What would you do if you had a huge secret to hide? In the book Cross Fire, James Patterson demonstrates a secret that must be hidden for some time. In doing so it also demonstrates a good example of a complete plot. On the other hand, the book is written mostly from the first-person point of view. This has a major effect on the book, on the way it is used. In this complete plot there are five key elements. The first of these five elements is exposure. This is what happens first in the story and is what provides the reader with the key components. In Cross Fire the exposition includes the characters who are Max Siegel, Alex Cross, Kyle Craig, Bree Stone, Mitch, Denny and many other minor characters. The setting however is different in almost every chapter due to the others speaking; obviously they are in different places, so it changes quite often. The second of these five elements is upward action. This is when things kick in and things start to escalate. In Cross Fire the rising action occurs after the introduction of Kyle Craig. It was also after Kyle killed Max and made himself look like Max. It was when Kyle revealed himself to Alex; and showed him that all this time he had not really been working with Max, but with his enemy. An example of this from the story is when Alex stated, “I felt like my heart stopped and then started again. My mind was racing. Kyle must have had some major surgery." (Patterson 327). What makes this part of the book so suspenseful is that the reader doesn't know what to expect to happen next. It also keeps the reader on the edge of their seats, which helps create the sense of suspense. The third piece of these five elements is the climax. The climax is when... the middle of the paper... the character is usually a stereotype and uses "repeated use in particular types of stories" (Bernardo "Types of Characters in Fiction"). Standard characters are usually non-minor characters. He is a standard character rather than a companion character due to the fact that he is not a minor character he is the main character.In Cross Fire Alex Cross is the main character and is also a vital element of the story He helps bring the story to life and the reader can honestly say that the story would not be the same without him. In other words, his name isn't in the title for nothing, it actually means a lot to the story as a whole. Works Cited Bernardo, Karen. “Types of Characters in Fiction.” Types of Characters in Fiction.. Web. 05 December 2013.Patterson, James. Crossfire. London: Century, 2010. Print.