Readers of my blog know I have a low opinion of James Patterson's books.
Why then read the entire series of Michael Bennett detective thrillers? I had just read an article about his co-writer, the American-Irish writer Michael Ledwidge, where he detailed the writing process (Patterson has an idea, Michael writes the books, Patterson puts his name on it). So, actually I felt like I was reading a series of Ledwidge novels. So, I read them, and now I'm done.
Step On A Crack introduces tough NYPD Detective and hostage negotiator Michael Bennett, single father to ten adopted children. Yes. The story flips between his wife dying in the hospital, raising the children, and trying to stop a deadly attack. Hijacking the funeral of a beloved First Lady - filled with the elite of politics, business and international celebrities, terrorists demand a personal ransom from each of the guests, periodically murdering them. When the ransoms are met, the gunmen attempt to escape with the hostages and a city wide chase ensues.
It gave what it promised - a few hours of distraction. The concept of a tough cop raising ten children (in a very large inherited condo) is ridiculous, and jumping back and forth between a homey tone, and a thriller tone was jarring. The writing itself was OK, although Patterson's style of one page chapters is irritating, really reducing the potential of the story. All villains need a humanizing weakness, but this one needing to wash his hands all the time seems written, not natural. The finale lacked tension, just a step by step chase until the plan is revealed.
Just mediocre - you think I'd stop - but no, I'll finish the series. This one was actually enjoyable.
For being an international bestselling series reprinted and reissued many times, stocked in airports and Costcos around the world, someone would have seen the typo in the middle of page 275 where Miss Humphries is written Miss Humph-ries.
2007 / Paperback / 376 pages
Comments