NYPD Red 3 - James Patterson & Marshall Karp

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NYPD-Red-James-Patterson 

Burb from the book: -

Zach and Kylie's New Year's celebrations are cut short when they're called to the home of billionaire businessman Hunter Alden, Jr. after he makes a grisly discovery in his townhouse garage. When Alden's teenage son goes missing soon afterwards, and his father seems oddly reluctant to find him, Zach and Kylie find themselves in the middle of a chilling conspiracy that threatens everyone in it’s wake-especially their city's most powerful citizens. NYPD Red 3 is the next sensational novel in James Patterson's explosive new series, a thriller that goes behind the closed doors of New York high society and into the depths of depravity.

My Review: 

NYPD Red is the elite, highly trained task force assigned to protect the rich, the famous, and the connected.  This is the third book in the series and continues on with the same detectives Zach Jordan and his partner Kylie MacDonald.  Zach and Kylie have a history they were in the police academy together and ended up romantically involved.  Both are now with different partners (Zach with Dr Cheryl Robinson the NYPD psychologist and Kylie is with Spencer a continually recovery drug addict who spends his time in and out of rehab) but there is still chemistry between them. 

The book is set around a billionaire Hunter Hutchinson Alder Jr (definably a high profile person) and the celebrations of New Year’s Eve, the disappearance of their driver along with his teenage soon Tripp.

There is hostility between Hunter and the NYPD Officers Zach and Kylie due to the information that Hunter is withholding from the police and the hindrance that this causes the investigation.  This doesn’t stop Zach and Kylie from doing their job and digging deeper into things.  Zach in his calm manner and Kylie in her “bull in a china shop way”, but each balance the other out and get the job done. 

To find out more then you need to read the book like I did.  

This is the third book in the series and is the usual Patterson and Karp combination, well written and the right amount of suspense and intrigued in there.  The only criticism I have is that when reading these books on kindle (and I assume in book format as well) they stop short of the end i.e. 92% on kindle and the remainder of the book is a preview of the next book that Mr Patterson has out.  

I do love his books and am always eager for the next one to be released so his writing and the characters he uses are good and keep me entertained nevertheless.      

Ticket – Peter Dudgeon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ticket-Peter-Dudgeon 

Burb from the author

You're tired, lonely, living a corporate life on the road when you meet a vulnerable young woman in need of your help. She wants to repay your kindness with money and more. When your chance romantic encounter leads to her death, do you stay to face the music, or flee to face your past?

Review

Another cracking read from a brilliant author.

Paul Ranson (a married man) is on a journey by train from London to Newcastle (a journey that is becoming a habit) drinking overpriced beer from the trolley and watching Jack Nicholson films on his laptop. 

He meets a young woman (Annabelle) on this journey when she sits opposite him on a pretty empty train and a conversation starts.  It becomes apparent that she has misplaced her purse and therefore has no money to buy a ticket, and the ticket conductor is approaching.  Paul therefore offers kindly to buy the same, Annabelle informs him that her hotel is only a short walk from the station and if he accompanies her back to the hotel she has money in her room and will repay him.     

Upon arriving at the hotel a romantic encounter ensues and Paul wakes up the following morning to the woman lying dead and no recollection of what happened.  Suspecting he has been drugged and knowing the police will be after him, he walks out of the hotel and goes on the run. 

We are then introduced to various other characters in short punchy chapters which leave you wondering who is who.  People who knew Paul from previous jobs, people who are looking for Paul for various reasons including ones who he has upset through the course of his work and a reverend called Kassia and a detective called Vicky, both of whom believe in him and want to help him.

Want to find out more, then my suggestion is you read the book.   To give you a laugh, I was reading this on my way to and home from work on a train.  Made me think about the relationships that can materialise from train journeys.  I have a few train buddies who I catch up with most days to work and I was even telling them about this book and advising them that they need to read the same. 

As I’ve said before, another cracking read from this up and coming author and one that has definitely made a lasting impression on me this year with both books I’ve been lucky to read, this one I bought before I knew the author and Chance his second book which was kindly gifted to me as a review copy for the author.  Peter is an author who I will be following and waiting eagerly for his next book which I believe is due out in the autumn and called “Circle”. 

A well deserved 5 stars for me on Ticket!!  

As If By Magic (DS Jessica Daniel #2.5)

Amazon.co.uk - As If By Magic (Jessica Daniel #2.5) Kindle Exclusive

As If By Magic (A Jessica Daniel Kindle Exclusive) (#2.5)

Blurb 

After finding an abandoned package at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel has two choices. One option leads to the entire North West transport network grinding to a halt—and more importantly Jessica missing her train—the other involves her opening the box.

For Jessica, the choice is clear—but what’s in the box, who left it, and how will it affect her weekend away?

This 50,000-word “half-book” was released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of UK no.1 bestselling novel Locked In being released. It contains a bonus features section, with scans of the original hand-written plot outline and the full first chapter of the upcoming Think Of The Children (Jessica Daniel book four).

It can be read standalone, or as part of the rest of the Jessica Daniel series.

Review 

Found this to be a nice short read in between books – another excellent addition to the Jessica Daniel series.

Jessica still has the banter between her and Dave and you get to know Hugo a bit more.  Great book and can’t really do much of a review or would give the story away.

The Woman in Black (Jessica Daniel Series Book 3)

Amazon.co.uk - The Woman in Black (Jessica Daniel #3)

The Woman in Black (Jessica Daniel Series Book 3)

Blurb

The Woman in Black is the third gripping Jessica Daniel novel from bestselling sensation, Kerry Wilkinson.

Someone has left a severed hand in the centre of Manchester and the only clue Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel has to go on is CCTV footage of a woman in a long black robe placing it carefully on the ground.

With a lengthy missing persons list and frantic families wondering if the body part could belong to their absent loved ones, she has plenty to deal with - and that's before a detached finger arrives for her in the post.

By the time a second hand is found and a local MP's wife goes missing, Jessica is left struggling to find out who the appendages belong to, how they are connected and just what the mysterious woman in black has to do with it all.

Review 

The story begins with a severed hands being discovered in a busy part of Manchester and then the index finger turning up at Longsight police station for Jessica Daniels.

Daniels is not the hero, has failings that lead her up blind alleys, and make mistakes, but then again not everyone is perfect are they!

Great series and excellent that if you read these in order you know there is more to be read. 

Locked In (Jessica Daniel, #1)

Amazon.co.uk - Locked In (Jessica Daniel #1)

Locked In – Jessica Daniel (#1)

The story set in Manchester revolves around a serial killer who leaves his victims behind in locked rooms.

Newly promoted DS Jessica Daniels is in charge of her first murder.  Victim has been found in a locked house with no clue as to how the killer got in or back out. 

Jessica investigates the crime with her colleague DC Dave Rowlands and a reporter who she has the fortunate or unfortunate pleasure of knowing Garry Ashford. 

The book is fast paced (in my opinion), short chapters which have you turning the pages faster and faster and the giving you the gentle reveals as you work your way through.  Ends in the usual Kerry Wilkinson way (I have come to know due to having read all of his books so far) where you are itching to get the next book loaded on your kindle in readiness for reading. 

The book and the subsequent books that follow are set in Manchester, around the Gorton, Longsight and centre of Manchester itself. 

If you plan on picking any of Kerry’s books up then make sure you a) have the time it will consume to read the books and b) be prepared that you will want to read the rest of the books he has written.