Alex Cross features in many of James Patterson’s books and in the latest, Cross tells a story passed down through generations of his family. It is a history of survival through the early 20th century, the era of the Ku Klux Klan, mob rule, lynchings and ultimately manipulation of the law by those charged with upholding it.

At the core is a record of what happened in Mississippi, when, with the support of Theodore Roosevelt, Cross’s Great Uncle worked with a lawyer from Washington to bring to an end a period of prejudice and violence.

Verdict: Very different from the typical Alex Cross stories and Patterson’s usual books, but every bit as well written. More than a hint of “To kill a Mockingbird”, but none the worse for that. The violence and hatred are chillingly well drawn. An engrossing but painful read. Recommended.*****