James Patterson, part 2

Just finished listening to James Patterson's The Quickie on CD (co-authored by Michael Ledwidge). James Patterson falls into 3 categories: Alex Cross books (love them), Women's Murder Club books (like them a lot), and those other books (can take them or leave them). Oh, just realized there's a 4th category: Maximum Ride (not bad, if you can get past the flying kids angle).

Anyway, The Quickie falls into the "those other books" category. Many of them are co-authored (as this is). They often have these head scratching plot twists that seem to come out of left field. They tend to be quick reads, lots of action, good for the beach type of books. And unfortunately, since the books are so plot/action driven, there's very little investment in the characters - to the point of who cares what happens to them. This one pretty much fits this bill.

Lauren has caught her husband cheating on her and decides to have a revenge one night stand with a co-worker to even the score. And from there things fall apart quickly and completely. I can't say much more because I don't like to give away the details.

I listened to the book, very quickly (Harry Potter is coming tomorrow, you know), and it kept me interested. But I can't say that I really cared about Lauren or her plight. Is she good or bad? What about everyone else? Who knows, who cares. The final twists were not anticipated. Kind of in a what else can happen sort of way. But the fact that they were there was not a surprise (especially after last year's Beach Road).

I'd give the book to Patterson fans, most of whom know about the categories and will read it as such. It's not the best book, but it's not the worst one either.

James Patterson, part 1

I just finished listening to 6th Target by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. This is the sixth in the Women's Murger Club series. If you like Patterson, especially the Alex Cross series, and/or the previous 5 in this series, you should enjoy this as well. It is typically of Patterson's books, with its short, fast reading chapters. I listened to the story and Carolyn McCormick does a nice job with the narration, as she has with the previous 3 titles.

This book contained involved solving 3 separate crimes, which I don't remember the other books doing. It lent a realism to the work, since I'm sure police officers are involved in multiple cases at a time.

There didn't seem to be as much interaction between the members of the club in this book and I missed the banter of the group as they tried to solve the crimes. Each woman seemed to be indepently occupied, although in a related way, in this book.

Otherwise, it was an enjoyable thriller.