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Stingrays
Stingrays--they solve unsolvable crimes.
When a teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local police are baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to unearth the truth--a truth that no one will believe.
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
When a teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local police are baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to unearth the truth--a truth that no one will believe.
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
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2017
674 people are currently reading
1776 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
955 books355k 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 114 reviews
January 6, 2018
James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski team up for this interesting BookShot that explores a crime during a party weekend in the Caribbean. When the Stingrays are hired to explore the murder of Paige Ryerson, they must use all their grit and determination to bring the killer to justice. Killed in the Turks and Caicos, Ryerson was partying with some friends and simply disappeared. When Matthew Quinn and his Stingrays arrive, many of the players involved in the party scene that Ryerson frequented have reason to want her dead. The various Stingrays sift through the evidence and point fingers, though some of these leads turn cold as soon as they’re explored. From a corrupt cop to a playboy with a yacht, and even the captain of the sea-faring vessel, many people recount their various tales of seeing Paige Ryerson, but all promise that she was alive and well. It’s a race to get the answers, and someone’s holding out. With time ticking away, Quinn and his team must make a move and trap the killer, before they get away with the ultimate crime. Patterson and Swierczynski create this interesting piece that is sure to keep the reader intrigued as they speed through the story. Not my favourite BookShot, but this one had potential.
As with any short stories, BookShots can be hit and miss, interesting some readers while others raise their eyebrows and move on. I was not disheartened by this piece, but did not feel the connection to it that many others may feel, which only goes to show that my unique interests differ from those of other BookShot lovers. The characters were not all that intriguing to me, though they surely did offer some interesting insight into a cross-section of the population. Presenting a handful of potential murderers, the authors let the reader see some of the interesting parts about their lives. Same goes for the Stingrays, all of whom bring something to the table that might interest the reader, given the proper inclination. The story was nothing special for me, which I feel might relate to the fact that I could not connect to the Stingrays. Had I felt more of a connection to the sleuths, I might have found something in their tracking down a killer and become more invested in the story. It was not horrible, though I am not sure I’d race out to read another BookShot of the same premise. Patterson and Swierczynski provide the reader with some interesting aspects in this story, though I did not find myself enamoured. Perhaps it has to do with my not feeling my greatest, but I could not connect with this piece on any level.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Swierczynski, for a decent piece of writing. While I am not hooked, that is not to say that others will not enjoy what you had to offer.
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/...
As with any short stories, BookShots can be hit and miss, interesting some readers while others raise their eyebrows and move on. I was not disheartened by this piece, but did not feel the connection to it that many others may feel, which only goes to show that my unique interests differ from those of other BookShot lovers. The characters were not all that intriguing to me, though they surely did offer some interesting insight into a cross-section of the population. Presenting a handful of potential murderers, the authors let the reader see some of the interesting parts about their lives. Same goes for the Stingrays, all of whom bring something to the table that might interest the reader, given the proper inclination. The story was nothing special for me, which I feel might relate to the fact that I could not connect to the Stingrays. Had I felt more of a connection to the sleuths, I might have found something in their tracking down a killer and become more invested in the story. It was not horrible, though I am not sure I’d race out to read another BookShot of the same premise. Patterson and Swierczynski provide the reader with some interesting aspects in this story, though I did not find myself enamoured. Perhaps it has to do with my not feeling my greatest, but I could not connect with this piece on any level.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Swierczynski, for a decent piece of writing. While I am not hooked, that is not to say that others will not enjoy what you had to offer.
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/...
December 7, 2023
3 Stars for Stingrays (audiobook) by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski read by Zoe Hunter.
I like the idea of a fast paced short story with lots of action but something about this one just didn’t work for me. While listening to the audiobook I think I must have missed something in the setup of the story.
I like the idea of a fast paced short story with lots of action but something about this one just didn’t work for me. While listening to the audiobook I think I must have missed something in the setup of the story.
January 27, 2018
James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski have teamed up and created another of Patterson's bookshots called "Stingrays." Apparently, Stingrays solve unsolvable crimes. When a lovely young teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local crime stoppers become baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to find the truth--a truth that no-one will believe.
Until this story, I've never heard of Stingrays before. I better study up and see if this is the real deal. If anyone knows what is really going on, feel free to educate me.
Until this story, I've never heard of Stingrays before. I better study up and see if this is the real deal. If anyone knows what is really going on, feel free to educate me.
June 15, 2017
Stingrays
This was not that great of a read. It was easy to guess and it wasn't that interesting. I was hoping for a better storyline. The characters were okay but there was just something missing from the story. It just seemed too cut and dried.
This was not that great of a read. It was easy to guess and it wasn't that interesting. I was hoping for a better storyline. The characters were okay but there was just something missing from the story. It just seemed too cut and dried.
June 4, 2023
Another excellent novella-length thriller from Duane Swierczynski.
November 1, 2017
I listened to this quick (3 hour) audiobook during a drive home. I liked the different characters and their various backgrounds and methods of investigation - I wouldn't mind seeing them more fleshed out in a full-length novel. A straight-forward mystery with enough to keep you guessing. 3.5 rounded up, but I think I enjoyed this more as an audiobook than I would've reading it.
November 21, 2021
I like this Bookshots very much. It kept you guessing until the end. Like other reviewers said, it would be great if this book continued into a series.
December 5, 2017
I wanted to have some good time and kill my time, yet the shot did not get near that target at all.
*** Spoiler Alert ***
144 pages on 36 chapters??? Why ??? I could not keep a stream as I always get distracted by a chapter end. Sometimes the chapter end and the next page I find that the same chapter continues again from where I stopped the previous page !! Then why make a new chapter then ??
I can accept that there are many suspects and that would be interesting to figure out who did it. But why a lot of investigators ?? 5 person investigating the same case in 144 pages which was much.
A shoved Love story between two of the investigators. I did not mind if they were only friends.
At the end, was it a good end ? No. It was not good.
Until now I did not know why they killed the girl. They said they killed her because she wanted to turn on of them in. FOR WHAT ???
Not a good start with Bookshots. Hope the next one would be good.
*** Spoiler Alert ***
144 pages on 36 chapters??? Why ??? I could not keep a stream as I always get distracted by a chapter end. Sometimes the chapter end and the next page I find that the same chapter continues again from where I stopped the previous page !! Then why make a new chapter then ??
I can accept that there are many suspects and that would be interesting to figure out who did it. But why a lot of investigators ?? 5 person investigating the same case in 144 pages which was much.
A shoved Love story between two of the investigators. I did not mind if they were only friends.
At the end, was it a good end ? No. It was not good.
Until now I did not know why they killed the girl. They said they killed her because she wanted to turn on of them in. FOR WHAT ???
Not a good start with Bookshots. Hope the next one would be good.
May 21, 2021
These Patterson BookShots are remarkably entertaining. This one packs a lot of action and detail into a short book. The Stingrays are a highly skilled team devoted to solving seemingly unsolvable crimes, and they have a lot of fun while doing it. Although not particularly believable, at least their antics aren’t super natural...so they’re possible. Fun in the sun and sand.
October 12, 2017
Another excellent Bookshot - introducing the stingrays - a team of five top investigators who possess a tremendous range of skills. Using unorthodox methods they will solve cases that others cannot. I look forward to more stories about the stingrays.
September 12, 2018
Another good James Patterson bookshot
This grabbed me in the first five pages. Very well done from beginning to end. I hope Mr Patterson starts a Stingrays Series of novels very soon. They would be at the top of my list.
This grabbed me in the first five pages. Very well done from beginning to end. I hope Mr Patterson starts a Stingrays Series of novels very soon. They would be at the top of my list.
January 2, 2019
A group of 'investigators' trying to solve a murder. And it's a twsited mess as to who did it.
April 11, 2022
Wish he’d do a full book/series of this group, I really enjoyed this one!
May 28, 2021
4.5 Stars
I actually liked this bookshot. I thought it moved at a good pace and I only got distracted like once or twice. 😁 The murder was quickly solved and I like the group that handled the whole thing. I'd read another one if they decided to make a series with this.
I actually liked this bookshot. I thought it moved at a good pace and I only got distracted like once or twice. 😁 The murder was quickly solved and I like the group that handled the whole thing. I'd read another one if they decided to make a series with this.
November 9, 2017
I really tried to like this one, but I just wasn't feeling it. I found myself getting distracted and I wasn't fully paying attention to the narration.
I think it had a good plot, but something about it just didn't spark my interest. I am a Forensic Files junkie and love binge watching it on Netflix. I figured this would be right up my alley, but it just lacked a certain something.
On to the next BookShot....
I think it had a good plot, but something about it just didn't spark my interest. I am a Forensic Files junkie and love binge watching it on Netflix. I figured this would be right up my alley, but it just lacked a certain something.
On to the next BookShot....
June 13, 2017
I didn't know that this hasn't been released yet, but I thought that the Stingrays are an established group with different books like that of the Women's Murder Club. They kind of operated the same - each member of the group has a specialty or ability to contribute in order to catch the killer.
I liked how the story's narration changes from member to member depending on who's investigating. The plot was interesting but this was a special book because it didn't drag but was really an easy read.
The killer was obvious but it was still interesting as the pieces come together and you get the whole understanding on how the crime took place and the motive behind it.
I'll be sure to read more of the BookShots!
I liked how the story's narration changes from member to member depending on who's investigating. The plot was interesting but this was a special book because it didn't drag but was really an easy read.
The killer was obvious but it was still interesting as the pieces come together and you get the whole understanding on how the crime took place and the motive behind it.
I'll be sure to read more of the BookShots!
June 27, 2019
This 2017 thriller novella is by authors James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski. A team of diverse operatives goes to the Turks & Caicos Islands to bring closure to a case of a missing college student. They operate on swagger because they show no legal authority in any of the jurisdictions they operate in. They also have impressive technical abilities without reference to who is handling them or where they are based. A mind boggling ending reminds us that the funds they are lavishly expending are not coming from a retainer. A fast, entertaining read, but implausible.
When a teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local police are baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to unearth the truth—a truth that no one will believe.
When a teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local police are baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to unearth the truth—a truth that no one will believe.
July 14, 2025
Stingrays was my first James Patterson book, and honestly, I’m not sure it left me wanting more. I listened to the audiobook, which had decent narration and good pacing, but the story itself felt underwhelming.
The plot had potential, but the execution was lacking—thin on depth, heavy on cliches, and the twists didn’t really land. I never felt connected to the characters, and the ending wrapped up too conveniently without much payoff. It felt like it was trying to be a high-stakes thriller, but it just didn’t hit the mark.
As a first-time Patterson reader, this one didn’t quite convince me to dive into more of his work—but I’d be open to giving one of his more highly recommended titles a shot. For now, Stingrays was just a forgettable, pass-the-time kind of listen.
The plot had potential, but the execution was lacking—thin on depth, heavy on cliches, and the twists didn’t really land. I never felt connected to the characters, and the ending wrapped up too conveniently without much payoff. It felt like it was trying to be a high-stakes thriller, but it just didn’t hit the mark.
As a first-time Patterson reader, this one didn’t quite convince me to dive into more of his work—but I’d be open to giving one of his more highly recommended titles a shot. For now, Stingrays was just a forgettable, pass-the-time kind of listen.
December 22, 2017
Cool crime thriller
This book is about a group of investigators called the stingrays. They take on tough cases where they use their individual and unique skills to "sting" potential suspects and witnesses to figure out the key to solving the case. This particular one involves a young girl who is missing and believed to be dead. Hired by the father of friends of the missing girl, Quinn and his stingrays work their magic on the wealthy and dig until they crack the case.
I found this book very cool and interesting, but my favorite element would be the writing style. It was extremely unique and easy to follow. I loved it.
This book is about a group of investigators called the stingrays. They take on tough cases where they use their individual and unique skills to "sting" potential suspects and witnesses to figure out the key to solving the case. This particular one involves a young girl who is missing and believed to be dead. Hired by the father of friends of the missing girl, Quinn and his stingrays work their magic on the wealthy and dig until they crack the case.
I found this book very cool and interesting, but my favorite element would be the writing style. It was extremely unique and easy to follow. I loved it.
July 13, 2018
The Stingrays are an elite team of private investigators. The case they are investigating is that of a teen girl, Paige Ryerson, who went on an exclusive vacation with a set of twins, Hannah and Brooke Clee, from her school to Turks and Caicos. Paige never returns. The Stingrays are sent to the islands to find her killer. They interview a swarmy lifeguard, a trust fund kid and his yacht captain, and a sleazy cop. But, the real killer is a lot closer to home.
Quick read, reminded me in small ways of the Natalee Holloway tragedy, but ends differently.
#Stingrays #JamesPatterson #DuaneSwierzynski
Quick read, reminded me in small ways of the Natalee Holloway tragedy, but ends differently.
#Stingrays #JamesPatterson #DuaneSwierzynski
March 1, 2022
The Stingrays, a world class team of problem solvers, investigates a teenager who went missing on a Caribbean beach in a case clearly inspired by Natalie Holloway's disappearance. This was just a mess of an overly cliche story that tried to be too cool with the cool crowd and failed to impress long time Patterson readers. It didn't even have 1% of the drama in excellent "missing persons" books like Gone Girl.
August 20, 2019
Five friends who work together to solve crimes are known as the Stingrays. They are hired to find a young woman who went missing on her trip to the Turks and Caicos. They are given leads by the man who hired them and use their unique abilities to pose as authority figures to get answers. The body of the missing girl and her killer are found.
It was interesting to follow along as each member of the group disagreed as to the identity of the killer but the leader of the group had it figured out.
It was interesting to follow along as each member of the group disagreed as to the identity of the killer but the leader of the group had it figured out.
September 15, 2025
Cumbersome tale about a missing/dead girl. The Stingrays are supposedly a world-class team of problem solvers—not so much. The plot is weak, along with the cardboard characters. I typically like Patterson’s Bookshots; however, I found this one extremely awful and annoying. Mainly because the narration by Helen Wick is the worst imaginable casting for this story. Wick’s voice is nails on a chalkboard for me. Stingrays is included in the Palm Beach Murders trilogy (Includes Let's Play Makebelieve and Nooners). I wish I had skipped it.
May 16, 2024
Stingrays was an awesome read! I am hoping this becomes a series. The Stingrays are an elite, talented group, each with an individual skill set. The investigators work outside of the law, off the books, and they get definite results quickly. The crime is a young college student gone missing. The Stingrays are hired to find out what happened to this young lady, and boy did they find out! Recommend!
June 8, 2017
I liked it, the group of PIs who are solving a murder.
BUT what was with Quinn calling the shots? it's was kind of shady the whole "go find out what you can, I have my presumptions, but you do your thing and I'll tell you if you're wrong." that was weird to me.
But it was entertaining for a bookshot.
BUT what was with Quinn calling the shots? it's was kind of shady the whole "go find out what you can, I have my presumptions, but you do your thing and I'll tell you if you're wrong." that was weird to me.
But it was entertaining for a bookshot.
December 20, 2017
Another good, quick read in James Patterson's Bookshots format.
This one tells of a group of characters hired to look into the disappearance of a young girl on a Caribbean island. Because of the short format, there isn't much background given to the characters, but what glimpses we are given are sufficient to whet the appetite for more stories featuring them.
The plot moves along rapidly and is soon brought to a satisfying conclusion.
In some ways this is like his Private series in that it features different characters in differing locations, and could easily become a new series.
This one tells of a group of characters hired to look into the disappearance of a young girl on a Caribbean island. Because of the short format, there isn't much background given to the characters, but what glimpses we are given are sufficient to whet the appetite for more stories featuring them.
The plot moves along rapidly and is soon brought to a satisfying conclusion.
In some ways this is like his Private series in that it features different characters in differing locations, and could easily become a new series.
November 30, 2019
Where Is She?
When a girl goes missing while on a vacation, and the police can't find her, the Stingrays are hired
Is she dead? If so, who killed her? Was it the lifeguard? The rich lkid? Or the cop who was spurned by her? And what do her best friends know about it? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did!
When a girl goes missing while on a vacation, and the police can't find her, the Stingrays are hired
Is she dead? If so, who killed her? Was it the lifeguard? The rich lkid? Or the cop who was spurned by her? And what do her best friends know about it? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did!
August 30, 2022
This was my first James Patterson novel (short story?) which I've read and I did enjoy some aspects of it, especially the setting - it was perfect for the end of summer as we move into spooky season.
That being said, this didn't grip me in the way that I wanted it to - I felt I could've cared a lot more than I did about the characters and the mystery.
That being said, this didn't grip me in the way that I wanted it to - I felt I could've cared a lot more than I did about the characters and the mystery.
September 1, 2022
A quick and entertaining bookshot. I am a total sucker for conman/heist stories. This one is a Leverage-like group investigating the disappearance of a young woman. Told from the different perspectives of each team member with a million red herrings, this is a fun little sting romp. The Stingrays is a group I wouldn’t mind reading more of!
June 29, 2017
Who killed Paige Ryerson?
A company called the Stingrays are put under contract to find the answer to that question by the father of some of her classmates. Interesting suspects and twists in the plot as to who the real killer (s) are.
A company called the Stingrays are put under contract to find the answer to that question by the father of some of her classmates. Interesting suspects and twists in the plot as to who the real killer (s) are.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews