What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAlex Cross
James Patterson · Book · 1993
If you loved Alex Cross, start with Cross (Ben Watkins, 2024) — a series from the same story. Below: 3 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Alex Cross across media.
If you loved Alex Cross, you crave the high-stakes intersection of psychological profiling and the desperate pursuit of elusive serial predators.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Cross
Ben Watkins · Series · 2024
Films on the same thread
Kiss the Girls
Gary Fleder · Film · 1997
Shares 2 threads with Alex Cross: Psychological Thriller, Crime Thriller.
This film provides the definitive cinematic experience for any Alex Cross fan, pairing the forensic psychology seen in the books with a gripping, high-stakes serial killer investigation.
Along Came a Spider
Film · 2001
Shares a thread with Alex Cross: Psychological Thriller.
This adaptation captures the same sense of personal obsession and professional duty that defines Alex Cross, focusing on a retired investigator pulled back into a harrowing kidnapping case.
In the Line of Fire
Wolfgang Petersen · Film · 1993
Shares a thread with Alex Cross: Redemption.
Much like the conspiracies Alex Cross faces, this film centers on a haunted law enforcement agent navigating a deadly cat and mouse game involving the highest levels of government.
Series on the same thread
The X-Files
Chris Carter · Series · 1993
Explores: Government Conspiracy, Skepticism vs. Belief, The Unexplained.
Fans of the FBI procedural elements in Alex Cross will appreciate this series, which mirrors the investigative rigor of the bureau while exploring dark, complex criminal mysteries.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Shares a thread with Alex Cross: Psychological Thriller.
This series offers a deeper, more surreal look at the forensic investigation process that drives Alex Cross, following an FBI agent as he unravels a small town's secrets.
Dexter: Resurrection
Clyde Phillips · Series · 2025
Shares 3 threads with Alex Cross: Redemption, Justice, Psychological Thriller.
The central theme of redemption and the burden of past sins will resonate with readers of Alex Cross, as this story tracks a protagonist struggling with his personal legacy.
Criminal Minds
Jeff Davis · Series · 2005
Shares 3 threads with Alex Cross: Justice, Psychological Thriller, Police Procedural.
This series directly expands upon the criminal profiling and team-based methodology present in Alex Cross, showcasing how an elite unit anticipates the moves of dangerous serial killers.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
If you enjoyed the investigative persistence of Alex Cross, this podcast offers the same dedication to forensic analysis and the relentless pursuit of justice in cold case mysteries.
Dateline NBC
NBC News · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Cold cases, Criminal justice, Forensic analysis.
The real-world forensic investigations featured here provide a perfect companion to the procedural authenticity found in Alex Cross, focusing on the pursuit of truth within complex criminal cases.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I read the Alex Cross series in?
The Alex Cross series began with the 1993 book titled Alex Cross by James Patterson. You should start with this original novel to follow the detective as he investigates the abduction of the President's children and uncovers a massive conspiracy involving federal agencies and a deadly water supply contagion.
Is the 2024 TV show Cross based on the Alex Cross books?
Yes, the 2024 television series titled Cross is an adaptation based on the Alex Cross book series written by James Patterson. The show draws from the source material that established Detective Alex Cross as a central figure dealing with high-stakes national security threats and complex criminal investigations.
Does the Alex Cross book feature a biological threat?
Yes, the 1993 Alex Cross book includes a plot involving a deadly contagion in the water supply that cripples half of the capital. Detective Alex Cross must navigate interference from the FBI, Secret Service, and CIA to prevent this devastating attack on the United States from escalating further.
How does the Alex Cross book handle the investigation of the President's children?
In the 1993 Alex Cross book, Detective Alex Cross is one of the first responders on the scene after the President's son and daughter are abducted. He faces significant obstacles as powerful figures use federal agencies to keep him off the case and in the dark throughout the investigation.