Alex Cross (novel Series) - Characters

Characters

• Alex Cross, the protagonist—and main character—of the series. His wife was murdered by a man whom John Sampson, his best friend later kills, leaving Cross a widow with two children and his grandmother, Nanna Mama. In the first few books he meets a woman named Christine, who he has a third child—a boy—named Alex Jr. "Ali" for short. During the books he is hunted by a criminal/threat in Washington, D.C., where he lives, which causes Christine to leave him. He is a detective who tries to be as close to his family as can be. In the newest books, he is married to Bree Stone-Cross. Since Roses Are Red up to Cross Fire, The Mastermind, Kyle Craig, has been his primary enemy. It is unknown exactly why Craig wants to kill Alex however. Craig is to have supposedly died in Cross Fire. Cross (after Nana Mama later adopts a teenage girl in Kill Alex Cross) puts the adopted girl, Ava, in the house to permanently lives; he marries Bree in Cross Fire. He has had three love interests throughout the series, Maria Cross (his wife), Christine Johnson (his ex-girlfriend, whom he'd been engaged to), and Bree. He has been friends with Sampson since he was 13 meaning they've been friends since he first arrived in Washington, D.C. In Alex Cross, Run, Alex faces several cases and his life becomes severely complicated. When Ava is murdered, he finds her killer, and solves all cases. However, he still faces several issues: problems with his new wife, Bree; what he will do after Ava's death and weather he will continue being a detective; if he may have children with Bree; and if he will ever stop having to face the recurring problem in his life - endangering himself and his family all the time. His shrink, Finally, says she will help him deal with his life for as long as it takes.
• John Sampson is Cross's best friend since childhood and also Alex's partner. Sampson, in Cross is known to have killed Jimmy Hats, Alex's deceased wife's killer. In another book, Double Cross he is taken hostage while trying to solve the case with Cross's new love interest, Brianna Stone. In earlier books, the first few, he is seen to have had been in love with Nina Childs, who dies in Pop Goes the Weasel causing him to vow to find the killer and 'get him.' In Along Came a Spider some background history is told, one being that when Alex moved to Washington, D.C., after his parents' death (and his move with grandmother Nana Mama) he instantly became friends with Alex. They were known for robbing grocery stores when they were teenagers. Sampson got married in Four Blind Mice to a woman, who he fell in love with, named Billie, despite his reluctance since he is afraid of being a father because his parents were so horrible. It is said that Billie is first and only girl that he has ever made love to. In Alex Cross, Run Sampson aids Alex several times, but in the book's final moments informs Alex that Ava has been killed; he assists Bree and Alex in avenging Ava's death.
• Brianna Stone/Cross who is Cross' girlfriend/now wife, who was also a detective. She first appeared in Double Cross, having started a relationship with Alex and falling in love with him. Bree is described as a tough Burearu detective, and is put on the case for DCAK, which she works with Alex and Sampson. At the beginning and near the end of the novel, she confesses her love for Alex. In Cross Country, Bree and Alex's relationship continues to grow more stronger. She tries to help him look for his family when they are kidnapped by The Tiger. In I, Alex Cross, Bree is shown living with Alex at the Cross home. She continues to stay at the Cross house to take care of Nana Mama, after Nana nearly dies. In the end of the book, Alex proposes to her and she happily accepts. In Cross Fire, both Bree and Alex look forward to their wedding, while at the same time dealing with Kyle Craig. They get married after facing off against Kyle Craig "the Mastermind" one final time. At the end of the novel, Kyle is killed and Bree and Alex are finally enjoying a life of peace together. In Kill Alex Cross she discovers a homeless girl trying to steal from the Cross house, and later agrees to adopt her due to Nanna's wishes. In Merry Christmas, Alex Cross she seems distraught and annoyed that Alex must be away from his family on Christmas. At the end of the novel, Alex and her share a dance while on a double date with Sampson and Billie, and they share a kiss. In Alex Cross, Run she is distraught and wants vengeance when Ava, a young girl she and Nana adopted, is burned alive. She and Sampson assist Alex in capturing Ava's murderer and killing him. At the end of the novel, she and Alex still have some unresolved problems, but their love for each other is still strong.
• Nana Mama, the matriarch of the Cross family. She is Cross's grandmother that took him in when he was 13, since both his parents had died. She is currently entering her 90s, having nearly died in I, Alex Cross and adopting a young girl named Ava in Kill Alex Cross. She is described as a very "old woman", but tough for her age. She is also described by Alex as "stubborn". She usually argues with Alex over several things thus Alex dumbs her as "old woman" and "stubborn". She approves of Alex's new wife, Bree Stone, and considers her to be a daughter to her. Nana was once married to Alex's gandfather, who she was deeply in love with. Once he died, Nana never married again or dated, as it was mentioned in Four Blind Mice.
• Damon, Janelle, Ali, Ava, Alex's three children. Damon and Janelle were the first to be born—Damon is the oldest—while "Ali" Alex Jr. has a different mother. His mother is a woman that Alex has known since Jack & Jill, but started dating in Cat and Mouse named Christine Johnson. In Pop Goes the Weasel, she gives birth to Ali, while being held by Geoffrey Shaffer. She leaving him with Alex in Roses Are Red. In Double Cross Damon goes away to a prep school in Massachusetts called 'Crushing' and doesn't return until Cross Country. Ali, however, is not featured in Merry Christmas, Alex Cross since he is supposedly spending Christmas with his true mother, Christine, who is briefly mentioned in the book. Ava, a girl that Nana Mama finds in Kill Alex Cross and adopts, is first seen/mentioned in Kill Alex Cross where she tries to steal but is caught by Bree and Nana Mama. She returns, along with Damon and Jannie in the 19th novel in the series, Merry Christmas. Ava is sent to prison again sometime during the events of Alex Cross, Run, and when she gets out, she has a drug problem once again. At the end of the novel, she is burned alive by one of Alex's newest nemesis.
• Christine Johnson is Alex's one-time-girlfriend and ex-fiancé. She first appeared in Jack and Jill where her husband is killed and she meets Alex. In Cat and Mouse she begins dating him and the two fall in love with each other. In Pop Goes the Weasel she is kidnapped for over a year; during that time she is pregnant with Alex's child and gives birth at the end. Alex is able to find her and their new born son, Ali. In Roses Are Red she becomes paranoid since the events of the previous novel, and the baby, who she names after Alex, is living with her. She has changed and begins to distant herself from Alex, fearing the work he does and believes that her life is ruined because of him. She eventually leaves for Seattle and also leaves Alex "Ali" with Alex. She returns in Big Bad Wolf to claim custody over Ali. In Mary, Mary she appears in court for custody of Ali and wins, but near the end of the book, she gives Alex Ali. She returns in Cross Fire to spend time with Alex, after hearing that he was going to marry Bree Stone, but ends up angering him and leaves after her time with Ali. During the novel, it is hinted that she still harbors some of her old love for Alex. She, though does not appear, is mentioned to be sending Christmas with Ali in Merry Cristmas, Alex Cross.
• Maria Simpson/Cross is Alex Cross's deceased wife and first love. Despite only being mentioned in the first eleven books in the series, Maria makes her very first appearance in a flashback setting in Cross. She is described as being "too short" and having a "beautiful smile". Before being killed, Maria was working as a social worker in Washington D.C. when she met Alex Cross for the very first time. They first met at St. Anthony's Hospital and fell in love soon after. They married and moved into an apartment together. Damon was born later in the marriage and Janelle was born sometime before Maria's death. Maria was revealed to be pregnant with their third child, during the events of Cross. When Alex came to pick up Maria from her work place, Maria was shot by an unknown sniper and died in Alex's arms. Her last words to Alex were that she loved him. It remains unknown if the shooter was aiming for Maria or Alex. After her death, Alex moved out of the apartment and back to his grandma's place. Maria's murderer was never caught, until the novel Cross, where it is revealed that a mob assassin named Jimmy Hats Galati, was responsible for killing Maria. John Sampson was the one to avenge Maria, to spare Alex from losing what was left of his soul. Maria has been the reason for Alex's moviation of taking on cases from the very beginning of the series. After the events of Cross, Alex has managed to let go of Maria, allowing himself to move on with his life.