French Kiss

Detective Luc Moncrief #1

by James Patterson

Bonjour, Detective. Now watch your back.

Very handsome and charming French detective Luc Moncrief joined the NYPD for a fresh start--but someone wants to make his first big case his last. Welcome to New York.

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, Crime, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Short Stories

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 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

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patterson and DiLallo team up again for the first of (at least) a trilogy of BookShots involving Inspector Luc Moncrief. On loan to the NYPD from Paris, Moncrief cut his teeth in the French capital chasing down murderers and uncovering major drug crimes, though has been relegated to some clean-up work in New York. When his partner is killed while working undercover, Moncrief must deliver the news to her family and is then tasked with solving the murder. Katherine Burke, dubbed 'K. Burke' by Moncrief, has two years experience as a detective and is paired with him to offer some NYPD insight to this recent transfer. While investigating a high-priced prostitute angle, Moncrief is handed some more devastating news. It appears that this is not a killer seeking to scrub out hookers, but one who has Moncrief in their crosshairs, killing those close to him to offer personal grief and angst. Moncrief convinces his superior that he must return to Paris, where he will likely uncover a vendetta buried in his old case files, bringing Burke along to assist. When they arrive in Paris, Moncrief is able to show Burke a little more about the city and some of the accolades he earned while making Paris a little safer. After Burke is attacked and almost killed, Moncrief uses his French intuition and heads to one of the notorious French prisons to find the killer, or at least the man calling the shots. A tepid piece, though it did flow easily, which is key for any BookShot.

When I heard that there would be a trilogy of these short stories, I was curious, having seen some of Patterson's past work with DiLallo and the larger BookShots collection. What could have been highly entertaining and adventurous (a la Private) turns slightly melancholy at times, as though Moncrief's character wants the reader to feel that French laissez-faire attitude. There is a mystery and it does turn out to have ties to Moncrief, though the narrative seems less captivating than I have seen from the authors (or even BookShots) before. There could be some decent character development in the next two stories and some banter within this tale does keep the reader wondering what might transpire, but I did not feel the spark, which is essential in these short stories, where there is little time to meander. The jury's still out and I will see what is to come in the next instalment, due out during the holiday season, before I decide if Moncrief needs to go into la poubelle!

Decent work, Messrs. Patterson and DiLallo on this BookShot. As I said, I shall reserve judgment until I have seen your next BookShot.

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

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I'm 2/3 for Bookshot reads. I should quit while I'm ahead, but French Kiss is (Luc Moncfief #1). This kept my attention the whole way in James Patterson fashion and I see at least 1 more Bookshot in my future, especially if it's Luc Moncrief #2!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

I’ve really become a fan of BookShots, when my husband and I travel to see family we’re able to finish in one round trip and we both have fun listening to them together and talking about them when we finish. This is the first in a series featuring Luc Moncrief and I just saw there are already two more books available! (Is anyone else in absolute awe by how many books Patterson releases every year?!)

I enjoyed the introduction to the character of Luc, he’s charming, witty and his one liners had me laughing out loud. He’s partnered up with K. Burke and they had good chemistry and an easy banter. Broussard wasn’t my favorite narrator, I prefer the more gravelly voiced men that are usually found in Patterson audiobooks, but as Luc is French I can appreciate why this narrator was used, you can’t have a Frenchman narrate the story and have no accent!

This was a decent read, a good beginning to the series and it was enough to make me curious about the rest of the books. It wasn’t my favorite BookShot, but it definitely wasn’t a bad read, it had moments of excitement and kept me engaged.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

French Kiss

This book was pretty good. I'm starting to like this series with Detective Luc Moncrief. As I said before about these other Bookshot books that James Patterson is now publishing, they are much better than a regular novel because they pass over all the inconsequential things that are not really relevant to the book or the plot. If he writes another book in this series I would read it.

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Just a Feeling

I liked this more than I expected. I used to like everything by Patterson that I read but then I read another bookshot collection that didn't sit well. I didn't realize that's what I was getting into here until I'd already started listening to it.

Detective Luc Moncrief experiences heartbreak like I can only imagine in the opening book to the series. It humanized him as we walked through part of his past and his present investigations. He's cocky and operates by his own rule book. He's isn't completely fast and loose with police procedure but he also is okay with skirting them a bit.

I also like his name for his partner, K.Burke. He's not in the right place for her to pursue as more than a work partner but time will tell on that.

The bulk of the book is told from Luc's point of view (1st person) with the occasional chapter from another's viewpoint. I don't mind that but those chapters were told in the third person, which I wasn't as fond of when listening.

I was happy to listen to Jean Brassard. I enjoyed his French accent. 💘

Story: 3.5 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars

[Helen Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is as short as all the other Bookshots by James Patterson, it introduces an interesting character. Luc Moncrief is a French detective working for NYPD as part of an exchange program. He has his own way of solving crimes which is very different from the way NYPD detectives work. There is a lot of tragedy for him in this story. I would love to see a full length novel featuring him!

[(NurseLisa) Square Granny from Ohio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I say 3.5/5 states. Actually pretty decent if a little over the top...eh, Luc is growing on me.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short detective fiction - this started off well and I like Moncrief but the story was too much and lost its way. I would read more of these even though this one was just okay as the characters and setting has potential.

[gwen_is_ reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luc Moncrief is the son of a prominent French business man. Thanks to this, he has a lot of money to just throw around. He isn't satisfied just being rich and pretty though. Against his father's wishes he joined the police force in Paris, and made a name for himself. After years there, he moves to New York where he works as a detective and lives with his lover Della.


His partner, Maria, is killed during an undercover op. Several female cops had been, it was a tragedy; but it was chalked up as being linked to past crimes. When his lover is also stabbed, though, Luc begins to realize that there is something going on. Someone from his past is coming after the women in his life. With a new partner to work with (and watch over) and a hunch, he goes to Paris to go through his past cases looking for a killer.


Ok, I will start by saying this is going to be a very opinionated piece. I loved the females here. I thought the plot was interesting, though there were some glaring holes. I hated how nothing Luc came up with was ever really explained. It was a hunch. The whole plot revolves around hunches.... I found it impossible to try to figure things out with Moncrief. By the end of the story, I didn't even care anymore. It was just one hunch after another and, of course, everyone but Moncrief was wrong. I just wanted more explanation, or more description for these feelings and hunches. Something! Now, as far as first stories in a series go, it was pretty good. There were plot/character development issues that can hopefully be ironed out in book two. I would give it three and a half stars. Three Stars


On the adult content scale, there was sexual content, language and violence. Some scenes were rather explicit. I would say an eight, easily.

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the plot twist at the end.

[Ben Denison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical James Patterson series. This is the 2nd of 3 in this series (I think I started with 2 or 3) Not bad , but a descent time waste.

The French detective in NYC is a different scenario for a book, and I like the relationship between Luc and his partner. This series is set up in Patterson’s bookshot format, so short and to the point.

Reminds me of channel surfing on tv and wondering 3 hours later, what did I just watch? And why?

[Newly Wardell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy did I hate this book. Oh my gosh! its kinda like designed to dissolve any attraction for French men. Luc is just an awful character. He's wealthy good looking and every woman on the planet wants him. Even while he's on a case to figure who killed his girlfriend and his last partner, his current partner can't help wondering about him. he's a super cop armed only with his instinct and his father's money. The best thing about this book is it ends quickly.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A BookShot with a fast-paced story. The 1st book in the Detective Luc Moncrief series. Luc is a French detective working with the NYPD. I wasn't a fan of Luc. He came off as too smug, but I'll continue the series to see how he develops.

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the second book in the series before this one and that was definitely a lot better in terms of consistency of the character and story! This one was all over the place, with some scenes not making any sense where they were placed.
Detective Luc Moncrief is introduced in this one; he is basically not one to follow protocol and believes he gets better results by following his gut instinct. The mystery part of this book was good; the deviations that took away from the story were not.

[Sebastien Castell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should confess up front that I'm not a fan of James Patterson's book (and should equally admit that this is only the second of his books that I've read.) I was curious about the "Bookshots" format, with its promise of being a roughly two-hour read with action packed pacing.

Bookshots is the imprint for Patterson's line of 150 page books (about 25k words), geared at being read on a single flight. In essence, these are novellas, which have been around forever. To be fair, though, where conventional novellas have tended to be a deep exploration of a relatively small set of plot events, Patterson's model is to take the plot for an entire novel and cut out everything that isn't the action – remove what isn't immediately gripping so that the reader never has the chance to get bored. In this I think French Kiss succeeds: it's exceedingly fast-paced, with events happening so fast you never really get a chance to wonder if any of those events was particularly believable or meaningful.

This is where the book begins to fall apart. Sure, lots of stuff happens, but none of it was particularly credible. A French detective on loan to the NYPD finds himself at the centre of a series of murders that are . . . dubiously constructed. Certainly none of them are explained in any remotely believable way. That part is, I think, forgivable because Patterson and co-author Richard DiLallo aren't aiming for a police procedural here but more of a light thriller.

I've always heard James Patterson talk about his love of characters, but the ones in French Kiss are entirely one-dimensional. What's worse is that they needn't be: Patterson and Dilallo spend a remarkable about of time repeating the same observations about each one: The partner is "by the book", the girlfriend is "incredibly beautiful", the boss is "grouchy but caring". This repetition of telling us what they're like grows a bit wearisome.

Still, French Kiss does do what Bookshots promises: gives you a fast-paced read that you won't have any trouble finishing. My hope is that Patterson and his co-authors can add something more to that model: a sense that there's some meaning behind the words.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book of a new Siri's. If you want to get in on the ground the level of a new series by James Patterson, you need to pick this book up and give it a read. It has the added benefit of being a, book shots, book. Although I do not feel this is up to the level of most of Patterson's books, it definitely will get you off to a good start. We are introduced to, Luke Moncrief. A new detective with the New York city Police Department, on loan from Paris. Because this is a, book shots book, you will know immediately if this is a series that you will want to continue reading. Because this first book is not up to Pattersons level, it gives me great hope for the rest of the series. There is only room for improvement.

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a few of the James Patterson bookshots over the years and sadly have found most of them to be disappointing reads overall. French Kiss however is one of the better ones that I have read, but still I wanted more from this short read. We follow a detective called Luc Moncrief who solved a huge case in France and is now relocated to NYC and working for NYCPD and ends up witnessing a few people close to him being brutally murdered. He has to work out who is responsible and whether his past French connections had anything to do with it. It's fast paced and dialogue heavy, a little longer in length would have worked better for this story.

[Melenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!

[Nique · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best bookshots I look forward to reading more of Moncrief!

[Sohel Merchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it 3 for dramatic Hollywood suited movie story, but the writing won me over more than plot. The story is pretty straightforward. In fact when the killer is revealed, it's presented in the most simplest way possible. Luc Moncrief and K. Burke's chemistry is endearing. The French phrases suit it perfectly. I enjoyed it. Waiting for another shot.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oo la la! James Patterson has introduced a new detective and he's French! He's on loan to the NYPD from Paris. Luc Moncrief is very handsome and charming and also very unconventional, which can drive his coworkers a little crazy, except for the fact that he always gets his man! In this introductory short novel, Luc needs to find out who is killing the women who are closest to him. It's well done and another good character in the Patterson arsenal.

[Christine (Tina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I get it now. This is the 1st of the Detective Moncrief BookShots. I've pinpointed something - they read like "translated" works. I see connections more clearly with "The Christmas Mystery" now.

[Amanda Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of Patterson's masterpieces. There were a few emotional parts but the action kept right on moving along. I highly recommend

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this new character a lot. This book was fun to read.

[Phil Deschler · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories are excellent. This was a new character and I hope an introductory story for future stories envolving him. It is a well written.

[David Blyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, the first of the Luc Mincrief novellas.

I love the interchange between Luc and K. Burke his partner.

[Melissa Delport · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet

[Dawnmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickly paced crime thriller set in NYC and Paris. Charming characters add to the story.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this quite confusing at times.