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  • Published: 3 November 2014
  • ISBN: 9780857987242
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 10

Action – An Exclusive Alex Cross Short Story



Winner of the 2014 James Patterson Heroes + Villains Writing Challenge.

A 911 call late one evening, a distraught husband, two experienced police officers and a wife and child kidnapped.

Alex Cross must race against the clock to track down the missing family, and draw on all of his skills to solve the crime before the inevitable happens.

This is an exclusive short story co-written by James Patterson and Brent Gargan for the 2014 James Patterson Heroes + Villains Writing Challenge.

  • Published: 3 November 2014
  • ISBN: 9780857987242
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 10

About the authors

Brent Gargan

Brent Gargan is a teacher librarian at a primary school in Far North Queensland and the winner of the 2014 James Patterson Heroes and Villains Writing Challenge for his short story ACTION. He has always been an avid reader and loves writing, travelling, cycling, kayaking, running and watching movies. Brent lives with his wife Leigh, an inquisitive cat called Hermione and a placid bearded dragon called Wilbur.

James Patterson

JAMES PATTERSON is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His books have sold in excess of 375 million copies worldwide. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past two decades – the Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett and Private novels – and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers.

James is passionate about encouraging children to read. Inspired by his own son who was a reluctant reader, he also writes a range of books for young readers, including the Middle School, I Funny, Treasure Hunters, House of Robots, Confessions, and Maximum Ride series. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed author of adult fiction in UK libraries for the past eleven years in a row. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.