The latest from James Patterson is the fourteenth installment in the Alex Cross series, Cross Country. Following on the heels of the highly successful thirteenth entry, Double Cross (2007), which itself came right off the totally intriguing twelfth entry (2006’s Cross), this installment of course features Patterson’s famed Alex Cross in peril once again.

The story opens up with Cross coming across the most horrific crime scene he’s ever witnessed in his professional career. When Cross realizes the murder victim is his college lover, Ellie, it becomes personal. After some explosive shoot-out action scenes, Cross heads not just across the country but all the way to Africa to chase the villain known as “The Tiger.” In Nigeria, Cross is jailed and beaten up pretty good, but he remains undaunted in his desire to catch the bad guy. He somehow wiggles out of all this trouble in Africa, and the action picks back up on American soil.

As is typical Patterson fashion, the chapters (even in this audio book) are short and concise. Alos like previous audio books, it is narrated by two people: Peter J. Fernandez (Roses Are Red, Big Bad Wolf) and Dion Graham (A&E’s First 48). Both do a great job with the material, especially Dion Graham with his deep, authoritative voice. Music is used judiciously throughout the production to enhance action and suspense, and sound effects are even mixed into the audio when there is fire and gunshots. Overall, Cross Country is another great Patterson thriller.