If you loved
Roses Are Red
James Patterson · Book · 2000
What hooked you in Roses Are Red is the way high-stakes criminal profiling transforms into a deeply personal game of psychological warfare.
Films on the same thread
Along Came a Spider
Film · 2001
Shares a thread with Roses Are Red: Psychological Thriller.
If the intensity of Roses Are Red captured your attention, you will appreciate how this film forces Alex Cross back into a high-stakes investigation fueled by obsession and forensic precision.
Kiss the Girls
Gary Fleder · Film · 1997
Shares 2 threads with Roses Are Red: Psychological Thriller, Crime Thriller.
The relentless serial killer investigation in Roses Are Red finds a perfect match here, where psychological profiling becomes the primary weapon in a dangerous hunt for a cunning predator.
Series on the same thread
Criminal Minds
Jeff Davis · Series · 2005
Shares 2 threads with Roses Are Red: Psychological Thriller, Police Procedural.
Fans of the profiling techniques seen in Roses Are Red will find the Behavioral Analysis Unit's deep dive into the darkest criminal minds a satisfying expansion of that investigative focus.
The Mentalist
Bruno Heller · Series · 2008
Shares a thread with Roses Are Red: Police Procedural.
Just as in Roses Are Red, the protagonist here utilizes razor-sharp powers of observation and psychological manipulation to solve complex cases while navigating the weight of his own personal grief.
Cross
Ben Watkins · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Roses Are Red: crime thriller.
This series provides a deeper look at the contradictions of Alex Cross, mirroring the intense, singular obsession that defines his character throughout the pages of Roses Are Red.
You
Greg Berlanti · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Roses Are Red: Psychological Thriller.
The psychological warfare that defines Roses Are Red is mirrored here in the chilling, obsessive behavior of a man who will stop at nothing to insert himself into another life.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
Those drawn to the complex moral ambiguity and human behavior analyzed in Roses Are Red will appreciate this investigative look at the motives behind those who have done wrong.
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Justice system flaws, Legal ambiguity, Deep-dive reporting.
If the investigative depth of Roses Are Red appealed to you, you will value this deep-dive reporting that explores the flaws and ambiguities inherent in the pursuit of justice.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Roses Are Red part of a series?
Yes, Roses Are Red is part of the Alex Cross series by James Patterson. The story follows homicide detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross as he investigates a series of crimes in Washington, DC, and faces a brilliant enemy.
What is the premise of Roses Are Red?
In Roses Are Red, Alex Cross is a homicide detective and forensic psychologist tasked with solving a series of crimes that have stunned Washington, DC. He must race against time to stop his most brilliant enemy yet in this number one New York Times bestseller.
Is Roses Are Red connected to the Prime Video show?
Roses Are Red serves as inspiration for the heart-pounding Prime Video show titled Cross. The book features the same protagonist, Alex Cross, as he uses his powers of observation to track down criminals and face his most challenging adversaries.
When was Roses Are Red published?
Roses Are Red was published in 2000. It is a number one New York Times bestseller written by James Patterson, who is recognized as one of the world's most popular storytellers. The book focuses on the professional life of detective Alex Cross.