66 pages 2 hours read

James Patterson

Cross Down

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Prologue 1-Part 1

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue 1 Summary

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes the novel’s treatment of terrorist attacks, which includes the graphic deaths of civilians. The novel also features some racist and sexist language.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Wayne Grissom, sits before the president in the Oval Office where they discuss the deaths of more than 300 Americans in domestic terror attacks. The attacks range from poisoned water to shootings to pipe bombs. The unrelated, home-grown terror attacks are part of a larger, organized terror scheme meant to disrupt the economy and American sense of security.

Prologue 2 Summary

General Grissom explains that what seemed like random fury amid a wasp-like swarm of discontent is coordinated terrorism funded by America’s enemies: “Iran, China, Russia, and some Mexican cartels” (8). Web chatter suggests an attack in DC is imminent. The president makes Grissom the chair of a task force to address the attacks. Grissom suggests that the president temporarily suspend Posse Comitatus, the rule banning the military from participating in civilian law. He further suggests the “[r]estriction of civilian movement, control and oversight of the internet to prevent the spread of misinformation and fake news” and the declaration of martial law (9).

Related Titles

By James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

1st to Die

James Patterson

1st to Die

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Ali Cross

James Patterson

Ali Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Study Guide
logo

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Holmes, Marple & Poe

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Holmes, Marple & Poe: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Study Guide
logo

I Funny

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

I Funny: A Middle School Story

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

Plot Summary
logo

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Med Head

James Patterson

Med Head

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Plot Summary
logo

Nevermore

James Patterson

Nevermore

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

The House of Wolves

James Patterson, Mike Lupica

The House of Wolves

James Patterson, Mike Lupica

Plot Summary
logo

The President is Missing

Bill Clinton, James Patterson

The President is Missing

Bill Clinton, James Patterson