The Shut-In

by James Patterson, Duane Swierczynski

I know you're watching me.
Confined to a studio apartment, Tricia Celano watches the outside world through a flying drone. But when her high-tech toy records a vicious murder, she's determined to track down the killer--a killer who knows she's being watched.
BookShots
LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON
Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading All original content from James Patterson

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Novella

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2017

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

[Jaidee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Half a "crap-tastic" star !!

The 2017 Jeez Louise Award


I lied to you and I lied to me.

Last summer I tried one of James Patterson's Bookshot books The Hostage and the little novella ended up being a semi-decent 2.5 star read. I tried this little business book venture and decided these cookie cutter thrillers were not worth my time.

This little monstrosity was passed on to me by one of my admin assistants and I thought...why not....I need a short little palate cleanser. Ummmm No !!

This was just awful....juvenile, pedestrian, ridiculous and a huge waste of time.

My GR friends if you ever see me go within twelve feet of any more of these bookshot novellas you have my express consent to do the following:

1. Tie me down to the wettest, lumpiest mattress available.
2. Force feed me liverwurst on stale rye and raw broccoli
3. Make me listen to Milli Vanilli
4. Do not release me until I read The Girl on the Train from start to finish a second time.

This is how determined I am not to go near one of these horrid little money making monsters again !!

Jeesh :((

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced and suspenseful read that has you thinking about the positive and negative implications technology has in our lives. Look up, you never know who might be watching!

[Ahmed Ejaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

"People always see what they want to see. They’re not trained to observe the truly unexpected."

This was my second BookShot. I was very hyped about it. But I think it just creates a lot of suspense from the beginning and couldn't wrap up well in the end.

CHARACTERS
Mrs. Patricia (Lead)
She was the protagonist and had a very rare allergy to the sun. It was my first time reading this type of allergy. I thought it would exist only if Ozone layer wasn't present. It's still here but rare.
As a character I liked her and sympathized with her. She had a good sense of humor too. Enjoyed it.

Killer (Antagonist)
I think I kind of liked the vibe of it. The good thing was it had its own POV. Very few books care about our villains...😅. Maybe I'm dumb or misread something, but I couldn't understand the reason of killing one person. I got why it was killing the 6 people but couldn't get the reason of the last one. If you know the answer, do clear me out.

PLOT
Our lead is house bound due to her allergy, so she sees the outer world via eye of drone. But one day, she witnesses a murder and now she tries to chase down the killer. But killer gets the drone down and finds out about her. Now she has to convince police about the killer with having no proves and also before the killer gets her first.

RANDOM THOUGHTS
--There was nothing special in the writing. But I think that's fine. Nothing special was expected either. But the unexpected for me was the humor. It was not that much heavy but still it was there and I'm very grateful for that. Otherwise, I think it would’ve been a boring book.

--My main concern here is the ending. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. It's the only negative point for me.

--Patricia's character was good. I could relate to her situation a little bit. Like she was all alone all day in her apartment. That's bad. But she turns it into adventurous...😂😂

--She also doesn’t talk much about her parents. What happened to them or where are they now? It was odd.

--I liked how she used technology to her benefits.


That's all. It's good for a very short read.

“You can fool all of the people some of the time, and you can fool some people all of the time, but not all of the people all of the time?”

23 Jan, 2020

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I thought Patterson would run out of BookShot ideas, he returns for another collaboration with Duane Swierczynski to reveal this timely piece that meshes technology with something from the thriller genre. Tricia Celano is forced to live inside during daylight hours, as she suffers from a rare condition exacerbated by sunlight. Her night phobia has forced her to develop a isolating lifestyle, with her computer the only means of communicating with the outside world. Tricia’s one extravagance is her unmanned drone, which she enjoys flying over the skies of Philadelphia. She uses the camera function to peer down on locals as they go about their business. During one routine drone flight, Tricia witnesses a woman kill an unsuspecting man with an arrow, though no one seems to believe her. Already labelled ‘different’, Tricia faces an uphill battle as she tries to convince the authorities. After a second reconnaissance mission, Tricia runs snack dab into the killer, but the drone is damaged and Tricia’s anonymity is blown. The reader learns that the killer has a major plan and Tricia’s discovery may ruin everything. Tricia has little time and few people in whom she can trust to ensure the body count stops increasing. Being a shut-in, she is not sure where to turn, or who might take up her cause. Patterson and Swierczynski present a wonderful story here and keep the reader enthralled until the very last page. BookShot fans will revel in this, particularly those who like quirky thrillers will no time to slow things down.

My head is spinning with all the BookShot reading that I have been doing, but I have come to enjoy this process. I am learning so much about the writing styles of many authors, as well as the far-reaches of where short stories can take the reader. Tricia Celano is an interesting character and her unique characteristics offer the reader something interesting to explore. Isolated from the outside world, Tricia uses her internet connection and this drone to keep tabs on the ‘real world’, but once she learns of a dastardly plot, she cannot sit idly by. Some of the other characters who cross the pages of this story prove interesting, if only because they are either skeptical or trying to negate her progress. The premise of this piece is great, like the crime with no apparent witnesses caught on screen by an innocent bystander. From there, it’s time to erase any evidence, as well as the witness who could spoil everything. Told in such a way that the reader will never have a chance to rest, Patterson and Swierczynski provide all the elements for a successful story. Proof that you never know what a BookShot has to offer until you get to the core of the story.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Swierczynski, for this entertaining piece. I loved everything about this story and hope you’ll collaborate again soon.

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

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my all time favorite of the Bookshots so far!

[Lackof_shelf_control · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was short and sweet - exactly what I expect from a Bookshot. It was interesting and a unique plot that was relevant to our world’s current technology. There was even a little twist in here that I thought was pretty good. If you are looking for a quick read that can be done in one sitting - this would be a good one for you!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shut-in

I wasn't so sure about this story when I started out but I actually really liked it after all. I'm extremely enjoying all of these great short stories from James Patterson. What a good idea BookShots turned out to be!

[Marleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Suffering from agoraphobia and allergic to the sun, a young marketing analyst, Tricia Celano has never left her apartment since she finished college. Her connection to the outside world is through a flying drone and enjoying the street views from above. Then one day, she witnesses the murder of a homeless man and from there her cozy inside life is as good as finished.
I thought this entire Rear Window premise was great. The execution though, that was less than satisfactory. It felt more like a farce. Especially, the killer, what a ridiculous figure.
The sense of humor, here and there, was a welcome relief.

[David Blyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very good Bookshot.

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This is one of the 'book shots' novellas that James Patterson co-writes with others (this time with Duane Swierczynski) and I really enjoyed it.

Tricia is a young woman trapped in her apartment due to a rare allergy to the sun and a phobia about going out in the dark. She enjoys life vicariously by watching the live feed from her drone Amelia that she sends out over her neighborhood. One day the drone captures the moment when a middle-aged woman kills a homeless man with an arrow. In her panic to get the drone away from the scene, Tricia crashes Amelia on the side of a building. She buys another drone and tries to find the murderer; however the assassin shoots down the drone. Now the murderer can track the owner ... and she does. Eek!

I really enjoyed the fast pace of this novella. Tricia had a great voice. There was lots of suspense, but also humour and some great lines. The novel is told in dual first-person POV, which was a little confusing at first. I was in the head of Tricia when it switched to the first-person viewpoint of the killer. That threw me initially, but the chapters are well-marked so you know who's speaking. There was also one slight continuity problem when the police seemed to think Tricia might be a suspect and then suddenly it was the next day and she was flying her drone again. Wouldn't they have usually taken her down to the station for further questioning? But that's only a slight quibble.

I really enjoyed the story and its resolution. I'll definitely keep on the lookout for more of these book shots.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook for a trip home. An irritating main character, cheesy writing, a ludicrous plot, bumbling police officers, etc etc.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced who done-it. You can’t get too in depth with these BookShots, but they are a fast listen and keep me entertained.
I could listen to these all day😎

[Alatea · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very short and quick-pace story. One of those that are nice to read, but you forget about it directly after you finish the book.

[Antonella Imperiali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molto carino, forse il meglio riuscito della collana bookshots, almeno tra quelli letti finora.
Veloce, scrittura con qualche guizzo di ironia, una punta di suspense (q.b. in rapporto alla lunghezza del racconto), simpatica la trovata del drone. Finale scontato supportato da un minimo di fortuna e audacia dell’eroina di turno, ma ci sta.

3,5/5


⛓ RC 2020 - Catena luglio (3)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...this one is amazing! Short story....

[gwen_is_ reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Due to an incredibly rare skin condition that makes it impossible to be in the sun without dying, Patricia has become a shut-in. She works in her apartment and gets everything delivered. Her only link to the outside world is Amelia, her beautiful, daring… drone. She takes the device out several times a day to look around and people watch. One day, she sees too much. A business woman kills a homeless man- with an arrow! As Patricia tries to calm down and bring Amelia home, the unthinkable happens. Her drone is spotted. Now the killer knows she’s been seen!
Going to the police was a bust- no evidence. Amelia had crashed on the way home, and doesn’t record video anyway- only live streaming. Scared and alone, Patricia has to figure out how to stop the killer before she is a victim herself.
My thoughts:
I felt like this was one of the better Bookshots. I really enjoyed Patricia’s snarky character, and the premise caught me immediately. This really was a book I could not put down! Fast paced and intriguing, this is sure to be a fan favorite! Five Stars!
On the adult content scale, I give it a six for violence and some language

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another snappy read that gets right the to point - as is the purpose of these modern day pulp pop novellas. Tricia Celano suffers from a rare condition that essentially makes her allergic to sunlight. While confined to her apartment she uses a drone to spy on her neighbors all the while telling herself that she's really doing it so she can see the outside world vicariously through her drone. One day she spots a murder - from that point on her life evolves into something she never thought possible.

I picked up The Shut-In purely because Duane Swierczynki was the collaborator. I loved The House Husband and Swierczynski books in general and thought this would be a good way to hold me over until the next Swierczynksi book is published. It was ok. I liked the premise and the story moved along at a decent pace, as you'd expect with these bookshots but it lacked the same punch as The House Husband. The characters lacked depth and it was generally hard to care all that much about them, Tricia as ok. I guess that pretty much sums things up really. Ok. You could do better, then again you could read a lot worse.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Saswati · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

It was a pretty decent thriller novella.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

This was an enjoyable read. This is part of the BookShot series. I enjoyed it. In this book, our lead is housebound because she has an allergy. She uses a drone in order to explore the outside world when she witnesses a murder. I thought the book was great, and engaging. It was a fast read, and it was interesting. I thought it was an excellent addition to James Patterson's book. The format was well-developed and the ending was great. I can’t wait to read more James Patterson books. Overall, a great read.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the strongest BookShots I’ve read. I do think it could’ve been longer, but not because it felt incomplete, just because I enjoyed the MC and the plot.
Tricia was a very likable and relatable character which instantly had me invested in the story. I always think that’s very important, but even more so in a story that’s under 150 pages.
I listened to the audio for this and I think the reader also added to Tricia’s character and personality.
And boy was ‘Archer’ crazy!!!

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book from James patterson, though only a Bookshot though

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't the best story, but it wasn't craptastic either! Lol A woman with a solar allergy plus anxiety disorder, stays in her apartment all the time. So she buys a drone so she can check out the sights. On a flight, she sees someone murdered with an arrow.

[Mary: Me, My Shelf & I · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick mystery story

[Ben Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SHUT-IN is a superbly plotted novella-length psychological thriller by Duane Swierczynski. If all of James Patterson's BookShots had been this well written, the line would still be going strong.

[Virginia Dumais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patterson is one of my favorite authors. This book was a little different for me, due to the fact that the MC, Tricia Celano, has a rare disease that requires that she not go out in the sun. So for her entertainment and a way to see what's going on out in her community, she pilots a drone. One day as she is flying her drone, she captures a murder. Naturally, the police aren't so convinced that she saw what she did.

I like how the plot escalates and the skilled killer butts heads in a full blown battle with the Tricia. Tricia has to figure out a way to prove to the police that she isn't the killer, but how can she do that when she can't go out in the daytime and she's learned to fear the night?

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick read, this Bookshots can be read in an evening. The story had an interesting "Rear Window" premise, but set in a modern-day world. A young woman has a medical condition that keeps her confined to her apartment, so in order to explore the world around her (virtually) she uses a drone. When she witnesses a murder from her drone's feed, things get really interesting. There are several twists to the story that kept me turning the pages. Like all of James Patterson's offerings, this is certainly not great literature, but it held my interest without a heavy time commitment.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Patterson and his lightening fast Bookshots are a lot of fun to read. If you get a book you aren't really interested in, it's not like you have too much to read. Tricia's ventures with her drone, what she witnesses, and how she overcomes phobias and fears was great to read. Lots of surprises in this short book.