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Michael Bennett #18
Delusional: A Michael Bennett Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 17 Aug 26Detective Michael Bennett and army-sniper-turned-NYPD-officer Rob Trilling travel to Montana to investigate a case that crosses state borders and family lines.
In New York City, a series of deadly bombs explodes.
In New Jersey, a military base is burglarized for explosives.
In Montana, violence and arson rock a small town outside of Bozeman.
Are the incidents related? Bennett, Trilling, and the ATF investigate.
A single-minded group angry with the government keep turning up in unexpected places, insisting that they’re only trying to make the world a better place.
To law enforcement, their claims seem delusional.
Will words or gunpowder light the next fuse?
In New York City, a series of deadly bombs explodes.
In New Jersey, a military base is burglarized for explosives.
In Montana, violence and arson rock a small town outside of Bozeman.
Are the incidents related? Bennett, Trilling, and the ATF investigate.
A single-minded group angry with the government keep turning up in unexpected places, insisting that they’re only trying to make the world a better place.
To law enforcement, their claims seem delusional.
Will words or gunpowder light the next fuse?
Audible Audio
Expected publication May 21, 2026
7 people are currently reading
1429 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
953 books356k 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2025
Coincidentally, James Patterson’s January 2026 thriller, “The Invisible Woman” (with Susan DiLallo) has a new lead law enforcement character who reminds me so much of Michael Bennett — serious thriller case, but still a lighthearted wise-cracking personality, although it’s a woman. Not ready to replace our beloved New York detective yet. This is Michael Bennett #18, the ninth co-authored with James O. Born, and there is a seismic change in this one — it’s not entirely set in New York City. There’s still family drama, but Bennett actually gets to travel to Montana for a while where his partner's family has the drama. Partner Rob Trilling (who is also Bennett’s daughter’s boyfriend) gets called away to Bozeman, Montana, when an insidious California real estate developer is trying to pressure the family into selling their car lot dealership. When someone dies, Trilling reaches out to Bennett.
There are two plot lines: the problems in Bozeman and an unsolved case of multiple bombings in NYC. Bennett is caught between both cases, but his incredible loyalty to friends is no question when he goes to Rob’s aid. In New York, he’s paired with a smart, clever ATF agent named Maggie Chin.
If you’ve come to love this Patterson series, you won’t be disappointed. More traditional detective work goes into the bombings, and the two cases are entwined at the end. And again, I’ll recommend the latest Michael Bennett as I await #20. 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
There are two plot lines: the problems in Bozeman and an unsolved case of multiple bombings in NYC. Bennett is caught between both cases, but his incredible loyalty to friends is no question when he goes to Rob’s aid. In New York, he’s paired with a smart, clever ATF agent named Maggie Chin.
If you’ve come to love this Patterson series, you won’t be disappointed. More traditional detective work goes into the bombings, and the two cases are entwined at the end. And again, I’ll recommend the latest Michael Bennett as I await #20. 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
January 8, 2026
Delusional will leave you knowing that Michael Bennett is simply the best.
No delusions there.
A serail boomer who is emulating Ted Kaczynski is creating havoc in NYC, bodies are piling up and the city is on edge.
Michael Bennett along with his partner Rob Trilling are working hard along with Maggie to stop this kililng spree.
We know who the bomber is but he is one step ahead of him.
Adding to the tension Rob has to head home for a family emergency and Michael is right at his side.
Delusional is gripping from start to finish complete with jaw dropping twists and action that will have you in a chokehold.
Jamed Patterson and James O. Born have once again teamed up as a formidable team that will keep the midnight oil burning.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the privilege of reading and reviewing Delusional.
No delusions there.
A serail boomer who is emulating Ted Kaczynski is creating havoc in NYC, bodies are piling up and the city is on edge.
Michael Bennett along with his partner Rob Trilling are working hard along with Maggie to stop this kililng spree.
We know who the bomber is but he is one step ahead of him.
Adding to the tension Rob has to head home for a family emergency and Michael is right at his side.
Delusional is gripping from start to finish complete with jaw dropping twists and action that will have you in a chokehold.
Jamed Patterson and James O. Born have once again teamed up as a formidable team that will keep the midnight oil burning.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the privilege of reading and reviewing Delusional.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Little Brown & Company and Netgalley for this eARC.
Delusional takes Michael Bennett into one of the most expansive investigations of the series, stretching from New York City to rural Montana and threading together crimes that initially seem unrelated: coordinated bombings, a military burglary, and a small-town arson case. That geographic sprawl isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the engine of the novel’s tension. Bennett is forced to navigate unfamiliar terrain, both literally and psychologically, as the case widens into something far more ideological and personal than he expects.
The partnership with Rob Trilling, an army‑sniper‑turned‑NYPD officer, adds a fresh dynamic. Trilling’s tactical instincts and Bennett’s methodical empathy create a compelling contrast, and the authors use that friction to keep the investigation sharp. Their interactions give the book a grounded, procedural texture even as the plot escalates toward national‑level stakes.
The antagonists—two brothers who believe they’re “making the world a better place”—are written with a chilling blend of conviction and instability. Patterson and Born avoid caricature; instead, they explore how delusion can masquerade as purpose. The result is a villain profile that feels unsettlingly plausible, especially as the brothers’ actions ripple across state lines and pull Bennett deeper into their worldview.
Patterson’s trademark pacing is fully intact: short chapters, quick pivots, and a steady drip of reveals. But what elevates Delusional is the way the authors use that momentum to explore the fragility of certainty—how easily a belief can harden into something dangerous. The Montana sequences, in particular, give the novel a stark, almost cinematic isolation that contrasts with Bennett’s usual urban environment.
If there’s a trade-off, it’s that the emotional beats sometimes move as quickly as the action. But the propulsive structure suits the story’s theme: delusion doesn’t pause, and neither does the investigation.
Delusional is a taut, cross‑country thriller that expands the Michael Bennett universe with fresh stakes, a compelling investigative partnership, and villains whose misguided idealism makes them all the more dangerous. It’s brisk, tense, and surprisingly thoughtful beneath the action.
Delusional takes Michael Bennett into one of the most expansive investigations of the series, stretching from New York City to rural Montana and threading together crimes that initially seem unrelated: coordinated bombings, a military burglary, and a small-town arson case. That geographic sprawl isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the engine of the novel’s tension. Bennett is forced to navigate unfamiliar terrain, both literally and psychologically, as the case widens into something far more ideological and personal than he expects.
The partnership with Rob Trilling, an army‑sniper‑turned‑NYPD officer, adds a fresh dynamic. Trilling’s tactical instincts and Bennett’s methodical empathy create a compelling contrast, and the authors use that friction to keep the investigation sharp. Their interactions give the book a grounded, procedural texture even as the plot escalates toward national‑level stakes.
The antagonists—two brothers who believe they’re “making the world a better place”—are written with a chilling blend of conviction and instability. Patterson and Born avoid caricature; instead, they explore how delusion can masquerade as purpose. The result is a villain profile that feels unsettlingly plausible, especially as the brothers’ actions ripple across state lines and pull Bennett deeper into their worldview.
Patterson’s trademark pacing is fully intact: short chapters, quick pivots, and a steady drip of reveals. But what elevates Delusional is the way the authors use that momentum to explore the fragility of certainty—how easily a belief can harden into something dangerous. The Montana sequences, in particular, give the novel a stark, almost cinematic isolation that contrasts with Bennett’s usual urban environment.
If there’s a trade-off, it’s that the emotional beats sometimes move as quickly as the action. But the propulsive structure suits the story’s theme: delusion doesn’t pause, and neither does the investigation.
Delusional is a taut, cross‑country thriller that expands the Michael Bennett universe with fresh stakes, a compelling investigative partnership, and villains whose misguided idealism makes them all the more dangerous. It’s brisk, tense, and surprisingly thoughtful beneath the action.
November 27, 2025
This 18th in the Michael Bennett series is typical Michael Bennet drama. NYC has a serial bomber who is now killing people, a case that has Michael's full attention, until his partner, and daughter's paramour, Rob Trilling returns home to Bozeman, Montana, to help his brother and ends up calling Michael for help. The two cases bring about lots of action and trouble for both men at both locations. I always enjoy reading these stories, that also include family stories. Here Michael's wife Mary Catherine is carrying their first baby, and 11th child. This is still a winning series! Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Standard Michael Bennett plot - several cases going on at the same time. The usual bad guys and a few Bennett family issues. I felt like this one was just okay. I did like the ATF Agent Chin female character. She was a badass. The Grandpa priest was pretty quiet this book. I'd recommend this book if you read the series just to move it forward. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy.
#Delusional #NetGalley
#Delusional #NetGalley
Want to read
December 30, 2025Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews