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A Hero in France
Book
From the undisputed master of historical espionage, a story of courage, love and treachery during...
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated Zoo in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Working in a library it's hard not to notice how popular (and prolific) James Patterson is. While I was skeptical of just how good anything could be when it's written by someone who spits out books at a dizzying pace, and who is probably handing much of the actual writing off to one of the other authors he seems to employ, I still figured at some point I should read something of his just to see what I thought. Being a completely standalone story, and of somewhat more interest to me than his typical "murder-of-the-month" fare, "Zoo" seemed like a good way to dip my toes in the water. It tells the story of the world's population falling victim to an uprising of animal violence and the scientist who is trying to warn everybody of the coming problem and its cause. It's a somewhat simple story, but it's told briskly and has a number of memorably suspenseful scenes. The science behind everything sounds relatively plausible, whether or not it really is I couldn't tell you, though I have my doubts. Either way, it was good enough to sell the rather dire and dramatic circumstances that unfold over the course of the novel. The characters are likable enough, but don't really feel all that fleshed out. On some other negative notes; the dialogue is sometimes quite bad and there are too many times where people make horrifically stupid decisions for reasons that I found it hard to believe would have been enough to get them to make them. That aside, it was fast paced and suspenseful enough to keep me reading. The short chapters make it feel like it's propelling along at a higher speed, even if it does seem like some sequences were ended too abruptly, negating any chance of building up real suspense. The end in particular, while logical to the story, felt pretty abrupt and left me feeling just a little unsatisfied. I enjoyed reading Mr. Patterson more than I expected I might, but I don't know that I'll be coming back for more any time soon.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Beach House in Books
May 10, 2018
Jake Mullin is currently in law school at Columbia. He is working for a large firm over the summer and handling a small pro-bono case. Arriving home to the Hamptons one Friday night, he is met at the train station by his girlfriend, which is typical, but also his father and his grandfather. Not sure why such a big fanfare, he is even more disturbed by the looks on their faces, their news is devastating. His younger brother Peter had been found washed up on the beach, and the police are claiming suicide. Jake knows better and is determined to figure out why everyone is covering up his brothers death.
I'm going through all of James Patterson's stand alone books this year. I have read many of his books in the past and he has long been one of my favorite authors. His books may be long, but getting through them is always quick and easy.
Jake is determined to find out who killed his brother. His brother was not an angel, but he would not kill himself. When Jakes enlists the help from his friends in order to investigate his brother's murder, he finds out that finding the answers is going to be more difficult than he had expected. He's dealing with prominent people in the community who have the police force and other officials in their back pocket and Jake doesn't have the kind of money to change that. So he has to be creative and come up with a way to solve the problem. After the death of his father and another friend at the hands of the goons hired by the people Peter worked for, Jakes determination increases.
You will have to read or listen to the book to find out whether or not Jake is able to bring his brothers killers to justice or will he end up losing his life in the process.
This is an older James Patterson book, but a really good one. The next book up for me is [bookcover:The Christmas Wedding|10844125].
I'm going through all of James Patterson's stand alone books this year. I have read many of his books in the past and he has long been one of my favorite authors. His books may be long, but getting through them is always quick and easy.
Jake is determined to find out who killed his brother. His brother was not an angel, but he would not kill himself. When Jakes enlists the help from his friends in order to investigate his brother's murder, he finds out that finding the answers is going to be more difficult than he had expected. He's dealing with prominent people in the community who have the police force and other officials in their back pocket and Jake doesn't have the kind of money to change that. So he has to be creative and come up with a way to solve the problem. After the death of his father and another friend at the hands of the goons hired by the people Peter worked for, Jakes determination increases.
You will have to read or listen to the book to find out whether or not Jake is able to bring his brothers killers to justice or will he end up losing his life in the process.
This is an older James Patterson book, but a really good one. The next book up for me is [bookcover:The Christmas Wedding|10844125].
Becs (244 KP) rated Max Einstein: Rebels with a Cause in Books
Oct 8, 2019
fast-paced (2 more)
adventure packed
lessons that are taught within
Amazing sequel to Max Einstein: the Genius Experiment
You can also find this review on my blog: bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
TRIGGER WARNINGS: a bit of violence, anger issues, absent parent(s), manipulation, kidnapping
REVIEW:
Rebels with a Cause is book two (2) of the Max Einstein series and it was just as great as book one (1)! The adventures that were packed into this little novel along side Max Einstein still being a great role model was seriously so refreshing.
In Rebels with a Cause, we get to see more of Max thinking on her feet and implementing crazy plans to save not only herself, but her team and the world as well. You also learn more about the villains in this novel, which made for an interesting addition to the plot!
Again, James Patterson really knows how to write a captivating story that is not only well-written but fast-paces as well. There are more math/science lessons in Rebels with a Cause and I really enjoyed that they were applied to real life problems. The way that each were explained were written in an extremely easy to understand way so that the reader, young or old, can know what is being put into the solution.
The task that Max and her team were given to fix was a water crisis and I really loved that this was the main problem in the story. Having clean water available to all is a real world crisis. Water is an extremely important part of the human survival and this topic really hit the spot while reading. James wrote Rebels with a Cause again with a fast-paced, adventure packed, and informative nature. I highly recommend to all!
"I believe that Ghandi's views were the most enlightened among all the political men of our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit; not to use violence in fighting for a cause, but by non-participation and what we believe is evil. - Albert Einstein”
TRIGGER WARNINGS: a bit of violence, anger issues, absent parent(s), manipulation, kidnapping
REVIEW:
Rebels with a Cause is book two (2) of the Max Einstein series and it was just as great as book one (1)! The adventures that were packed into this little novel along side Max Einstein still being a great role model was seriously so refreshing.
In Rebels with a Cause, we get to see more of Max thinking on her feet and implementing crazy plans to save not only herself, but her team and the world as well. You also learn more about the villains in this novel, which made for an interesting addition to the plot!
Again, James Patterson really knows how to write a captivating story that is not only well-written but fast-paces as well. There are more math/science lessons in Rebels with a Cause and I really enjoyed that they were applied to real life problems. The way that each were explained were written in an extremely easy to understand way so that the reader, young or old, can know what is being put into the solution.
The task that Max and her team were given to fix was a water crisis and I really loved that this was the main problem in the story. Having clean water available to all is a real world crisis. Water is an extremely important part of the human survival and this topic really hit the spot while reading. James wrote Rebels with a Cause again with a fast-paced, adventure packed, and informative nature. I highly recommend to all!
"I believe that Ghandi's views were the most enlightened among all the political men of our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit; not to use violence in fighting for a cause, but by non-participation and what we believe is evil. - Albert Einstein”
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Mistress in Books
May 10, 2018
Benjamin Casper has been asked by a friend of his to put some surveillance cameras up in her apartment. Shortly after he leaves her building a body is thrown from her balcony. Everyone says it's his friend, Diana and that she committed suicide, but Ben is not convinced. Trying to figure out what is really going on with Diana and what she was up to is not going to be easy. Will Ben be able to find the answers before he loses his own life? Set in the heart of our Nation's Capital, Ben fights for his life to find out the truth about Diana.
This book was just okay for me. It held my attention, but I didn't find myself dying to read it during my down time. At some parts of the book, it felt like a dog chasing its tail.
Ben believes that Diana is his friend. When he attends her funeral back in her home of Wisconsin, he's not so sure. No one knows who he is and they sure as hell don't know who Diana is, at least who she really is, but does Ben. On the quest to find out if his friend is really dead, he will lose more friends along the way. Too many people end up dead and the reason is all really kind of crazy.
This was not one of my favorite James Patterson books.
This book was just okay for me. It held my attention, but I didn't find myself dying to read it during my down time. At some parts of the book, it felt like a dog chasing its tail.
Ben believes that Diana is his friend. When he attends her funeral back in her home of Wisconsin, he's not so sure. No one knows who he is and they sure as hell don't know who Diana is, at least who she really is, but does Ben. On the quest to find out if his friend is really dead, he will lose more friends along the way. Too many people end up dead and the reason is all really kind of crazy.
This was not one of my favorite James Patterson books.
The Murder House
James Patterson and David Ellis
8.5
Rate It
Book
No. 7 Ocean Drive is a gorgeous, multi-million-dollar beachfront estate in the Hamptons, where money...
Thriller Suspense Murder Detective James Patterson
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Store in Books
Apr 9, 2019
In this day and age everyone shops online and The Store has everything you want. The Store is so great, it can even predict what you want or need even before you know you need or want it. But who wants that much invasion into their lives? Jacob and Megan Brandeis intend to get to the core of The Store, to find it's inner workings and write a book to tell the whole world about it. But will The Store prove to be too much for this pair?
When reading this book and learning about The Store, the first thing that comes to mind is Amazon. I know Amazon is tracking me when I see what I was searching on my Facebook feed. An online shop that started selling books, but now you can buy anything from them. This is no Amazon, though, with surveillance cameras and microphones in every home and on every street lamp and sign. There is no privacy from The Store. Will Jacob and Megan be able to expose all inner workings of The Store before it's too late?
James Patterson is one of my favorites, but this book was just okay for me. It did make me think though about what would be next in life. Will drones be polluting the sky to bring us our packages and meals? Will there be a need for us to ever leave our homes and interact with people in person? I would hate for a world like that.
When reading this book and learning about The Store, the first thing that comes to mind is Amazon. I know Amazon is tracking me when I see what I was searching on my Facebook feed. An online shop that started selling books, but now you can buy anything from them. This is no Amazon, though, with surveillance cameras and microphones in every home and on every street lamp and sign. There is no privacy from The Store. Will Jacob and Megan be able to expose all inner workings of The Store before it's too late?
James Patterson is one of my favorites, but this book was just okay for me. It did make me think though about what would be next in life. Will drones be polluting the sky to bring us our packages and meals? Will there be a need for us to ever leave our homes and interact with people in person? I would hate for a world like that.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Private: No. 1 Suspect: (Private 4) in Books
Jan 20, 2020
So good!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Unsolvable cases
Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm--sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world--and they always uncover the truth.
Impossible murders
When his former lover is found murdered in Jack Morgan's bed, he is instantly the number one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them. And the beautiful manager of a luxury hotel chain persuades him to quietly investigate a string of murders at her properties.
The #1 suspect is Jack Morgan
While Jack is fighting for his life, one of his most trusted colleagues threatens to leave Private, and Jack realizes he is confronting the cleverest and most powerful enemies ever. With more action, more intrigue, and more twists than ever before, PRIVATE #1 SUSPECT is James Patterson at his unstoppable best.
My view
Oh that was so much better than the last one. Back in the states with Jack on a murder charge, the mob pulling in favours and a movie star in trouble. It was well written and flowed brilliantly. I do like this series. Jack needs to sort that brother of his out for good soon having Colleen killed was one step to far! I have a strong dislike for Tommy!
Recommended
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm--sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world--and they always uncover the truth.
Impossible murders
When his former lover is found murdered in Jack Morgan's bed, he is instantly the number one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them. And the beautiful manager of a luxury hotel chain persuades him to quietly investigate a string of murders at her properties.
The #1 suspect is Jack Morgan
While Jack is fighting for his life, one of his most trusted colleagues threatens to leave Private, and Jack realizes he is confronting the cleverest and most powerful enemies ever. With more action, more intrigue, and more twists than ever before, PRIVATE #1 SUSPECT is James Patterson at his unstoppable best.
My view
Oh that was so much better than the last one. Back in the states with Jack on a murder charge, the mob pulling in favours and a movie star in trouble. It was well written and flowed brilliantly. I do like this series. Jack needs to sort that brother of his out for good soon having Colleen killed was one step to far! I have a strong dislike for Tommy!
Recommended
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Underground Airlines
Book
"The most timely of alternate history novels. Ben Winters has created a spellbinding world that...