Review: Private

My Synopsis:

Private by James Patterson

(For review from Hachette Book Group)

Private is the most elite private investigation firm in the country. With resources that put the local PD's to shame, Private is called by the rich, the famous, and those who want secrets to remain secret. Jack Morgan, owner and operator has put together a team of the best minds in the business. Now they are faced with three cases that will test their abilities as well as their emotions.

13 school girls have disappeared and shown up dead within the past few years in LA. The LAPD has come to the end of it's rope and Private is called in to work the case. Justine, Jack's top agent and former girlfriend has become emotionally invested in the case and will stop at nothing to find out who is committing these horrible crimes and taunting the mayor and the police with their prowess.

Jack's uncle is a big wig in the NFL. Lately it has become obvious that some of the games may have been thrown, but it's not the players and there is very little evidence. But, if it's true it could destroy the game of football as we know it. During the course of his investigation, Jack's twin brother Tom is implicated in a gambling debt to the Mob.

Jack's best friend's wife has been murdered. Shelby, was a sweetheart, why would anyone want to murder her? But is she the person they thought she was? Or was she leading a double life? With Jack and Andy's friendship be able to withstand the strain or will it break? Will Jack finally take the next step with Colleen or is Justine still in his heart?

My Thoughts:

This was another exceptional book by James Patterson that will probably prove to be the beginning of another block buster thriller series. Patterson has three other thriller series that are in Hollywood production already and Private could very well be his biggest yet. I loved the fast paced action of this book. With short chapters and lots of thrills, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen next.

Patterson uses a stable of co-authors to complete in the neighborhood of 10 hardbacks per year. This is an astounding pace, but it seems like every one of them is good. This book is co-authored by Maxine Paetro who is co-author with Patterson on several of the Women's Murder Club Books. It is said that Patterson starts out with a highly detailed outline sometimes nearly 50 pages in length. The co-author then writes the chapters and sends them to Patterson to review, make changes and re-write. It may sound like a strange process but it definitely works.

Jack Morgan is the protagonist in Private. He is an ex-marine who saw combat in Afghanistan and still has nightmares about his final days of duty. He seems to be an honorable man who didn't come from the greatest circumstances. Apparently his father had ties to the mob and was serving time in prison at the beginning of the story. Jack has a twin brother Tommy who is nothing but trouble. He has two women in his life and he isn't sure about either of them. He's a great character.

All three cases in this book are interesting from throwing football games to missing schoolgirls, to finding out his best friends wife was a call girl. Jack Morgan also must face his nightmares, a daily death threat that has gone on for years and family difficulties. A very well written book, that I truly enjoyed. A great addition to the thriller genre.

Private is available now from your favorite bookseller!

I give this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Here is some more information about James Patterson.

The subject of a Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In the past three years, James has sold more books than any other author (according to Bookscan), and in total, James's books have sold an estimated 170 million copies worldwide. He is the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children's lists and is the only author to have five new hardcover novels debut at #1 on the list in one year—a record-breaking feat he's accomplished every year since 2005. To date, James Patterson has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds the New York Timesrecord for most Hardcover Fiction bestselling titles by a single author (53 total), which is also a Guinness World Record.

From his James Patterson Pageturner Awards (which rewarded groups and individuals for creative and effective ways to spread the joy of reading) to his websiteReadKiddoRead.com (which helps adults find books that kids are sure to love) to his regular donations of thousands of books to troops overseas, Patterson is a lifelong champion of books and reading. His first foray into books for all ages was the critically acclaimed Maximum Ride series, which debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list at #1 and remained there for twelve straight weeks. The series has so far made appearances on The New York Times bestsellers lists ninety-four cumulative times, proving that kids of all ages love page turners. He captured the attention of boy readers with the Daniel X series, and his third series for readers of all ages debuted in December 2009 with Witch & Wizard, which spent five consecutive weeks atop the New York Times bestsellers list.

Patterson is the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past dozen years, featuring Alex Cross and including the Hollywood-adapted "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls," starring Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. He is also the creator of the #1 new detective series of the past five years, featuring Lindsay Boxer and the other members of the Women's Murder Club, from which the ABC television drama series was adapted. He has authored books behind six films on the Hollywood fast-track, including the upcoming Maximum Ride movie forthcoming from Avi Arad, the producer of X-Men and Spiderman.

He is the author of novels—from The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) to Honeymoon(2005)—that have won awards including the Edgar, the BCA Mystery Guild's Thriller of the Year, the International Thriller of the Year award, and the Reader's Digest Reader's Choice Award.

One of Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100, James made a guest appearance on the popular FOX TV show "The Simpsons" in March, 2007.