On September 25, James Patterson and Mike Lupica release their next thrilling novel: 12 Months To Live. As part of the James Patterson Street Team, I received an advance copy from his publisher. Thanks, Little, Brown for the free book! Should you add this book to your to-read list? Watch my video review below for my thoughts.
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Bullseye is James Patterson’s newest thriller and the latest entry in the Michael Bennett series. Unfortunately, it’s not very good. It takes several chapters for the protagonist to show up, which is never a good sign as that only delays my being introduced to the character to which I’m supposed to relate. And the premise isn’t all that compelling. It failed to pull me in and keep my attention like Patterson’s far superior thriller, The Games, which was also recently released. Every once in a while a good author releases a boring book. For James Patterson, Bullseye is it.
Like James Patterson’s books, I’m going to keep this short. I, Michael Bennett isn’t worth your time or money. It’s a shallow, soulless story that fails to captivate on any level. I didn’t care about the plight of the protagonist and the antagonist was a two-dimensional stereotype. The best parts of the book were the family scenes but those alone don’t make for a good thriller. Also worth noting is the cliff-hanger ending that requires you to buy the next novel to find out what happens. Last chapters are supposed to tie up loose ends and satisfy the reader – this failed on both counts. Skip this one and spend your money on an author who still writes his own books, like Harlan Coben.
James Patterson is usually good for a quick, captivating read, and I’ve enjoyed the Michael Bennett series thus far. However, Worst Case was very weak.
There were virtually no twists, and those that did occur were lame. The most significant “surprise” was the killer’s motivation, and that was the biggest disappointment of all. The moment it was revealed, I felt as if I’d wasted my time up until that point.
On the positive side, John Glover did a fantastic job narrating the villain – I listened to the audiobook version. And the chemistry between the main characters was believable. It’s just a shame that it was wasted on such a uninspired story.
If you plan on reading this series, I recommend that you borrow this book from a friend or the library. It’s not worth your money.
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Alex Cross has Washington, DC. The Women’s Murder Club has San Francisco. Detective Michael Bennett has all of New York City—chaos capital of the world.
Best case: Survival
The son of one of New York’s wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage. His parents can’t save him, because this kidnapper isn’t demanding money. Instead, he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam, wrong answers are fatal.
Worst case: Death
Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own, he can’t begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone’s children. As another student disappears, another powerful family uses their leverage and connections to turn up the heat on the mayor, the press—anyone who will listen—to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, which sends its top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker. Bennett’s life—and love life—suddenly get even more complicated.
This case: Detective Michael Bennett is on it
Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI’s intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet—one that could bring cataclysmic ruin to every inch of New York City. From the shocking first page to the last exhilarating scene, Worst Caseis a nonstop thriller from “America’s #1 storyteller” (Forbes).
