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The Patrick Bowers Files #5
The Queen
While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East.
In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a multi-layered storytelling tour de force that not only delivers pulse-pounding suspense but also deftly explores the rippling effects of the choices we make.
The Queen is a techno-thriller that will leave you breathless, offered by the author Publishers Weekly calls a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."
In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a multi-layered storytelling tour de force that not only delivers pulse-pounding suspense but also deftly explores the rippling effects of the choices we make.
The Queen is a techno-thriller that will leave you breathless, offered by the author Publishers Weekly calls a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."
517 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
134 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
Steven James
135 books1,758 followersSteven James is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of twenty novels and numerous books on the craft of novel writing, including the new release, DELVE, PIVOT, PROPEL, which explores revolutionary new approaches to fiction writing. With a master's degree in storytelling, James teaches writing worldwide and has appeared on five continents telling stories and teaching storytelling at over 2000 appearances.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
October 11, 2011
Whoo-hooo! 4.5 stars. The Queen! Is a wonderful read. My favorite of the series so far.
A Tale of many stories
On one hand there is this killer serial killer story. Patrick Bowers serves at the head of the manhunt for the infamous Mr. Basque. One layer below that, there is a tale of international espionage that gets more and more tangled. Throw in a winter storm and rural Wisconsin and it only gets more tangled.
The standard suspense thriller is just as fun any other book. It’s both complicated and challenging. There is a lot of action and Patrick Bowers is as always, brilliant and human.
Then there’s the Love Story between Patrick and Lien Hua. Patrick is such a dufuss sometimes. He’s the classic geek. So smart and focused he can’t see the bear trap in front of him until he steps in it. Oh, what a tangled web romance can be… especially if your love life history is full of minefields like Patrick’s is. Still, love wins out in the end.
Then there’s the personal story that Patrick is dealing with while he’s trying to catch serial killers and stop World War III, catch a serial killer, and solve a double murder. A secret between Patrick and his brother, another between Patrick and his Sister in Law all seem to collide at the wrong time. And, beneath it all, his brother’s drinking problem is getting worse. Could the timing be worse for a family crisis? … nevermind, this is Patrick Bowers, don’t answer that. It can always get worse.
There is also the ongoing story of Tessa (Raven). This time Tessa is still wrestling with her own demons from the end of the last book, The bishop. She had already been on shaky ground and now she battled the joy felt when killing a man who had tormentd her and caused her biological father’s death. In the third book she’d proven she could take care of herself, now she has to deal with what that means. She has her secrets to keep from Patrick too, yet, this is a time when she needs him to live more than anything. As always this is a sweet, father daughter thing. Steven James has three daughters. No doubt he’s got the life experience to figure this one out. It’s a touching story there. I bet in the next book, Tessa gets a boyfriend and Patrick has a heart attack.
Add the story thread of an aging assassin with a dark past and a chip on his shoulder who’s out for vengence and we got a tangled plot.
Then, mingled with all of the above is a message of faith, hope, what forgiveness means and how to forgive. These sweet spiritual messages have been in all five books, but I like this one the most. How do you forgive someone? How do you make amends? Does it really mean anything?
In most cases, so many competing story themes would be distracting and take away from the overall entertainment value. In this case, each theme echoes the overall spiritual message in some way or another. It’s like staring into a kaleidoscope where the images shift and build on each other and the patterns are all similar, yet not the same.
James helps us navigate the through the soul of the story and eventually, an answer comes that’s astonishing, relieving and heart felt. In his novels, Steven James does what Ted Dekker (Red, White and Black) and other Christian Writers have attempted to do with mixed success. Use an exciting story as an analogy to explain matters of faith that require more than simple words to understand.
Having said that, this story is so well written, that, if you didn’t know that Steven James is a Christian author, you’d never guess and boy, the story is still fantastic. James doesn’t shove faith down your throat, he simply offers an explanation and allows you to enjoy it, then make up your own mind. The message is a good one, no matter your faith.
And, regardless of the message of faith, this is a gripping, edge of your seat, suspense, THRILLER!, that is full of action and frightening characters, real heroes and acts of bravery and courage from start to finish. Really, a very good read.
Warnings:
1) The characters, particularly Lien Hua and Ralph, have been established in earlier books. The stories and back story for Tessa has played out from book one to the fifth book and there are many other aspects of the story in play in “The Queen” that have developed over four books. You need to read them in order and start with the first one to get the full effect and most enjoyment.
2) Patrick Bowers hunts Serial Killers. Some of this subject matter is difficult to read about. James manages the most difficult parts gently, with enough to engage the fear centers of the mind, but without the gore or voyeurism that other writers put in their stories. This is a human story about human beings, no zombies, vampires or other creatures that thrive on gore and ghoul to make their mark. As well as they are handled here, you can’t talk about serial killers and be taken seriously without some tough to handle subject matter.
3) There is some violence. Again, like the note about serial killers, James manages these scenes well and, in my opinion, any Young Adult could manage these scenes without problems though it might offend pacifists and some Vegans.
4) There are some religious themes here. Strangely, I think that people fixed in their own religious views might take offense before agnostics, atheists and people with more flexible points of view on religion. The message is universal, if you want something more specific to a specific religious doctrine, you need to look elsewhere or simply enjoy the thrilling side of the story.
Regret: just one. The theme of Forgiveness and how it plays out is very in keeping with what Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step Recovery groups follow. It might have been nice to have Sean, who comes to grips with his drinking problem at the end of the story and drives off in the night, to have gone to an AA meeting. Add this theme: It’s not, get right with God and your addiction will be over, it’s fix the drinking problem so you can get right with God. The idea is change the way you live your life, (change your life style) if you want to feel better about being alive. Just my opinion.
The Bottom Line: This is another home run by Steven James, the latest in an outstanding series, Complex, exciting, edge of your seat writing of the highest caliber. A great read.
Recommended for everybody from young adult to geriatric grumpy Curmudgeon.
A Tale of many stories
On one hand there is this killer serial killer story. Patrick Bowers serves at the head of the manhunt for the infamous Mr. Basque. One layer below that, there is a tale of international espionage that gets more and more tangled. Throw in a winter storm and rural Wisconsin and it only gets more tangled.
The standard suspense thriller is just as fun any other book. It’s both complicated and challenging. There is a lot of action and Patrick Bowers is as always, brilliant and human.
Then there’s the Love Story between Patrick and Lien Hua. Patrick is such a dufuss sometimes. He’s the classic geek. So smart and focused he can’t see the bear trap in front of him until he steps in it. Oh, what a tangled web romance can be… especially if your love life history is full of minefields like Patrick’s is. Still, love wins out in the end.
Then there’s the personal story that Patrick is dealing with while he’s trying to catch serial killers and stop World War III, catch a serial killer, and solve a double murder. A secret between Patrick and his brother, another between Patrick and his Sister in Law all seem to collide at the wrong time. And, beneath it all, his brother’s drinking problem is getting worse. Could the timing be worse for a family crisis? … nevermind, this is Patrick Bowers, don’t answer that. It can always get worse.
There is also the ongoing story of Tessa (Raven). This time Tessa is still wrestling with her own demons from the end of the last book, The bishop. She had already been on shaky ground and now she battled the joy felt when killing a man who had tormentd her and caused her biological father’s death. In the third book she’d proven she could take care of herself, now she has to deal with what that means. She has her secrets to keep from Patrick too, yet, this is a time when she needs him to live more than anything. As always this is a sweet, father daughter thing. Steven James has three daughters. No doubt he’s got the life experience to figure this one out. It’s a touching story there. I bet in the next book, Tessa gets a boyfriend and Patrick has a heart attack.
Add the story thread of an aging assassin with a dark past and a chip on his shoulder who’s out for vengence and we got a tangled plot.
Then, mingled with all of the above is a message of faith, hope, what forgiveness means and how to forgive. These sweet spiritual messages have been in all five books, but I like this one the most. How do you forgive someone? How do you make amends? Does it really mean anything?
In most cases, so many competing story themes would be distracting and take away from the overall entertainment value. In this case, each theme echoes the overall spiritual message in some way or another. It’s like staring into a kaleidoscope where the images shift and build on each other and the patterns are all similar, yet not the same.
James helps us navigate the through the soul of the story and eventually, an answer comes that’s astonishing, relieving and heart felt. In his novels, Steven James does what Ted Dekker (Red, White and Black) and other Christian Writers have attempted to do with mixed success. Use an exciting story as an analogy to explain matters of faith that require more than simple words to understand.
Having said that, this story is so well written, that, if you didn’t know that Steven James is a Christian author, you’d never guess and boy, the story is still fantastic. James doesn’t shove faith down your throat, he simply offers an explanation and allows you to enjoy it, then make up your own mind. The message is a good one, no matter your faith.
And, regardless of the message of faith, this is a gripping, edge of your seat, suspense, THRILLER!, that is full of action and frightening characters, real heroes and acts of bravery and courage from start to finish. Really, a very good read.
Warnings:
1) The characters, particularly Lien Hua and Ralph, have been established in earlier books. The stories and back story for Tessa has played out from book one to the fifth book and there are many other aspects of the story in play in “The Queen” that have developed over four books. You need to read them in order and start with the first one to get the full effect and most enjoyment.
2) Patrick Bowers hunts Serial Killers. Some of this subject matter is difficult to read about. James manages the most difficult parts gently, with enough to engage the fear centers of the mind, but without the gore or voyeurism that other writers put in their stories. This is a human story about human beings, no zombies, vampires or other creatures that thrive on gore and ghoul to make their mark. As well as they are handled here, you can’t talk about serial killers and be taken seriously without some tough to handle subject matter.
3) There is some violence. Again, like the note about serial killers, James manages these scenes well and, in my opinion, any Young Adult could manage these scenes without problems though it might offend pacifists and some Vegans.
4) There are some religious themes here. Strangely, I think that people fixed in their own religious views might take offense before agnostics, atheists and people with more flexible points of view on religion. The message is universal, if you want something more specific to a specific religious doctrine, you need to look elsewhere or simply enjoy the thrilling side of the story.
Regret: just one. The theme of Forgiveness and how it plays out is very in keeping with what Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step Recovery groups follow. It might have been nice to have Sean, who comes to grips with his drinking problem at the end of the story and drives off in the night, to have gone to an AA meeting. Add this theme: It’s not, get right with God and your addiction will be over, it’s fix the drinking problem so you can get right with God. The idea is change the way you live your life, (change your life style) if you want to feel better about being alive. Just my opinion.
The Bottom Line: This is another home run by Steven James, the latest in an outstanding series, Complex, exciting, edge of your seat writing of the highest caliber. A great read.
Recommended for everybody from young adult to geriatric grumpy Curmudgeon.
August 25, 2012
I found The Pawn and The Rook at my local thrift store on the cheap, and bought them because they were Christian fiction, which is my favorite genre of books. Upon starting the series, I was blown away by the action and intensity, and got my hands on the subsequent volumes as soon as possible. Each volume ratcheted it up: the villains became more evil and cunning, the plots got increasingly convoluted, the stories were more engrossing, the threats were insanely more dire, etc., up until The Queen, which lacks much of what made the other Bowers novels as amazing as they were.
Yes, you read that right; The Queen is to the Bowers series what Attack of the Clones is to George Lucas' space opera. Steven James spends too much time focusing on family/romantic drama and not enough on action and suspense. Pointless plot threads abound, such as multiple issues with Bowers' family, which just isn't necessary. The ending leaves room for a sequel; if Mr. James is reading the reviews of his novels, I hope he takes negative ones--such as this one--as well as the positive ones into consideration.
Yes, you read that right; The Queen is to the Bowers series what Attack of the Clones is to George Lucas' space opera. Steven James spends too much time focusing on family/romantic drama and not enough on action and suspense. Pointless plot threads abound, such as multiple issues with Bowers' family, which just isn't necessary. The ending leaves room for a sequel; if Mr. James is reading the reviews of his novels, I hope he takes negative ones--such as this one--as well as the positive ones into consideration.
December 27, 2011
This past summer I attended a writer’s conference in Tennessee. Steven James was one of the main speakers, so I picked up The Bishop to read before I went. After all, I wanted to be familiar with the authors who would be leading the conference.
After reading the first few chapters I had to ask myself – “How in the world did I miss this guy?” The writing was tight, the plot complex, the pacing accelerating like a hopped-up Ferrari. However, the story was not for the faint of heart. Graphic and unnerving descriptions of serial murders were front and center. But the protagonist, FBI agent and geospatial intelligence specialist Dr. Patrick Bowers doggedly tracked down the killers as he handled problems on the home front with his intelligent and perceptive stepdaughter, Tessa.
Since then I have read all James’ Patrick Bowers novels. Each one keeping me up late at night turning those pages, although toward the end of each novel I purposely slow down, not wanting to finish such a well-written book too quickly.
The Queen, the latest in the series, does not disappoint. In fact, it’s the best Bowers book so far.
Bowers finds himself in the wintery woods of northern Wisconsin investigating a double homicide, chasing an international assassin, and dealing with an estranged brother. As the snow drifts deeper, Bowser faces eco-terrorists and criminal masterminds with evil agendas all their own.
As with all his novels, James expertly weaves the characters from previous books into the plot. If you’ve read all the books from The Pawn through The Bishop you are definitely familiar with James’ heroes and villains and the battle of good vs. evil. This conflict is what I appreciate the most. Bowers is indeed the “Good Guy” and the bad guys are, well, evil and yet James is not willing to allow us to settle for simple solutions, for black and white answers. James’ characters fight the evil in others and in themselves. Concepts of the evil within each human heart, guilt, and forgiveness are wrestled with sincerely but never heavy-handedly.
The Queen is not just a good read, but a well-crafted story with multi-faceted characters, a storyline with a good many hairpin turns, and a plot that not afraid to explore our darker nature and yet unashamedly holds out hope.
Steven James has certainly moved this queen into the checkmate position. It is a winner.
After reading the first few chapters I had to ask myself – “How in the world did I miss this guy?” The writing was tight, the plot complex, the pacing accelerating like a hopped-up Ferrari. However, the story was not for the faint of heart. Graphic and unnerving descriptions of serial murders were front and center. But the protagonist, FBI agent and geospatial intelligence specialist Dr. Patrick Bowers doggedly tracked down the killers as he handled problems on the home front with his intelligent and perceptive stepdaughter, Tessa.
Since then I have read all James’ Patrick Bowers novels. Each one keeping me up late at night turning those pages, although toward the end of each novel I purposely slow down, not wanting to finish such a well-written book too quickly.
The Queen, the latest in the series, does not disappoint. In fact, it’s the best Bowers book so far.
Bowers finds himself in the wintery woods of northern Wisconsin investigating a double homicide, chasing an international assassin, and dealing with an estranged brother. As the snow drifts deeper, Bowser faces eco-terrorists and criminal masterminds with evil agendas all their own.
As with all his novels, James expertly weaves the characters from previous books into the plot. If you’ve read all the books from The Pawn through The Bishop you are definitely familiar with James’ heroes and villains and the battle of good vs. evil. This conflict is what I appreciate the most. Bowers is indeed the “Good Guy” and the bad guys are, well, evil and yet James is not willing to allow us to settle for simple solutions, for black and white answers. James’ characters fight the evil in others and in themselves. Concepts of the evil within each human heart, guilt, and forgiveness are wrestled with sincerely but never heavy-handedly.
The Queen is not just a good read, but a well-crafted story with multi-faceted characters, a storyline with a good many hairpin turns, and a plot that not afraid to explore our darker nature and yet unashamedly holds out hope.
Steven James has certainly moved this queen into the checkmate position. It is a winner.
October 5, 2011
You must be kidding me.
Not only was I fan from the The Pawn, but I have actively recommended these books to patrons who were looking for fast-paced, smart thrillers. Sometimes it was for someone looking for new and exciting Christian reads, but sometimes it wasn't. This series had appeal for a broad range of people, and I was proudly one of its cheerleaders. These were books I eagerly anticipated and even moved to the top of the to-read stack as soon as they arrived. But...really, Steven James? Really?
It pains me to write, but my exasperation may have reached its limit. First of all, parts of the plot are so technical, I'm not certain we readers can fully understand what is going on. Secondly, the action sequences seem piled on without much concern for connecting threads of plot. Credibility is stretched to the extreme, and the personal crises have become manipulative, forced, and strangely detached.
However, the teeth-grinding offense against readers is
Talk about a supreme let-down.
Not only was I fan from the The Pawn, but I have actively recommended these books to patrons who were looking for fast-paced, smart thrillers. Sometimes it was for someone looking for new and exciting Christian reads, but sometimes it wasn't. This series had appeal for a broad range of people, and I was proudly one of its cheerleaders. These were books I eagerly anticipated and even moved to the top of the to-read stack as soon as they arrived. But...really, Steven James? Really?
It pains me to write, but my exasperation may have reached its limit. First of all, parts of the plot are so technical, I'm not certain we readers can fully understand what is going on. Secondly, the action sequences seem piled on without much concern for connecting threads of plot. Credibility is stretched to the extreme, and the personal crises have become manipulative, forced, and strangely detached.
However, the teeth-grinding offense against readers is
Talk about a supreme let-down.
August 11, 2023
This is the 3rd or 4th time I’ve read it and the ending always gets me!
Awesome!
Awesome!
July 4, 2017
This is my third attempt at writing this review. I listened to the audiobook, and that format suited this read. This is an intriguing combination of geopolitical thriller and serial killer procedural, and for the most part, it was successful.
Patrick Bowers works for the FBI and catches serial killers. He's not a profiler. Instead he uses computers to track a serial killer's movements. On top of that, he's also a stepfather and a widower who is about to ask his girlfriend to marry him. And he's an estranged brother. All the aspects of his personality come together in this book as Pat is tasked to take a break from an ongoing investigation of a copycat killer to the one that Pat supposedly helped catch years before, to investigate whether a government employee murdered his wife and daughter before committing suicide.
This case takes him into the neighborhood of his brother and his brother's wife, who Pat fell in love with. Pat is forced to face those uncomfortable, unsettled relationships, along with his stepdaughter's angst about surviving an attack that killed her biological father.
Along with all the relationship angst, there's an assassin who is working on an independent project in the area that includes gaining revenge. And there's also a plot to launch nuclear missiles.
Sounds like a lot. It was. Overall, I enjoyed this book. The narrator was good, with his deep voice that is fairly raspy. However, he modulates it to represent the different intonations of the characters, including a girl in her late teens, a sociopathic female so-called freedom fighter, and the very strange assassin.
This book has a Christian message, but it's subtle. I appreciated how it is delivered from the vantage point of Tessa, Pat's stepdaughter, who is trying to heal emotionally from the attack that killed her father and led to her killing a murderer. She is asking very deep questions about forgiveness, how she can forgive herself, and if she's worthy of God's forgiveness. Pat and his brother have to figure out a way to mend their relationship, in light of a terrible accident that occurred many years before that changed the way Pat views his brother.
The assassin storyline is interesting, but a bit weird. As far as the geopolitical aspect, that touches on current events, and there's a good amount of tension as Pat works with others, including his would-be fiancee to stop the launch of those missiles that end up being a very integral plot element.
This is the fifth book in the Patrick Bower Files series. It can be read out of order, but there are previous events that definitely get touched on in this book. so that might be an issue for some readers.
I'm glad I was able to get the audiobook from my library.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Patrick Bowers works for the FBI and catches serial killers. He's not a profiler. Instead he uses computers to track a serial killer's movements. On top of that, he's also a stepfather and a widower who is about to ask his girlfriend to marry him. And he's an estranged brother. All the aspects of his personality come together in this book as Pat is tasked to take a break from an ongoing investigation of a copycat killer to the one that Pat supposedly helped catch years before, to investigate whether a government employee murdered his wife and daughter before committing suicide.
This case takes him into the neighborhood of his brother and his brother's wife, who Pat fell in love with. Pat is forced to face those uncomfortable, unsettled relationships, along with his stepdaughter's angst about surviving an attack that killed her biological father.
Along with all the relationship angst, there's an assassin who is working on an independent project in the area that includes gaining revenge. And there's also a plot to launch nuclear missiles.
Sounds like a lot. It was. Overall, I enjoyed this book. The narrator was good, with his deep voice that is fairly raspy. However, he modulates it to represent the different intonations of the characters, including a girl in her late teens, a sociopathic female so-called freedom fighter, and the very strange assassin.
This book has a Christian message, but it's subtle. I appreciated how it is delivered from the vantage point of Tessa, Pat's stepdaughter, who is trying to heal emotionally from the attack that killed her father and led to her killing a murderer. She is asking very deep questions about forgiveness, how she can forgive herself, and if she's worthy of God's forgiveness. Pat and his brother have to figure out a way to mend their relationship, in light of a terrible accident that occurred many years before that changed the way Pat views his brother.
The assassin storyline is interesting, but a bit weird. As far as the geopolitical aspect, that touches on current events, and there's a good amount of tension as Pat works with others, including his would-be fiancee to stop the launch of those missiles that end up being a very integral plot element.
This is the fifth book in the Patrick Bower Files series. It can be read out of order, but there are previous events that definitely get touched on in this book. so that might be an issue for some readers.
I'm glad I was able to get the audiobook from my library.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
March 13, 2024
I've read the first four Patrick Bowers Thrillers ('The Pawn', 'The Rook', 'The Knight', and 'The Bishop') and I couldn't contain my excitement for reading 'The Queen' (I seriously shrieked when it came in the mail...I was THAT excited!)
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers has investigated many gruesome murder scenes, including a case from 14 years ago that because of DNA "evidence" the killer walks free and has started killing again.
Now Patrick is in Woodborough, WI investigating a double homicide and possible suicide. Patrick doesn't understand why he would be called to the case (he investigates serial crimes), but soon he starts to uncover a High-Tech conspiracy involving secrets from the Cold War and Middle East tension.
WOW! 'The Queen' is probably my favorite 'Patrick Bowers Thriller' so far. It was suspenseful (especially towards the end) and I didn't find it as gruesome as some of the other thrillers.
I also loved how there was a good message. It talked about forgiveness and how if you have to work to be "good" to be forgiven, then it's not forgiveness and how forgiveness requires someone to sacrifice something.
I loved alot of the characters (except the villains, of course). My favorite characters would probably be Patrick, Lien-hua, and Tessa
Patrick, he's intelligent and he would risk his life for others, a real hero. Lien-hua, she seems friendly and I found myself really liking her character .
Tessa (Patrick's step-daughter), she deals with a lot of guilt for shooting and killing a man even though he was going to kill her. Tessa also is a vegan and since I'm a vegan, I could relate a lot to how she feels on that issue.
The only thing I didn't like was when Tessa said a common phrase ("oh my ..."). It fit her character, but I would have preferred that not being in 'The Queen'.
'The Queen' has so many twists and it kept me guessing until the final page (really the final page!) The way it ended makes me really want to read Steven Jame's next thriller set to release fall of 2012.
I recommend 'The Queen' if you can handle reading slightly disturbing things and enjoy reading thrillers (because that's definitely what 'The Queen' is!)
♣I received a complimentary copy for my review. I was not required to write a positive review, but to give my honest opinion and that is what I've done.♣
“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers has investigated many gruesome murder scenes, including a case from 14 years ago that because of DNA "evidence" the killer walks free and has started killing again.
Now Patrick is in Woodborough, WI investigating a double homicide and possible suicide. Patrick doesn't understand why he would be called to the case (he investigates serial crimes), but soon he starts to uncover a High-Tech conspiracy involving secrets from the Cold War and Middle East tension.
WOW! 'The Queen' is probably my favorite 'Patrick Bowers Thriller' so far. It was suspenseful (especially towards the end) and I didn't find it as gruesome as some of the other thrillers.
I also loved how there was a good message. It talked about forgiveness and how if you have to work to be "good" to be forgiven, then it's not forgiveness and how forgiveness requires someone to sacrifice something.
I loved alot of the characters (except the villains, of course). My favorite characters would probably be Patrick, Lien-hua, and Tessa
Patrick, he's intelligent and he would risk his life for others, a real hero. Lien-hua, she seems friendly and I found myself really liking her character .
Tessa (Patrick's step-daughter), she deals with a lot of guilt for shooting and killing a man even though he was going to kill her. Tessa also is a vegan and since I'm a vegan, I could relate a lot to how she feels on that issue.
The only thing I didn't like was when Tessa said a common phrase ("oh my ..."). It fit her character, but I would have preferred that not being in 'The Queen'.
'The Queen' has so many twists and it kept me guessing until the final page (really the final page!) The way it ended makes me really want to read Steven Jame's next thriller set to release fall of 2012.
I recommend 'The Queen' if you can handle reading slightly disturbing things and enjoy reading thrillers (because that's definitely what 'The Queen' is!)
♣I received a complimentary copy for my review. I was not required to write a positive review, but to give my honest opinion and that is what I've done.♣
“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
October 2, 2011
Steven James' books are not for the faint of heart. If you have trouble sleeping at night I might not reccomend them but for anyone who loves to get your pulse pounding and reading books is all about sitting on the edge of your seat - then the Patrick Bowers books are made for you!
To call what Patrick Bowers goes through a thriller is an understatement. There are so many layers to this story that it is impossible to even try and give you a heads up. It wouldn't be fair to the reader in you to try and clue you in too much anyway. Most of the main characters are back in this next installment and doing what they do best. Racing against time to try and avoid death and destruction with only partial success. The dialogue is excellent and I love the way the conversations play out between the characters with Patrick's biting wit keeping the pace moving right along. But the real scene stealers are the depths of the storylines, the layers that Steven James weaves along and intertwines. He never leaves any stone unturned and I love how he lets Patrick figure things out.
I love, love, love the Patrick Bowers series. But I know they aren't for everyone, I reccomended them to my sister-in-law and it was too much for her. That's okay, I will eat up every installment and cry the day I find out the series is over.
To call what Patrick Bowers goes through a thriller is an understatement. There are so many layers to this story that it is impossible to even try and give you a heads up. It wouldn't be fair to the reader in you to try and clue you in too much anyway. Most of the main characters are back in this next installment and doing what they do best. Racing against time to try and avoid death and destruction with only partial success. The dialogue is excellent and I love the way the conversations play out between the characters with Patrick's biting wit keeping the pace moving right along. But the real scene stealers are the depths of the storylines, the layers that Steven James weaves along and intertwines. He never leaves any stone unturned and I love how he lets Patrick figure things out.
I love, love, love the Patrick Bowers series. But I know they aren't for everyone, I reccomended them to my sister-in-law and it was too much for her. That's okay, I will eat up every installment and cry the day I find out the series is over.
September 19, 2011
First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.
It’s hard to believe I’m such a big suspense-fan, and I’ve never picked up one of Steven James’ books before. I admit, it’s my loss I’ve kept this talented master of suspense off my bookshelf for so long—but now I’ve remedied that! James’ newest release, The Queen, takes readers on one wild thrill of adventure alongside FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers.
One of the first things that struck me with Steven’s writing style is the depth he takes his characters. Going head first into Patrick’s character, I understood, connected, and admired his amazing sleuthing skills. And not only Pat; Steven went deep with every character he touched—Tessa, Alexei, Cassandra, Terry…the reader is given an amazing glimpse into the characters view point, mindset, and motives. It’s rare that I read a book where the author does this so well with many characters, not just the main ones—but Steven James has done just that. My favorite character would have to be the complex assassin, Alexei. He totally intrigued me and I always looked forward to another scene with him in it. The way his story ends…leaves a lot to be pondered!
The complexity of this book was amazing. There were times that I was nearly overwhelmed with all the facts and mind-whirling events that often took place back to back. I was astonished when I realized that the entire book spanned over only a few days’ time! But in all that, Steven never drops his impeccable plot or let it waver. Everything is tight and rushes along till the very end.
Steven James writing style and rhythm made it easy to get lost in The Queen. From the very beginning, I was pulled into this story that showed more of the darker side of life than one normally sees. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend it to younger teen readers. Violence is present in rather large doses throughout the whole book. There is also some talk about a previous, brief affair that happened between two characters in the past, though it’s stated more than once that they never slept together. I personally found no problem with the violence in this book, so, if you can handle blood and gore, I recommend this to mature suspense fans everywhere!
While The Queen is the first book I’ve ever read by Steven James, it won’t be my last. I’m already looking up the others in his collection of Patrick Bower Thrillers. I was really glad to get the opportunity to be introduced to this author’s amazing books. And from the way The Queen ends, it looks like Valkyrie might just be returning in a later Patrick Bower Thriller! If you want to be taken off on a wild ride that will have you second-guessing and sitting at the edge of your seat to the very end…I highly encourage you to try out The Queen!
It’s hard to believe I’m such a big suspense-fan, and I’ve never picked up one of Steven James’ books before. I admit, it’s my loss I’ve kept this talented master of suspense off my bookshelf for so long—but now I’ve remedied that! James’ newest release, The Queen, takes readers on one wild thrill of adventure alongside FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers.
One of the first things that struck me with Steven’s writing style is the depth he takes his characters. Going head first into Patrick’s character, I understood, connected, and admired his amazing sleuthing skills. And not only Pat; Steven went deep with every character he touched—Tessa, Alexei, Cassandra, Terry…the reader is given an amazing glimpse into the characters view point, mindset, and motives. It’s rare that I read a book where the author does this so well with many characters, not just the main ones—but Steven James has done just that. My favorite character would have to be the complex assassin, Alexei. He totally intrigued me and I always looked forward to another scene with him in it. The way his story ends…leaves a lot to be pondered!
The complexity of this book was amazing. There were times that I was nearly overwhelmed with all the facts and mind-whirling events that often took place back to back. I was astonished when I realized that the entire book spanned over only a few days’ time! But in all that, Steven never drops his impeccable plot or let it waver. Everything is tight and rushes along till the very end.
Steven James writing style and rhythm made it easy to get lost in The Queen. From the very beginning, I was pulled into this story that showed more of the darker side of life than one normally sees. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend it to younger teen readers. Violence is present in rather large doses throughout the whole book. There is also some talk about a previous, brief affair that happened between two characters in the past, though it’s stated more than once that they never slept together. I personally found no problem with the violence in this book, so, if you can handle blood and gore, I recommend this to mature suspense fans everywhere!
While The Queen is the first book I’ve ever read by Steven James, it won’t be my last. I’m already looking up the others in his collection of Patrick Bower Thrillers. I was really glad to get the opportunity to be introduced to this author’s amazing books. And from the way The Queen ends, it looks like Valkyrie might just be returning in a later Patrick Bower Thriller! If you want to be taken off on a wild ride that will have you second-guessing and sitting at the edge of your seat to the very end…I highly encourage you to try out The Queen!
October 3, 2011
With THE QUEEN, Stephen James has again demonstrated that he was one of the best suspense writers in America today. In this fifth book of the series, James delivers a novel full of great characters, nail-biting suspense, and great plot twists. This novel easily gets five starts from me. James easily stands out as one of the best thriller writers in the market, HOWEVER, this may just be the worst book in the series. And I'll get to that in a moment.
The novel opens with Patrick Bowers investigating a murder related to his long-time nemesis, Richard Basque, when he gets called away to a snowy Wisconsin farm house where it looks like a man may have killed his wife and daughter, before killing himself. Meanwhile, an environmental terrorist group is making plans to sneak into an abandoned military base. On top of that, a double-crossed good-hearted Russian assassin is out to kill anyone who keeps him from killing Valkyrie (the planner of all this.)
The plot takes place over a few days in a condense setting, which is a change for James. Also, another change is all the family drama. Bowers is raising a teenage stepdaughter, and I've always loved the interaction between him and troubled Tessa. But, Pat's brother, Sean, and his wife, Amber, live in Wisconsin. Pat runs into them while working on the case, and tons of family drama ensues. I don't think it got in the way of my enjoyment of the novel, but this is just a warning that this novel deviates a little from James' standard plotting.
Now, for my complaint, and it’s been growing as the series progresses. It's the James Patterson Villain Syndrome. As great and creative as James is, he can't let a villain die. In this novel, Richard Basque (who's been around since the first book) is totally outside the realm of the actual plot, and the big revelation at the end of its thread is totally pointless. In addition, there are a few more bad guys hanging around from previous novels. As deep and complex these novels are, you'd think James could come up with original villains instead of reusing old ones. Okay, that's my complaint. It doesn't really take away from the enjoyment of the novel, except for when it kind of highlights the incompetence of Bowers and the FBI when they can't catch this Basque character.
THE QUEEN is a Christian novel, meaning it is published by a Christian publisher, doesn't contain any bad language or sex, and it has a good spiritual message. However, it has a lot of violence and evil is realistically portrayed. But THE QUEEN will easily be enjoyed by readers of all types of novels, including by those who don't regularly read Christian fiction.
The novel opens with Patrick Bowers investigating a murder related to his long-time nemesis, Richard Basque, when he gets called away to a snowy Wisconsin farm house where it looks like a man may have killed his wife and daughter, before killing himself. Meanwhile, an environmental terrorist group is making plans to sneak into an abandoned military base. On top of that, a double-crossed good-hearted Russian assassin is out to kill anyone who keeps him from killing Valkyrie (the planner of all this.)
The plot takes place over a few days in a condense setting, which is a change for James. Also, another change is all the family drama. Bowers is raising a teenage stepdaughter, and I've always loved the interaction between him and troubled Tessa. But, Pat's brother, Sean, and his wife, Amber, live in Wisconsin. Pat runs into them while working on the case, and tons of family drama ensues. I don't think it got in the way of my enjoyment of the novel, but this is just a warning that this novel deviates a little from James' standard plotting.
Now, for my complaint, and it’s been growing as the series progresses. It's the James Patterson Villain Syndrome. As great and creative as James is, he can't let a villain die. In this novel, Richard Basque (who's been around since the first book) is totally outside the realm of the actual plot, and the big revelation at the end of its thread is totally pointless. In addition, there are a few more bad guys hanging around from previous novels. As deep and complex these novels are, you'd think James could come up with original villains instead of reusing old ones. Okay, that's my complaint. It doesn't really take away from the enjoyment of the novel, except for when it kind of highlights the incompetence of Bowers and the FBI when they can't catch this Basque character.
THE QUEEN is a Christian novel, meaning it is published by a Christian publisher, doesn't contain any bad language or sex, and it has a good spiritual message. However, it has a lot of violence and evil is realistically portrayed. But THE QUEEN will easily be enjoyed by readers of all types of novels, including by those who don't regularly read Christian fiction.
September 14, 2011
Steven James is a master storyteller. Each novel gets a little bit better. I’ve read each book in the Patrick Bowers series and this one raises the bar. The Queen is fast paced and holds the reader’s interest until the end.
Characters
The Bowers series has a great list of characters that are well developed and intriguing. Bowers loses his tough guy image around his teenage stepdaughter. It’s the one area of life where he can’t quite be the one in control. One moment he’s being heroic and trying to save the world, the next moment he’s putty in the hands of a teenager. The true to life struggles of parenting a teen teach Patrick Bowers how to change his own character as he tries to lead her into adulthood.
The other characters of the story cross over from book to book. Each person is well developed and come to life on the page.
Story and Plot
Steven James knows how to tell a story. He foreshadows in a way that makes the story more believable while hiding clues in plain sight. This creates many ‘aha’ moments. Fortunately, the moment of revelation comes after the fact and is hard to figure out beforehand. As a reader, I like to guess the plot, but with James, I’m always wrong. He does a masterful job of hiding the truth in the crevasses of the story.
While the book was interesting from cover to cover, the last quarter of the book is a fast ride. As the story races to the climax, it becomes very fast paced and filled with action. This book meets every definition of the word ‘thriller’.
Cons
There is only one scene that I found unbelievable. How his partner broke through a security door seemed too farfetched to be realistic. This was a stopping point for me in the story. I suppose it was better than having the agents guess a secure password, but it was still a hard sell for the reader. Once past this difficulty, the story returns to its high expectations.
Highly Recommended
The one complaint I had in the story isn’t enough to hurt the quality of the book. All things considered, having only one thing to complain about is a big accomplishment. The storyline is very well thought out and presented strongly to the reader. The subplots are interesting and add much to the book.
516 pages is a lot of reading, but not once did I grow tired of the book. There is no ‘sagging middle’ of The Queen. If you like thrillers, you’ll love this book. Best of all, it’s a clean read. James can tell a story without foul language or sleaze. It’s just a good read. Perhaps this will be another Christy Award winner. It has my vote!
Eddie Snipes
Author of I Called Him Dancer
Characters
The Bowers series has a great list of characters that are well developed and intriguing. Bowers loses his tough guy image around his teenage stepdaughter. It’s the one area of life where he can’t quite be the one in control. One moment he’s being heroic and trying to save the world, the next moment he’s putty in the hands of a teenager. The true to life struggles of parenting a teen teach Patrick Bowers how to change his own character as he tries to lead her into adulthood.
The other characters of the story cross over from book to book. Each person is well developed and come to life on the page.
Story and Plot
Steven James knows how to tell a story. He foreshadows in a way that makes the story more believable while hiding clues in plain sight. This creates many ‘aha’ moments. Fortunately, the moment of revelation comes after the fact and is hard to figure out beforehand. As a reader, I like to guess the plot, but with James, I’m always wrong. He does a masterful job of hiding the truth in the crevasses of the story.
While the book was interesting from cover to cover, the last quarter of the book is a fast ride. As the story races to the climax, it becomes very fast paced and filled with action. This book meets every definition of the word ‘thriller’.
Cons
There is only one scene that I found unbelievable. How his partner broke through a security door seemed too farfetched to be realistic. This was a stopping point for me in the story. I suppose it was better than having the agents guess a secure password, but it was still a hard sell for the reader. Once past this difficulty, the story returns to its high expectations.
Highly Recommended
The one complaint I had in the story isn’t enough to hurt the quality of the book. All things considered, having only one thing to complain about is a big accomplishment. The storyline is very well thought out and presented strongly to the reader. The subplots are interesting and add much to the book.
516 pages is a lot of reading, but not once did I grow tired of the book. There is no ‘sagging middle’ of The Queen. If you like thrillers, you’ll love this book. Best of all, it’s a clean read. James can tell a story without foul language or sleaze. It’s just a good read. Perhaps this will be another Christy Award winner. It has my vote!
Eddie Snipes
Author of I Called Him Dancer
August 16, 2020
Excellent story within a story. I heard he was a Christian writer but this is the first I've seen it in this series.
January 23, 2016
My quest to read all of Steven James’ Patrick Bowers Thriller novels started on August 18th, twenty-six days ago . . . and I enjoyed every minute of it! This series has taken me for quite a ride. Mind-bending, thought provoking, amazing characters, complex relationships, are just some of the words I would use to describe this series.
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers is once again embroiled in a case that starts off as a double homicide but soon snowballs into what could be the onset of World War III. While trying to decipher a fray of clues that he knows somehow adds up to more than just a domestic violence case, Patrick is also dealing with the complexity of family issues that have been buried for years. Throw in a teenage daughter dealing with her own demons, and a woman that Patrick knows he loves but isn’t sure if he can commit to, and you have an intense story with both intellectual and emotional threads pulling at your senses.
Now, I must admit THE QUEEN had a slower beginning than the other books. While James was trying to educate the reader with technical and political information, the added terminology and in-depth explanations slowed the story, and at times were a bit confusing. But once James laid the groundwork, and added a little back story for the reader unfamiliar with the series, the story took off and became a labyrinth of twists and turns that kept me turning page after page.
This is a great series for the suspense reader. Now, I know some people question the fact that this is a Christian novel with very little Gospel substance to it. But, I look at it as an entertaining series free from explicit language, gratuitous sex, and other liberties that you would find from a secular publisher.
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers is once again embroiled in a case that starts off as a double homicide but soon snowballs into what could be the onset of World War III. While trying to decipher a fray of clues that he knows somehow adds up to more than just a domestic violence case, Patrick is also dealing with the complexity of family issues that have been buried for years. Throw in a teenage daughter dealing with her own demons, and a woman that Patrick knows he loves but isn’t sure if he can commit to, and you have an intense story with both intellectual and emotional threads pulling at your senses.
Now, I must admit THE QUEEN had a slower beginning than the other books. While James was trying to educate the reader with technical and political information, the added terminology and in-depth explanations slowed the story, and at times were a bit confusing. But once James laid the groundwork, and added a little back story for the reader unfamiliar with the series, the story took off and became a labyrinth of twists and turns that kept me turning page after page.
This is a great series for the suspense reader. Now, I know some people question the fact that this is a Christian novel with very little Gospel substance to it. But, I look at it as an entertaining series free from explicit language, gratuitous sex, and other liberties that you would find from a secular publisher.
September 12, 2011
I read The Bishop a while back and really enjoyed it. I’m pretty picky when it comes to books like this because it is not my favorite genre, but there are a few authors that I feel excel at writing suspense, and Steven James is one of those authors. One of my absolute requirements when it comes to suspense novels is they have to grab me right away. If there is no immediate excitement, there is very little chance that I will like the book. I remember how quickly The Bishop grabbed me, so deciding whether or not to read The Queen was a no-brainer.
This book did not fail to get my attention. There is nothing I like better than a good bad guy. That actually sounds weird, but you know what I mean. Equally important is the hero. I love the Jack Bauer type of hero and Steven James has created a great hero with Patrick Bowers. The tie-in with the very real Cold War and the very real problems with the Middle East made this book feel very real, and scary. I loved that!
This book may be a rather intimidating 516 pages long, but it does not feel like a long book. I read this book much faster than I thought I would. It was a difficult read to put down because Steven writes in a way that makes me want to keep reading. The chapters are short, so I kept telling myself “just one more chapter”, but I would keep on reading. I highly recommend this book. I didn’t start reading this series from the beginning, but I have never felt lost. These books could easily be stand alone books, so don’t worry if you are new to the series. Just have fun!
This book did not fail to get my attention. There is nothing I like better than a good bad guy. That actually sounds weird, but you know what I mean. Equally important is the hero. I love the Jack Bauer type of hero and Steven James has created a great hero with Patrick Bowers. The tie-in with the very real Cold War and the very real problems with the Middle East made this book feel very real, and scary. I loved that!
This book may be a rather intimidating 516 pages long, but it does not feel like a long book. I read this book much faster than I thought I would. It was a difficult read to put down because Steven writes in a way that makes me want to keep reading. The chapters are short, so I kept telling myself “just one more chapter”, but I would keep on reading. I highly recommend this book. I didn’t start reading this series from the beginning, but I have never felt lost. These books could easily be stand alone books, so don’t worry if you are new to the series. Just have fun!
August 7, 2014
Again, the author kept me turning page after page, while ignoring the needs of the day. It was wonderful!
September 8, 2018
A kind boring, way long, the least wonderful Bowers’ book. Yet, I enjoy how James takes you into the mystery tornado. The ending was a bit disappointing, but I can’t wait to read the next one.
June 14, 2023
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers is once again on the run, not from anyone or anything, but toward everyone and everything that gets in his way while trying to catch the most elusive and sophisticated killers he has ever come across. From near-drowning during an attempted rescue in an icy river, to pursuits on snowmobiles, Bowers proves he can weather any storm as he uses all his physical strength and FBI skills to solve a case that initially appeared to be a routine investigation of a double murder but quickly escalates into a terrorist event on the international level.
While relationships continue to develop with his stepdaughter, Tessa, and his girlfriend, Lien-hua, who is also an FBI agent, this book goes deeper into the personal life of Bowers, when his investigation of the murders of a mother and child in Wisconsin, happens to be in the general area where he was raised and where his brother, Sean, and sister-in-law, Amber, still live. The tension they all have with each other comes to light when they are all forced to confront the truth about an accident he and Sean were in when they were teenagers, and a relationship he and Amber were in when she was engaged to Sean.
Like the four previous books in this series, The Queen is fast paced with many things going on but easy to keep up with thanks to the short chapters, scene breaks, and storytelling skills of the author, Steven James.
While relationships continue to develop with his stepdaughter, Tessa, and his girlfriend, Lien-hua, who is also an FBI agent, this book goes deeper into the personal life of Bowers, when his investigation of the murders of a mother and child in Wisconsin, happens to be in the general area where he was raised and where his brother, Sean, and sister-in-law, Amber, still live. The tension they all have with each other comes to light when they are all forced to confront the truth about an accident he and Sean were in when they were teenagers, and a relationship he and Amber were in when she was engaged to Sean.
Like the four previous books in this series, The Queen is fast paced with many things going on but easy to keep up with thanks to the short chapters, scene breaks, and storytelling skills of the author, Steven James.
November 11, 2021
I love Patrick Bowers and Tessa, and it was another great book in the series, though it was not my favourite in the series.
Patrick and Tessa have an even deeper and closer father-daughter relationship and Patrick and Lien-Hua's relationship is also going somewhere. I always enjoy the honest vulnerability we see in Patrick in the way he deals with relationships, and yes, again he has some skeletons from the past which cause a threat to his happiness.
As for villains, Alexei was probably the most intriguing one I've met. One with a very serious moral code of what offenses is allowed and which is over the line and should never have been done.
It was not my favourite suspense plot of the series, but I still enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one!
*I listened to this on Scribd.*
Patrick and Tessa have an even deeper and closer father-daughter relationship and Patrick and Lien-Hua's relationship is also going somewhere. I always enjoy the honest vulnerability we see in Patrick in the way he deals with relationships, and yes, again he has some skeletons from the past which cause a threat to his happiness.
As for villains, Alexei was probably the most intriguing one I've met. One with a very serious moral code of what offenses is allowed and which is over the line and should never have been done.
It was not my favourite suspense plot of the series, but I still enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one!
*I listened to this on Scribd.*
August 25, 2019
Patrick is an F.B.I. profiler. This story is a mish-mash of several assasins that he is trying to catch as well as reach out to his stepdaughter, his brother and girlfriend, as well as relating or not relating to his sister-in-law. The plot is complicated and it seemed as if it would never resolve but it finally does and then you wonder: a how long can an Wisconsin winter storm last, could this realistically ever really happen, how does a really evil man survive a horrific event? This was supposed to take the reader to a new suspense level but for me, the level was the basement.
March 20, 2020
Another thriller in the Patrick Bowers series where he tracks down a plot to fire a nuclear missile to destroy a major city. Pat really goes through a lot of trauma in this series. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
January 20, 2019
"The Queen" is the best of the series so far!
July 8, 2015
REVIEWED BY FRED STLAURENT
The Book Club Network
Latest in the Patrick Bowers series by Steven James is the best yet!
I am lucky enough to be married to a woman who reads voraciously and happens to know many authors. A couple of years ago Nora happened to hand me a copy of The Pawn by Steven James. She knows me well and understands that I cannot resist a good detective novel. I am captured by thrillers, mysteries and lawyers fighting in the court room stories.
From the very first chapter of Steven James' series about FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers series, I have been inextricably pulled into his world of suspense. His books are not for the timid. Keep in mind that Agent Bowers chases down serial killers and investigates some heinous criminals. However there are other sides to Patrick that take us deep into his relationships. He is a widower with a teen step daughter. His wife who he loved intensely is diagnosed with cancer and dies not too long before we meet him in the first book. He was struggling to be a husband and stepfather to his wife's daughter before losing her and now two unrelated, grieving, extended family members are thrust into a relationship they both need and desire but have no clue about what to do with.
This is one of many relationships that complicate Patrick Bowers personal and professional life throughout the series. I mention this because, although one could pick up the Queen and enjoy the exciting pace of the story without ever reading the first four books, I must tell you that you will miss the richness and depth of the relationships that are developed from the first page of book one.
The Queen is clearly the best book of the series so far! I am not saying that the other books lacked anything, because they did not. Each book in this series is well crafted and the endings of all of these stories kept me up much later than I planned, because I was compelled to finish them. They pick up momentum and become a irresistible force, page after blistering page. Special Agent Bowers is a geospatial investigator. What this means is that time and location matter, though mostly the location of the crimes, in the due course of his investigations. He is at odds with his co-investigators who lean primarily on profiling, most of the time. He is Sherlock Holmes meets Criminal Minds!
Interspersed, really woven into the fabric of these stories are the issues surrounding grief, forgiveness, who God really is and who we are to Him and to each other. The richness of this book is in the inner healing of the people who are a part of this story. There are questions asked that the reader is left to answer. I highly recommend this book for reading groups who can handle stories about homicidal maniacs and the people who catch them. I guarantee that there will be topics in each of these books that will generate deep discussion of issues that lead to healing. Teen relationships, self inflicted cutting, alcohol abuse, marriage, broken homes, grief, un-forgiveness and forgiveness and much more.
When I said that the Queen is the best of the series I mean it. Is it because of the culmination of so many issues involved with the story line? Is it because I have come to know these people in the book and care about them? Or is it because the author has created a world where we can care deeply for these characters and what happens to them? Maybe it is all of that.
I was lucky enough to meet Steven James at the 2010 Christy Awards in Atlanta. (I am trying to entice him into joining www.bookfun.org ) I felt myself wanting to ask him to say hello to Agent Bowers for me! He makes his characters that real!
I know one thing. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the next book (due out in the Fall of 2012)!!
If you would like to know more feel free to visit his website http://www.stevenjames.net/ and while there invite him to join us here at TBCN? I honestly believe that his books will lead to intimate discussions in any reading group!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
The Book Club Network
Latest in the Patrick Bowers series by Steven James is the best yet!
I am lucky enough to be married to a woman who reads voraciously and happens to know many authors. A couple of years ago Nora happened to hand me a copy of The Pawn by Steven James. She knows me well and understands that I cannot resist a good detective novel. I am captured by thrillers, mysteries and lawyers fighting in the court room stories.
From the very first chapter of Steven James' series about FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers series, I have been inextricably pulled into his world of suspense. His books are not for the timid. Keep in mind that Agent Bowers chases down serial killers and investigates some heinous criminals. However there are other sides to Patrick that take us deep into his relationships. He is a widower with a teen step daughter. His wife who he loved intensely is diagnosed with cancer and dies not too long before we meet him in the first book. He was struggling to be a husband and stepfather to his wife's daughter before losing her and now two unrelated, grieving, extended family members are thrust into a relationship they both need and desire but have no clue about what to do with.
This is one of many relationships that complicate Patrick Bowers personal and professional life throughout the series. I mention this because, although one could pick up the Queen and enjoy the exciting pace of the story without ever reading the first four books, I must tell you that you will miss the richness and depth of the relationships that are developed from the first page of book one.
The Queen is clearly the best book of the series so far! I am not saying that the other books lacked anything, because they did not. Each book in this series is well crafted and the endings of all of these stories kept me up much later than I planned, because I was compelled to finish them. They pick up momentum and become a irresistible force, page after blistering page. Special Agent Bowers is a geospatial investigator. What this means is that time and location matter, though mostly the location of the crimes, in the due course of his investigations. He is at odds with his co-investigators who lean primarily on profiling, most of the time. He is Sherlock Holmes meets Criminal Minds!
Interspersed, really woven into the fabric of these stories are the issues surrounding grief, forgiveness, who God really is and who we are to Him and to each other. The richness of this book is in the inner healing of the people who are a part of this story. There are questions asked that the reader is left to answer. I highly recommend this book for reading groups who can handle stories about homicidal maniacs and the people who catch them. I guarantee that there will be topics in each of these books that will generate deep discussion of issues that lead to healing. Teen relationships, self inflicted cutting, alcohol abuse, marriage, broken homes, grief, un-forgiveness and forgiveness and much more.
When I said that the Queen is the best of the series I mean it. Is it because of the culmination of so many issues involved with the story line? Is it because I have come to know these people in the book and care about them? Or is it because the author has created a world where we can care deeply for these characters and what happens to them? Maybe it is all of that.
I was lucky enough to meet Steven James at the 2010 Christy Awards in Atlanta. (I am trying to entice him into joining www.bookfun.org ) I felt myself wanting to ask him to say hello to Agent Bowers for me! He makes his characters that real!
I know one thing. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the next book (due out in the Fall of 2012)!!
If you would like to know more feel free to visit his website http://www.stevenjames.net/ and while there invite him to join us here at TBCN? I honestly believe that his books will lead to intimate discussions in any reading group!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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November 2, 2021
To be 100% honest there is a character in this series that is so annoying to me I waited yeas between book 4 and 5. They are less annoying or I'm more tolerate so I rated 4 stars. The story is interesting and of course a continuing story line .
February 5, 2013
Imagine my surprise after reading all the Patrick Bower series by Steven James and in wanting to write a review of the books, to discover that this series is labeled as being published by a Christian publisher, as well as authored by a Christian...ergo, the Patrick Bowers series is labeled Christian Fiction. I'll tell you this, as an atheist, I didn't have a clue (not even a suspicion) of this throughout my reading of these novels.
Now, now, I am not implying that good Christian fiction doesn't exist! I have read a few good ones in my time. Having said that, however, I do not like novels with an ulterior motive, novels written to spread the word, so to speak. I stay away from them: period. No such problem with this series. In fact; there's nothing in these books that even hints at the above. So, do read on!
Suffice it to say that morality is not the exclusive province of religion. If that were the case, no fiction, no protagonists, antagonists, or plots could ever be written. Steven James, the author, understands that. And you gotta know something about this series...it's all about morality, about choices made and not made, volitional experiences and their consequences made and perpetrated by protagonist and antogonists (this series has some of the best and most evil antogonists to be found anywhere!). Steven James - whether or not because of his religious affiliation - does understand the nature of evil. In fact, it's almost uncanny at how the author creeps into the minds of some of the most colorful, if not horrendous minds of his fictional villains. So, a word of caution, these novels have the propensity to creep you out.
From my perspective, this series is about a war between intellect and demons (personal and real), between mental and scientific strategy and unrelenting impulses, between Criminology and the worst of the worst criminals, with Patrick Bowers at the helm of this singular intellect. Both cerebral and emotive, Patrick battles evil with an unerroring eye for detail, with near photographic memory, and with plenty of physical volatility all aimed at heart-pounding suspense and boy! Does S. James know how to deliver stunning endings!
In regards to Criminology, the readers of this psychological thriller series will be exposed to the latest in scientific analysis: Environmental Criminology. Patrick Bowers focuses on criminal patterns within built environments (cities, landscapes, etc.) and analyzes the impacts of these variables on people's cognitive behavior. This places him in somewhat of a conflict with the FBI's profilers who tend to dismiss Bower's expertise. Here as in other places, Bowers is aided by powerful allies, notably by his friend Calvin, a professor as well as the originator of Environmental Ciminology.
The characters are extremely well developed, very believable, and often help carry the weight of the protagonists role as powerful allies in themselves, such as is the case with Tessa...Patrick's step-daughter. This is a character with whom the reader sympathizes as much as they do with our hero. Wild, dark-haired, often an unwilling ally, and deeply compassionate, Tessa is at the core of Bower's universe, if not the series. She is his island which he protects at all costs and needless to say, she suffers the consequences of her father's aim to destroy evil. She is also the last testament towards his capacity for love.
Note: one of the things I love about Goodreads is their categorization of series into numbered series. In this case, please note that #6 (recently published), is actually the pre-quel to the remaining Patrick Bower series. So, read it first!
As with my other reviews that involve series, this review is the same for all the Bower's series, so if you've read this one, you've read them all.
Now, now, I am not implying that good Christian fiction doesn't exist! I have read a few good ones in my time. Having said that, however, I do not like novels with an ulterior motive, novels written to spread the word, so to speak. I stay away from them: period. No such problem with this series. In fact; there's nothing in these books that even hints at the above. So, do read on!
Suffice it to say that morality is not the exclusive province of religion. If that were the case, no fiction, no protagonists, antagonists, or plots could ever be written. Steven James, the author, understands that. And you gotta know something about this series...it's all about morality, about choices made and not made, volitional experiences and their consequences made and perpetrated by protagonist and antogonists (this series has some of the best and most evil antogonists to be found anywhere!). Steven James - whether or not because of his religious affiliation - does understand the nature of evil. In fact, it's almost uncanny at how the author creeps into the minds of some of the most colorful, if not horrendous minds of his fictional villains. So, a word of caution, these novels have the propensity to creep you out.
From my perspective, this series is about a war between intellect and demons (personal and real), between mental and scientific strategy and unrelenting impulses, between Criminology and the worst of the worst criminals, with Patrick Bowers at the helm of this singular intellect. Both cerebral and emotive, Patrick battles evil with an unerroring eye for detail, with near photographic memory, and with plenty of physical volatility all aimed at heart-pounding suspense and boy! Does S. James know how to deliver stunning endings!
In regards to Criminology, the readers of this psychological thriller series will be exposed to the latest in scientific analysis: Environmental Criminology. Patrick Bowers focuses on criminal patterns within built environments (cities, landscapes, etc.) and analyzes the impacts of these variables on people's cognitive behavior. This places him in somewhat of a conflict with the FBI's profilers who tend to dismiss Bower's expertise. Here as in other places, Bowers is aided by powerful allies, notably by his friend Calvin, a professor as well as the originator of Environmental Ciminology.
The characters are extremely well developed, very believable, and often help carry the weight of the protagonists role as powerful allies in themselves, such as is the case with Tessa...Patrick's step-daughter. This is a character with whom the reader sympathizes as much as they do with our hero. Wild, dark-haired, often an unwilling ally, and deeply compassionate, Tessa is at the core of Bower's universe, if not the series. She is his island which he protects at all costs and needless to say, she suffers the consequences of her father's aim to destroy evil. She is also the last testament towards his capacity for love.
Note: one of the things I love about Goodreads is their categorization of series into numbered series. In this case, please note that #6 (recently published), is actually the pre-quel to the remaining Patrick Bower series. So, read it first!
As with my other reviews that involve series, this review is the same for all the Bower's series, so if you've read this one, you've read them all.
August 11, 2015
Patrick Bowers is investigating a murder of a woman and her young daughter. Set up to look like a murder/suicide the local police are ready to wrap up the case. But Patrick has a more suspicious mind when it comes to dead people so he soon finds that things aren't always what they seem.
Patrick and his brother have a strained relationship because of something that happened when they were teens. It doesn't help that Patrick and his brother's wife Amber formed an emotional attachment while she and Sean were engaged.
Add to those tensions Tessa and her problems, along with an Eco-terrorist group, an assassin bent on seeking revenge on the person who killed his wife, a snow storm and past nemeses seeming to crawl out of the woodwork and you have an exciting tale sure to keep you awake long into the night.
I really do enjoy this series. The author knows how to build tension and to tell the story well. I do find myself rolling my eyes though at some points. Once again when the author uses words that you have to look up to figure out the meaning of it frustrates me rather than educates me or impresses me with his word usage. Seriously? Who uses words such as "frangible" and "susurrus"? Anybody?
Tessa is once again up to her usual bratty self. I find myself getting so frustrated with her character, but then I find myself feeling sorry for her. She is dealing with the after affects of killing someone which I totally understand will mess up a person's mind. But then when Patrick tells her to stay put and not drive in a snowstorm out she goes and does exactly what he tells her not to do. Gah! Seriously?!
I also have to say that if the author keeps killing off people that are an inconvenience to Patrick then pretty soon Patrick is going to be the only character he has left! Good grief! Be prepared for a few twists at the end and some unfinished business with Basque still out and about doing his dirty deeds. Looking forward to the next installment!
Patrick and his brother have a strained relationship because of something that happened when they were teens. It doesn't help that Patrick and his brother's wife Amber formed an emotional attachment while she and Sean were engaged.
Add to those tensions Tessa and her problems, along with an Eco-terrorist group, an assassin bent on seeking revenge on the person who killed his wife, a snow storm and past nemeses seeming to crawl out of the woodwork and you have an exciting tale sure to keep you awake long into the night.
I really do enjoy this series. The author knows how to build tension and to tell the story well. I do find myself rolling my eyes though at some points. Once again when the author uses words that you have to look up to figure out the meaning of it frustrates me rather than educates me or impresses me with his word usage. Seriously? Who uses words such as "frangible" and "susurrus"? Anybody?
Tessa is once again up to her usual bratty self. I find myself getting so frustrated with her character, but then I find myself feeling sorry for her. She is dealing with the after affects of killing someone which I totally understand will mess up a person's mind. But then when Patrick tells her to stay put and not drive in a snowstorm out she goes and does exactly what he tells her not to do. Gah! Seriously?!
I also have to say that if the author keeps killing off people that are an inconvenience to Patrick then pretty soon Patrick is going to be the only character he has left! Good grief! Be prepared for a few twists at the end and some unfinished business with Basque still out and about doing his dirty deeds. Looking forward to the next installment!
September 11, 2011
This is book 5 in Steven James’ Patrick Bowers series, The Queen. Steven is a great storyteller and I thought I knew who the main criminal, Valkyrie was, but was I wrong.
The Queen is a really long book it has 516 pages and 104 chapters. I thought it would take a long time to read, but got it done in a couple of days, because it is so good.
This is a very exciting psychological suspense book and it’s not for the squeamish. Steven James does not hesitate to explore evil and tries to honestly portray the fractured nature of man.
The whole book was amazing, but I really loved the ending. There were so many things going on, so much drama and suspense that I couldn’t put the book down if I wanted to. The details and wording are perfect. Steven James knows exactly what he is talking about and has a very fascinating way of expressing himself.
I like that it was written in the state of WI where I was born and raised and I knew the cities he spoke of in The Queen. The snow and cold brought back many memories for me.
Also besides all of the suspense, I like how Patrick and his daughter Tessa gets along and love each other. Another sweet part is how Patrick and Lien-hua have fallen in love.
This book isn’t for everyone, but it is fantastic if you love suspense and fast-paced thrillers.
Highly recommended for an exciting read.
I received my free copy from Donna Hausler from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
The Queen is a really long book it has 516 pages and 104 chapters. I thought it would take a long time to read, but got it done in a couple of days, because it is so good.
This is a very exciting psychological suspense book and it’s not for the squeamish. Steven James does not hesitate to explore evil and tries to honestly portray the fractured nature of man.
The whole book was amazing, but I really loved the ending. There were so many things going on, so much drama and suspense that I couldn’t put the book down if I wanted to. The details and wording are perfect. Steven James knows exactly what he is talking about and has a very fascinating way of expressing himself.
I like that it was written in the state of WI where I was born and raised and I knew the cities he spoke of in The Queen. The snow and cold brought back many memories for me.
Also besides all of the suspense, I like how Patrick and his daughter Tessa gets along and love each other. Another sweet part is how Patrick and Lien-hua have fallen in love.
This book isn’t for everyone, but it is fantastic if you love suspense and fast-paced thrillers.
Highly recommended for an exciting read.
I received my free copy from Donna Hausler from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
September 15, 2011
The Queen by Steven James if the fifth book in the Patrick Bowers series about an FBI agent who uses geospatial techniques to track serial killers. Pat is working on finding his nemesis Basque's partner when he is called away to a case in Northern Wisconsin is a supposed murder-suicide of a retired Navy officer. He suspects immediately that there is more going on than he is being told, why would the FBI be called in a case easily handled by the local police, but as he investigates he quickly uncovers a wide reaching conspiracy that could bring about nuclear war. Plus, by returning to the area where he grew up, Pat is forced to deal with long buried feelings between he and his brother Sean. James really is the best in the business at writing thrilling suspense stories, and I mourn the day when this series ends next year. Pat and Tessa, his stepdaughter, are still dealing with the aftershocks of the previous novel, The Bishop, when she killed a man and lost her father all in one night. James teases readers a bit when Lien-hua, Pat's love interest and sometime partner, and Pat banter about what they enjoy best about thrillers and throw out several ideas that will have readers wondering and worrying whether any will come to pass in The Queen. As a Wisconsinite I was shocked at the details about the ELF base James included, especially when I discovered that much (all?) of it was true! Very cool!The writing is intelligent, suspenseful, and high-octane; I swear I didn't breathe for the last fifty pages!
September 3, 2011
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bower receives a phone call to investigate a murder. A woman and her four year old daughter were found shot and killed in the home. The husband, Donnie Pickron has gone missing. You might wonder why the FBI would be called to investigate a murder. Murders happen all the time. What makes this one interesting is that the husband is ex-military…Navy.
Pat is joined by Jake, a profiler. As Pat and Jake investigate, they uncover information about weaponry dating back to the Cold War. So what is the connection between a murder in the present day and weapons from the Cold War?
The Queen is book five of the Patrick Bower novels. It is the second book I have read. It can be read as a stand alone novel, though there are some references to relationships and events from the past. Not reading the books in chronological order will not take away from your experience and enjoyment in reading this book. This book starts out with a bang and keeps a steady pace the whole way through until the last page.
Patrick is a great character. He is intelligent and has issues. I know this may seem weird to say that I like that a character has issues but this made Pat a more personable character that I could get behind and not just a hard nosed stuck up prick of a character. The ending is a good lead into the next book. The Queen is a royal delight!
Pat is joined by Jake, a profiler. As Pat and Jake investigate, they uncover information about weaponry dating back to the Cold War. So what is the connection between a murder in the present day and weapons from the Cold War?
The Queen is book five of the Patrick Bower novels. It is the second book I have read. It can be read as a stand alone novel, though there are some references to relationships and events from the past. Not reading the books in chronological order will not take away from your experience and enjoyment in reading this book. This book starts out with a bang and keeps a steady pace the whole way through until the last page.
Patrick is a great character. He is intelligent and has issues. I know this may seem weird to say that I like that a character has issues but this made Pat a more personable character that I could get behind and not just a hard nosed stuck up prick of a character. The ending is a good lead into the next book. The Queen is a royal delight!
June 18, 2015
The most recent in the series and a little change to Mr. James format. While this falls under Christian fiction, I haven't noticed anything that would mandate it fall into that category, starting with Pawn (book 1). The format changes here in that Mr. James does start weaving stronger elements of faith in the story. It still doesn't change the thrilling action, but perhaps enhances it as people do tend to "get religious" when they are on the verge of death! Killer ending to this one. Looking forward to the next one in the series. They have to make this into a movie!
While investigating a mysterious double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions in the Middle East.
In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a pulse-pounding, multilayered storytelling tour de force that will keep you guessing.
While investigating a mysterious double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions in the Middle East.
In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a pulse-pounding, multilayered storytelling tour de force that will keep you guessing.
January 31, 2025
What I Did Like:
+The professional side of Patrick is always well written. He’s dedicated, focused, and driven. Plus the way the author takes you into his mind when he’s cracking the case open is really interesting. It is better than just saying he figured it out.
+Tessa remains my favorite character. I have enjoyed watching her grow into her odd interests as the series has gone on. She’d be a great main character herself.
+The mystery is bigger than the previous books, which ups the danger factor and keeps readers on their toes.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of the previous books in the series will, obviously, stick with Patrick for this adventure.
My Rating: 3 Stars
This one had some problems that are either new to the series or problems that have gone on too long with the series, but the character is still well written and the mystery is still satisfying.
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/08/...
+The professional side of Patrick is always well written. He’s dedicated, focused, and driven. Plus the way the author takes you into his mind when he’s cracking the case open is really interesting. It is better than just saying he figured it out.
+Tessa remains my favorite character. I have enjoyed watching her grow into her odd interests as the series has gone on. She’d be a great main character herself.
+The mystery is bigger than the previous books, which ups the danger factor and keeps readers on their toes.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of the previous books in the series will, obviously, stick with Patrick for this adventure.
My Rating: 3 Stars
This one had some problems that are either new to the series or problems that have gone on too long with the series, but the character is still well written and the mystery is still satisfying.
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/08/...
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