It's Christmas Eve and Detective Alex Cross has been called out to catch someone who's robbing his church's poor box. That mission behind him, Alex returns home to celebrate with Bree, Nana, and his children. The tree decorating is barely underway before his phone rings again--a horrific hostage situation is quickly spiraling out of control. Away from his own family on the most precious of days, Alex calls upon every ounce of his training, creativity,...

The second chapter is set in 1979 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Luverne, Minnesota, where young State Police Officer Lou Solverson, recently back from Vietnam, will tackle an all-new 'true crime' case.