Who Is The Mastermind In Cross: The Book Character Explained

Prime Video’s Cross season introduces a mysterious figure called The Mastermind, and their book identity and story could have a significant impact on the TV show going into season 3. Cross came back better than ever in season 2, ramping up the blood and darkness. The divisive second season focused primarily on the sympathetic serial killer Luz, who toes the line between justice and vengeance. However, the more exciting part of season 2 was the introduction of one of the most iconic book characters of all time.

Kayla Craig gets a burner phone just so that she can contact “The Mastermind” without it being traced to her number. Throughout the season, she tries to figure out who The Mastermind is, panicking that someone has leverage over her. This leads to what seems like a pretty disappointing answer in the Cross season 2 finale: The Mastermind never really existed and was instead created by the FBI.

However, the whole season 2 storyline appears to be a fakeout that’s setting up an even bigger reveal for Cross season 3, which has officially been renewed. What’s more, the answer to the villain’s identity will almost definitely connect back to the character from James Patterson’s Cross books.

Kyle Craig Is The Mastermind In James Patterson’s Cross Books

Alex Cross from Prime Video's Cross is next to the book cover of Cross by James Patterson. — Alex Cross from Prime Video’s Cross is next to the book cover of Cross by James Patterson.

While the show hasn’t identified The Mastermind yet, it’s probable that Kayla Craig is either related to the mysterious figure or will become them. In the Alex Cross books, the serial killer known as The Mastermind is Kyle Craig. He’s introduced in the first Alex Cross book, Along Came A Spider, published in 1993. He and Alex Cross were friends and colleagues. Alex and Kyle would help each other with cases.

His first on-page kill occurs in the 1995 book Kiss the Girls when he takes the life of reporter Beth Lieberman. However, his serial-killer persona doesn’t get a name until Roses Are Red, at which point the audience learns that Kyle and The Mastermind are the same person.

Then, in Violets Are Blue, Cross learns that the FBI agent he’s been considering a friend this whole time is a serial killer. This, understandably, shakes up his entire world. Although he gets arrested and sent to a Supermax prison in that book, it doesn’t stop him from terrorizing Alex Cross going forward.

The Mastermind Is Alex Cross’s True Nemesis

Aldis Hodge's Alex looking in thought in Cross season 2 — Aldis Hodge’s Alex looking in thought in Cross season 2

Alex Cross goes up against many serial killers across his career, and many put him through the wringer. However, The Mastermind has always been Alex Cross’s true nemesis. Craig is so calculated and manipulative that he manages to befriend the person who could take him down. He can point Cross in a different direction so that he never gets caught.

The Mastermind is truly despicable. He strategically kidnaps and kills individuals who get in his way. Additionally, he rapes living and dead women seemingly at random to feel power and control. Kyle Craig and Alex Cross start a cat-and-mouse game that’s extremely entertaining to read. Kyle Craig really only gets caught when he becomes cocky.

He stops taking protective measures, and eventually, he straight up targets Alex Cross and his family. Once he’s in jail, he’s still finding ways to torture and mock Cross. He offers help on a case but then refuses to give any useful information. He threatens to murder Alex Cross’s entire family and then tries to follow through on that after breaking out of prison.

Why Everyone Thought Kayla Craig Was A Gender-Swapped Mastermind In Cross

Alona Tal as Kayla smiling brightly at someone in Cross

When Cross came out, most individuals who knew the books assumed that Kayla Craig was a gender-swapped version of Kyle Craig, and that belief continued into season 2. After all, everything lined up for Kayla to be Kyle in the TV show. Kayla Craig is an FBI agent who gets close to Alex Cross. She helps him gain leads on cases, just like Kyle did in the books. Similarly, Alex helps her with her cases. She creates an emotionally intimate, and physically towards the end of season 2, relationship with Alex Cross, meaning she can learn all his vulnerabilities.

On top of that, the end of Cross season 1, and the betrayal in season 2 only bolster the idea that she will still be The Mastermind. She makes a deal with Bobby Trey that he must provide her with all the compromising evidence against the high-powered people. Kayla spends all of season 2 worried that her crimes will get out. Like Kyle would, she betrays Alex’s trust, tracing his phone for the FBI.

Even though Cross season 2 “revealed” the identity, or lack thereof, of The Mastermind, many book fans are still convinced she will become the character. After all, Kyle Craig wasn’t obviously The Mastermind in the books from the start. Plus, they left Kayla’s story pretty wide open.

Cross Season 2’s Mastermind Conspiracy & Fakeout, Explained

Cross looking serious while wearing a suit and holding a flashlight.

As previously mentioned, Cross season 2 ended with the extremely disappointing revelation that The Mastermind never really existed at all. Instead, the FBI instructed Margaret, Kayla’s boss, to create The Mastermind as a way to test Kayla Craig’s competence and loyalty. She faked her own death and played the role of the villain in this conspiracy theory. Kayla figured this out in episode 7 and recieved confirmation in the last episode. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the case is closed on The Mastermind. The reveal in Cross season 2 is almost definitely a fakeout, and I say that for two reasons.

Firstly, the creative team would have to be completely incompetent to waste the book character like that. Throwing away the character would anger the entire fandom, myself included. They had to have known that. Plus, both showrunner Ben Watkins and executive producer/lead actor Aldis Hodge are fans of the books. I want to think they wouldn’t do The Mastermind dirty like that. Secondly, the FBI conspiracy just set up the most perfect origin story for Kayla Craig to become The Mastermind.

How Kayla Craig Could Still Be The Mastermind In The Cross TV Show

Kayla Craig looks serious in Cross season 2

Previously, I guessed that Kayla Craig and Kyle Craig could be twins, and Kyle is The Mastermind in the TV show. Mystery and thriller shows love to pull a good twin twist. However, the more likely answer after Cross season 2’s ending is that Kayla Craig might not have started the series as The Mastermind, but she will become the iconic villain.

By promoting her, the FBI gave her an unprecedented amount of power, which could help cover up her crimes. She already has the manipulative and murderous tendencies necessary to commit The Mastermind’s crimes. What’s more, the FBI just gave Kayla Craig the perfect name to take on, if she’s going to become a serial killer. All the pieces are there for her to become Cross‘ big bad villain in season 3 or future seasons past that. They’ve continued to knock it out of the park with finding creative new ways to tell the story in Cross.