Black Market, James Patterson-Book Review

"Black Market" by James Patterson is an older novel that is copyrighted in 1986. It is a story about terrorism, which we did not think possible in our nation until 9-11 happened in New York. We are vulnerable! Arch Carrol is an expert on terrorism and works for the government. The terrorist attack Wall Street and make off with billions of dollars, they were going to cripple the economy world wide. The terrorist were called Green Band. Carrol was on top of the info about Green Band and starts his investigation. There was not much to investigate. Patterson has the reader focusing on terror, big government, and world wide involvement. Only Patterson can write a story of this caliber and keep the interest up in a page turning novel. The ending is great and Patterson has the reader guessing who was involved. Very easy to read and hard to put down.

Beach Road, James Patterson

"Beach Road" by Patterson and De Jonge is a real suspenseful thriller that is easy to read and very interesting to try and figure out the plot, who dun it. The story starts in East Hampton where the wealthy have muti- million dollar estates. At one estate the owner built an official basketball court and the locals had games there often. Tom Dunleavy was a pro player, but injury kept him from his dreams. He ended up a lawyer in East Hampton and kept busy enough to pay the bills. Tom still played and went to the court to stay in shape. After a fight at one of the games, three team mates were murdered and Dante Halleyville is falsely accused. Dante is a friend of Tom's so Tom decides to defend him in court. Tom seeks the help of Kate Costello, a successful super lawyer and Tom's old lover. Together they produce a good defense for the trial of the century. Patterson has written the book from the viewpoints of the different characters involved. It is some what different from his normal prose, but the end product is very good. The ending is very surprising, but that is what Patterson does with the grace of a great author.

The 5th Horseman, James Patterson

"The 5th Horseman" by Patterson is the 5th book about Lindsey Boxer and the Murder Club. Lindsey is a Lt. of the SFPD in homicide and gets invited to lunch with Yuki, the latest member of the club, and her mom, Keiko. The mom collapsed and was sent to the SF Municipal Hospital where she got good treatment and was in full recovery when she was given the wrong medicine and died. This was not the first death that the hospital experienced, there were many unexplained deaths. Someone was playing God and the hospital was being scrutinized for this. They end up in court for mal-practice case. Along with this, Lindsey is looking at several murders of young women. They were found dressed in expensive clothes and propped up in a nice car to look like a mannequin. With budget cuts and a shortage of help, Lindsey seeks help from her friends in the Murder Club. Also Lindsey is able to get enough evidence against the hospital to survey the problem.

Patterson has provided the reader with enough suspense to keep the interest going to the last page. Lindsey is the only character exploited and to get to know some of the other characters in the club would be nice. There is a surprising twist at the end that is unexpected. All in all the book is a good, fast read and well worth the time.

Cross, James Patterson - Review and Video

"Cross" by Patterson is an Alex Cross novel. Patterson has done a wonderful job with this book setting the pace with a psychopath killer and mutilator known as the " Butcher" Michael Sullivan. Patterson starts the story with Alex and Maria living in love and harmony with two children, Damon and Jannie. Alex picked up Maria from work when she was fatally shot in his arms. Thirteen years later these memories are still vivid in his mind for this case was never closed.

Alex has given up hunting criminals and started a practice of psychology therapy, a wish of his grandmother and children. He enjoyed this life of leisure, playing the piano and showing his love and help for all. Alex was approached by his friend John Sampson, a detective for the DC police, to seek out a ruthless rapist and killer. He could not say no for there was a tie to the death of Maria. The Butcher continued to kill and Sampson and Alex were hot on his case.

Patterson is very graphic in the killings, but that helps make the story non-stop. The book is a fast read and the intense is felt on every page. Patterson is a great author and his short chapters make the reading fly.

Step On A Crack, James Patterson

Patterson has developed a new character in "Step on a Crack", Michael Bennet. I was apprehensive about some one new but the character holds his own as a compassionate, loving man and a dedicated person with his position as a detective on the NYPD. It is going to be a very hard Christmas for Mike because his wife Maeve is terminally ill with cancer and he has 10 adopted kids of different origin to look after.

A funeral was being held at St. Patricks Cathedral in Manhattan for a past presidents wife. The mourners were hijacked and held hostage by a dozen men who were well armed and well planned for this event. Mike is the negotiator and his calm talk got many freed. The ones left were famous and rich. The hijackers demands were several million dollars for each celebrity. The story bounces between the visits to Maeve in the hospital, care taking of the children at home and the hostage taking at St. Pats. Things turn ugly at the cathedral when a priest was murdered and thrown out front. Mike kept his cool but knew they were dealing with ruthless killers. The pace thickens and the hostage drama is played out in full detail.

Patterson has developed a good story with the tension of the hostage ordeal, the loving moments Mike spent with Maeve and the home life with his children. The book is easy to read, very gripping and impossible to put down. I am sure there will be more stories with Mike Bennet, NYPD.

Judge and Jury, Patterson & Gross

"Judge & Jury" - Patterson is one of the best-known and bestselling writers of all time. Nick Pellisante, special agent for the FBI in New York, has staked out a wedding on Long Island in hopes to capture a mobster, Dominic Cavello. Cavello is spotted and the word was go, but the capture went bad and several agents are killed including two of Nick's close friends. Cavello is caught and jailed which leads to a trial. A jury is selected and the trial begins, but Cavello is not worried for he has the best mercenary and assassin on his side. As the trial continued, the prosecuters had a good and solid case. The jurors were in a bus when the mercenary blew it up, killing all the jurors but one, Andie Degrasse. Her ten year old son was on the bus also for his birthday, his death left a big hole in her heart.

Nick Pellisante quit the FBI and started teaching law. He felt bad for Andie and went to see her. This started a relationship between them and when the new trial came, Andie and Nick went to see the proceedings. The new trial was to be held at Ft Dix Army Base, NJ, totally set aside from the public. In the transfer of Cavello to Ft Dix from the federal building, guards were taking Cavello down in an elevator when a large explosion goes off in the basement. Through the confusion Cavello escapes.

Nick goes over the tapes of the elevator for several weeks and makes a link as to who the mercenary was, a man in Israel. With his connections from the FBI, he learns this mans address. Andie and Nick are off to Israel. They hope to learn Cavello's location. They found this mans home and watched for weeks until they came up with a plan. The plan worked and they found out where Cavello was, southern Argentina, "the end of the earth" as Cavello said.

Nick and Andie are off to Argentina. They locate the ranch and realize how desolate the area is and winter is setting in fast. They learn Cavello's routine and come up with a plan that will use Andie's talents. Patterson & Gross do a fine job bringing the story to a close, but when you think it is over, it is not. The ending is great, eye for an eye...

Pop Goes The Weasel, James Patterson

"Pop Goes the Weasel" is a story with Dr.Alex Cross as the main character. Alex is a detective with the Washington DC police, also a psychologist. There was a rash of brutal murders, Alex was sure they were done by a serial killer. Alex's commanding chief, Pittman, did not want Alex looking for a serial killer and told him not to. Pittman even had another detective watching Alex to make sure he did not look into that option. The detective, Patsy Hampton, was a loner in her operations, that is the way she worked. Alex uncovered some crucial evidence in the case with pictures of his family in a closet.

Alex and his family take a few days off to celebrate the "yes" answer that Christine said to the question of them getting married. They all went to the Bahamas for some rest and relaxing and plan for the up coming wedding. They were having a good time swimming and snorkeling in the ocean. On the last day of the stay, Christine gets kidnapped! There was no word and Alex was beside himself.

Geof Shafer, known as the weasel by Alex, was an agent for the British embassy, he seemed like a family man but he was a manic or bi-polar person. He was addicted to pharmaceutical drugs, he was out of his mind. Shafer was a player in the 4 Horsemen, a role playing game on the internet. He was death and all the murders in DC were his fantasy, but he took it a step further. He loved to kill!

Patsy Hampton was able to identify Shafer from a young hacker who read some of his fantasies on the net and hacked into his profile getting his identity and location of work. After receiving this information, she gets in touch with Alex to discuss the case. They put Shafer under surveillance. This leads to a large court battle and Patterson takes the reader to the truth of the justice system. If one is wealthy, the verdict bends in their direction, like O.J. Simpson. Patterson creates a grand finale to this story with the FBI and Interpol from Britain working together to keep things in wrap. Many surprises are in the ending and that only makes me want to read more of Patterson's novels.

Lifeguard, Patterson & Gross

In the book Lifeguard, Ned Kelly was the main chacter. He was a part time lifeguard and caretaker of a wealthy man's estate, Sole Roth. While lifeguarding on the beach at Palm Beach, Florida, Ned meets a beautiful Aussie, Tess. After several dates, he ends up in bed with her and felt love knocking at his heart. Ned had an illegal opportunity to earn some money, all he had to do was set off some alarms around town to create confusion so his buddies could steal some art at an estate. All hell broke loose, his buddies were all killed and Tess was dead also. Ned was the suspect so he left Florida and headed to his folks place near Boston.

Ellie, a special agent for the FBI, held a degree in fine art and went to the estate where the art was stolen to talk to the owner, Dennis Stratton. Ellie was in charge of the case, but she did not feel right about the whole thing.

The authorities traced Ned to Brockton. Ellie flew up there to make the arrest, finding Ned at his mom's place. They tried to apprehend him but he got the upper hand and escaped with Ellie as a hostage. Ned let Ellie go after telling her what he did, only set off a few alarms. Ellie knew something was wrong with the investigation, something was not right

Ned makes his way back to Palm Beach and seeks help from a friend, Geoff. Geoff was an Australian motorcycle champ with a small shop at the beach. Geoff says "you are wanted for murder and grand theft" but he was there to help out a good friend. Geoffs motorcycle skill came in real handy when Ellie and Ned apprehended Statton's wife to find out more of the boggled robbery. They were leaving the area when Stattons men came after Ned and Geoff. They were on a Ducati and Strattons men were in a hummer. A wild chase takes place with the cycle in front, they get away. Ellie was sure Stratton was guilty and all she had to do was get some evidence to put him away. This leads to an exciting confrontation with Stratton and the FBI. Only Patterson can write a good ending that brings tears to your eyes and joy to the heart.

4TH of July, James Patterson

Lindsay Boxer is the main character in "4th of July". She is a lieutenant in the San Francisco police department. She was called to a homicide in a poor part of town. A teen was found dead in a bath with a toaster in the water, electrocuted. On the door were two words,"NOBODY CARES". A black late model Mercedes was seen leaving the scene, their only clue.

A week later Lindsay was off duty, meeting her friends for a drink and dinner at their favorite hang out. She gets a call from her partner, Jacobi that the Mercedes was spotted. They went out looking for the car and spotted it and started to pull it over when the Mercedes sped off at speeds over 70. The Mercedes crashed and Boxer and Jacobi approached the car with their guns drawn. The driver was about 15 and the passenger was 13. When the air bags went off, it pinned them in the car, they were bloody so Lindsay and Jacobi holstered their weapons to render aid. With the kids safely out of the car, the driver pulls a gun out and shoots Lindsay and the passenger shoots Jacobi. Lindsay fires back killing the girl and putting the other on the ground. This starts a civil suit of 50 million dollars for wrongful death that will ruin Lindsay's life.

While on leave from the department she goes south to Half Moon Bay to stay in her sisters house while her sister was away. With the trial heavy on her mind, she is confronted with several murders. To keep her mind off the trial, she starts to investigate the murders. The murderers scope out Lindsay, she was next. Patterson and Paetro write a very good story with surprises at the end that will baffle you. Great book!!!

London Bridges, James Patterson

The tenth Alex Cross novel sets the pace with the weasel, Geoffrey Shafer, living in Brazil killing prostitutes as he did in America. He is captured by the Wolf, an x-KGB man who had a run in with Cross in the states (Big Bad Wolf). The wolf and the weasel team up together to hold the world hostage with nuclear destruction. First they blow up a small town in Nevada and several more towns around the world to show what they can do. They confront the president of the USA with an ultimatum of blowing up New York, Washington DC, Paris and England for ransom. Alex Cross is in the FBI and has a personal history with these criminals, so he takes the case on with vigor. Alex goes after these criminals, traveling throughout Europe and England and back to the states. Very good ending that is unexpected. Yea Alex Cross!!!