Kidnapped

Jon Roscoe Thriller #3

by James Patterson, Robert Gold

James Patterson’s BookShots. Short, fast-paced, high-impact entertainment.

PLEASE HELP BEFORE HE KILLS ME.

Travelling home for the festive season, Jon Roscoe receives a desperate cry for help.

This year, Christmas with his family isn't quite as he had planned...

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Novella, Short Stories

172 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2016

About the author

Official 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.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travelling home from Chicago to London for Christmas, Jon Roscoe was angry about the wasted trip. The trial hadn’t gone ahead – the witness had been got at; Roscoe was more determined than ever to put him away. He was guilty – Roscoe knew that. He just needed to prove it. But when he found the note in his hand luggage – PLEASE HELP BEFORE HE KILLS ME – he knew who was in trouble. But could he help that person?

Catching up with his wife and twin daughters was always a joy – but things kept going wrong. Christmas was going to be a little different this time round…

Kidnapped is another of James Patterson’s BookShots and 3rd in the Jon Roscoe Thriller series – a quick, easy read and I really enjoyed this one. Fast paced with plenty of action and some unexpected twists – a great little thriller! Recommended.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the third of their Joe Roscoe BookShots, Patterson and Gold deliver another story that keeps the reader guessing and wondering until the final paragraph, showing that short stories do not always lack the essential attention to detail. After finishing up with a piece of business in Chicago, Jon Roscoe is headed back to London for the holidays. His wife and two daughters await him, hoping that he will be able to carve out some time with them as he continues to work for Tribeca Luxury Hotels. While waiting at the airport, Roscoe encounters two families and their various events, both of which cause him worry. He only later learns that both pairs will be on his flight over the Atlantic. Roscoe tries his best to intervene, but is rebuffed in both cases, sensing that there is something ominous about to take place. When back in London, Roscoe is given a stern warning about staying away from a certain celebrity hotel guest, but cannot shake that something is significantly wrong. Meanwhile, Roscoe learns that his wife and daughters may have stumbled onto something else of interest. As the story progresses, the reader is pulled into two significant storylines, both with particular importance and set against the backdrop of the Christmas season. Patterson and Gold devise a wonderful story that will keep the reader up a little later to find out how it resolves itself.

Patterson's invention of the BookShot has not always been a gift for readers, as some stories offer little more than a lump of coal while others are true diamonds. However, that is the nature of the beast and this BookShot shows strong contention for being in the latter category. The third story in the series, readers have already learned much about Jon Roscoe, but the constant move to add new and interesting characters adds a new dimension to the tale. Also, that the hotel is not a primary setting for the story plays into its unique nature. The authors use Roscoe's brain and intuition more than his brawn in this BookShot, adding a dimension to the man while keeping things somewhat realistic. The numerous storylines keep readers ready to forge onwards, offering some interesting views into family life, particularly around the holidays. Short and crisp chapters are offset with interesting plots without taking readers down too many rabbit holes and confusing them as they seek to finish in short order. A successful BookShot that tries taking up only enough time to fill the period between a significant meal and the rowdy round of game playing during the holiday season.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Gold for another wonderful addition to this collection. I hope there are more Roscoe stories on their way soon, as you have done well with this series.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyed this book even though it's the third in the series.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Jon Roscoe, the lead in a few of these. I would happily read about him all day long. This was a twisty one, with some hateful characters. I liked how the story played out too. Less action than other Jon Roscoe books, but good all the same!

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book at a book store. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. It was full of action /adventure.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Jon Roscoe series by James Patterson but I can't believe there are only 3 books! I need more from this series, especially with the way it ended! I need a Jon Roscoe movie either played by Tom Cruise, Gerard Butler or John Krasinski.

[Connor's Library Corner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really I just read this to complete the trilogy. I was bored reading this one sadly

[Siti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can hardly believe it, but I found a Mr. Patterson book that is not my cup of tea 😅

[Bookflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave me mixed feelings 😅

[David Blyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Jon Roscoe novella and once again a good quick read. As the novellas progress the character and background of Jon is painted in more detail. The ending of this novella definitely leaves room to continue another phase of this storyline.
Roscoe, an ex detective at the Met, is head of security at Tribeca Luxury Hotels Group travels the world which has put a strain on his marriage and has led to separation from his wife Marika and his two daughters who now live in Edinburgh.
At the outset of the story line, Roscoe is leaving Chicago after the collapse of a trial against Matteo Ginevra. Two seemingly unconnected events at the airport set up the story line back in London. Without giving away more of the plot I'll close my review here.
Released as part of the James Patterson Bookshots line one wonders whether Patterson has any input to the storyline or whether he is just a name for the masthead. Robert Gold is an author I'm unfamiliar with but he definitely writes in the Patterson mould - short chapters and fast paced. I look forward to the next novel in this sequence.

[Carrie Lynn Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book. I loved it! I can't stop reading it. I wish there would be another after this.

[Jeroen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable third Jon Roscoe book. As a bookshot this story is rather short at about 175 pages, and like the other two stories it shows that there is great promise for the character of Jon Roscoe, and hopefully a full length book is a possibility. If not, I'll take any more Jon Roscoe bookshots.
The story works well as there is a lot going on. Basically there are three things going on, which means Roscoe is slightly distracted, even if one of the 'mysteries' is too obvious. Another one has a great twist to it, while the third does not get resolved to Roscoe's satisfaction but for the reader that does not matter as it makes for good reading and hope for more.
Roscoe trying to reconcile with his wife, while at the sametime also having something going with Anna feels wrong, but that is nicely dealt with in the story.
Good writing and a satisfying mystery would have probably called for 5 stars but one of the mysteries is too obvious, hence 4 stars.

[mrsljgibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Bookshot books never fail to impress me! They are perfect for a nice, quick, easy read and this one was no exception. I’ve loved the Jon Roscoe thrillers series(this is the third in a trilogy) and I hope that there are going to be more books to add to the story!!
Jon Roscoe is Head of Security for the very rich and famous Tribeca chain of hotels. This book sees Jon travelling back to London for Christmas with his family, when a new acquaintance gives him a cry for help.
A great read with a few little twists thrown in for good measure!!

[Sean Harding · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jon Roscoe returns for book 3 of this book shot series and really again it could have had anyone in the lead role because he again feels like any character you have seen in Patterson-world, without remembering anything really distinguishing about him.
Plot moves along and then finishes with an obvious set up for a book #4 meaning there probably won't be one now.
Anyway this was pretty lame.

[T.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say about this book. The protagonist needs anger management if he is going to continue in the world he lives in. Such a changed character from the first book.

3 stories linked by Jon and it felt like they just rehashed the plots from the first one but changed it about a bit.

It was short and so if you want a quick read which you don’t need to think about it’s good for that.

[Amanda E · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25☆

An uber fast paced murder mystery that twists and turns before you can blink.

Jon Roscoe travels home for Christmas and helps two different women from being seriously harmed. He must decide what is important to him or lose his family.

These bookshots are fast paced, great plot set in one main place, and has only a few characters that the story revolves around.

[Tatterededges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as an audio book and listened to it in 15-20 minute intervals whilst driving around in the car. It was pretty unremarkable. It didn't really engage me honestly. Possibly because I was often distracted whilst listening to it.

[William Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Book Shots book by James Patterson. Fast paced and a good read this was book 3 in the Jon Roscoe series. A couple of good surprises in this one. I like these books as a good read after a long novel .

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced, good twists and a nice read before Christmas. Two stories are intertwined with one more powerful than the other which is what kept it at three stars. Would like Roscoe and Tribeca Hotels to get a full novel to see how the dynamic changes.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a sub plot nr the end which was pointless, the thing with a short book 100 -150 its what to put in/out and James Patterson has not mastered that yet. i was a bit underwhelmed. Currently reading Avalanche and Sail which looks good but slow at the mo.

[Kuchpl · Rating 5 out of 5]

great. fast paced

[Marina Mariotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

[Dave Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

KEPT ME GUESSING

[Mike Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Dion · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weak, tepid and thrill-less. A promising double plot trumpets its one twist early on.

Only the second twist on about page 130 is good.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painfully awful. Three stories going on at once in a book too small to tell one story. And we're supposed to think the hero is cool but he doesn't actually do anything...

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good third installment of this seris - action pcked and a good plot.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read but wish there wasn't two story lines.

[Frank Kohl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

[Jess Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as it was so fast paced. I wish we heard more though about each of the families and that's the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Nice easy read though.