The second Michael Bennett thriller from Michael Ledwidge and James Patterson is Run For Your Life. It introduces some new characters to the family of ten children, while Michael trails a sociopath through New York. Slightly worse than Step On A Crack, though the title makes a little more sense.
Every villain needs a cool moniker, so when a wealthy man's wife abandons him with the kids, he names himself The Teacher, he makes a list and vows revenge not only on those who wronged him, but anyone with bad manners. Talking on the subway? He'll push you on the tracks. Impolite salesman? He'll go to Ralph Lauren and shoot you. Remember your manners or suffer the consequences! That kind of justice.
Being a rich metrosexual sociopath overlooking Manhattan from his luxurious modern condo, he thinks he is above everyone, continually disguising himself so the police can't track him.
Enter Michael Bennett, whose family of ten has a flu outbreak. With his wife dead, the new nanny Mary Catherine arrives, and is a saint with them (and of course sweet on Michael). His father, Catholic Monsignor Seamus no less, also helps clean up when he is not off on his own side story.
This one really leans towards the family crisis of the flu and less on the mad killer. There is a good chase moment where they think they have caught him - countered with several times the NYPD are to gather in five minutes and Michael goes off to visit his wife's memorial tree. There are plot holes that lead nowhere, and the capper of an air chase through Manhattan that is not believable. This is not recommended by me, but there are millions of Patterson fans out there who will love it regardless.
2009 / Paperback / 340 pages
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