canadian_booknerd's review against another edition
5.0
I love the character of Michael Bennett and this book did not disappoint. Oh, and the cliffhanger ending... come on!
snjluc's review against another edition
2.0
Obviously not all written by Patterson, as it was very simplistic and did not use strong adjectives (how many times can 'mumbled' be used?) Also had a weak non-ending. Very disappointed!
astubbs's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
sophlinda's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ahyggelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to anyone who watches Blue Bloods, or Chicago PD.
yorugua1891's review against another edition
1.0
Shameless money grab!
I have heard about issues with the ending of this book. I thought maybe there were some loose ends or that there was something to look forward for the next book. Sadly, the problems are much, much worse than that. Basically we get half a book, it's almost as if once the authors built up the story they decided to stop there and continue in the next episode. I would almost understand it if this was a gargantuan work and it had to be broken in two parts for publishing reasons, but this book can be read in about four hours, so it is barely a novella. The only explanation is that Patterson is just trying to see how much he can push his readers in an effort to make money. First he decided to have others write the books, then he tried making them shorter and shorter, and now it is time to not even deliver a complete novel. This has to stop!
The worst part is that the story we get is extremely good. The pace is frantic and there is suspense and thrills aplenty. The story of Michael and his huge family, which includes Seamus the priest and Mary Catherine provides for some nice moments and enough drama. Also, the authors do not pull any punches when it's time to shock the readers, and in that vein use some well-crafted villains that you will hate soon enough. If only they had given us the whole novel instead of the first half.
There is not much more to say, now I am convinced. I will not be buying any more Patterson books. I will get them from the library instead so I do not feel ripped off by the author and his writing troupe. I know some people will say that borrowing from the library will still create some demand, but the benefit is much lower, and at least in my case, I will feel less bad when encountering something like this book.
I have heard about issues with the ending of this book. I thought maybe there were some loose ends or that there was something to look forward for the next book. Sadly, the problems are much, much worse than that. Basically we get half a book, it's almost as if once the authors built up the story they decided to stop there and continue in the next episode. I would almost understand it if this was a gargantuan work and it had to be broken in two parts for publishing reasons, but this book can be read in about four hours, so it is barely a novella. The only explanation is that Patterson is just trying to see how much he can push his readers in an effort to make money. First he decided to have others write the books, then he tried making them shorter and shorter, and now it is time to not even deliver a complete novel. This has to stop!
The worst part is that the story we get is extremely good. The pace is frantic and there is suspense and thrills aplenty. The story of Michael and his huge family, which includes Seamus the priest and Mary Catherine provides for some nice moments and enough drama. Also, the authors do not pull any punches when it's time to shock the readers, and in that vein use some well-crafted villains that you will hate soon enough. If only they had given us the whole novel instead of the first half.
There is not much more to say, now I am convinced. I will not be buying any more Patterson books. I will get them from the library instead so I do not feel ripped off by the author and his writing troupe. I know some people will say that borrowing from the library will still create some demand, but the benefit is much lower, and at least in my case, I will feel less bad when encountering something like this book.
indianajane's review against another edition
3.0
It's James Patterson. Short chapters. Lots of exclamation points. Pretty mediocre writing. An ending that isn't.
And yet we keep coming back. For me, it's the characters: Michael Bennett, Alex Cross, the entire Women's Murder Club. It's also the fact that, when I'm busy or distracted, I can read these books with half my brain tied behind my back.
And yet we keep coming back. For me, it's the characters: Michael Bennett, Alex Cross, the entire Women's Murder Club. It's also the fact that, when I'm busy or distracted, I can read these books with half my brain tied behind my back.
servemethesky's review against another edition
2.0
DAMN IT, JAMES PATTERSON. I was really enjoying this book until it ended with NO RESOLUTION WHATSOEVER.
Yes, the writing's not good. It's cliche, the characters are undeveloped (or underdeveloped, at the very least), and everything is very black or white (you're either a good guy or you're a bad guy). But that was FORGIVABLE because the story was fast-paced and exciting and interesting! It was a quick and easy read, and highly entertaining!
UNTIL IT JUST. ABRUPTLY. ENDS.
Seriously, I flipped through the pages and over and over, trying to figure out if someone had ripped out the last chapter. I Googled plot summaries, I double checked the page length for my edition. Nothing. No stolen pages, no misprint, just a GIANT. GAPING. HOLE.
Other reviewers have commented on it being gimmicky, a ploy to make you buy the next book in the series. Come on. What a joke. Finish a goddam book like a real man, James.
SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. SUCH ANGER. WOW.
Yes, the writing's not good. It's cliche, the characters are undeveloped (or underdeveloped, at the very least), and everything is very black or white (you're either a good guy or you're a bad guy). But that was FORGIVABLE because the story was fast-paced and exciting and interesting! It was a quick and easy read, and highly entertaining!
UNTIL IT JUST. ABRUPTLY. ENDS.
Seriously, I flipped through the pages and over and over, trying to figure out if someone had ripped out the last chapter. I Googled plot summaries, I double checked the page length for my edition. Nothing. No stolen pages, no misprint, just a GIANT. GAPING. HOLE.
Other reviewers have commented on it being gimmicky, a ploy to make you buy the next book in the series. Come on. What a joke. Finish a goddam book like a real man, James.
SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. SUCH ANGER. WOW.
tabatha_shipley's review against another edition
3.0
The fifth, and clearly not final, book in the Michael Bennett series left me rather disappointed. Don't get me wrong, in clear James Patterson style the short chapters and intense action kept the book moving at a very fast pace which I enjoyed. I think the problem, for me, this time around is the lack of realism in our character's interactions.
But I'll get back to that. Let's start with what this book is about. Michael Bennett, a detective with the NYPD is also a single father of ten kids. Yup, ten. His wife passed away years ago, leaving him to raise the brood with the help of his nanny, Mary Catherine, and his grandfather/priest, Seamus. In this book he looses a friend in a firefight with a Mexican crime lord and generally bad dude. The book follows Michael and his new compadres as they battle this case even up to court.
As always, the bad guys are intense and the action is packed with terrible scenarios that you need to play out in order to sleep at night. However, I felt Mary Catherine was lacking in realism this time around. Something is just up with that woman, and I hate that I never satisfactorily got the answer about what that was. Secondly, if Michael is so torn up by the loss of this friend why has said friend never been mentioned in four previous novels? That bothered me. Also, there is a twist attempted...but I was incredibly disappointed that I figured it out before the big reveal. Finally, the ending. Oh, I'm no stranger to endings that leave you hanging, especially from Mr. Patterson, but this one was terrible. I found myself thinking not "oh my gosh, I should go buy the next book and find out what happens" but "oh man, there's another one? Sigh."
Overall, I'm sad to say this was only a three star book for me. Had it been any other author, it would've been a two-star. If you're a die hard fan of Michael Bennett and his antics, read this one...but do yourself a favor and have the next one already on your shelf. If you really could live without the NYPD detective...skip this one. Sorry James, I still love you!
But I'll get back to that. Let's start with what this book is about. Michael Bennett, a detective with the NYPD is also a single father of ten kids. Yup, ten. His wife passed away years ago, leaving him to raise the brood with the help of his nanny, Mary Catherine, and his grandfather/priest, Seamus. In this book he looses a friend in a firefight with a Mexican crime lord and generally bad dude. The book follows Michael and his new compadres as they battle this case even up to court.
As always, the bad guys are intense and the action is packed with terrible scenarios that you need to play out in order to sleep at night. However, I felt Mary Catherine was lacking in realism this time around. Something is just up with that woman, and I hate that I never satisfactorily got the answer about what that was. Secondly, if Michael is so torn up by the loss of this friend why has said friend never been mentioned in four previous novels? That bothered me. Also, there is a twist attempted...but I was incredibly disappointed that I figured it out before the big reveal. Finally, the ending. Oh, I'm no stranger to endings that leave you hanging, especially from Mr. Patterson, but this one was terrible. I found myself thinking not "oh my gosh, I should go buy the next book and find out what happens" but "oh man, there's another one? Sigh."
Overall, I'm sad to say this was only a three star book for me. Had it been any other author, it would've been a two-star. If you're a die hard fan of Michael Bennett and his antics, read this one...but do yourself a favor and have the next one already on your shelf. If you really could live without the NYPD detective...skip this one. Sorry James, I still love you!