Cross My Heart (novel)

Cross My Heart is the 21st novel in the "Alex Cross" series written by author James Patterson. The novel takes place after "Alex Cross, Run", in which Alex tries contemplating a life outside the Metro Police after the apparent death of Ava, an orphan girl they took in. It was initially not planned by Patterson, but was later confirmed to be in the works. The novel once again features Metro Police detective Alex Cross. "Cross My Heart" was released 20 years after the original novel, "Along Came a Spider". The novel's events, having ended on a cliffhanger, were continued in the next novel, "Hope to Die".
Premise.
Alex Cross has been a family man at heart—he loves his children, his grandmother, and his beautiful wife Brianna. Alex Cross has managed to stop serial killers and survive. But all of that is about to change. When a new enemy targets Cross and his family, Cross finds himself in a whole new game. If he tries to save his family or stop the killer, they die. Can Alex protect his family and capture a criminal at the same time?
Release.
The novel was scheduled to be released in November 25, 2013 in hardcover and audio book, with the paperback to be presumably released in 2014. The release coincides with the 20th anniversary of the original novel.
Critical reception.
The novel has received mostly positive reviews. Author of the Jack Reacher series, Lee Child, has given the novel a positive review, stating that "Behind all the noise and numbers, we shouldn't forget that no one gets this big without natural storytelling talent—which is what James Patterson has, in spades. The Alex Cross series proves that."