You may start seeing quite a few James Patterson book reviews popping up on my blog over the coming months...I came into possession of a mega selection from my mum who was doing a cull within her bookshelves. I, of course, was rewarded with the offcuts. After discovering that my mother dearest seems to have an aversion to reading complete character series, I also (again, of course) was obliged to top them up with
any missing pieces and have now amassed a collection of around 25 James Patterson books. Some standalone, some not.
It's a darn good thing I love a thriller or I'd be in for a rough time! James Paterson is, for me, a comfort author. The pacy style and twisty twists mean that many of his books can be devoured in a chilled afternoon or two. They are great pallet cleansers between some of the more literary works I also enjoy. This was my first such book (although I didn't know this one was a series when I started it so I have another few books to buy, but don't tell Magic Mike, I'm on a ban! Completing a series is fine though, right? It's a workaround in my view!)
BLURB
How can you prove your innocence when you can't remember the crime?
Being a cop runs in Billy Harney's family. The son of Chicago's Chief of Detectives whose twin sister Patti also followed in their father's footsteps, Billy would give up everything for the job - including his life.
After a brutal shooting, Billy is left for dead alongside his tempestuous former partner and an ambitious assistant district attorney. But somehow Billy survives - and is charged with double murder.
Billy remembers nothing about the shooting. Retracing his steps to find proof of his innocence, he discovers the existence of a little black book that he suspects contains the truth that will either set him free, or confirm his worst fears.
AUTHOR
What can I say? James Patterson is a prolific writer, probably most well-known for his fast-paced and twisty thrillers though he has dabbled in many other genres, including romance and children's books. He seems to be constantly writing, there is always new work being churned out (he has 5 books due to be released between October 2024 and the start of January 2025). Since I will be writing about him and reviewing some of his books in the coming months, I'll share a little snippet with you just now, stay tuned for more!
One thing I did notice when perusing his website is that he seems to be using his platform for good, sharing his love of books and storytelling. He's donated books to schools, money to school libraries, and has supported many independent bookstores. Not to mention the scholarships he's funded for teacher/writer training. His belief in the importance of education is clear and I liked seeing how much of an impact he's been able to have. Here's his website if you would like to have a look!
PLOT/STORYLINE
In terms of plot, this book is reasonably straightforward. For a James Patterson book anyway! It starts as it means to go on, with a twist to the story within the first few pages. Not unusual for this author by any stretch of the imagination, but it sets the scene for a pacy thriller that doesn't let up from start to finish.
I'll carefully tread around spoilers (believe me, it's not easy!) and warn you to be in for a rollercoaster. As soon as you think you have it all figured out, another layer is revealed.
Billy is at death's door, involved in a brutal crime. And everyone thinks he did it. He isn't so sure, but doesn't have any memory of the incident or any of the events leading up to it. The story follows Billy as he tries to work out, what on earth is going on.
If you've read any of my other reviews, you will know that a dual timeline is one of my favourite storytelling devices and it's utilised with great success throughout this book. There are also multiple points of view which help maintain that fast pace without seeming too "samey". Billy starts to remember, gradually, the events leading up to the murder and they're told in tandem, bringing everything together at the end.
As Billy's a cop, expect intrigue, corruption, suspicion, and general underhanded behaviour, it's all there!
CHARACTERS
Billy is our main man. I thoroughly enjoyed his character, and loved his sarcasm and wit, along with his steadfast desire to do the right thing. His integrity shines through in his thoughts and actions which was very appealing. I love a snarky inner monologue and self-deprecating humour which Billy served in spades. I felt like Billy was exactly the kind of guy I'd enjoy a game of bowling and a few beers with.
Given that this is a thriller, we are in a situation where everyone's a suspect, even when they aren't - keeping the doors open for the final reveal, the crescendo, and keeping the reader guessing. This means that most of the other characters in the book showcased their flaws to an almost caricature level, so I didn't particularly LIKE any of them. Each character also showed their redeeming features, making the reader doubt their earlier suspicions, or making the dubious moments even more prominent. This was, of course, for the same reason...to keep the reader guessing. In my view, this means they served their purpose (almost too well!).
This also means that I won't go into too much of a character analysis here, since I know who the real suspects need to be now, I'll be biased :)
OVERALL REVIEW
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🔥🔥
Books like this one are my bread and butter. They do what they need to do and allow me to fall into a world outside of my own, fast-paced as opposed to my own meandering. Some people struggle with the short chapters that James Patterson is known for, but I find they help effectively control the narrative, information isn't sitting with the reader for a long time before the next thing happens, even visually, the new chapter will subliminally have you filing away the information without over analysing it - necessary to keep you on your toes!
It's filled with sarcasm, humour, and wit, tons of banter, and real laugh-out-loud, relatable moments. It's not groundbreaking or completely out there or unique but it doesn't need to be. It's not that deep, and not all reading has to be. It's a straightforward but enjoyable thriller with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Exactly what it says on the tin!
Other books by Mr. Patterson, it could be argued, are more robust, more unique, more psychological and I'd agree with that. This one is more action than psychological but nothing can take away from the fact that James Paterson knows how to write a book.
It was a nice quick read, one that I would say to pick up instead of skipping past next time you are roaming your TBR list!
It's also the first of a small series, all with Billy as the main character. That said, it works reasonably well as a standalone, the story is tied up nicely, ready for Billy's next case, The Red Book!
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
Anyone looking for a quick read, on holiday, or a travel day, something to pop in the hand luggage ready for the airport, this is a nice fast book. So if you want something fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns, this could be what you're looking for!
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