merry christmas, alex cross

merry christmas, alex cross
alex cross series #19
james patterson
thriller/suspense
little brown & co.
published 2012

It's Christmas Eve and Detective Alex Cross has been called out to catch someone who's robbing his church's poor box. That mission behind him, Alex returns home to celebrate with Bree, Nana, and his children. The tree decorating is barely underway before his phone rings again--a horrific hostage situation is quickly spiraling out of control. Away from his own family on the most precious of days, Alex calls upon every ounce of his training, creativity, and daring to save another family. Alex risks everything--and he may not make it back alive on this most sacred of family days. Alex Cross is a hero for our time, and never more so than in this story of family, action, and the deepest moral choices.

I'm not sure what the hostage situation had to do with this book.  This felt like two separate stories, except maybe the point of it was to show this insanely never ending day, making Alex question quite frequently what the hell he was still doing in this line of work.

Everyone was a bit different.  Bree was harsh and being a cop herself I found that a little out of character.  Although it seems like since they got married she's been home with the kids more than out on the streets.  Nana Mama is pissy as usual, but even this seemed to get under her skin more and she showed much more emotion than she has in the past books.

Alex crosses a line, which he's done before, although this time I think the stink will linger on him for a few more books.  I'm just not a fan of the Middle East extremist stories.  I don't know what it is about them, but I can't get into it.  When the events went the wayside in Kill Alex Cross I knew we'd be looking for more of this sort of storyline.  Hopefully, that whole part is over with and we can get back to the normal nutcases Alex is usually hunting.

While the action is there, the characters that we know and love, the book felt different and slightly disjointed.  Like I said, I don't know why the hostage situation was featured in the book, but it was a nail biter!