James Patterson and Marshall Karp's "NYPD Red 6"

 

You can find this book here.

Patterson is a household name. Even if you have never read one of his books; you have at least heard of him. He has written books for adults mostly, but also youth fiction as well. He has stand-alone novels, but also multiple crime/thriller series. 

The book I am going to write about, is one book in one of those series: NYPD Red 6.

Now firstly, this is the latest in the series (number 6 of 6); but Patterson and Karp ensure that you don't need to have read the previous five to understand what is going on in this book. 

The book focusses on two detective, Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan (though the book is mostly from Jordan's perspective) and dealing with a case of a kidnapped "star". I use air quotes because Erin Easton is herself not famous for anything other than her social media activity and reality television to keep her fame alive. Does that make her a star in your eyes, or not? Though I am sure Influencers may see themselves as famous too. Perhaps it depends on perspective.

The flow of the narrative and the way the plot unravels feels standard. I was able to figure out the twists. But if you like a comfortable read, the household name of Patterson (and now Karp?) could still be a fun read for you. Outside of the major case the detectives follow, there is also a minor one about burglaries , which shows the busyness of these specialised detectives. This might add some meat to your read.

It is fast-paced, and the chapters are short and quick to keep you reading. I do not know whether you will find the characters as full as in other novels you may have read; however, as this is the sixth book, that could be why they perhaps seem two-dimensional. 

So why not read them from the beginning? ...

NYPD Red 1 = print books are here

NYPD Red 2 = print books are here

NYPD Red 3 = print books are here

NYPD Red 4 = print books are here ; the eBook is here

NYPD Red 5 = print books are here ; the eBook is here

Links for you

Title read-a-likes in the Library:

Bone collector

Jeffrey Deaver

This is also the first in a series that will be as fast-paced as Patterson and Karp's.

Sweet little lies

Caz Frear

Distant echo

Val McDermid

M. J. Arlidge's "Gift for dying"

 

This book can be found here.

She heard their screams

she felt their fear.

now she's their only hope ...

This comes from the cover of the book. It's a nice introduction as it shows how a young teenager, Kassie, sees the deaths of anyone she looks in the eye. This is an important part of the character, given there is a serial killer on the loose who seems to be unable to be stopped. 

The other main character of this novel is Adam Brandt, a forensic psychologist. Adam is a character who is not supposed to believe in Kassie's abilities but help her to work through her trauma. The problem is for Adam that the more he hears and sees, the more he believes and becomes involved, which has larger consequences for him than allowing a teenager to live in supposed psychosis.

The book is set in Chicago and has a great gritty feel to it. Whilst I have mentioned the above two main characters, there are other points of view littered through the novel which adds depth to situations and the concept of fate and whether choices can change fate or if free will really doesn't exist because choices do not alter the future.

This theme was the most thought-provoking in the book and was one of my favourite parts about it. Some chapters read a little slower than others, which is possibly because of the shift in points of view of the characters; but the ending is quick, suspenseful and possibly even surprising (even factoring in the strength of its theme). 

I did find some grammatical errors in this book that may be distracting if you are that kind of reader, so just be aware. 

If you are a fan of Arlidge's 'Helen Grace' series, this is definitely a detour you might enjoy. Or you might find a detour from Arlidge's norm disappointing. The only way you'll know is if you read it 😊

Links for you:

Arlidge in the Library:

Pop goes the weasel

Love me not

Author read-a-likes in the Library:

Gone girl

Gillian Flynn

This book is dark and gritty, with suspenseful endings. The focus is psychological suspense like Arlidge's novel with characters that are flawed.

You can run

Steve Mosby

The characters in Mosby's work are flawed and the atmosphere is dark, gritty and psychologically suspenseful. 

Vanessa Savage's "Woods"

 

You can find this book here.

Two girls went in. Only one came out.

This is part of the fairy story Tess's mother used to read to her and her younger sister Bella; but now the line mars her present with a past horror she can't remember.  

Tess's past not only haunts her, but was a haunted experience for her: new neighbours brought chaos to her life; local girls, murdered by someone who was never convicted, and her sister died, but only Tess herself believes someone murdered her. The interesting part of this haunting? Tess herself does not remember what happened to her sister, even though she had been found with her that night. 

As she has to move back to her old home where it all happened, she is haunted by being around people from the past again, not being able to sleep and suffering from hallucinations of her dead sister. Or, is she an actual ghost?

Tess is an unreliable narrator; so this makes the story's progress interesting. It chops and changes in her present, whilst bringing to light her past. Her unreliability comes from the fact that she is so emotionally charged and (to me at least) appears to not see past her own nose, and so you may find yourself drifting between sympathy to strong dislike. 

The novel has a nice pace to it, which helps to keep the creepy vibe going. I was able to pick up on some of the twists; let's see if you think it is predictable. The rest of the characters all have secrets and difficulties with being back where they grew up though, increasing the suspense when reading, which was good to see. So overall, it was a good read for me. 

Links for you

Savage in the Library:

Woman in the dark

Read-a-likes in the Library:

Mother-in-law

Sally Hepworth

This novel has an unreliable narrator as well and focusses on secrets in a psychological suspense genre. The author is also Australian. There is an eBook copy of this also if you prefer, available in the library here.

In a dark, dark wood

Ruth Ware

This book is similar as it is a psychological suspense novel where the protagonist wakes up in hospital and does not remember what happened. And what happened was something horrible. 

Read-a-likes in cloudLibrary:

When the lights go out

Mary Kubica

Is a psychological suspense novel with an unreliable narrator. 

David Jackson's "Resident"

 

You can find this book here.

Who wants Thomas Brogan living in their loft (or attic)? No one. 

Brogan is a serial killer who is on the run from the police. He finds an abandoned home with a loft that has a secret: the loft joins to three other houses. This of course will make a lot of fun for a serial killer no one knows is living up there. Oh, the games he intends to play with the neighbours!

The book is a first-person narrative; though most of the conversation Brogan has is with the voice in his head. To be honest, without this element, the book would be a boring read because most of the book is him watching and playing games to gauge reactions from the people below him. 

The perspective of a serial killer was interesting. You slowly find out about Brogan as the novel goes on and possibly motivations for why he does what he does. But since he talks to a voice in his head, you also know he's not sane. 

Because the book focusses on a very restricted environment, there is a sense of claustrophobia to it. There is enough information to attach yourselves to the characters in the book; though whether you grow sympathetically to Brogan's situation or not is up to you when you read it. 

Watch out for the black humour; and though the reviews on the cover suggest it is a thriller, I found it a slow burn and not very creepy. This is good though, because it builds tension rather slowly, shows you the state of Brogan and other characters and possibly even the claustrophobia they feel, even though they aren't stuck up in an attic. 

It wasn't terrifying, but it was a little bit of fun.

Links for you:

Read-a-likes in the Library:

Please be aware that I have chosen these read-a-likes because their point of view (POV) of the main character is that of the killer, stalkker, etc.

You and Hidden bodies

Caroline Kepnes

Dexter: an omnibus

Jeff Lindsay

American psycho: a novel

Brett Easton Ellis

Jack Heath's "Hangman"

 

You can find this book here.

'Hangman' is a thriller where Timothy 'Tim' Blake looks for a kidnapped adolescent. One of the twists is that as a consultant to the FBI; whilst he is a genius, he is also a dangerous criminal that shouldn't be trusted. But, if need be, you call the genius in to solve the hardest puzzles and cases there are. And to the protagonist, this one turns out to be one he can't solve so easily. 

As a protagonist; you may not like Tim Blake. Or maybe he will grow on you. He is an anti-hero. But he is engaging and a fresh perspective on a genre you may have read a lot of. The background, education, life and choices of the character are also interesting and add more depth to Blake. I think it is helped that the setting for the novel is Texas somehow; like all the bad things anybody has ever mentioned about Texas has been included, and so the characters seem to fit into their setting. Of course, this could make it more unrealistic and believable to other readers. The choice is yours.

The pace is quick and easy; you will finish it quickly. It is a darker novel, with a lot of gritty elements; so it might not be for you if you prefer a lighter crime or thriller fiction novel. Heath is also an Australian author; if this matters to you, but may also then turn you off reading it if you think he can't possibly hold the setting truly. 

From the acknowledgements, Heath seems to have done some serious research to make the novel, and especially the characters, believable. Give it a go and see if you like it. 

And then you can read the rest we have in the series:

Hunter

Hideout  (this book is not out yet; but you can reserve it)

Links for you

Heath in the Library:

Shockave

(a Junior Fiction choose-your-own adventure story)

Cut out

(a Young Adult novel - part of a series)

Read-a-likes in the Library:

Silent wife

Karin Slaughter

In this novel, a lot of the themes are the same in terms of death row and kidnapping. The genre is also the same, as well as the level of violence.

Dexter: an omnibus

Jeffry P. Lindsay

Whilst the characters are different in background; the way they work to stop crime and the level of violence is similar. However; Dexter, as a character, is probably not as flawed.

Hannibal rising

Thomas Harris

The characters are similarly twisted and dark within this novel and Heath's.

Staff pick: James Swallow's "Rogue"

 

You can find this book here.

First up; I didn't know this book was part of a series when I began reading it. Whilst I think it won't matter if you read the books out of slight order (it references past books), below is the list of books in the series and links to the ones in our library:

Nomad

Exile

Ghost 

Shadow (includes print and eBook format).

I guess if you like 'Rogue', you should request the other two novels; particularly since next year another is coming out!

So anyway, back to this book ...

Marc Dane is a former MI6 operative, working with The Rubicon Group. Until an enemy (or enemies) decide to bring to ruin both the private intelligence agency and others, like MI6. What you have here is your action-packed spy thriller, even if the main character isn't your regular spy. Even Swallow argues this as in the notes from the author he classes him as an inversion of "the bloke in the van" and who isn't your toughest guy in the room. The author is right: Dane's not Bond, but he is good. 

The book has diverse characters who appear well-rounded (probably more so the more books you read in the series) and it has an international cast and scope to it (like all could spy work should). it moves quickly and has some strong moments of wit and warmth, aside from solid action. 

It is a quick read, and just from the notes at the back, Swallow sounds like an author who loves his characters, writing and his fans. So, I will even highlight his webpage here in case you want to have a look around.

It is probably true that reading the books in order will offer more fullness and connection to the characters; but this book does link back across them well enough so that if you read this first (like me) you won't be too lost. Though, you will want more details!

You should borrow this book regardless 😀

-- SB

Dean Koontz' "Devoted"

You can find this book here.

If you know of Koontz, this writing is like a lot of his others. To be honest, I found it a little gorier or adult than other books he has written, but you might have a different opinion. Or you might think I am right. Maybe we will see in the comments section?

The story itself covers a very short amount of time for a lot of the main characters: Megan Bookman, Woody Bookman and Kipp. In fact, it only spans a couple of days. The novel itself is separated into parts that show the time frames, even though a lot happens throughout the novel across this short amount a time. This means that even if there is a lot of content, the story moves rather quickly.

As far as plot goes: Megan Bookman’s husband died, leaving her alone with her autistic son who does not speak. They are trying to live their lives in safety, even though Woody believes that his father’s death was no accident, but in fact murder. Through looking for the people responsible for his father’s death, Woody and his mother’s lives become threatened by the same people. If this were not enough, there is also something else out there, something “becoming”, intent on Megan Bookman.

I also hear you say, “Where is Kipp in this plot?” Well, Kipp is there, as important as Megan and her son. But I don’t want to give away anything special about Kipp. If you read the novel, you’ll love him as much as I do anyway 😊

The book is a thriller / light horror novel, so I don’t want to give away all the horrors involved. If you have read any of Dean Koontz’ other work, you will see similarities between this and others. For example, the theme of how everything always seems to universally work out in strange ways; as if the way chance or coincidence works is also a character that plays with the motions and choices of actual characters in his books. You will also have a very distinct definition between good and evil characters: these are always well-defined and not much grey exists in-between.

If you like more grit in this type of story; sorry, but this will be missing from ‘Devoted’. However, I have always enjoyed how the world moves in Koontz’ work so I recommend giving this one a shot. It is slightly darker, as I have said, than other novels I have read of his; but nothing that will turn any stomach. Also be aware that some of the writing is repetitive. He does re-explain things you have already learnt a couple of times. This may become frustrating, particularly if you aren’t a fan of Koontz. Or maybe even if you are.

I still think the book is solid Koontz, with elements of his classic writing style in there. If you have never read a novel of his before, maybe don’t start (or end) here; but, it is a light and quick read that will get you through an evening or two.

Other versions of the same novel can be found on our catalogue here.

Links for you:

Koontz in the Library:

A big little life (nonfiction)

City

Life expectancy

Koontz in cloudLibrary:

Innocence

Anthologies in the Library:

Flight or fright

Dark visions

Koontz has no work in these anthologies. they are both edited by Stephen King (and others), and are short, sharp stories that hold to elements of over-arching themes found in Koontz' work at times.

Scary out there

This is edited by Jonathan Maberry and contains short, sharp stories that hold to elements of over-arching themes found in Koontz' work at times. be aware that some in this anthology will be written as poems.

Author read-a-likes in the Library:

Broken lands

Jonathan Maberry

The library does have other Maberry books. Be aware that the genres may be different between these authors; however, the writing is similar in terms of being fast-paced, action-packed and focusses on the battles between good and evil. Also note that Maberry may be a darker, heavier writer than Koontz.

Staff pick: Matthew Reilly's "Ice station"

This book can be found here.

This book is action-packed, fast-paced and an all-out knock-out boy’s fight. I loved it.

This is the story of a well-trained group of US men sent to secure a classified item in Antarctica. Intrigue, fighting and natural hazards made for some unexpected twists and complications. This book was funny and eventful, making it exciting to read and talk about. I would relate it to watching a superhero movie with some of the sequences pulled off; however, the twists in this book are possible because nature is unpredictable.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read military themed novels, who enjoys twists, exciting fight sequences and humorous characters.

-- K

It is also book one (1) in Reilly's Scarecrow series; but it is not necessary to read them in order.

C. J. Tudor's "The chalk man"

This book can be found here.

Tudor’s ‘The Chalk Man’ is a pretty fast read, and whilst I am going to review it as much as any other book I have read … cloudLibrary classed it as part of the genre “Horror”. Depending on your definition of the genre, you may or may not agree with this when you read it.

Eddie is a kid, part of a “gang” of youths who find a dead body when they are young and then need to deal with the consequences of this once they are older. Seems like a simple storyline; and it is, because we have heard this many times before (even Stephen King’s ‘Dreamcatcher’ does this in part). However, this book has a very different feel to it, even though it follows common tropes. 

The reason I believe this novel is different is because of the characterisation. I found the characters; not exactly interesting per se, but so damaged and flawed that the situation, consequences and the writing sat with me much longer. Perhaps this was why it was placed in horror? The mentalities, attitudes and lives of these characters are so flawed, so pained at times, and seemingly so … off … that perhaps this is the horrifying element all along. Not anything violent that actually happens in the novel: it is the psychology of the characters themselves that is off-putting or creepy. It was what made the book interesting. And sad (not in a crying way, but in a “oh, humans are so pathetic and tormented way”, you know?). It’s also what I take away from this novel the most.

The story itself changes chapter by chapter through the past and present. Mainly between 1986 and 2016. This really worked and made the novel even poetic and cyclical by the end. 

“Everyone has secrets, things they know they shouldn’t do but do anyway.”

You may not see it now, but you will if you read this novel. 

If anyone says they could not connect with the characters; that makes sense. Because it is filled with dark humour and the characters are all flawed, broken and well, human. But the story itself is well written and complete; you have everything you need by the novel’s end. I just kept going back to its cyclical nature and found this part the most enjoyable.

Links for you:

Tudor in the Library:

Other people

Tudor in cloudLibrary:

Taking of Annie Thorne

Title read-a-likes in the Library:

Bone keeper

Luca Veste

Both novels are menacing and have a murder of the past that leaves a mark on individuals into their older selves. However, Veste is more police procedural.

Lying game

Ruth Ware

This was chosen because of the flawed nature of characters and the psychological impact of past events on characters.

Good daughter

Karin Slaughter

Chosen because characters were flawed and shows the impact of small-town life.

Author read-a-likes in cloudLibrary:

Into the water

Paula Hawkins

Girlon the train

Paula Hawkins

Hawkins' work is similarly creepy, complex and nonlinear. These works also focus on the psychology of characters and their unlikeability.