Review: Tick Tock - James Patterson

Release Date: 1/24/11
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 448
Source: Hachette Book Group
Challenge: 100 Books in a Year 

& Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem - the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back.  The city has never been more terrified!

Tick -- a killer's countdown begins.

A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there.  Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.

Tick -- Michael Bennett is on the chase.

The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine.  Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.

Tock -- your time is up.

Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker.  As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn.  All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and earth-shattering enormity of his plan.  From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever. 

First Sentence

"Like the luxury co-ops and five star French eateries located in Manhattan's Silk Stocking District, Benchley East Side Parking was outrageously exclusive."

My Thoughts

I don't even know where to start with this.  I was really expecting a lot from this book, as I have heard so many great things.  I love Michael Bennett's character, and was really excited to hear there was another book in his series.  I'm not sure what happened with this book.  It was really good, don't get me wrong.  I couldn't put it down, and was completely hooked from the beginning (as I am with most every book that Patterson has written).  I just felt like I was reading an Alex Cross novel -- which isn't a bad thing, but I felt like Michael Bennett was a lot different from Alex Cross before . . .  and now they seemed to be very similar.  The other thing I thought was very similar between Michael and Alex is that majority of the time in Alex Cross books the killer ends up coming after Cross and his family.  I don't know if I am forgetting anything from the other Michael Bennett books I've read, but I don't remember that ever happening in his books.  

All of the crimes that were committed in this book were gruesome and horrifying -- I will give Patterson that.  Like I said, I was shocked and completely freaked out from the beginning.  It probably didn't help that I've been home alone the entire time I've been reading this book, so I'm constantly looking over my shoulder!  

Again, like I mentioned before, I was very disappointed in Michael Bennett's character, and felt like I was reading an Alex Cross novel.  I know that Michael and Alex are two completely different people, but I couldn't help but see the similarities in them.  I felt like the way that Michael was acting towards the women in his life, Mary Catherine and Emily Parker, was very similar to the way that Alex Cross acts towards women.  It isn't a bad thing, it just isn't really what I expected from Michael.  I was totally annoyed with the Emily Parker thing, and couldn't get over the fact that he treated her like complete garbage.  After all, he was the one that begged her to come and help him with this case.  He knew that they had some sparks, but he just led her on until something was about to happen, and then ran.  

As always, the twists and turns left me with what I like to call "jaw to the floor" reading disorder.  I couldn't stop thinking I know what's happening...this is so predictable...and then going WHAT THE *#$@!! when I realized how wrong I had been.  That is probably one of my favorite things about James Patterson -- his books are quick reads (no matter how long they are), and they are full of action and plot twists.  While this wasn't my favorite James Patterson book, it wasn't the worst.  If you are a real James Patterson fan, you will enjoy this book.

If you have already read this book, or you plan to read it soon, please let me know what you think about the Michael Bennett/Alex Cross comparison...I'm interested to see if I am the only one that felt this way. 

Favorite Quote

"Kids could be challenging, oftentimes a downright pain in the ass, but in the rare moments they made you see that maybe you were trying after all.  Maybe you really were doing the best you could."

Ratings

Likes: The fast paced twists and turns in the plot.

Dislikes: The uncanny similarities between Michael Bennett and Alex Cross

Favorite Characters: Michael and Seamus

Least Favorite Character: Emily Parker

Cover: 3/5 (it is pretty boring, and doesn't really grab me)

Characters: 3.5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.1/5

Happy Reading!

ARC Review: Toys by James Patterson

Release Date: 3/14/11
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 364
Source: Hachette Book Group
Challenge: 100 Books in a Year & Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge

Move over James Bond - you've just met your match!

Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth possess super human strength, exceptional intelligence, stunning looks, a sex life to die for, and two beautiful children.  Of course they do -- they're Elites, endowed at birth with the most advanced genetic enhancements available.  Elites are the pinnacle of evolution; the triumph of man's ambitions.

The only problem in their perfect world -- are the humans!

And their toys!

Now comes the most unbelievable shock of Hays Baker's life.  Suddenly he's on the other side of the gun, experiencing a life he'd never dreamed possible - and fighting to save humans everywhere from extinction.

Not only that, Hays and Lizbeth just might lose their perfect family.

James Patterson's Toys is a thriller on a hyper plane -- with a hero to rival both Bond and Jason Bourne.

First Sentence

"I will not forget this moment for as long as I live, which, in truth, might not be that long anyway."

My Thoughts

I'm a HUGE James Patterson fan, so as soon as I saw this in the box from Hachette Books I freaked out!  Anyway, I was pretty skeptical of this book at first.  James Patterson is known for his murder mystery books,  so that is what I was expecting.  When I read the back of the book, I really thought that Patterson had stepped out of his element, and I just couldn't see this working.  Was I ever wrong!  This book has the same fluid and wonderful writing style you will see in all of Patterson's other books, and the characters are just as well developed and easy to love.  

I had been hesitant when I picked up Sam's Letters to Jennifer and Sunday's at Tiffany's as well, because those were more romantic type books.  Patterson didn't disappoint in those two books, and certainly didn't in this one either!  I was hooked from the first sentence, and it just got better from there. 

I love Patterson's Alex Cross novels, and Michael Bennett novels, and I'm hoping that this can be another series staring Hays Baker.  I'm not really sure how that would be possible...but I would love it!

I love when you are reading a book and halfway through you think you've completely figured everything out, and then BAM, you've been wrong the whole time!  This is a DEFINITE must read for Patterson fans!

Ratings

Likes: That Patterson stepped out of his comfort zone with this one.

Dislikes:  It doesn't really seem like this book can be the start to a series.

Favorite Character: Hays

Least Favorite Character: Jax

Cover: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Overall Rating: 5/5

Happy Reading!

Disclosure - I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book from the publisher.  This in no way affected my review.

Review: Kiss The Girls - James Patterson

Kiss the Girls - James Patterson

Paperback - 458 pages

Published by Warner Books - 1995

Bought at the Library Book Sale

Goodreads Review: 

In Los Angeles, a reporter investigating a series of murders is killed. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a beautiful medical intern suddenly disappears. Washington D.C.Us Alex Cross is back to solve the most baffling and terrifying murder case ever. Two clever pattern killers are collaborating, cooperating, competing--and they are working coast to coast.

My Review:

As a huge fan of James Patterson, I didn't expect to be as disappointed as I was.  Don't get me wrong, I was completely creeped out for majority of the book --- and I was thrown off by the ending (but only slightly!).

James Patterson has a way of coming up with the creepiest, skin-crawling things to occur.  Cassanova is the killer in this book, and he goes around trying to find "perfect" women to become his lover.  He keeps them locked up in a hidden house in the woods, and rapes/tortures them. The details are extremely gruesome, so this is not a book for the weak stomached. 

I was completely disturbed by the first couple of chapters, describing Cassanova as a child -- it was horrifying to think that there are really people out there that are so crazy.  Cassanova was an incredible character, and Patterson did a phenomenal job stringing me along.

My only complaint is that I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter.  It seemed to drag on and on, and that annoyed me.  I just wanted to know who Cassanova was, and I wanted Alex Cross to find his niece.  Granted I didn't have as much time to read these last two weeks (with my job change and what not), but I read as much as I could and just couldn't plow through this one.

Recommendation: 

I would highly recommend this book to those that love a thrilling, chilling murder-mystery, but I would be hesitant to tell a Patterson lover to pick this one up.  It was quite disturbing, and just didn't seem very "James Patterson-like".

4 out of 5 stars

Happy Reading!

Beach House - James Patterson - Jan 2010

Again, being a huge fan of James Pattersons, I was expecting a lot!  In all honesty, I was pretty unhappy with this book.  It was still a quick read, but it just didn't grab me the way most of Patterson's books do.  The main character's name is Jack, and in the beginning of the book, his brother is found dead.  There is a heavy suspicion that his death was a suicide.  Jack's brother, Peter, is found dead on the beach after a huge beach house party.  His body is badly bruised, and the police hold strong that it was a suicide, and that Peter went for a swim during the night, when the tide was extremely rough.  Peter had been hired as a valet for the beach house party, which was hosted by Barry Neubauer.  Barry is a highly influential man, and also happens to be Jack's girlfriends father.  Many of Peter's friends join in to help figure out what actually happened that night.  Slowly, they are being killed off, and Peter is becoming more and more suspicious.  It is later found out that Peter was more than just a valet.  He was also a high-end prostitute.  He had been hired by the Neubauer's as well as other highly influential couples since he was a young boy (I think 15?).  There are pictures that serve as proof, and Jack decides to hold his own version of a trial, since the police won't give in.  He basically kidnaps all of the "guilty" parties, and holds his own impromptu trial at an empty beach house.  His grandfather, Macklin, is a private investigator, and he gets in on the action, acting as the judge for the trial.  Macklin and Jack decide to video the trial, and run it live on television.  


There were a ton of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting throughout the book, but I still wasn't thrilled with the book.  I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars.


Happy Reading!
Brandi

I, Alex Cross - James Patterson - Jan 2010

Okay, so let me start by telling you -- I might be the biggest James Patterson fan...EVER.   Okay, probably not, but honestly...LOVE HIM! :)


So of course, it goes without saying, I enjoyed this book! I find that James Patterson's books are written in a way that makes them easy to read, and quite quick.  I think that is mostly due to the way the chapters are cut up.  There are a ton of chapters, but each chapter only has one or two pages. 


Alex Cross is a detective, with 3 small children.  His grandmother (Nana Mama) stays with the children, while he is out solving crazy crimes!  Nana Mama falls ill, and has 2 heart attacks, and Alex promises to better balance his work and his home life.  while Alex is celebrating with his family, he receives a phone call that his niece has been killed.  The killer has put his niece through a wood chipper and stuffed her remains into a garbage bag, and then threw it into the back of a car. Of course, Alex has to take on the case.  He ends up finding out that his niece (that he wasn't close with) was a high-end prostitute.  There is a large farm, which is used for the high end prostitution.  The man that runs the farm has cameras set up in his largest rooms, in hopes of using the footage for blackmail.  Zues (the killer), has requested two girls, however, once they go in, they don't come back.  The video reveals that one of the girls that went in was Alex's niece, and the other one was later found.  Finally, the second girl reveals that the killer, Zues, is actually the President of the United States' husband. ((EEW/EEK)). When Alex and the police go to arrest the President's husband, his aide ends up shooting him to make sure to somewhat control the scandal.  Nana Mama is feeling better, and has been taken care of by Alex's new love -- Brianna.  During the epilogue, Alex is contacted by Kyle Craig (basically an old colleauge that is now in prison because he's totally whacked out), warning him to be careful of Brianna....


Five out of Five Stars!


Happy Reading!
Brandi