Alex Cross’s first wife, Maria, was tragically murdered in a drive-by shooting while pregnant with their third child. This devastating event occurred when Alex was in his early thirties, leaving him to raise their two children, Damon and Jannie, alone. Maria’s murder remains a significant part of Alex Cross’s backstory and a driving force in his character arc. The novel “Cross” delves into the unresolved grief and guilt Alex carries over Maria’s death, focusing on his quest to finally find her killer and achieve closure.
Years after Maria’s death, Alex falls in love with Christine, the principal of Damon and Jannie’s school. Their relationship is complicated by Alex’s dangerous profession as a detective and psychologist. Christine is kidnapped while pregnant with Alex’s child, Ali. After a harrowing ordeal, Christine is rescued, having given birth to Ali while in captivity. Traumatized by the kidnapping, she initially leaves Ali in Alex’s care, unable to cope with the fear associated with his work.
After a year, Christine returns for Ali, but eventually realizes she cannot provide the stability he needs. She entrusts Alex with Ali’s custody, and he raises Ali as his own. The complexities of Alex’s relationships with Maria and Christine, and the impact of their intertwined stories, form a crucial emotional foundation for the Alex Cross series. The search for Maria’s killer, specifically addressed in “Cross,” allows readers to understand the depth of Alex’s character and the long-lasting effects of this tragic loss. “Cross” provides crucial context for understanding Alex’s motivations and the emotional baggage he carries throughout the series.
