The presidents son and daughter are kidnapped and a contagion are released within 2 days, so detective Alex cross is called in to investigate, however, there are powers that be from the government who are trying to derail him every step of the way. When the president's son and daughter are abducted, Alex Cross the MPD detective is the one first to arrive on the scene. The first lady goes against all protocol and contacts Alex Cross after hearing about his experience with high profile kidnappings and requests his help in the investigations. At the same time, someone very high up in the government is working quite hard that he is derailed. The FBI, CIA and other intelligence services are also trying to keep him out of the loop. On a subplot, Hala and Tariq who are associated with a terrorist group known as the family arrive in America and execute a bio attack on the water supply.
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Alex Cross finds the bodies of the people the two terrorists met with in an apartment and thinks that it is part of the whole. Hala and Tariq fail to execute the next attack and the powers that be decide to include everyone and all resources into a big task force including elements from the CIA, NSA and the Metro Police Department. The first lady requests that he is given the lead on the kidnapping investigation. Tariq and Hala take refuge and they are given a list of targets by a man they do not know. It seems that the top executives are all on the list including the president. Alex Cross and the other members of the task force setup have to work together and use other conventional means to stop Tariq and save the first children.
Best part of story, including ending:
I like the story because it does not rely on the supremacy of elite intelligence agencies like the CIA, or military units in special forces. The hero is a regular detective with good instincts.
Best scene in story:
my favorite scene is in the first chapter when the first lady first contacts Alex Cross about the kidnapping of her children. She by passes all of the regular agencies and resources that she has including the secret service and tells him that she wants him to lead the investigation.
Opinion about the main character:
I like that the main character is an underdog in the investigation compared to the security apparatus that is on hand for the investigation.