Who is Gary Soneji?: The Cross premiere name drops the detective's first case in the books

Minor spoilers for Cross episode 1 ahead

Cross season 1 has made its debut on Prime Video. The crime mystery drama is an adaptation of the titular homicide detective's story but, as showrunner Ben Watkins shared with Americans Undercover, the show isn't based on any one book in the series by James Patterson. It has an entirely new mystery and is charting it's own path in this beloved franchise which Patterson himself is excited about. However, as the premiere, "Hero Complex," made clear that doesn't mean the streaming original isn't going to reference Alex's past cases.

For those familiar with the books, when FBI agent Kayla Craig name dropped Gary Soneji, it was a sit up and pay attention moment. While she didn't shed details on the case, the killer's inclusion in the show is a nod to Along Came a Spider, Patterson's 1993 novel that first introduced readers to detectives Alex Cross and John Sampson who've been best friends since they were kids. Check out the summary for the book below (via Goodreads):

"What have we got? A missing little girl named Maggie Rose . . . a family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C. . . . the thrill-killing of a beautiful elementary school teacher . . . a psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who is so terrifying that the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police cannot outsmart him - even after he's been captured.

Gary Soneji wants to commit the crime of the century. Alex Cross is the brilliant homicide detective pitted against him. Jezzie Flanagan is the first female supervisor of the Secret Service. They complete one of the most unusual suspense triangles in any thriller you have ever read.

Alex and Jezzie are about to have a forbidden love affair—at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji is playing at the top of his game. The latest of the unspeakable crimes happens in Alex Cross's precinct and it happens under the nose of Jezzie and her men.

Alex faces the ultimate test: how do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath?"

For the show's purposes, Kayla seems to be occupying the role Jezzie Flanagan did as she worked closely with Alex on the case that brought him a lot of attention and her not so much. There's a clear flirtation between the two and a connection that's sure to be fleshed out in the rest of the season. Despite going their separate ways after the Soneji case, they've stayed professionally connected.

Alex reached out for help from Kayla when he had 48 hours to bring proof to Chief Anderson that Emir Goodspeed was murdered and did not overdose. He needed the number to a burner phone traced so he could learn who was the last person that spoke to Emir. She broke some rules to get it done, and Alex said he owed her a favor in return.

During their first meet-up, Kayla said she was looking to recruit Alex for the FBI. In the books, he eventually does join the Bureau but it's unclear whether this will be because of Kayla in the Prime Video series. However, she has her own tie to the books, as she's a genderbent iteration of the character Kyle Craig. I won't give away how important she'll be to Alex's story, but if you want to be spoiled, click here.

We're in for a ride with Cross. Stay tuned to Americans Undercover for more coverage of the series, which has already been renewed for a second season! Follow us on X for additional content.