Return of the Spider

AI Rating: 2/10 - James Patterson's "Return of the Spider," a 2025 Alex Cross thriller, continues the long-running series with a Black detective protagonist fighting a serial killer. While featuring natural diversity (Cross's interracial family and diverse team), it emphasizes high-stakes suspense, plot twists, and action over progressive messaging, social justice lectures, or identity politics. Patterson's style prioritizes commercial storytelling, avoiding heavy "woke" elements.