📖 About Alex Cross

Alex Cross is a Thriller series universe written by James Patterson. The complete collection runs to 36 books across 3 series, published between 1992 and 2025.

The main series is Publication Order of Alex Cross Books with 31 books. It opens with Along Came a Spider (1992) and currently runs to Return of the Spider (2025).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Alex Cross

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Along Came a Spider (1992), book 1 of Publication Order of Alex Cross Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 3 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Alex Cross Books in Order

Publication Order of Alex Cross Books
31 books
1
Along Came a Spider book cover1Along Came a Spider1992Buy on Amazon
Kiss the Girls book cover2Kiss the Girls1995Buy on Amazon
Jack & Jill book cover3Jack & Jill1996Buy on Amazon
Cat & Mouse book cover4Cat & Mouse1997Buy on Amazon
Pop Goes the Weasel book cover5Pop Goes the Weasel1999Buy on Amazon
Roses Are Red book cover6Roses Are Red2000Buy on Amazon
Violets Are Blue book cover7Violets Are Blue2001Buy on Amazon
Four Blind Mice book cover8Four Blind Mice2002Buy on Amazon
The Big Bad Wolf book cover9The Big Bad Wolf2003Buy on Amazon
London Bridges book cover10London Bridges2004Buy on Amazon
Mary, Mary book cover11Mary, Mary2005Buy on Amazon
Cross / Alex Cross book cover12Cross / Alex Cross2006Buy on Amazon
Double Cross book cover13Double Cross2007Buy on Amazon
Cross Country book cover14Cross Country2008Buy on Amazon
I, Alex Cross book cover15I, Alex Cross2009Buy on Amazon
Cross Fire book cover16Cross Fire2010Buy on Amazon
Kill Alex Cross book cover17Kill Alex Cross2011Buy on Amazon
Alex Cross, Run book cover18Alex Cross, Run2013Buy on Amazon
Cross My Heart book cover19Cross My Heart2013Buy on Amazon
Hope to Die book cover20Hope to Die2014Buy on Amazon
Cross Justice book cover21Cross Justice2015Buy on Amazon
Cross the Line book cover22Cross the Line2016Buy on Amazon
The People vs. Alex Cross book cover23The People vs. Alex Cross2017Buy on Amazon
Target book cover24Target2018Buy on Amazon
Criss Cross book cover25Criss Cross2019Buy on Amazon
Deadly Cross book cover26Deadly Cross2020Buy on Amazon
Fear No Evil book cover27Fear No Evil2021Buy on Amazon
Triple Cross book cover28Triple Cross2022Buy on Amazon
Alex Cross Must Die / Cross Out book cover29Alex Cross Must Die / Cross Out2023Buy on Amazon
The House of Cross book cover30The House of Cross2024Buy on Amazon
Return of the Spider book cover31Return of the Spider2025Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of Bookshots: Alex Cross Books
3 books
2
Action book cover1Action2014Buy on Amazon
Cross Kill book cover2Cross Kill2016Buy on Amazon
Detective Cross book cover3Detective Cross2017Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of Alex Cross Miscellaneous Books
2 books
3
Alex Cross's Trial book cover1Alex Cross's Trial2009Buy on Amazon
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross book cover2Merry Christmas, Alex Cross2011Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Alex Cross books are there?
There are 36 books in the Alex Cross collection, organised into 3 series and published between 1992 and 2025.
What is the first Alex Cross book?
The first book is Along Came a Spider, published in 1992.
What order should I read the Alex Cross books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Alex Cross books?
The Alex Cross books were written by James Patterson.
Is the Alex Cross series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Alex Cross Books, has 31 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Alex Cross series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1992, and the most recent in 2025.