I, Michael Bennett is the fifth detective thriller from Michael Ledwidge and James Patterson. From what I've seen, it has the lowest rating of the series. I found it (more than usual) disjointed and without resolution. But, if you are going to read the whole series, it does set up the next book.
When a notorious Mexican crime lord vacations in New York (from his Quebec home in the Fairmont le Chateau Frontenac no less!), Michael Bennett is on the case. A wild and ridiculous chase erupts through the city and he is caught and arrested. From prison, the mob boss continues to conduct his business - which includes a bribe to Michael of millions to drop the case, and a vow to exact revenge on him when he doesn't. Leaving the city for safety, the family of ten kids goes upstate to a cabin in the Catskills - and finds the nearby town engulfed in a gang war! Michael must now decide if he is going to stay and fight for peace in the town, or return to save New York.
I, Michael Bennett ends in a big court case presided over by a black female judge (it always seem to be a black lady judge, despite black females holding less than 10% of that position) and leaves giant plot holes and threads untied (for the next novel, one would hope).
A new character is Federal Prosecutor Tara McLellan, a friend's cousin and yet another woman to get between Michael and his nanny Mary Catherine. With Michael Bennett and the author both being Irish, all the women of course look like Catherine Zeta Jones with long raven black hair. This series offers the killers identity early so there is no mystery. This offers more about Michael's background, but again the action and plot are not clever.
One of the lowest rated leaving not much for me to recommend it.
2012 / Paperback / 375 pages
Comments