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Posts Tagged ‘james patterson’

Reviewed by Patricia Reid

Mike Bennett, his ten children, his grandfather Seamus along with Mary Catherine the children’s Irish nanny head for Breezy Point in Queens to enjoy a two-week vacation. Mike’s wife is deceased and Seamus, who is a priest, and Mary Catherine do a wonderful job helping Mike hold the family together.

Meanwhile back in New York City a mad bomber has left a bomb at the main branch of the New York City Public library. Mike’s boss Inspector Miriam Schwartz calls Mike back to duty. Father Seamus and Mary Catherine remain at Breezy Point to continue the long planned vacation and Mike heads back to the city hoping to solve the crime immediately and return to his vacation.

However, the mastermind behind the bombing has much more devastation in mind. He seems to be copying killers from the past such as George Metesky, the Mad Bomber, Son of Sam and even the Brooklyn Vampire Albert Fish. FBI Agent Emily Parker comes to New York to help track down the person or persons behind the horrible crimes.

Mike tries to commute back and forth between the city and his vacationing family but finds that all is not well on the vacation front either. The Flaherty’s, a family with an Irish mafia background, are bullying Mike’s children. Mike and Father Seamus find it necessary to step in and settle the matter. Read the rest of this entry »

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

Detective Michael Bennett, his ten adopted children, his grandfather and nanny Mary Catherine are on vacation at a seaside resort. He had high hopes of being able to have a good time. That did not last long. Michael’s cell phone rang. He was called in to help investigate the case of an unexploded bomb at a library. The bomb turned out to be a “teaser” for what was about to happen.

A series of crimes start to occur. The city is now terrorized with everything that is going on. It soon becomes clear that all of these incidences could not be the work of an amateur. There is a serial killer in the town and this person is recreating serial killers from New York’s past.

Michael Bennett asks FBI agent, Emily Parker, for assistance.

Are Michael and Emily able to solve this case before things become too dangerous for them and Michael’s entire family? Read the rest of this entry »

Reviewed by Cy Hilterman

Being a cop in a large city such as New York can be a very difficult job in the work you perform, the job you take home with you, and the perpetrators that are always in your mind. Detective Michael Bennett had been a cop for quite a few years and thought he had met some weird criminals but this new perp that called himself The Teacher was possibly the worst ever. He was killing, seemingly taking no definite direction regarding his victims as to location or individuality. And his killing was increasing too quickly to keep up with or where he would next strike.

Bennett had lost his wife, Mauve, less than a year ago. She was his rock and salvation being there to give Michael comfort when he came home downhearted because of work problems. Mauve knew how to “be there” for him whether it was a hug, a beer, words of encouragement, or anything else that caused him to be out of sorts. But Mauve wasn’t there now, only his nanny, Mary Catherine, who lived in a nearby apartment, filled in caring for the ten adopted children he and Mauve had adopted and loved so much. Huge problems existed in the Bennett apartment when the kids started coming down with some bug and were vomiting, sometimes not in the proper place! Thank God Mary Catherine was there to assist with the kids. Read the rest of this entry »

Reviewed by Patricia Reid

Preparations are underway for the wedding of Alex Cross and Bree Stone. Alex’s family is excited and happy about the wedding. Kyle Craig, Alex’s sworn enemy, is thinking about Alex’s wedding and determined to do whatever is necessary to make Alex’s life miserable. His plans to disrupt the wedding sound perfect.

Alex’s wedding is put on hold when a gunman begins a killing spree. The killer’s victims include people whose names are well known in Washington not only for their positions but also for their corruption. Max Siegel of the Washington field office steps in to assist with the investigation. Alex is not pleased with this arrangement and has an immediate dislike for Siegel. Read the rest of this entry »

Reviewed by Vickie Dailey

NYPD Detective Jack Kanon is on an unsactioned mission to catch the PostCard Killers. He travels through Europe one step behind the killers – until he hooks up with Swedish Reporter Dessie Larsson.

They put into motion a plan to draw out the killers which too easily appears to work – or does it. While incarcerated, another murder happens. Which results in the two suspects being released.

Jacob and Dessie split up with Jacob seeking background in LA and Dessie going on to the next murder site. Both reconnect and set about following the killers to Finland. With the help of Dessie’s criminal family, they ultimately track down the killers at the World’s most northern IKEA store. Read the rest of this entry »

Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb

Reporter Nick Daniels was at the wrong place at the wrong time that particular day when he had lunch at Lombardo’s Steakhouse. He was there to interview the famous, really infamous, retired pitcher for the Yankees, Dwayne Robinson. Robinson at one time had been the best pitcher around, striking out twenty people in a single game against Oakland, a Cy Young winner. But when Dwayne failed to show up to pitch in a decisive game seven in the World Series against the Dodgers, and disappeared for seventy-two hours, only then to be found lying naked on the floor of his apartment barely conscious by his super, he went from being the hero to the goat overnight. Dwayne hated to grant interviews, because he was uncomfortable around a lot of people, so Nick had jumped at the chance to interview him.

Too bad the interview was stopped before it really got started by a violent mob hit. The hired killer came behind his victim, Vincent Marcozza., the consigliere or lawyer of the Mafia don Eddie “The Prince,” Pinero, with a scalpel, and sliced his eyes out, “like a pumpkin.” Bruno Torenzi, the assassin, said he had a message from Eddie, saying into Vincent’s ear as he lay dying of blood loss the words: “Justice is blind.” And Nick was there, capturing it all on his recorder, solid evidence that Pinero had Marcozza whacked because his lawyer had uncharacteristically bombed out in court, resulting in Pinero’s conviction.

This is just the start of Don’t Blink, the latest action-packed, violent, edge-of your-seat thriller by the duo of James Patterson and Howard Roughan. I haven’t read many novels by Patterson, just the Alex Cross books I, Alex Cross and Cross Country, but I enjoyed reading those two very much. He’s one of today’s most talented and prolific authors, and I’ve often wondered how any one man can churn out as many well-written, suspenseful bestsellers as he does so consistently and frequently. I say “one man,” but some of his novels, like this one, are collaborations. This is the first Nick Daniels novel that Patterson and Roughan have written, but they also co-authored Honeymoon and Sail.

Just out in the stores this September, Don’t Blink is already being referred to as “the scariest Mafia thriller since The Godfather.” This is high praise–I haven’t read Mario Puzo’s novel, so I can’t really say how true this statement is, but the movie is one of my (and most people’s) favorites of all time. I can honestly say that the novel grabs you from its Prologue titled “In The Wink Of A Blink Of An Eye,” with the gruesome scene of Marcozza’s eyes getting sliced out, and I was hooked, not wanting to put the book down until I was finished reading it. There are twist and turns to the very end of it that kept my eyes riveted to the pages. Nick Daniels is a likeable three-dimensional character you’ll want to cheer on and root for, and his blind fourteen- year-old niece, Elizabeth, is engaging and steals almost every scene she’s in.

The plot thickens and the intrigue heightens when Nick realizes that, as bad as Pinero is, and as terrible a performance that his lawyer gave in court, Eddie is being set up to take the fall for hiring the hit man to murder Vinnie. What better way to muscle into Eddie’s territory than to frame him, unless it would be to kill him? And, when Dwayne Robinson apparently commits suicide by jumping out of his apartment window and falling to his death, Nick begins to wonder what role Dwayne had to play in it, also. Somebody very well connected, politically or criminally or both, he reasons, must be behind the killings.

That is just the start of the body count that begins to mount up. Nick’s own life is threatened, and no matter where he goes, he can’t get away from whomever it is that’s trying to kill him. Even when he’s placed under police protection, that’s not good enough–Bruno kills the two cops assigned to guard him. It doesn’t seem to matter what Nick does, it’s like he’s being watched, wherever he goes. And there are people who are willing to murder for the flash drive he has, that his friend, the DA Derrick Phalen, had given him posthumously–after having his own eyes sliced out.

Don’t Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan will ensure that you won’t want to shut your eyes or put the book down until it’s finished. It has everything that one could want in a great crime thriller, including violence, warring Mafia families, the Russian mob, crooked politicians, and, oh, did I say violence yet? I can’t wait to read more novels featuring reporter Nick Daniels in the future! If you are like me, and enjoy reading fast-paced, action-packed novels in the Crime and Thriller genres, then you’ll want to check out Don’t Blink today!

Reviewed by Stephanie Nordkap

Jack Morgan, a former Marine helicopter pilot, is the owner of Private Investigations, an elite investigation company with branches all over the world. He is renowned for helping wealthy men and women solve major problems and dilemmas, using one of the best team of investigators he can put together, but with maximum discretion. With money at his disposal and a crack team of investigators, he is capable of using advanced technology and forensic tools to solve his cases.

In this quick-paced, thrilling first novel starring Jack Morgan, his team is faced with some major problems. His uncle has asked to him to help solve a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal that could topple the entire NFL itself. Then, while on a red-carpet date, Jack receives a phone call from his best friend, and discovers that his friend’s wife has been murdered and his friend is the number one suspect. To top it all off, the D.A.’s office has asked Private to help solve a two-year investigation involving the Schoolgirl Killings. Over thirteen schoolgirls have been murdered over two years and the police are no closer to finding the killer than they were at the beginning. Jack must use all of his resources, all of his team members, and put all of them in danger in order to solve these cases.
I always look forward to a James Patterson novel and Private was an enjoyable and fun read. I was engaged right from the beginning; the chapters were short, the reading was quick, different character viewpoints were used, and the events happened quickly. While some readers may not be fans of this type of writing, I actually did not mind it as sometimes it’s nice to read a book and not get carried away by too much description; the authors tell it like it is, no holding back. Jack and his team certainly get themselves into a lot of situations, and while some of it is a little prescribed and predictable, there were some great twists and turns that made reading it very worthwhile.

I enjoyed learning about a new set of characters and while we learn much more about Jack and Justine in this novel, as it is only the start of a series, I am hoping that more attention with be paid to characters such as Cruz and Del Rio, Sci and Nora in the future. There are definitely some fun and quirky characters in this novel and it will be a treat getting to know them better. Patterson has a writing style that always makes me feel like I am right there in the action and can understand the characters, what they are thinking and feeling. And the authors also set things up for some explosive action to occur in future books towards the end. This is a wonderful beginning to a new series by an author who is considered to be a master when it comes to suspense.

Reviewed by Patricia Reid

A killer who calls himself “The Teacher” is on a rampage.  He kills in broad daylight in front of witnesses but somehow manages to escape.   Detective Michael Bennett of the New York City Police Department is puzzled but determined to catch the killer.

“The Teacher” has an agenda but exactly what that is or how he picks his victims is something that Detective Bennett has a hard time figuring out.  The killer strikes and moves on to the next victim.  There are eye witnesses but the descriptions of the killer vary from one crime scene to the next.

Detective Bennett is a widower with ten children.  The children are currently suffering from a bout of stomach flu.  Bennett alternates between chasing the killer and trying to cope with the trials of ten sick children.

There is excitement between the pages of “Run For Your Life” but overall came off as unbelievable.  This is the second installment in the Michael Bennett series. 

 Disclosure in Accordance with FTC Guidelines 16 CFR Part 255

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

Kimberly McDaniels, a supermodel, is kidnapped after a photo shoot in Hawaii. Henri Benoit, the person who kidnapped Kimberly, works for a group of wealthy people, known as The Alliance, who enjoy a very strange and sick sort of entertainment. Everything the man did to Kimberly was videotaped for the group to view. When I say everything I mean the act of violence also included decapitation. After Benoit does one job the group is ready for something even sicker the next time.

Kimberly’s parents receive a phone call informing them their daughter is in danger. They board a plane and fly to Hawaii to try and find Kim. They soon meet Ben Hawkins an ex-cop who is now a reporter. Kimberly’s parents believe that having Ben on their side would be a plus since he works as a reporter.

Benoit had his own plans for Hawkins. He hired him to write all about the killings he had done in his life. Just to make sure Hawkins did a good job of writing his life story, Benoit let him know that he knew exactly where to locate Ben’s girlfriend.

Is Ben able to keep himself and his girlfriend alive?

James Patterson has included some gruesome acts to this story but after all it is about a psychopath killer. The story moves along at a rapid pace and held my attention. I always love the quick chapters that do not drag on to take up space. This author gets right to the point. There is plenty of suspense to keep the reader busy even if some of the story is predictable. If you are a James Patterson fan, you will enjoy this book.