are still the right place to begin, and the long-running continuity makes more sense if you build forward instead of sampling randomly.

How many Alex Cross books are tracked here?

This page currently tracks 33 titles in Alex Cross.

Do I need to commit to all of Alex Cross?

No, but publication order still makes sense. You can stop whenever you want, and the earlier books will give you the clearest feel for whether the series works for you.

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