We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(3) Base Camp
On the one hand, Alex Cross's Trial is very straightforward. The writing style might be suspenseful, but it certainly isn't confusing, and we always know exactly what Ben Corbett is talking about. On the other hand, the book jumps back and forth between timeframes: One minute, we're in the present day in the courthouse, and the next, we're back in Ben's childhood remembering his mom getting sick. All of this time travel isn't tough to follow, per say, but it adds just a bit of incline to the plot, making this book Base Camp material for sure.