Years after his wife Maria is gunned down by an unknown shooter, a crime that has never been solved, psychologist Alex Cross is called in by his former partner, John Sampson, who wants his help on a case that reveals a connection to Maria's death.

When he investigates the murder of an actress outside of her Beverly Hills home, FBI agent Alex Cross learns that the attack was the latest in a series of celebrity killings linked to the elusive Mary Smith.

Rejoining the police force in the wake of a series of elaborate murders in Washington, D.C., Detective Alex Cross finds himself working to outmaneuver the killer's penchant for inducing hysteria with increasingly sensational killings.

Homicide detective Alex Cross works with Secret Service supervisor Jezzie Flanagan to track down an elusive, murderous, serial kidnapper with multiple personalities after the daughter of a Hollywood actress and son of the Secretary of Treasury are taken, but Cross fears they will not be able to convict the killer even if they manage to bring him into custody.