Patterson’s latest Alex Cross mystery takes a unique spin. Patterson’s lead character, Alex Cross, is the "author" of this mystery; hence the title Alex Cross’s Trial.

After chasing a vicious killer named The Tiger half way around the world, character Alex Cross decides to take a break and write a novel. Cross first explains that his family continues the tradition of oral history. His grandmother, known as Nana Mama, often shares her family history, which spans five decades as a teacher in Washington during the Civil Rights turmoil, as well as the many stories passed on before she was born.

Trial is about Nana Moma’s uncle, Abraham Cross, a baseball player who lived in Eudora, Mississippi. Abraham was the grandfather to Cousin Moody, another unforgettable relative. Abraham Cross’s story takes place in the early 1900s when Theodore Roosevelt was president. Alex believes this story explains why so many black people feel hurt, angry and lost, even today. A white attorney named Benjamin Corbett put Abraham’s history in writing. Ben Corbett kept first-person journals, and eventually gave those involving Uncle Abraham to Cousin Moody.

Ben’s father is an active judge in Eudora. His late mother was known as the Poetess of Dixie. Ben returns to Eudora at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. Rumor has it the KKK is active, again, and the president wants him to investigate. In Eudora, Ben meets Abraham and Moody. Abraham is wise and respectful. Moody is haughty and confrontational—a dangerous combination in the South. The two lead Ben in the direction he needs to go —and so the ride begins...

Alex Cross’s Trial takes place during the time of segregation and the KKK. It’s historical, courtroom drama at its best. Ben and a collection of unforgettable characters are wrapped in a volatile story of heroes, villains, historical detail, twists and turns, and stunning revelations. It’s truly powerful. The audio narration by Dylan Baker and Sawn Andrew is outstanding.

Reviews of other titles in this series

Along Came a Spider #1 [audio]
Kiss the Girls #2  [audio]
Jack and Jill #3  [audio]
Pop Goes the Weasel #5  [book] [audio]
Violets are Blue #7  [book]
Four Blind Mice #8  [book] [audio]
Big Bad Wolf #9  [book]
London Bridges #10  [audio]
Mary Mary #11  [audio]
Cross # 12  [audio]
Double Cross #13  [book] [audio]
Cross Country # 14  [book]
Alex Cross Trial #13  [book] [audio]
I, Alex Cross #16  [book] [audio]
Cross Fire #17  [audio]
Kill Alex Cross #18  [audio]
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross #19 
Alex Cross, Run #20  [audio]
Cross My Heart #21  [audio]
Hope to Die   #22  [audio]
Cross Justice #23 [audio]
Cross Kill #23.1 [audio] - short story