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The Housewife
Not published individually. See: The Moores Are Missing
The woman next door has a secret--and very dangerous--profession.
Maggie Denning is a former chief of detectives adjusting to a quiet life in the suburbs with her husband and two small kids. But when the woman next door is found brutally murdered, she starts investigating--and everyone's a suspect. Even her own husband.
The woman next door has a secret--and very dangerous--profession.
Maggie Denning is a former chief of detectives adjusting to a quiet life in the suburbs with her husband and two small kids. But when the woman next door is found brutally murdered, she starts investigating--and everyone's a suspect. Even her own husband.
144 pages, Paperback
About the author
James Patterson
962 books359k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
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, Michael Crichton, and Viola Davis, 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
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, Michael Crichton, and Viola Davis, 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 38 reviews
May 30, 2019
This Bookshot was a fun, fast read. It got you hooked right from the beginning. It had murder. Plus a surprise at the end.
July 25, 2017
This book started out pretty good but just after reading "The Moore's are Missing" it seemed like this story was as easy to guess as that one was. I was hoping for much better but as of lately James Patterson's story lines are losing plots and making everything predictable.
December 28, 2017
The Moore's are missing and Absolute Zero were incuded in this book too.I just couldn't find it on here together.Wow!All three stories have their own brand of adventure.From running for your life,trying to survive your wildest dream(or thoughts), or trying to get revenge on those who wronged you all of these people need to have balls to do what they do.And that they do in a way we know James Patterson can make them and us appreciate that escape from our own lives.
August 20, 2017
Retired Chief of Detectives, Maggie Denning uncovers a prostitute situation is her neighborhood, she can't help investigating. The problem is her husband is not the lead detective on the case and
he doesn't want her involved. When one of the neighbors is murdered, Maggie can't stop and
this leads to all kinds of problems and ends with a shocker!
he doesn't want her involved. When one of the neighbors is murdered, Maggie can't stop and
this leads to all kinds of problems and ends with a shocker!
August 8, 2017
Good story.
September 12, 2017
The Housewife was interesting but I did guess some of it. I enjoyed that ending.
October 29, 2017
Pretty decent twists and turns for a short thriller. I would recommend to someone who wants a book that starts with action and ends with action. I read this book in about a day.
January 28, 2018
This was a great one. I would read a full length novel with these characters.
October 26, 2021
This is the first James Patterson book that I found disappointing. First of all, it is a little bit close-minded and ridiculously 1950"s housewife. Of course this is only from my point of view.
I found the main character to be a bit of a conundrum, she used to be Chief of Detectives, but is not happy as housewife, yet she doesn't feel she deserves to be more, even at the end, when her character could have easily grown and become more dimensional by returning to being an officer while her husband stays at home recovering from things, it never happens.
This strong, intelligent, confident wife and mother makes so many stupid choices it feels like some type of joke.
How can she follow so many clues, yet miss the huge glaring one that the reader instantly gets.. it's just unbelievable.
Also unbelievable to me, that she chooses to continue in her marriage without a particular argument for it. She is never portrayed as deeply religious, (as a Catholic I would understand this as s real reason), nor is her marriage ever portrayed as incredibly stable and happy, so there is a deep disconnect.
Furthermore, it's a little bit preachy, one if the characters apparently deserves to die because of his lifestyle choices. While I understand that not everyone's lifestyle is the same, I also understand that not everyone's lifestyle is for everyone, but from the psychology just point of view, consenting adults can enjoy sexual relations in any way they want as long as they are not hurting themselves or others, Killing them seems a bit excessive, especially when she sweeps the killing under the rug, and completely out of her mind.
I found the main character to be a bit of a conundrum, she used to be Chief of Detectives, but is not happy as housewife, yet she doesn't feel she deserves to be more, even at the end, when her character could have easily grown and become more dimensional by returning to being an officer while her husband stays at home recovering from things, it never happens.
This strong, intelligent, confident wife and mother makes so many stupid choices it feels like some type of joke.
How can she follow so many clues, yet miss the huge glaring one that the reader instantly gets.. it's just unbelievable.
Also unbelievable to me, that she chooses to continue in her marriage without a particular argument for it. She is never portrayed as deeply religious, (as a Catholic I would understand this as s real reason), nor is her marriage ever portrayed as incredibly stable and happy, so there is a deep disconnect.
Furthermore, it's a little bit preachy, one if the characters apparently deserves to die because of his lifestyle choices. While I understand that not everyone's lifestyle is the same, I also understand that not everyone's lifestyle is for everyone, but from the psychology just point of view, consenting adults can enjoy sexual relations in any way they want as long as they are not hurting themselves or others, Killing them seems a bit excessive, especially when she sweeps the killing under the rug, and completely out of her mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2020
I’m well aware that I’m turning in to a right miserable cow when it comes to book reviews, and I’m starting to feel a pang of guilt. So, I promised myself I was going to be kinder on my next one.
So here goes: the title was good.
The rest of it kind of let it down a bit.
Now, I’m well aware this was a novella, not a full story. As a result, something’s got to give. I get it. So, I’m getting in to it and I realise character development is the thing Patterson and his co-author have decided to let slide. Fair enough, makes sense, you only have so many words, and so much to say.
Then it gets confusing, because apparently plot has also been let slip.
And for a thriller/suspense it’s a bit odd that with nothing else going on you’d decide to dispense with both thrill and suspense as well.
The concept is interesting, but needs far more development to actually make it worth reading. Again, it would be possible in a novella this length, but it’s clear it could never have been an actual novel. The saving grace, yet again, is the fact it’s short and you can get it over and done with in about 2 hours.
JP, you’re not growing on me yet.
So here goes: the title was good.
The rest of it kind of let it down a bit.
Now, I’m well aware this was a novella, not a full story. As a result, something’s got to give. I get it. So, I’m getting in to it and I realise character development is the thing Patterson and his co-author have decided to let slide. Fair enough, makes sense, you only have so many words, and so much to say.
Then it gets confusing, because apparently plot has also been let slip.
And for a thriller/suspense it’s a bit odd that with nothing else going on you’d decide to dispense with both thrill and suspense as well.
The concept is interesting, but needs far more development to actually make it worth reading. Again, it would be possible in a novella this length, but it’s clear it could never have been an actual novel. The saving grace, yet again, is the fact it’s short and you can get it over and done with in about 2 hours.
JP, you’re not growing on me yet.
July 19, 2018
Suburban pimp/prostitution ring and a meddling ex-detective (chief) ends with murder(s)...
And you would think this to be a riveting story with a juicy storyline but instead, it is painstakingly slow in the beginning and somewhat easy to guess the outcome although Patterson makes any effort to throw off the suspicion on a less likely culprit. This BookShot was included with The Moores Are Missing, which was a real snore fest and The Housewife is not far off of becoming that for the first few chapters.
Maggie and Karl aren’t that interesting and Maggie is most annoying...Karl is a henpecked, micromanaged husband who apparently isn’t as good a cop as his wife was/is. But their neighborhood is the hot spot with all kinds of salacious activity one doesn’t expect in the otherwise benign suburbs.
As soon as things start to get really interesting, the investigation is over too soon and the story fades to black and picks up sometime later with Maggie, Karl and the kids after the scandal proving yet again that life marches on...for some.
And you would think this to be a riveting story with a juicy storyline but instead, it is painstakingly slow in the beginning and somewhat easy to guess the outcome although Patterson makes any effort to throw off the suspicion on a less likely culprit. This BookShot was included with The Moores Are Missing, which was a real snore fest and The Housewife is not far off of becoming that for the first few chapters.
Maggie and Karl aren’t that interesting and Maggie is most annoying...Karl is a henpecked, micromanaged husband who apparently isn’t as good a cop as his wife was/is. But their neighborhood is the hot spot with all kinds of salacious activity one doesn’t expect in the otherwise benign suburbs.
As soon as things start to get really interesting, the investigation is over too soon and the story fades to black and picks up sometime later with Maggie, Karl and the kids after the scandal proving yet again that life marches on...for some.
September 9, 2017
Novella by author James Patterson, co-authored by Sam Hawken. In a collection of 3 novellas (The Moores Are Missing) co-authored by 3 different authors with James Patterson. No character development but in a novella something has to give, however the plot is also deficient. Fostering suspicion of one character and in the same hint that is ham-handedly presented pointing out the real villain doesn't make for a satisfying puzzle.
Former chief of detectives Maggie Denning is adjusting to a quiet new life in the suburbs, staying home with baby twins. One morning she sees a limo dropping off a glamorous woman at a nearby home. When she discovers that the same woman has been murdered, she starts asking questions around the neighborhood
Former chief of detectives Maggie Denning is adjusting to a quiet new life in the suburbs, staying home with baby twins. One morning she sees a limo dropping off a glamorous woman at a nearby home. When she discovers that the same woman has been murdered, she starts asking questions around the neighborhood
August 24, 2024
This would make a great series wherein retired Chief of Detectives Maggie Denning can never resist helping with investigations. When Maggie gives birth to twins, she and her husband decide she should retire and stay home and raise their two girls. Except Maggie is quickly becoming the bored housewife. Out for a walk with the twins one day, she talks with an assumed prostitute, and Maggie turns out to be the last person to talk with her. It's just too interesting not to investigate so even though her husband has not been assigned to the case, he tells her to stay out of it and he is acting strangely. How far does she investigate this before the horrible truth comes out?
July 30, 2018
I liked this little novella and it was a good summer vacation diversion, but it was REALLY predictable. I found I really didn't care for the characters, particularly the female protagonist -- a former Chief of Detectives with the police department who was now a stay at home mommy to twin daughters. While she was reasonably smart, she did some incredibly dumb things, particularly toward the end of the book.
Not my favorite of the Book Shots, but it was readable.
Not my favorite of the Book Shots, but it was readable.
September 21, 2018
This was a short story but it has a lot in it. We start with a housewife who seems to be turning tricks and then she ends up dead. How could this happen and who would kill her. Maggie used to be the Chief but now is staying home with her twins but she cannot keep out of this one. Very good characters and quite good.
February 1, 2019
Although Maggie Denning loves spending her days with her twin boys, but she can't forget that she is also a police chief at heart. When her neighbor ends up murdered Maggie finds herself pulled into the investigation whole trying to hide it from her police officer husband. Hiw are her husband and husband partner involved?
April 2, 2019
I jumped back and forth between 2 and 3 stars. Went with 3 because there was nothing wrong with the concept or how the book was written. It just made me uncomfortable. Not the swapping and the sex. Rather the relationship between Maggie and Kyle. Yuck. Never did I feel like they actually cared about each other. Toxic.
February 28, 2020
Yes, I figured out the bad guy before Maggie did and I wanted to yell at her "Maggie look right here; come on, just think, it is right there in front of you!!!'. But that didn't lessen my enjoyment of reading the story. It was different and I liked the characters (even the bad guy at first) so I am very glad I got to read it.
August 31, 2017
Intriguing until midpoint, when I figured at least one of the two male cops were involved. Maggie, as a chief of detectives, was so blindly naive with evidence right in front of her? And, she forgives? Give me a break!
February 11, 2023
There are much better detective stories out there. This shouldn’t even have Pattersons name on it.
A retired cop hated when civilians tried to solve cases on their own and just got in the way, and often tainted or destroyed evidence. When it literally hit home the tables were reversed.
A retired cop hated when civilians tried to solve cases on their own and just got in the way, and often tainted or destroyed evidence. When it literally hit home the tables were reversed.
August 11, 2017
Not the best.
September 15, 2018
A short novel about a former police detective who is now a stay at home Mom who starts to investigate a murder in her neighborhood when she was the last person to see the woman alive.
October 7, 2018
What a trip. Definite mind twist. Love it!
June 9, 2019
This was really good! Definitely way better than the first story
January 25, 2020
Complex characters, good story, not entirely pleased with the ending.
July 8, 2020
Quick read - entertaining.
July 29, 2020
Great book!
September 20, 2022
A good one. I started reading this story and did not stop until the end! I just knew Karl was dirty. But the suspense kept dragging on and I couldn't put it down. Then at the end, plot twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2022
Listened to this as part of a three-part Patterson audio-book. It was probably my favorite of the three, but still didn't seem quite up to Patterson standards.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews