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Sail
Since the death of her husband, Anne Dunne and her three children have struggled in every way. In a last ditch effort to save the family, Anne plans an elaborate sailing vacation to bring everyone together once again. But only an hour out of port, everything is going wrong. The teenage daughter, Carrie, is planning to drown herself. The teenage son, Mark, is high on drugs and ten-year-old Ernie is nearly catatonic. This is the worst vacation ever. Anne manages to pull things together bit by bit, but just as they begin feeling like a family again, something catastrophic happens. Survival may be the least of their concerns. Written with the blistering pace and shocking twists that only James Patterson can master, SAIL takes "Lost" and "Survivor" to a new level of terror.""
Paperback
First published June 9, 2008
About the author
James Patterson
991 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 2,449 reviews
February 15, 2013
Here's some advice: Read a really bad book before you pick up this one.
I quit at chapter 60. Why are the chapters only 2 pages long? Why are most of the paragraphs only 2 sentences long? Why is everyone beautiful and a millionaire? Why is the 45 yr old mother/heart surgeon so immature and stupid? How accurate are the medical situations in this book? (Isn't a tourniquet a LAST resort because you can lose your friggin LEG?!) Why is there no depth in this book? Why are problems solved so quickly and without much ado? I mean, I'm a very impatient person and I love short clipped sentences and sometimes I can appreciate a startlingly short chapter if it's done for effect. But this just felt rushed all the way, like whoever wrote it had soooo many ideas they had to get it all out at once, all on top of one another. Here's an idea: Put in less content and make the content that actually is there MEANINGFUL to the reader. After 60 chapters (what, 120pages?) I couldn't care less about anybody.
I hate quitting books, I really do. But when during every chapter - that is, every second page - you think "WTH is this crap?" it's probably best to put it down.
I quit at chapter 60. Why are the chapters only 2 pages long? Why are most of the paragraphs only 2 sentences long? Why is everyone beautiful and a millionaire? Why is the 45 yr old mother/heart surgeon so immature and stupid? How accurate are the medical situations in this book? (Isn't a tourniquet a LAST resort because you can lose your friggin LEG?!) Why is there no depth in this book? Why are problems solved so quickly and without much ado? I mean, I'm a very impatient person and I love short clipped sentences and sometimes I can appreciate a startlingly short chapter if it's done for effect. But this just felt rushed all the way, like whoever wrote it had soooo many ideas they had to get it all out at once, all on top of one another. Here's an idea: Put in less content and make the content that actually is there MEANINGFUL to the reader. After 60 chapters (what, 120pages?) I couldn't care less about anybody.
I hate quitting books, I really do. But when during every chapter - that is, every second page - you think "WTH is this crap?" it's probably best to put it down.
February 22, 2012
"I'MMA KILLMYSELF! WE'RE SINKING! BOOM! HOMIGOD A SHARK! SNAAAAAAAKES! Oh and throw a ghost in for good measure."
There, now you don't really have to read this drivel!
I've never read a James Patterson book before and I don't think I'll read a second. It reads like a goosebumps book* that he had to pepper with "adult themes" Y'know because adults cheat on everyone all the time. It's also dreadfully dull, probably because each obstacle was so easily over come that more had to appear, to just offset the tedious monotony. There's no tension at all, none. It's like "OH NO A SHARK! oh you killed it already? Ok now what?" And it's like that through the entire book. It's a bad book, I wish I could rate it minus stars! But actually, it's so bad you have to read it. Just drink a lot before hand, for yourself.
OH! One more thing, was it really necessary to have 125 chapters? I mean most of them are 2 pages long, you might get the odd 4-5 page chapter. Also the font has to be at least size 16. All in all it made me feel like The Family Dunne; A bad metaphore sailing through an ocean of sh*te.
There, now you don't really have to read this drivel!
I've never read a James Patterson book before and I don't think I'll read a second. It reads like a goosebumps book* that he had to pepper with "adult themes" Y'know because adults cheat on everyone all the time. It's also dreadfully dull, probably because each obstacle was so easily over come that more had to appear, to just offset the tedious monotony. There's no tension at all, none. It's like "OH NO A SHARK! oh you killed it already? Ok now what?" And it's like that through the entire book. It's a bad book, I wish I could rate it minus stars! But actually, it's so bad you have to read it. Just drink a lot before hand, for yourself.
OH! One more thing, was it really necessary to have 125 chapters? I mean most of them are 2 pages long, you might get the odd 4-5 page chapter. Also the font has to be at least size 16. All in all it made me feel like The Family Dunne; A bad metaphore sailing through an ocean of sh*te.
June 7, 2009
This may be the stupidest book I have ever read. I ran to the library before our vacation to get some books to read at the beach. This book says on the back something like "may be the perfect book to read at the beach" so I checked it out. I haven't read any other books by this guy so I don't know if it is normal for him to write like this or not. I was in the mood for something sort of mindlessly entertaining but I wasn't expecting something designed for the absolutely lowest common denominator that is still capable of reading. It is really a shame that this guy makes money from writing this trash. (It wasn't particularly profane or graphic, it was just really dumb)
January 22, 2018
3.0-3.5*
Not bad. I liked it but certainly not my favorite James Patterson co-written book. I was drawn to the book because of the lost at sea aspect; a scenario that is terrifying! The mixture of a murder plot and scandalous relationships really added to the plot. I did not connect with the characters and found the story a bit predictable. I am not one that is going to complain about the typical shark scene of being lost at sea because, well, honestly as a reader I was waiting for it. The snake scene I’m just indifferent about.
My quick and simple overall: a quick read that only takes about 5 hours to read, with enough entertainment to keep a reader interested but not the best Patterson co-written book by any means.
Not bad. I liked it but certainly not my favorite James Patterson co-written book. I was drawn to the book because of the lost at sea aspect; a scenario that is terrifying! The mixture of a murder plot and scandalous relationships really added to the plot. I did not connect with the characters and found the story a bit predictable. I am not one that is going to complain about the typical shark scene of being lost at sea because, well, honestly as a reader I was waiting for it. The snake scene I’m just indifferent about.
My quick and simple overall: a quick read that only takes about 5 hours to read, with enough entertainment to keep a reader interested but not the best Patterson co-written book by any means.
June 3, 2024
This certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it was a fast and easy read. It almost seemed like this plot would have been better suited for one of his Bookshots or it needed to be more detailed to engage us. The characters were fine, but I wasn’t invested in them. There was really only one part of the resolution I didn’t guess, but everything else followed the traditional layout of a JP book. I’ve been distracted lately reading, so this was a good way for me to be reading without feeling like I was missing out on an amazing book.
July 21, 2008
I must say that I'm stumped by the rave reviews on this one. I guess I’m squarely in the camp of the reviewers who found this book to be predictable, with a flimsy plot and even flimsier characters. The only thing that kept me reading on was that each “chapter” was only 1-2 pages long. At some point, it was entertaining to see how bad the writing could get. Apparently, there’s nothing that a big name author with a big marketing budget and a nice cover can’t overcome.
There were no unexpected plot twists, no shockers, and really no suspense. This is throw-away fiction at its best (or worst, depending on how you look at it). I think James Patterson would do himself a favor to stop putting his name on these “co-writes” and I think it discredits some of his earlier and much betters solo work.
I found the frequent references to pop culture, celebrities, and brand names to be a lazy convention, allowing the author to “describe” without having to actually go to the effort of crafting any actual description. To say that one character collects watches like Paris Hilton collects shoes, or to describe another as “George Clooney in khakis and docksiders” just smacks of lazy, shortcut writing. There were a few references to people and things that I was not familiar with, rendering the description useless.
Characters acted in ways that were really unbelievable or completely stereotypical. Stereotypes were in full force, with the angst-ridden pot-smoking teen, the anorexic, suicidal teen, the precocious and loveable tween, the workaholic surgeon mother, the happy-go-lucky black sheep uncle, the scumbag attorney, the dedicated detective who goes rogue to continue an investigation against her boss’s orders, and the mercenary ex-CIA operative. Give me one big, huge break here.
If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t tax your brain (or even engage it), that reads fast thanks to the itty bitty chapters, and that you will forget as soon as you close it, this is the book for you.
There were no unexpected plot twists, no shockers, and really no suspense. This is throw-away fiction at its best (or worst, depending on how you look at it). I think James Patterson would do himself a favor to stop putting his name on these “co-writes” and I think it discredits some of his earlier and much betters solo work.
I found the frequent references to pop culture, celebrities, and brand names to be a lazy convention, allowing the author to “describe” without having to actually go to the effort of crafting any actual description. To say that one character collects watches like Paris Hilton collects shoes, or to describe another as “George Clooney in khakis and docksiders” just smacks of lazy, shortcut writing. There were a few references to people and things that I was not familiar with, rendering the description useless.
Characters acted in ways that were really unbelievable or completely stereotypical. Stereotypes were in full force, with the angst-ridden pot-smoking teen, the anorexic, suicidal teen, the precocious and loveable tween, the workaholic surgeon mother, the happy-go-lucky black sheep uncle, the scumbag attorney, the dedicated detective who goes rogue to continue an investigation against her boss’s orders, and the mercenary ex-CIA operative. Give me one big, huge break here.
If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t tax your brain (or even engage it), that reads fast thanks to the itty bitty chapters, and that you will forget as soon as you close it, this is the book for you.
January 6, 2019
SAIL is another James Patterson book that blew my mind. Anne Dunne's family has been falling apart since the death of her husband. Trying to save her family she puts together a wonderful sailing vacation. As soon as they pull away from the dock the craziness starts! The twists and turns keep coming and I had to know how it was going to end! Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, a few pages later, James Patterson threw me for a loop and I knew I was wrong! I'm kicking myself for not reading this wonderful ten year old novel sooner.
SAIL is a quick read and unputdownable! There were quite a few times when reading it that I wanted to reach into the pages and slap a few of these people with their wishy washy ways of thinking. I found myself laughing one second and then tearing up the next. If you are looking for a roller coaster ride of a story to pull you out of your book slump, you can’t go wrong with SAIL. I’m so excited to continue plowing through my back log of James' books. James Patterson has always been one of my auto buy authors.
The twists and turns in SAIL are going to keep you up late into the night trying to figure it out. One minute you believe you know where Anne and her family is going to end up and the next you are sitting there shaking your head, wondering what the heck just happened. I had my ideas, I had it all figured out, or so I thought, and BAM.......wrong again! Once you start reading, trust me, you aren't going to be able to stop! When everything is finally revealed, well, you won't believe it!
SAIL begins with Anne's brother in law waiting on her and her family. He is going to be the captain of the sailboat and as it turns out, Anne and Jack have some unusual history. I thoroughly enjoyed reading SAIL. It is also very suspenseful and filled with so many different emotions. If you've ever experienced a family trip from hell, I'm sure it had nothing on this disastrous trip! Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
SAIL is a quick read and unputdownable! There were quite a few times when reading it that I wanted to reach into the pages and slap a few of these people with their wishy washy ways of thinking. I found myself laughing one second and then tearing up the next. If you are looking for a roller coaster ride of a story to pull you out of your book slump, you can’t go wrong with SAIL. I’m so excited to continue plowing through my back log of James' books. James Patterson has always been one of my auto buy authors.
The twists and turns in SAIL are going to keep you up late into the night trying to figure it out. One minute you believe you know where Anne and her family is going to end up and the next you are sitting there shaking your head, wondering what the heck just happened. I had my ideas, I had it all figured out, or so I thought, and BAM.......wrong again! Once you start reading, trust me, you aren't going to be able to stop! When everything is finally revealed, well, you won't believe it!
SAIL begins with Anne's brother in law waiting on her and her family. He is going to be the captain of the sailboat and as it turns out, Anne and Jack have some unusual history. I thoroughly enjoyed reading SAIL. It is also very suspenseful and filled with so many different emotions. If you've ever experienced a family trip from hell, I'm sure it had nothing on this disastrous trip! Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
February 21, 2021
The Dunne family, led by matriarch Katherine, are setting out for a sailing adventure in the Caribbean. Katherine hopes this will bring the family together and help her children get over their personal problems.
However, events soon conspire to render the trip less therapeutic and, in fact, close to disastrous.
In terms of characters, this novel can hardly claim to be original. In fact, the whole cast list runs the entire gamut of stock cliches: the rich dysfunctional family, the devoted mother, the smooth-talking, crooked defence attorney, the loyal uncle, the bulimic daughter, the duplicitous girlfriend and, of course, not forgetting, the dogged female federal agent.
Despite all that though, as a no-nonsense, thrills-a-minute page-turner, it works brilliantly. Virtually, all the short snappy chapters end in a cliffhanger.
If you’re not interested in meaningful character analysis and just want a romping good adventure, this is highly recommended.
However, events soon conspire to render the trip less therapeutic and, in fact, close to disastrous.
In terms of characters, this novel can hardly claim to be original. In fact, the whole cast list runs the entire gamut of stock cliches: the rich dysfunctional family, the devoted mother, the smooth-talking, crooked defence attorney, the loyal uncle, the bulimic daughter, the duplicitous girlfriend and, of course, not forgetting, the dogged female federal agent.
Despite all that though, as a no-nonsense, thrills-a-minute page-turner, it works brilliantly. Virtually, all the short snappy chapters end in a cliffhanger.
If you’re not interested in meaningful character analysis and just want a romping good adventure, this is highly recommended.
September 9, 2011
The lure of the airport bookshelf with signs extolling the wonders of Mr. Patterson's writing, the accolades heaped upon the book, etc. I should have known. Luckily I took some other books with me on holiday. I soldiered on, hoping it would get better, but it felt like wasted time.
I didn't connect with any of the characters, they seemed very two-dimensional. The plot didn't either grab or surprise me either. Sadly as my first James Patterson, I'm not inclined to try any others. In fact, a book I hated so much that I left my copy in Croatia - I never get rid of books...
I didn't connect with any of the characters, they seemed very two-dimensional. The plot didn't either grab or surprise me either. Sadly as my first James Patterson, I'm not inclined to try any others. In fact, a book I hated so much that I left my copy in Croatia - I never get rid of books...
August 12, 2012
This book would probably be best read by a person who doesn't read very many books, if such a person were looking for something light to read at the beach or on an airplane. I wasn't familiar with Patterson & Co's books until I happened across this one at the library. The plotline sounded interesting and I do love a good mystery but it just didn't pan out. Plus, they kinda lost me in the first few chapters -- if you're headed out on a 2 month sailboat trip and on the first day, your daughter flings herself off the boat and tries to drown herself, for the love of god, turn around. How tiresome would it be to spend two months on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean trying to keep someone from drowning herself? The writing is chock full of cliches and hackneyed sayings, so at least those were entertaining to listen to on the audiobook version. I got to where I could predict the cliche before it was uttered ...oohhh I betcha he's about to call her a fly in the ointment... "Well. She's become a real fly in the ointment..."
July 14, 2020
Sometimes you have to read a really bad book to appreciate other books. This story had weakly developed characters who made no sense and a plot that was plain idiotic. The dysfunctional Dunne family go on a boating holiday so Katherine the mother can reconnect with her bulimic daughter Carrie, Mark her stoner son and Eric a chubby 10 year old. Uncle Jake is the Captain who sails the doomed yacht.
Katherine inherited a 100 million when her philandering husband died in a boating accident a few years previously on the same yacht. She is a cardiac surgeon who works long hours at the expense of her children. Happily she has remarried to Peter a lawyer who is all things that lawyers are known for. Sharks, explosions, CIA assassins, mistresses to perfect and a gung ho DEA officer.
I laughed out loud reading the snake scene. For that an extra star. As a comedy this could be a great movie. As a piece of literature it’s entertaining, formulaic and will not be winning any Pulitzer Prize.
Katherine inherited a 100 million when her philandering husband died in a boating accident a few years previously on the same yacht. She is a cardiac surgeon who works long hours at the expense of her children. Happily she has remarried to Peter a lawyer who is all things that lawyers are known for. Sharks, explosions, CIA assassins, mistresses to perfect and a gung ho DEA officer.
I laughed out loud reading the snake scene. For that an extra star. As a comedy this could be a great movie. As a piece of literature it’s entertaining, formulaic and will not be winning any Pulitzer Prize.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2021
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was and how much I enjoyed reading it. I have not thought James Patterson was as good as he once was but this book was one I could not put down and kept wanting to read it. It had many twists and turns and the outcome of the story was a surprise, and you never saw it coming but the bad people got what was coming to them. I definitely recommend for a good, quick read.
June 29, 2008
This was a real good story and had a great ending...I am so glad he left out all that gory stuff, kept me on the edge of my seat. Don't know if I will be getting on a sailboat for a vacation any time soon!!
Patterson has won me back after this book...
Susan
Patterson has won me back after this book...
Susan
July 23, 2011
I'm finding James Patterson books a bit samey if I'm honest.
I do like the short chapters but it's like there isn't much substance to them.
Easy holiday reading, I guess.
Four stars.
I do like the short chapters but it's like there isn't much substance to them.
Easy holiday reading, I guess.
Four stars.
October 13, 2020
Typical fun Patterson read but certainly not his best. The characters weren’t up to standard. The mystery wasn’t either. Nevertheless, it entertained me. Average Patterson is still pretty fun.
March 19, 2009
Sad to say, but I only made it about 45 pages into this book before I decided to move it along unread. The story sounded like it might be on shaky ground to begin with but I had heard such great things about the author that I was determined to give it a fair shot.
The story goes that a family that has recently fallen apart since the death of the father that acted as the linchpin takes a vacation on the very boat that was the scene of the father's death. Mom, who is a workaholic heart surgeon, is determined that the forced family vacation is the only way that she can hold her family together. This is the shaky ground that I mentioned earlier. Now that the mother is the figurehead of the family she decides it is time to spend some time with her children, all of whom are falling apart in one way or another. Within the first forty-five pages the oldest child attempts to commit suicide, the oldest boy gets high, we learn the brother-in-law is in love with the mother and always has been, the boat begins to sink and there is a hired killer after them the minute they leave the dock. I just did not buy it and I could not get into it. On top of all of this, the novel switches from a third person omniscient narrator to a first person account by the mother and although it was not confusing it grated on my nerves. I decided the best course of action was to just pass it along to the BCer I promised it to in a trade rather than spend weeks dreading it.
The story goes that a family that has recently fallen apart since the death of the father that acted as the linchpin takes a vacation on the very boat that was the scene of the father's death. Mom, who is a workaholic heart surgeon, is determined that the forced family vacation is the only way that she can hold her family together. This is the shaky ground that I mentioned earlier. Now that the mother is the figurehead of the family she decides it is time to spend some time with her children, all of whom are falling apart in one way or another. Within the first forty-five pages the oldest child attempts to commit suicide, the oldest boy gets high, we learn the brother-in-law is in love with the mother and always has been, the boat begins to sink and there is a hired killer after them the minute they leave the dock. I just did not buy it and I could not get into it. On top of all of this, the novel switches from a third person omniscient narrator to a first person account by the mother and although it was not confusing it grated on my nerves. I decided the best course of action was to just pass it along to the BCer I promised it to in a trade rather than spend weeks dreading it.
December 4, 2013
This book was easy to read and kept me engrossed throughout. I made predictions on what was going to happen every time I finished a chapter and I was surprised of the outcome. Some of my guessing was right, but some were wrong and that made me excited to continue reading. My favorite character in the book was Katherine Dunne. Katherine’s life gives one’s desire to have besides the unbalance family. Katherine has a good career, wealthy and a second husband who she was deeply in love with. From reading the book I can say that Katherine Dunne is brave, committed and strong. All the negative things that were thrown at Katherine, she remained strong. Her motivation to not give up was very inspiring. Katherine purpose of the family vacation was to bring her family back together. With that being said will Katherine’s mission to unite her family be fulfilled? This book will keep you laughing and will leave you in great surprise. The story will grip you as you keep turning the pages. Overall, this book was awesome I would give this book five stars!!
December 5, 2008
This story, with its many different layers and one disaster occuring after the next is riviting. (Sorry Lisa, I really wanted to hate it) The idea that so much could go wrong on one family vacation trip makes me feel bad for complaining about all the excursions my parents lugged us on as kids. They had nothing on this trip from hell. And then to come out of everything to discover that someone you loved and trusted set you up to die is infuriating...and they get away with it...sort of. The end had me gloating that the bad guys did not win in the end. My only beef with the story is that once the uncle died he was almost forgotten excpet for a mention here or there. And he was a pretty intregal part of the story. But other than that it was a really entertaining tale and a fabulous book to have read to me with two very distinct narrators.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2015
A fast read, couldn't put it down, and enjoyed the heck out of it.
March 17, 2022
I love James Patterson so much. I don't know if its even fair to say that since he always has co writers but this book was so good! Short chapters ✅ Fast moving plot ✅ Interesting Characters ✅
This book had it all for me! This is about the Dunne family. The husband died sailing but the wife and 3 children (2 grown, 1 tween) kept the boat. This trip they decide to go sailing with the husband's brother, Jake. The wife is remarried and worth a lot of money so when weird things keep happening to the boat, theres a clear motive for murder. There may also be drugs involved in Jake's life, so theres motive. Someone is out to get them, will they make it out of the trip alive?! SO GOOD! The ending got to be a little much but I enjoyed it. This is exactly what I expect out of James Patterson.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Jake dies, but the rest of the family survives. Her current husband hired a hit man to kill them then went to do the job himself because they were all still living and the coast guard couldn't find them. He almost kills them but doesn't. His hit man kills him after a court case where he won a bunch of money from the wife then the hit man gets killed by a lady cop who knew the situation all along. The Dunne family is closer and stronger than ever.
This book had it all for me! This is about the Dunne family. The husband died sailing but the wife and 3 children (2 grown, 1 tween) kept the boat. This trip they decide to go sailing with the husband's brother, Jake. The wife is remarried and worth a lot of money so when weird things keep happening to the boat, theres a clear motive for murder. There may also be drugs involved in Jake's life, so theres motive. Someone is out to get them, will they make it out of the trip alive?! SO GOOD! The ending got to be a little much but I enjoyed it. This is exactly what I expect out of James Patterson.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Jake dies, but the rest of the family survives. Her current husband hired a hit man to kill them then went to do the job himself because they were all still living and the coast guard couldn't find them. He almost kills them but doesn't. His hit man kills him after a court case where he won a bunch of money from the wife then the hit man gets killed by a lady cop who knew the situation all along. The Dunne family is closer and stronger than ever.
June 8, 2016
Time taken to read - < 1 day
Pages - 388
Publisher - Arrow
Blurb from Goodreads
"Barely out of sight of land, the Dunne family finds its summer getaway to paradise already turning into the trip from hell. Carrie, the eldest, has thrown herself off the side of the boat in a bid for attention. Sixteen-year-old Mark is getting high belowdecks. And Ernie, their ten-year-old brother. is nearly catatonic. It's shaping up to be the worst vacation ever." "Katherine Dunne had hoped this trip would bring back the togetherness they'd lost when her husband died four years earlier. Maybe if her new husband, a high-powered Manhattan attorney. had been able to postpone his trial and join them it would all have been okay." Suddenly, a disaster hits - and it's perfect. Faced with real danger, the Dunnes rediscover the meaning of family and pull together in a way they haven't in a long time. But this catastrophe is just a tiny taste of the danger that lurks ahead: someone wants to make sure that the Dunne family never makes it out of paradise alive.
My Review
I really enjoy Patterson books although his collaborations with other authors not always so much. This one is perfect for a beach read or if you just want something that isn't challenging. The Dunnes are taking the family boat out for a trip together to try and reconnect & sort out their issues. Peter Carlyle is the step dad and staying behind in New York, his wife, her three kids and her brother in law from a previous marriage head off. Personal problems arise, a horrendous storm hits and then there is an explosion, certainly not the best start to a holiday. Stranded, hurt and presumed dead, the Dunnes need to do what they can to stay alive.
There is a lot about this book that you find yourself having to suspend reality to get through but once you do that it is actually an enjoyable, fast paced read. The characters have a lot of personal issues to get through but once they are in peril that takes a back seat. The book splits between the Dunnes encounters and back home with the smarmy step father hot shot lawyer.
As with all Patterson books, the chapters are tiny which annoys some people but I actally really like that, you can dip in and out as time allows. As I said a good choice for a day by the pool and if you can get past the most unlikely events happening you will enjoy the book, 3/5 for me.
Pages - 388
Publisher - Arrow
Blurb from Goodreads
"Barely out of sight of land, the Dunne family finds its summer getaway to paradise already turning into the trip from hell. Carrie, the eldest, has thrown herself off the side of the boat in a bid for attention. Sixteen-year-old Mark is getting high belowdecks. And Ernie, their ten-year-old brother. is nearly catatonic. It's shaping up to be the worst vacation ever." "Katherine Dunne had hoped this trip would bring back the togetherness they'd lost when her husband died four years earlier. Maybe if her new husband, a high-powered Manhattan attorney. had been able to postpone his trial and join them it would all have been okay." Suddenly, a disaster hits - and it's perfect. Faced with real danger, the Dunnes rediscover the meaning of family and pull together in a way they haven't in a long time. But this catastrophe is just a tiny taste of the danger that lurks ahead: someone wants to make sure that the Dunne family never makes it out of paradise alive.
My Review
I really enjoy Patterson books although his collaborations with other authors not always so much. This one is perfect for a beach read or if you just want something that isn't challenging. The Dunnes are taking the family boat out for a trip together to try and reconnect & sort out their issues. Peter Carlyle is the step dad and staying behind in New York, his wife, her three kids and her brother in law from a previous marriage head off. Personal problems arise, a horrendous storm hits and then there is an explosion, certainly not the best start to a holiday. Stranded, hurt and presumed dead, the Dunnes need to do what they can to stay alive.
There is a lot about this book that you find yourself having to suspend reality to get through but once you do that it is actually an enjoyable, fast paced read. The characters have a lot of personal issues to get through but once they are in peril that takes a back seat. The book splits between the Dunnes encounters and back home with the smarmy step father hot shot lawyer.
As with all Patterson books, the chapters are tiny which annoys some people but I actally really like that, you can dip in and out as time allows. As I said a good choice for a day by the pool and if you can get past the most unlikely events happening you will enjoy the book, 3/5 for me.
February 14, 2014
I've read other books by James Patterson. This, however, was the first I've read by him with a secondary author. The "short chapter" style is typical James Patterson. What I don't understand is this: Were they both responsible for the story? I wonder because the storyline was pretty far-fetched and hideous. I just kept thinking, "They're doing what? That's stupid." Honestly, I think I'd head back to the dock after the first snafu. Or, “What idiot put dive tanks in an overhead locker?” I have, after all, spent a little time on-board a sail boat. Even if they've not sailed, they could have done a wee bit of research. Seriously, these people would have been weeded from the gene pool early on. And, yet, I kept reading....all. the. way. to. the. end. (I'm a little OCD in that way.) Given all my gripes, there were a couple good things about this book – Good thing #1: You never wonder if you're going to get stuck for a long time before the chapter ends because I don't think there's a chapter that exceeds six pages in the entire book. Good thing #2: You don't need to pay a lot of attention to the story because it's dead simple and is easy to read in distracting situations (like airports and planes). This book will be setting sail for the used book store.
January 31, 2009
Awesome book!! Surprisingly, this was the VERY FIRST James Patterson book I read, and before reading it, I was not into reading books at all, not since I was much younger, in high school. I had tried to get back into reading over the years, but just didn't take the time to do so. I was at a book store and Sail happened to catch my eye on the book stand. So I bought it and ended up reading it in like 3 days!! This was just about 6 months ago. Since then, I have ready over 15 James Patterson books and can't get enough. Thank goodness there are so many Patterson books!! lol
Seriously, this book is definitely one of his best, out of all the ones I have read and I highly recommend it!! I even talked my mom into reading it, who is mainly a Grisham fan. She didn't like the cursing at the beginning, but told me that the book was so good that she ended up overlooking that and said that it got better and finished it within a couple days.
Seriously, this book is definitely one of his best, out of all the ones I have read and I highly recommend it!! I even talked my mom into reading it, who is mainly a Grisham fan. She didn't like the cursing at the beginning, but told me that the book was so good that she ended up overlooking that and said that it got better and finished it within a couple days.
July 8, 2008
This novel reads like a bad movie script... the kind of film that goes straight to DVD and stars a cast you don't recognize. The Dunne family is planning to sail around the Bahamas for a two-month summer getaway. What we know of each character we are told in a "cheat sheet" that is provided before the prologue... literally, the authors give a paragraph synopsis about each character, giving their name, age, weaknesses and a bit of back story. And they never seem to evolve past that page-one summary. The back story is never fleshed out for us as it could have been and the characters are decidely one-dimensional.
This one wouldn't have made it out of the publisher's slush pile had it not been "co-authored" by James Patterson. He should be ashamed of some of the work he's put his name on recently.
This one wouldn't have made it out of the publisher's slush pile had it not been "co-authored" by James Patterson. He should be ashamed of some of the work he's put his name on recently.
July 11, 2011
I like James Patterson. I wanted to like this book. I really tried... but this was terrible. Maybe it's because of the whole "co-author" nonsense, but this is just an embarrassing effort. In fact, if you are a speed reader then this is the perfect book for you; no depth, lazy writing, no development of characters... you just want to get through it as quickly as possible. It reminds me of some of the drivel churned out by John Grisham in recent years; his early work was so good and then he got complacent and just tried to crank out anything he could.
I think if James Patterson himself were to review this book he would give it a poor rating and most surely chastise himself; he really shouldn't let this happen again.
I think if James Patterson himself were to review this book he would give it a poor rating and most surely chastise himself; he really shouldn't let this happen again.
May 7, 2020
Another thriller from the James Patterson / Howard Roughan combination - a very rich woman goes on a sailing holiday with her dysfunctional children and her first, now dead, husband's brother, only to find the journey unlike anything they expected, as it appears someone could, might be, trying to kill them all. A dastardly bad guy and a pretty gripping story kept me glued to this one. Typical Patterson page-turning fodder. 5 out of 12
June 17, 2017
Final ruinat, dar devine un soi de regula pentru romanele lui James Patterson.
Pentru o dupa-amiza cand nu ai ce sa faci, romanul acesta e perfect. Se citeste repede, e plin de clisee si extrem de uitabil. Si nici nu trebuie sa te soliciti prea mult in timpul lecturii - deloc, as zice.
Pentru o dupa-amiza cand nu ai ce sa faci, romanul acesta e perfect. Se citeste repede, e plin de clisee si extrem de uitabil. Si nici nu trebuie sa te soliciti prea mult in timpul lecturii - deloc, as zice.
January 14, 2021
This is definitely a ‘disaster’ book. Everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. There is little by the way of ‘element of surprise’, However, I couldn’t put it down!
August 12, 2025
Enjoyed this, plenty of twists and really short chapters that often finished on cliffhangers. I think that’s why it lost 2 stars(I would give it an extra half if I could but didn’t think it deserved 4), it almost seemed like it was overkill with twists, it kind of reveal after reveal. Also might have been that I didn’t connect much with the characters, except for my destain for Peter! That being said I would still recommend if you want an easy read thriller!
April 5, 2025
Ah yes, another James Patterson. I swear he's everywhere and yet, every collaboration seems to be the same. A good start and then.....meh. Great ideas that seem to fizzle out. This one is no different.
"Sail" starts out with a great premise for a story...a dysfunctional family takes the family sailboat out on a vacation to try to fix the issues. You have Mom, Katherine still dealing with the loss of her first husband and her new marriage to hubby #2. Mark, the private highschool son, is a lazy pothead, trying to forget his problems in a cloud of smoke, Cheech and Chong style. Then there's Carrie, the oldest and in college, battling an eating disorder instead of dealing with her mommy issues and daddy's death. And then Ernie (Ernie, really?) the geeky, too-smart-for-his-own-good youngest son. They all take a voyage on the family sailboat, captained by Uncle Jake, the brother of dead daddy. Interesting idea.
I won't get into a long, drawn-out summary. You can read that on the book jacket or on Goodreads, but let's just say, the trip is far from the tropical Caribbean sailing vacation that it's meant to be. Needless to say, I was roped in by the family drama and the many troubles they faced along the way. As I stated at the beginning, a good premise.
Where the story lost me was about the last quarter of the book. After all the turmoil the family faced, the last quarter of the book seemed sooooo rushed and VERY predictable. The 'villain' of the story was two-dimensional and so cliche'. I just felt cheated by the ending. Very disappointed. I'm seriously trying to avoid any spoilers, so I apologize for the lame review.
I give the book 3 stars. As I said, a strong start, interesting concept, and actually decent writing. But somewhere betweenpage 250ish and page 275, the story falls into a serious complacency rut and the fun and suspense of the story vanishes. Talk about major 'hum-drum'. It just ended so predictably as every other Patterson partnership read. So, just 3 stars from me. Just my two cents. :)
"Sail" starts out with a great premise for a story...a dysfunctional family takes the family sailboat out on a vacation to try to fix the issues. You have Mom, Katherine still dealing with the loss of her first husband and her new marriage to hubby #2. Mark, the private highschool son, is a lazy pothead, trying to forget his problems in a cloud of smoke, Cheech and Chong style. Then there's Carrie, the oldest and in college, battling an eating disorder instead of dealing with her mommy issues and daddy's death. And then Ernie (Ernie, really?) the geeky, too-smart-for-his-own-good youngest son. They all take a voyage on the family sailboat, captained by Uncle Jake, the brother of dead daddy. Interesting idea.
I won't get into a long, drawn-out summary. You can read that on the book jacket or on Goodreads, but let's just say, the trip is far from the tropical Caribbean sailing vacation that it's meant to be. Needless to say, I was roped in by the family drama and the many troubles they faced along the way. As I stated at the beginning, a good premise.
Where the story lost me was about the last quarter of the book. After all the turmoil the family faced, the last quarter of the book seemed sooooo rushed and VERY predictable. The 'villain' of the story was two-dimensional and so cliche'. I just felt cheated by the ending. Very disappointed. I'm seriously trying to avoid any spoilers, so I apologize for the lame review.
I give the book 3 stars. As I said, a strong start, interesting concept, and actually decent writing. But somewhere betweenpage 250ish and page 275, the story falls into a serious complacency rut and the fun and suspense of the story vanishes. Talk about major 'hum-drum'. It just ended so predictably as every other Patterson partnership read. So, just 3 stars from me. Just my two cents. :)
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