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Michael Bennett #4
Tick Tock
NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem--the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified!
Tick--a killer's countdown begins
A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.
Tick--Michael Bennett is on the chase
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.
Tock--your time is up
Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan. From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.
Tick--a killer's countdown begins
A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.
Tick--Michael Bennett is on the chase
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.
Tock--your time is up
Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan. From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 25, 2010
2808 people are currently reading
11413 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
964 books357k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,637 reviews
January 7, 2024
Michael Bennett book No. 4 - this one sees a copycat serial killer going around New York replicating famous murders. On top of this Bennet has a serious problem handling prejudice and the bullying of his adopted family whilst on holiday; and the widower finally finds himself interested in women again. A good read in typical Patterson page-turning style. 6 out of 12, Three Stars.
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2012 read
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2012 read
July 23, 2020
Patterson's books vary hugely in quality but this was one of the good ones! Michael Bennett is growing on me even though I still find the idea of having ten adopted children a bit fanciful!
I enjoyed the bad guy in Tick Tock. He is smart, cool and calculating and definitely a challenge for the police and the FBI. There are multiple murders and of course Michael and his family are singled out for some of the action.
I am enjoying the slow burn romance between Bennett and Mary Catherine. I hope one day it actually eventuates into something. He really needs to marry her since she is basically the person keeping his family going.
Of course I will keep reading the series. How could I not? It is such great entertainment!
I enjoyed the bad guy in Tick Tock. He is smart, cool and calculating and definitely a challenge for the police and the FBI. There are multiple murders and of course Michael and his family are singled out for some of the action.
I am enjoying the slow burn romance between Bennett and Mary Catherine. I hope one day it actually eventuates into something. He really needs to marry her since she is basically the person keeping his family going.
Of course I will keep reading the series. How could I not? It is such great entertainment!
December 24, 2012
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!!!!!
I have no idea whether the above statement is actually true but I would bet my Kindle on it. This flashy but unsubstantial thriller has movie deal written all over it and has all the pitfalls that a slick blockbuster film would have. First, there is a super-sensationalist plot. Why have just a terrorist or a serial killer when you can wrap up both in the same package? Throw in a little romance...no...make that two romances..that have no connection to the story and let's have a sub-plot that make you care for the hero but again has no connection to the rest of the movie. Gaping plot holes? The audience won't notice if you wow them with violence and totally unbelievable villains.
Am I being cynical? Am I being melodramatic? Probably. I've been accused of both before but this formulaic over-the-top novel is a sad reflection of the state of the bestseller suspense genre. Patterson turns them out faster than the colonel fries chicken. I must admit the beginning had me hooked but it eventually falls apart when we learn the identity of the killer way too early and it descends into a long chase. I actually liked the sub-plot better where a vacationing Detective Bennett and his ten children are harassed by a local family. There was some promise of character development. But that came to a halt early only to return in a feel-good, and artificial ending. I teetered between two stars and a generous three stars on this. However I will have to go with two stars because there are way too many good thrillers out there to waste your time on this one.
I have no idea whether the above statement is actually true but I would bet my Kindle on it. This flashy but unsubstantial thriller has movie deal written all over it and has all the pitfalls that a slick blockbuster film would have. First, there is a super-sensationalist plot. Why have just a terrorist or a serial killer when you can wrap up both in the same package? Throw in a little romance...no...make that two romances..that have no connection to the story and let's have a sub-plot that make you care for the hero but again has no connection to the rest of the movie. Gaping plot holes? The audience won't notice if you wow them with violence and totally unbelievable villains.
Am I being cynical? Am I being melodramatic? Probably. I've been accused of both before but this formulaic over-the-top novel is a sad reflection of the state of the bestseller suspense genre. Patterson turns them out faster than the colonel fries chicken. I must admit the beginning had me hooked but it eventually falls apart when we learn the identity of the killer way too early and it descends into a long chase. I actually liked the sub-plot better where a vacationing Detective Bennett and his ten children are harassed by a local family. There was some promise of character development. But that came to a halt early only to return in a feel-good, and artificial ending. I teetered between two stars and a generous three stars on this. However I will have to go with two stars because there are way too many good thrillers out there to waste your time on this one.
June 24, 2013
This book was my first experience with James Patterson, and is definitely also going to be my last. I got the book from a coworker who claimed it was one of the best books he'd ever read, so I figured I would give it a shot.
Holy lord is this bad. Like beyond being it's-so-bad-it's-funny and just straight into offensively terrible. I have no qualms with the subject matter, violence and crime and everything else is fine by me. What offends me is the abysmally lazy writing. It feels like a Goosebumps book. Every "chapter" is about 3 pages long, and most end on a CSI Miami worthy one liner. It's painfully corny and feels incredibly forced. The book feels like a shopping list, with name brands of products being dropped every second sentence. It's like the author (authors?) are trying to simulate character depth by just listing the stores people shop at. It's like watching a movie that has blatant product placement that's so prevalent it's aggravating. Why the hell do I care as a reader that Tears for Fears is playing on the XM Sirius radio? One of the most painful instances of this brand insertion is when a character working on an investigation goes to Wikipedia for insight into the recent crime wave. This is a character who'd been previously described as intelligent and at the top of her class in the NYPD, yet has to resort to a notoriously sketchy online encyclopaedia for insight into some serious crimes. What makes it worse is that the writer makes the character announce she's using Wikipedia, instead of just saying something like "I looked it up online" or "I did some research and discovered..." making the entire scenario feel like it was just constructed to name drop something people recognize so they could go "Yeah Wikipedia is a thing! I use that! This book is so realistic!"
Speaking of Wikipedia, it feels like this book is written heavily with the aid of it. Several times someone will make a reference to something and then essentially spell out facts about the reference just in case you're too thick to get the subtle commentary. This is really apparent in one of my favourite passages from the book. The main bad guy shaves his head into a mohawk and puts on an army jacket, which sounds like a nod to Taxi Driver. Just in case you didn't know that though, here's the following lines to really hammer that point home.
"He was dressed as Travis Bickle, the anti-hero from Martin Scorsese's seventies classic movie Taxi Driver. Played by Robert DeNiro, Bickle, like Apt, was a soldier turned idealistic assassin"
So not only do we get hammered over the head that yes, this guy is dressing up like Travis Bickle, we also get informed of who directed the movie, what era it came out in, the name of it, who played the character, AND explanation of the character's backstory. Doesn't it defeat the purpose of an homage/reference when you break it down so blatantly? It's like they don't trust the reader to draw their own realization and so they went on IMDB and put in some factoids so you don't get lost.
What else? Main character Michael Bennett seems to have every personality trait known to man. He's a loving dad, but he's crazy bad ass, and he's prone to violent thoughts but he's also (supposedly) one of the best minds on the force. He stumbles into romantic situations with pretty much every woman in his life with little to no effort, and won't ever stop talking about his beloved 10 children though as a reader I'd challenge you to separate any of those kids into actual characters. He's adopted 10 kids of various races and this makes him a target of ignorant bigots, though Mike himself indulges in dozens of Irish stereotypes and half the secondary characters in the book are simply referred to as "that black guy" or "those Asian ladies". There's so little depth to Mike's family that all I could see was a bunch of names just floating around and appearing whenever the plot needed some sort of distraction. I couldn't tell you who Ricky or Eddie or Trent is or what they look like, only that they exist and apparently have seven other siblings.
I haven't even touched on the actual plot of the book, which is probably the only thing that isn't a complete debacle. A crazy guy is out doing copycat crimes of famous murders from New York's past. Neat, sounds fine by me. Where it falls apart is in the execution. We just drift from crime to crime, with more time spent on talking about Bennett driving from his vacation house to New York City and back than actually explaining his detective process. This is probably because it would require actual insight and originality to explain a deductive process. Instead we get treated to scenes of Mike listening to Gov't Mule in his car and thinking about banging his Irish nanny. The climax is completely ludicrous and Bennett's narration of his savage beating from a first person point of view is hilarious. He's getting head trauma and stabbed yet he's able to provide us with such a clear account of events. What a guy.
I probably would have enjoyed a book like this when I was twelve. It's got cool blood and violence, dirty words, and reads at an eight grade level. Unfortunately it's something marketed to adults and for some insane reason has a ridiculously high rating on this website. I enjoy a bit of fun pulp now and then, but Patterson makes Stephen King look like William Faulkner. This book actively argues against the notion that reading makes one more intelligent, and in fact actually makes you duller.
Holy lord is this bad. Like beyond being it's-so-bad-it's-funny and just straight into offensively terrible. I have no qualms with the subject matter, violence and crime and everything else is fine by me. What offends me is the abysmally lazy writing. It feels like a Goosebumps book. Every "chapter" is about 3 pages long, and most end on a CSI Miami worthy one liner. It's painfully corny and feels incredibly forced. The book feels like a shopping list, with name brands of products being dropped every second sentence. It's like the author (authors?) are trying to simulate character depth by just listing the stores people shop at. It's like watching a movie that has blatant product placement that's so prevalent it's aggravating. Why the hell do I care as a reader that Tears for Fears is playing on the XM Sirius radio? One of the most painful instances of this brand insertion is when a character working on an investigation goes to Wikipedia for insight into the recent crime wave. This is a character who'd been previously described as intelligent and at the top of her class in the NYPD, yet has to resort to a notoriously sketchy online encyclopaedia for insight into some serious crimes. What makes it worse is that the writer makes the character announce she's using Wikipedia, instead of just saying something like "I looked it up online" or "I did some research and discovered..." making the entire scenario feel like it was just constructed to name drop something people recognize so they could go "Yeah Wikipedia is a thing! I use that! This book is so realistic!"
Speaking of Wikipedia, it feels like this book is written heavily with the aid of it. Several times someone will make a reference to something and then essentially spell out facts about the reference just in case you're too thick to get the subtle commentary. This is really apparent in one of my favourite passages from the book. The main bad guy shaves his head into a mohawk and puts on an army jacket, which sounds like a nod to Taxi Driver. Just in case you didn't know that though, here's the following lines to really hammer that point home.
"He was dressed as Travis Bickle, the anti-hero from Martin Scorsese's seventies classic movie Taxi Driver. Played by Robert DeNiro, Bickle, like Apt, was a soldier turned idealistic assassin"
So not only do we get hammered over the head that yes, this guy is dressing up like Travis Bickle, we also get informed of who directed the movie, what era it came out in, the name of it, who played the character, AND explanation of the character's backstory. Doesn't it defeat the purpose of an homage/reference when you break it down so blatantly? It's like they don't trust the reader to draw their own realization and so they went on IMDB and put in some factoids so you don't get lost.
What else? Main character Michael Bennett seems to have every personality trait known to man. He's a loving dad, but he's crazy bad ass, and he's prone to violent thoughts but he's also (supposedly) one of the best minds on the force. He stumbles into romantic situations with pretty much every woman in his life with little to no effort, and won't ever stop talking about his beloved 10 children though as a reader I'd challenge you to separate any of those kids into actual characters. He's adopted 10 kids of various races and this makes him a target of ignorant bigots, though Mike himself indulges in dozens of Irish stereotypes and half the secondary characters in the book are simply referred to as "that black guy" or "those Asian ladies". There's so little depth to Mike's family that all I could see was a bunch of names just floating around and appearing whenever the plot needed some sort of distraction. I couldn't tell you who Ricky or Eddie or Trent is or what they look like, only that they exist and apparently have seven other siblings.
I haven't even touched on the actual plot of the book, which is probably the only thing that isn't a complete debacle. A crazy guy is out doing copycat crimes of famous murders from New York's past. Neat, sounds fine by me. Where it falls apart is in the execution. We just drift from crime to crime, with more time spent on talking about Bennett driving from his vacation house to New York City and back than actually explaining his detective process. This is probably because it would require actual insight and originality to explain a deductive process. Instead we get treated to scenes of Mike listening to Gov't Mule in his car and thinking about banging his Irish nanny. The climax is completely ludicrous and Bennett's narration of his savage beating from a first person point of view is hilarious. He's getting head trauma and stabbed yet he's able to provide us with such a clear account of events. What a guy.
I probably would have enjoyed a book like this when I was twelve. It's got cool blood and violence, dirty words, and reads at an eight grade level. Unfortunately it's something marketed to adults and for some insane reason has a ridiculously high rating on this website. I enjoy a bit of fun pulp now and then, but Patterson makes Stephen King look like William Faulkner. This book actively argues against the notion that reading makes one more intelligent, and in fact actually makes you duller.
September 8, 2023
A very readable book, with a good balance between the investigative plot and the protagonist's private life, with some hints of good humor. The protagonist is Michael Bennett, a policeman who has to investigate a brutal murderer who kills his victims by imitating great murders of the past, staging the same methods. Bennett will have to deal with distorted personalities of a certain level. Interspersed with this central story, we also find Bennett's family vicissitudes, dealing with the stories of his 10 adopted children, and his romantic uncertainties, torn between Mary Catherine and Emily, two interesting co-protagonists. The writing style is that of Patterson, therefore very smooth and enjoyable and moreover, unlike others, he never dwells, writing 600-page novels of which 400 are useless. For all these reasons the book deserves its three stars.
January 29, 2018
4.5*
Well what an ending! This will be a short review because I want to move on to book five before bed. I really enjoyed the summer non-vacation for Bennett. The crime plot was good but I was more into the family dynamic in this one and interpersonal relationships.
My quick and simple overall: great and now I must go start book five!
Well what an ending! This will be a short review because I want to move on to book five before bed. I really enjoyed the summer non-vacation for Bennett. The crime plot was good but I was more into the family dynamic in this one and interpersonal relationships.
My quick and simple overall: great and now I must go start book five!
December 4, 2024
⭐️ Synopsis:
A maniac is blowing up bombs all over NYC! Michael Bennet is dragged away from his vacation (he and his cousins own a cottage by the ocean once owned by his grandparents - think Kennedy compound but blue collar outside NYC) to find the bad guy. Unfortunately our authors have decided to promote Mary Catherine into a more fleshed out character and introduce her as a romantic interest of Mike’s. Ooof.
⭐️ What I think about this book: It is still following the formula that made the first book fun reading. However, I’m not crazy about the new direction that Mary Catherine’s character has taken. Somehow she is now getting her Master’s Degree (what!?) and has become a legitimate love interest of Mike’s. Yuck.
A maniac is blowing up bombs all over NYC! Michael Bennet is dragged away from his vacation (he and his cousins own a cottage by the ocean once owned by his grandparents - think Kennedy compound but blue collar outside NYC) to find the bad guy. Unfortunately our authors have decided to promote Mary Catherine into a more fleshed out character and introduce her as a romantic interest of Mike’s. Ooof.
⭐️ What I think about this book: It is still following the formula that made the first book fun reading. However, I’m not crazy about the new direction that Mary Catherine’s character has taken. Somehow she is now getting her Master’s Degree (what!?) and has become a legitimate love interest of Mike’s. Yuck.
January 16, 2019
Primo thriller di Patterson che leggo ma secondo in generale come suo libro in quanto ho letto anche un Maximum Ride. Mi piace il modo di scrivere di Patterson. Capitoli corti e veloci che ti travolgono nella lettura portandoti a non poter far a meno di continuare. Un altro di quei thriller cui non smetti di girare le pagine.
Quest'anno sto davvero iniziando bene. Spero di continuare così.
Quest'anno sto davvero iniziando bene. Spero di continuare così.
May 6, 2018
Second Read: Another fast-paced thriller from Patterson and company. This is the fourth in the Michael Bennett series about a New York cop who has 10 adopted children. In my opinion, this is one of Patterson's better series. ..a close second to Alex Cross. In this one, Bennett is after a killer who is copying the crimes of past serial killers including the mad bomber and the Son of Sam. But is the killer merely copying these crimes or is there another connection with the victims? And is the killer working alone or with someone else? Overall, a pretty good thriller that I would recommend. I also liked the side stories involving Mike's large family and his love interests.
First Read: Detective Michael Bennett has a huge problem--the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria, and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified! A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a very calculating efficient, and deadly mastermind.
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather Shamus, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack. Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes a lot of the crime ring going on in their city and with his family. His neighbors and loved ones rescue him from a very serious beating he takes from a very bad guy and murderer.
The Epilog is a highlight for me. His deceased wife Maeve crosses the veil and is able to spend a few precious minutes with Michael. I'm a firm believer in that concept and don't think our loved ones are that far away from us.
Highly recommend, Great read!!!
First Read: Detective Michael Bennett has a huge problem--the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria, and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified! A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a very calculating efficient, and deadly mastermind.
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather Shamus, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack. Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes a lot of the crime ring going on in their city and with his family. His neighbors and loved ones rescue him from a very serious beating he takes from a very bad guy and murderer.
The Epilog is a highlight for me. His deceased wife Maeve crosses the veil and is able to spend a few precious minutes with Michael. I'm a firm believer in that concept and don't think our loved ones are that far away from us.
Highly recommend, Great read!!!
October 4, 2023
This one was amazing. I was totally hooked. Nothing boring. Emily Parker is going to piss me off the further I get into the series. We will see. She is TROUBLE!!
July 1, 2011
This is the first I've read of the Michael Bennett series, but I already love it. It was a definite thriller, full of suspense, action, and gore...and that got some getting used to because I don't generally read thrillers. But I loved every second of it, and plan to read the first three before this one. What I especially loved was that with each chapter or so you alternate third-person of the two main characters, and you get some really great insight into their mind and thoughts and personality. By the end of the book you feel as if you have known this person your entire life, especially Detective Bennett, and you thrive to know what is going to happen to him next. I love the relationship he has with his children and how personally you get to know their family. The book is so strikingly realistic it is kind of eye-opening, maybe not so much when it comes to the heinous crimes, but simply with life and relationships and the everyday happenings. it is slightly surprising how sucked in you get.
January 23, 2026
I'm finding James Patterson books a bit samey if I'm honest.
I do like the short chapters but it's like there isn't much substance to them, easy readying though.
Four stars.
I do like the short chapters but it's like there isn't much substance to them, easy readying though.
Four stars.
March 28, 2011
Although I've said it before, this may be my last Patterson book. I think the only reason that I bothered to read this one was that I got the full book for free for my Kindle when the book was first posted on Amazon in December.
The book is plot driven rather than character driven which generally makes for flat characters which was not helped by the fact that it's a lousy plot. By the end of the book, I really felt I had come to think of Bennett as "flat Stanley" for the interest that he generated --- and unfortunately, not just in that character! I appreciated the difference between the first person/third person approach --- unfortunately, the character development was so poor the approach didn't salvage the book.
I knew that the Michael Bennett character is part of a Patterson series. However, except for the Women's Murder Club series, it has seldom seemed necessary in any of Patterson's books to have read the previous books or to know the background of the character(s). I did have a passing thought that it might be interesting to know how Bennett's children came to the family, but then the kids just seem to be more of the background than any important part of the story . . . whose children are that well behaved and cheerful all of the time, especially with what is going on around them?!?!?
I was quite disappointed in the ending (no spoiler here!). . . almost like the authors looked over their work, saw that they had a hundred and some chapters written and "it must be about time to wrap up so we better move along on with this list" (and certainly they were working with a list and not a "story line"!).
The book is plot driven rather than character driven which generally makes for flat characters which was not helped by the fact that it's a lousy plot. By the end of the book, I really felt I had come to think of Bennett as "flat Stanley" for the interest that he generated --- and unfortunately, not just in that character! I appreciated the difference between the first person/third person approach --- unfortunately, the character development was so poor the approach didn't salvage the book.
I knew that the Michael Bennett character is part of a Patterson series. However, except for the Women's Murder Club series, it has seldom seemed necessary in any of Patterson's books to have read the previous books or to know the background of the character(s). I did have a passing thought that it might be interesting to know how Bennett's children came to the family, but then the kids just seem to be more of the background than any important part of the story . . . whose children are that well behaved and cheerful all of the time, especially with what is going on around them?!?!?
I was quite disappointed in the ending (no spoiler here!). . . almost like the authors looked over their work, saw that they had a hundred and some chapters written and "it must be about time to wrap up so we better move along on with this list" (and certainly they were working with a list and not a "story line"!).
September 16, 2018
Very disappointing for james Patterson. I love most of his books. This one had so much potential and started off good then it kinda just lost it. For a thriller it wasn't very thrilly. I didnt enjoy the case or the characters really. I feel like its not normal patterson work.
December 21, 2012
I got this one because a detective who has adopted 10 kids sounded different and original and I liked James Patterson. This book has ensured I will only get his books from the library in the future. This was horrid and only got the second star for the originality of having a father of ten since that is at least different. The last time I read one of Patterson's series it was Daniel X and every chapter was 3 pages long. I assumed that was because it was YA. No, this was too. 106 chapters, none longer than five pages probably to 'quicken the pace.' It failed. It was a choppy mess but that would have been forgivable if the writing was better.
I didn't realize this was the fourth book in the series until I looked it up on goodreads because the main character is SO flat and uninteresting that after nearly 400 pages I couldn't remember his name.
Michael Bennet is trying to be on vacation but gets called in on a killing. Back at the vacation house, his kids are tormented by the local bullies wherein the violence escalates and he handles it unprofessionally and unbelievably for a cop and/or a father. His wife has passed on and he has a nanny Mary Catherine who seems to be a college student. His dad, now a priest, keeps popping up though I'm not sure why. He adds nothing. Back in the city, some killer is revisiting all the other serial killers of NY (because that's original, cough, such an overdone plot).
So Michael is running back and forth from city to vacation. I couldn't tell you a single kid's name since they barely exist. Michael is also teaming up with an FBI agent Emily and he's trying to sleep with both women. Wow. You can tell two men wrote this since it's a male fantasy and frankly, it's down right creepy. Not that he's trying to sleep with two women per se but HOW he does it. Mary Catherine is obviously much younger. He erases messages from her friends if they happen to be male etc. Creepy. Controlling. And he has the mentality of his teenaged kids.
I don't even really know why the bad guy was doing what he was doing because chapters in his point of view were so self aggrandizing and boring I started skipping them. The end was over the top and ridiculous. I hate writing reviews like this (seriously, go look most of my reviews are 3 stars or higher) but this book is literally just that bad. When all the characters are such cardboard cutouts you can't even remember their names, there's a problem.
I didn't realize this was the fourth book in the series until I looked it up on goodreads because the main character is SO flat and uninteresting that after nearly 400 pages I couldn't remember his name.
Michael Bennet is trying to be on vacation but gets called in on a killing. Back at the vacation house, his kids are tormented by the local bullies wherein the violence escalates and he handles it unprofessionally and unbelievably for a cop and/or a father. His wife has passed on and he has a nanny Mary Catherine who seems to be a college student. His dad, now a priest, keeps popping up though I'm not sure why. He adds nothing. Back in the city, some killer is revisiting all the other serial killers of NY (because that's original, cough, such an overdone plot).
So Michael is running back and forth from city to vacation. I couldn't tell you a single kid's name since they barely exist. Michael is also teaming up with an FBI agent Emily and he's trying to sleep with both women. Wow. You can tell two men wrote this since it's a male fantasy and frankly, it's down right creepy. Not that he's trying to sleep with two women per se but HOW he does it. Mary Catherine is obviously much younger. He erases messages from her friends if they happen to be male etc. Creepy. Controlling. And he has the mentality of his teenaged kids.
I don't even really know why the bad guy was doing what he was doing because chapters in his point of view were so self aggrandizing and boring I started skipping them. The end was over the top and ridiculous. I hate writing reviews like this (seriously, go look most of my reviews are 3 stars or higher) but this book is literally just that bad. When all the characters are such cardboard cutouts you can't even remember their names, there's a problem.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 3, 2020Another great one for this series. I am going to have to try to read a couple more in this series in between my already planned reads.
February 3, 2011
Mike Bennett is back and the best part for me was his whole family is too. The subplot with the family vacation being woven into the fabric of the novel put this over the top for me. That is the essence of Bennett for me if you will, his love for his family and now finding his way post Maeve, his deceased wife. As usual there is a crazed killer on the loose and Mike Bennett stands in his way. Here is what lies between the covers:
“NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem—the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified!
Tick—a killer's countdown begins
A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.
Tick—Michael Bennett is on the chase
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.
Tock—your time is up
Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan.”
Serious stuff, all of it. Can Bennett balance a vacation and catch a killer at the same time? Will he solve his dating problem? Will or would Maeve approve? What is Seamus up to this time? I just love it and couldn’t put it down. Tick/Tock is simply great entertainment from beginning to end. The right balance was achieved here in family versus catching killers. I got everything I was hoping for and more in this novel: great characters, thoroughly abhorrent bad guys, good ending with no loose ends, basically the whole nine yards. Put this on your to read list at the very least.
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“NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem—the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified!
Tick—a killer's countdown begins
A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.
Tick—Michael Bennett is on the chase
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.
Tock—your time is up
Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan.”
Serious stuff, all of it. Can Bennett balance a vacation and catch a killer at the same time? Will he solve his dating problem? Will or would Maeve approve? What is Seamus up to this time? I just love it and couldn’t put it down. Tick/Tock is simply great entertainment from beginning to end. The right balance was achieved here in family versus catching killers. I got everything I was hoping for and more in this novel: great characters, thoroughly abhorrent bad guys, good ending with no loose ends, basically the whole nine yards. Put this on your to read list at the very least.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari, Linkedin &Twitter. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
December 19, 2017
New York is not a city I wish to live; visit? Ok.... There’s too much mayhem and trouble when you’re just trying to live each day. With that many people living in one city, it’s easy to determine why psychopaths choose this city.
A killer is on the prowl, committing copy-cat murders from previous serial murderers. He has no qualms about taking the life of a man, woman or child. The story drags a little but at the same time it takes time to find a killer.
Not as great as book 3 but okay.
A killer is on the prowl, committing copy-cat murders from previous serial murderers. He has no qualms about taking the life of a man, woman or child. The story drags a little but at the same time it takes time to find a killer.
Not as great as book 3 but okay.
March 25, 2018
Can I say, I’m obsessed!! I love the Michael Bennett series! Listening to the audible version is truly the best. The mix of detective/ personal story for Michael is awesome. I love how James is weaving the story about Mary Catherine and all the kids plus his grandpa. It’s just a great series. 5 stars!
August 7, 2025
woah. wow ok michael. what a good guy, father, person, and a very good detective. i hate when they make the main lead some heartless macho character even with girls. they made michael an actual human with feelings and a good heart. and wow that plot was INSANE.
December 19, 2019
These are fun audio books for my commute. I feel super empathetic for the protagonist, for certain. I didn't appreciate the love triangle.
November 21, 2021
I’m totally falling for Michael Bennett and his 10 kids. Couldn’t put it down!
January 31, 2011
I read the free preview of this book. And let me say that free is good...if you can resist paying to see how it ends. What Patterson, Ledwidge, and publisher are doing by giving away the first 28 chapters for free is akin to what was common practice for Charles Dickens and others in 19th Century Victorian England: serialize the fiction, and through cliffhangers, entice readers to buy the next installment of the magazine, or triple-decker novel.
It may be a smart publishing decision, but does that make it worth reading? The chapters are short, but alas, short chapters are becoming more common these days, as our attention spans seem to be dwindling as more information competes for our time. So how do you keep people reading? Have something exciting happen not just every chapter, but every couple of pages, and end every chapter with a bang. If there's not something exploding, or someone being attacked, or something sexy happening, readers might get bored.
Being written by two authors, it's hard to know who to give the credit, or blame to. The novel also has two voices: the third person narrative that follows the criminal Berger and his horrifying atrocities; and the first-person, colloquial account of the NYPD hero--Bennett. Perhaps having the novel stick to 3rd or 1st person might render it more cohesive. I think Bennett's tough, wise-cop voice would contrast well with the 1st person psycho narrative of Berger. But then again, maybe the authors were going for some extra tension, which is created by the shifts in points of view.
Tick-tock. Yes, there can be no mistaking it. As the title implies, the clock is ticking and there is little time to save the day. And yes, there is a lot of action in the first 28 chapters (would it have been more apropos to give away the first "24" chapters?). And who can really complain about this book, right? I mean after all, it's free! But just because a lot happens, doesn't mean that all readers will be drawn in. Most of the characters are sketched rather lightly, as the focus is on the action. The problem is that if the reader doesn't really care about the characters--feel simpatico, connected, and hooked emotionally--then why get involved?
For instance, Bennett has 10 adopted children, and of course the reader's heart goes out to such a family, but unfortunately, we hardly get to know them all. There seems to be more time spent describing the luxury sports cars that rev through the pages than all of the kids and their struggles. But perhaps fast cars are more exciting? After all, this isn't Dickens and 19th century England.
Another character who might be described better is Mary Catherine--Bennett's early love interest/nanny. Unfortunately, we're left only with a quick portrait. For example: "Mary Catherine was a nice-looking female. I, of course, was a handsome gentleman. We were both hetero. Add vacation and cramped quarters, and trouble was bound to happen...In addition to being the Bennett nanny, Mary Catherine had an art history degree from Trinity College in Dublin and was now in the midst of getting her master's from Columbia. Which made her as smart and sophisticated as she was pretty and kind. She was truly a special person..." (Kindle, Ch 7, p 54).
Well, maybe she is special, but please show us; don't tell us. This lack of character development and general lack of depth in the novel produce a work that so far (through 28 chapters) has no real meaning other than the surface action. Granted, this is not billed as literature, but even the lightest application of Hemingway's iceberg theory might put more weight and gravitas behind this otherwise exciting page-turner.
I do recommend the free preview, as it is enjoyable, much like the action you might find on a fast-paced TV cop show. I would read the rest of the novel myself--for free. But that's the genius of this type of "free" publication. Hook the reader, and they won't be able to resist; they'll want to pay to find out what happens. Well, what do you think? Did you end up buying it or not? :)
It may be a smart publishing decision, but does that make it worth reading? The chapters are short, but alas, short chapters are becoming more common these days, as our attention spans seem to be dwindling as more information competes for our time. So how do you keep people reading? Have something exciting happen not just every chapter, but every couple of pages, and end every chapter with a bang. If there's not something exploding, or someone being attacked, or something sexy happening, readers might get bored.
Being written by two authors, it's hard to know who to give the credit, or blame to. The novel also has two voices: the third person narrative that follows the criminal Berger and his horrifying atrocities; and the first-person, colloquial account of the NYPD hero--Bennett. Perhaps having the novel stick to 3rd or 1st person might render it more cohesive. I think Bennett's tough, wise-cop voice would contrast well with the 1st person psycho narrative of Berger. But then again, maybe the authors were going for some extra tension, which is created by the shifts in points of view.
Tick-tock. Yes, there can be no mistaking it. As the title implies, the clock is ticking and there is little time to save the day. And yes, there is a lot of action in the first 28 chapters (would it have been more apropos to give away the first "24" chapters?). And who can really complain about this book, right? I mean after all, it's free! But just because a lot happens, doesn't mean that all readers will be drawn in. Most of the characters are sketched rather lightly, as the focus is on the action. The problem is that if the reader doesn't really care about the characters--feel simpatico, connected, and hooked emotionally--then why get involved?
For instance, Bennett has 10 adopted children, and of course the reader's heart goes out to such a family, but unfortunately, we hardly get to know them all. There seems to be more time spent describing the luxury sports cars that rev through the pages than all of the kids and their struggles. But perhaps fast cars are more exciting? After all, this isn't Dickens and 19th century England.
Another character who might be described better is Mary Catherine--Bennett's early love interest/nanny. Unfortunately, we're left only with a quick portrait. For example: "Mary Catherine was a nice-looking female. I, of course, was a handsome gentleman. We were both hetero. Add vacation and cramped quarters, and trouble was bound to happen...In addition to being the Bennett nanny, Mary Catherine had an art history degree from Trinity College in Dublin and was now in the midst of getting her master's from Columbia. Which made her as smart and sophisticated as she was pretty and kind. She was truly a special person..." (Kindle, Ch 7, p 54).
Well, maybe she is special, but please show us; don't tell us. This lack of character development and general lack of depth in the novel produce a work that so far (through 28 chapters) has no real meaning other than the surface action. Granted, this is not billed as literature, but even the lightest application of Hemingway's iceberg theory might put more weight and gravitas behind this otherwise exciting page-turner.
I do recommend the free preview, as it is enjoyable, much like the action you might find on a fast-paced TV cop show. I would read the rest of the novel myself--for free. But that's the genius of this type of "free" publication. Hook the reader, and they won't be able to resist; they'll want to pay to find out what happens. Well, what do you think? Did you end up buying it or not? :)
June 19, 2012
A horrible spree of bombings in the City seem to be the work of terrorists, however it soon becomes clear that this is more personal. Michael Bennett is on vacation with his family and is called away to work on this high profile case which is putting the New York people in a state of shock. Bennett decides to call on the help of FBIO agent Emily Parker who he worked a previous case with. His relationships with women become a problem as he gets closer to both Mary Catherine and Emily which in turns means he isn’t as focused on the case as he should be. However, pretty soon it becomes all too clear that the killer knows exactly who Michael Bennett is and he knows exactly what buttons to push.
I have become very jaded with JP’s work recently, especially those that are co-written with the exception of the books following Michael Bennett. In particular his most recent Bennett novel Worst Case was a great read so I had high hopes for this one. The greatest part of a book is when an author develops characters you like and Michael Bennett is no exception. I did find that in this book he didn’t seem quite the same. I love the fact that he is a hardworking cop that has a huge brood of children that make up his family. I also love his Grandfather Seamus who is a cheeky but loveable part of Michael’s life. I can’t put my finger on why Bennett was so different this time round, maybe it was the fact that we see him enter into dangerous territory with two women and he just doesn’t handle it all that well.
The biggest let down for me was the story itself, it was lacklustre and to be honest a wash-out compared to the last one. The plot was pretty weak and the killer was all too predictable this time round. The addition of Emily Parker to the case didn’t add much to the actual plot with the killer and it lacked being genuine. It felt like the story plodded along and there was no real urgency like there is with many other Patterson novels. Having said that I haven’t written off the Bennett series altogether yet I just hope that in the next instalment the main plot is a lot stronger than this one. I think that the majority of fans will enjoy this book but it certainly won’t stay in your memory as being a ‘great’ book.
I have become very jaded with JP’s work recently, especially those that are co-written with the exception of the books following Michael Bennett. In particular his most recent Bennett novel Worst Case was a great read so I had high hopes for this one. The greatest part of a book is when an author develops characters you like and Michael Bennett is no exception. I did find that in this book he didn’t seem quite the same. I love the fact that he is a hardworking cop that has a huge brood of children that make up his family. I also love his Grandfather Seamus who is a cheeky but loveable part of Michael’s life. I can’t put my finger on why Bennett was so different this time round, maybe it was the fact that we see him enter into dangerous territory with two women and he just doesn’t handle it all that well.
The biggest let down for me was the story itself, it was lacklustre and to be honest a wash-out compared to the last one. The plot was pretty weak and the killer was all too predictable this time round. The addition of Emily Parker to the case didn’t add much to the actual plot with the killer and it lacked being genuine. It felt like the story plodded along and there was no real urgency like there is with many other Patterson novels. Having said that I haven’t written off the Bennett series altogether yet I just hope that in the next instalment the main plot is a lot stronger than this one. I think that the majority of fans will enjoy this book but it certainly won’t stay in your memory as being a ‘great’ book.
July 11, 2012
I am not sure why I still allow myself to be amazed every time I read a new James Patterson, but I do. I know his books are amazing, and I know I will be thoroughly entertained, but somehow he always seems to go above and beyond all expectations and this new installment of the Michael Bennett series is pure gold. First off, Bennett may in fact be my favorite character ever written; a hopeless romantic, a dedicated father, a sarcastic comedian, a hero of epic proportions, a man who is dedicated to his job and doing the right thing, and yet at the same time seems so down on his luck and never able to catch a break. Tick Tock introduces more of the Bennett family life and goes off on some side plots involving the kids on their family vacation, all the while a psychotic copycat killer is terrorizing NYC and preventing our hero from getting any much needed rest. I found no flaws in this book and would highly recommend it to anyone, even if you are not familiar with Patterson's writing or the Michael Bennett series, although I can safely say that after reading this book I am sure you will become more familiar with both.
January 13, 2024
The first thing that caught my eye and the reason I picked up this book was the fact that it looked like a series and has a hero and I love books that are part of a series. This book, however, failed to live up to some of the previous books from the author. On one hand, the plot and the twists and turns were good and interesting, however from the perspective of the hero, he didn't get to do much and it seemed as if things fell into place all by themselves without needing a substantial effort from the hero.. The hero had his moments and his weaknesses and his dilemma in his personal life as well as his professional life was well drawn out.. The antagonist has his moments and came across as a cool villain.
Overall a decent thriller which could be given a read if no other book is available but definitely could have been more engaging..
Overall a decent thriller which could be given a read if no other book is available but definitely could have been more engaging..
March 8, 2011
Although I had given up reading James Patterson's book a few years back because I found them formulaic, simplistic and totally predictable, I decided to give Tick Tock a try because I needed a quick easy read and it was sitting on my kindle as a freebie. Michael Bennett, NYC homicide detective, has a complicated personal life as a widower with 10 adopted children. His family vacation is cut short when he is called to investigate a bomb threat and a series of escalating crimes. The book, while entertaining enough, was certainly less than wonderful - not a total waste of time, but not a book I'd strongly recommend either.
December 17, 2014
I started this a while ago. Had it on my kindle for nearly 3 yrs lol, kept thinking I will read this soon. So after I have now read it, it was really good. I've just not been that well to read as much as I could.
It's brilliant to re-connect with Michael Bennett and his brood lol. On a case whilst on holiday at the family beach house and he still has time for romance lol. A brilliant psychopath and his side kick makes a good book in my opinion.
It's brilliant to re-connect with Michael Bennett and his brood lol. On a case whilst on holiday at the family beach house and he still has time for romance lol. A brilliant psychopath and his side kick makes a good book in my opinion.
June 1, 2014
someone else wrote: "flashy but unsubstantial thriller has movie deal written all over it and has all the pitfalls that a slick blockbuster film would have. First, there is a super-sensationalist plot. Why have just a terrorist or a serial killer when you can wrap up both in the same package? Throw in a little romance...no...make that two romances...that have no connection to the story." Descriptive review.
April 25, 2015
The story was great! It is yet another murder mystery to be solved by Michael Bennett, a NYC cop. Yes, it has a romantic twist, too! I have now read all 7 books in the Michael Bennett murder mystery series and am waiting for book #8 to be published in July 2015. Yes, I like Michael Bennett a lot!
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