A review by gracedionnne
Princess: A Private Novel by Rees Jones, James Patterson
2.0
I'm starting to accept that the whole generic action/crime thriller genre isn't for me. The book had some redeeming qualities; it was a page-turner, without a doubt, very fast-paced and never dull throughout its run. It was an easy read for me and I finished it quickly. On the other hand, I'm usually a very character-driven reader, and these types of novels aren't where you should turn if you're looking for that type of story.
It also really bothers me when a female character and/or love interest is brought on scene only to be killed, using her death as a motivator for the male main character. I couldn't get past the use of that trope in this book, despite my attempts to think about the story aside from that. Also, the way this story unfolded, I didn't feel like I got the plot that I was promised based on the description. Sure, the book starts out investigating the disappearance of a young girl with connections to Princess Caroline, but it diverges pretty significantly from that story thread, and I wasn't expecting that.
I know people have different tastes than me and I'm not trying to disparage that, because everyone can like what they like, but I just can't shake the feeling that once you've read one of these novels, you've pretty much read them all. In the future, maybe I'll find some exceptions that appeal to me.
It also really bothers me when a female character and/or love interest is brought on scene only to be killed, using her death as a motivator for the male main character. I couldn't get past the use of that trope in this book, despite my attempts to think about the story aside from that. Also, the way this story unfolded, I didn't feel like I got the plot that I was promised based on the description. Sure, the book starts out investigating the disappearance of a young girl with connections to Princess Caroline, but it diverges pretty significantly from that story thread, and I wasn't expecting that.
I know people have different tastes than me and I'm not trying to disparage that, because everyone can like what they like, but I just can't shake the feeling that once you've read one of these novels, you've pretty much read them all. In the future, maybe I'll find some exceptions that appeal to me.