Though Return of the Spider (2025) is the 34th installment in the Alex Cross series, the novel acts as both a prequel and companion to Patterson’s 1993 breakout hit, Along Came a Spider.

I’ve enjoyed all these books, though they are not at all literature.

I liked going back to the first days on the job fro rookie homicide detective Alex Cross alongside his best friend John Sampson.

A nostalgic look at Cross’s early life with his late first wife, Maria, and Nana Mama.

Cross’s infamous nemesis, Gary Soneji, was quite the bumbling genius as he began his career as a serial killer.

Reviewers on platforms like Bookreporter highlight its fast-paced dual timeline and its deeper examination of Cross’ early career missteps.