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Invisible #1
السفاح الخفي
Everyone thinks Emmy Dockery is crazy. Obsessed with finding the link between hundreds of unsolved cases, Emmy has taken leave from her job as an FBI researcher. Now all she has are the newspaper clippings that wallpaper her bedroom, and her recurring nightmares of an all-consuming fire.
Not even Emmy's ex-boyfriend, field agent Harrison "Books" Bookman, will believe her that hundreds of kidnappings, rapes, and murders are all connected. That is, until Emmy finds a piece of evidence he can't afford to ignore. More murders are reported by the day--and they're all inexplicable. No motives, no murder weapons, no suspects. Could one person really be responsible for these unthinkable crimes?
INVISIBLE is James Patterson's scariest, most chilling stand-alone thriller yet.
Not even Emmy's ex-boyfriend, field agent Harrison "Books" Bookman, will believe her that hundreds of kidnappings, rapes, and murders are all connected. That is, until Emmy finds a piece of evidence he can't afford to ignore. More murders are reported by the day--and they're all inexplicable. No motives, no murder weapons, no suspects. Could one person really be responsible for these unthinkable crimes?
INVISIBLE is James Patterson's scariest, most chilling stand-alone thriller yet.
361 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2014
6910 people are currently reading
27322 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 4,204 reviews
February 20, 2020
I gave up on Patterson books ten-fifteen years ago. Loved the first five or so Alex Cross books. I started up again with the Murder Club series which I liked well enough (see recent review). I have always admired David Ellis' work so I picked up Invisible and gave it a whirl. Ellis is on his game in this book his character voice is wonderful it carried the novel. The female lead was vivid with an excellent personality. I wanted to follow the story just to see the character which to me is the main goal of the author. Mission accomplished.
However, the plot line didn't do it for me. It was too predictable and the big reveal wasn't buried deep enough. My guess is that Patterson gave Ellis an outline and Ellis went at it with is usual verve and expertise in character. He just couldn't pull off a trite story line with what he had to work with but he gave it a hellva try.
David Putnam
Author of The Bruno Johnson series
However, the plot line didn't do it for me. It was too predictable and the big reveal wasn't buried deep enough. My guess is that Patterson gave Ellis an outline and Ellis went at it with is usual verve and expertise in character. He just couldn't pull off a trite story line with what he had to work with but he gave it a hellva try.
David Putnam
Author of The Bruno Johnson series
August 20, 2017
This was a great read, one of those books it is impossible to put down until the very last, totally satisfying, page. Admittedly the main character was a total idiot and I honestly could not understand what Bookman saw in her, but it all made for a really good story with a very dramatic finale.
I can always rely on Patterson for a good, escapist mystery. This one was co written with David Ellis and it was very well done. Recommended if you enjoy lots of action, many dead bodies and edge of your seat thrills!
I can always rely on Patterson for a good, escapist mystery. This one was co written with David Ellis and it was very well done. Recommended if you enjoy lots of action, many dead bodies and edge of your seat thrills!
June 12, 2019
In another stellar Patterson novel (more on his secret ingredient below), readers are treated to some wonderful narrative and a powerful plot to keep the story fast-paced and thrilling to the end. Emmy Dockery is an FBI analyst with a past; one that has her on suspension as she deals with the death of her twin sister in a house fire. She as been anything but idle during that time, concocting a theory that a number of house fires across the US, deemed accidental, are actually elaborate murder scenes, whose victims are slain in such a way that it appears the killer must be 'invisible'. While she tries to convince Harrison "Books" Bookman of the theory, her past beau, he helps her pitch the idea to the Assistant Director. When it falls flat, Emmy must come to terms that this murderer, as sly as he is cunning, may get away with over fifty murders while the authorities are none the wiser. After Emmy secures one strong clue, the case falls into place and the FBI is finally interested; rushing to keep the body count from getting any higher. Emmy and Books rush across the country to stop the spree, while the murderer remains one step ahead, with an audio diary of his own, hinting at his motive and rationale behind the killings. Patterson's excellent piece of thriller fiction is not to be missed, as it rises above much of the literary attempts labelled with the author's moniker.
Patterson has found the secret ingredient to boost his dwindling success at producing worthwhile novels; David Ellis. In both recent novels bearing his name as co-author, the contribution Ellis makes to the stories infuse much into Patterson's work, helping it surpass even the popular Patterson series. The ideas are fresh and the characters have depth, leaving the reader to yearn for more as each short chapter comes to a close. As a team, Patterson and Ellis create an eerie sense of doom and action that cannot be replicated in a simple Alex Cross or Lindsay Boxer novel. If only Patterson would step away from his need to bask in subpar literary glory and focus on collaborating with some superior authors like Ellis, fans and new readers alike would find pleasure rather than a continued sense of despair when opening a Patterson novel.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis for this wonderful tale. I was, truly, captivated from the beginning all the way through to the final pages.
Patterson has found the secret ingredient to boost his dwindling success at producing worthwhile novels; David Ellis. In both recent novels bearing his name as co-author, the contribution Ellis makes to the stories infuse much into Patterson's work, helping it surpass even the popular Patterson series. The ideas are fresh and the characters have depth, leaving the reader to yearn for more as each short chapter comes to a close. As a team, Patterson and Ellis create an eerie sense of doom and action that cannot be replicated in a simple Alex Cross or Lindsay Boxer novel. If only Patterson would step away from his need to bask in subpar literary glory and focus on collaborating with some superior authors like Ellis, fans and new readers alike would find pleasure rather than a continued sense of despair when opening a Patterson novel.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis for this wonderful tale. I was, truly, captivated from the beginning all the way through to the final pages.
June 28, 2014
Audiobook Review
3 1/2 Stars
Dear James Patterson et al:
Let's get this over right away - STOP the stupid music in your audiobooks. You and your production editor may think that this adds 'mystique' or 'character' or a 'third voice' to the production. No. IT DRIVES AUDIO LISTENERS INSANE! Here's the scoop -- in case none of you have ever listened to an audiobook -- the reader is creating their own scenes, character portraits and drama as they listen to the book. They do not need the remedial aid of music. If we wanted to hear music, we'd go to our music list and play that. The music is distracting and unfortunately quite loud so that it opacifies the voice of the narrator. Do you want the words to your story told, or do you want to do a theatrical production? You choose. Then we'll choose whether we ever want to read another one of your books. Until then, you'll get poor ratings from this reader and others.
Thanks for your consideration.
By the way, this was one of the better Patterson co-written books I've read in a while. It was worthy of at least a 4 Star rating, but any book that induces a migraine from the sound gets dinged.
3 1/2 Stars
Dear James Patterson et al:
Let's get this over right away - STOP the stupid music in your audiobooks. You and your production editor may think that this adds 'mystique' or 'character' or a 'third voice' to the production. No. IT DRIVES AUDIO LISTENERS INSANE! Here's the scoop -- in case none of you have ever listened to an audiobook -- the reader is creating their own scenes, character portraits and drama as they listen to the book. They do not need the remedial aid of music. If we wanted to hear music, we'd go to our music list and play that. The music is distracting and unfortunately quite loud so that it opacifies the voice of the narrator. Do you want the words to your story told, or do you want to do a theatrical production? You choose. Then we'll choose whether we ever want to read another one of your books. Until then, you'll get poor ratings from this reader and others.
Thanks for your consideration.
By the way, this was one of the better Patterson co-written books I've read in a while. It was worthy of at least a 4 Star rating, but any book that induces a migraine from the sound gets dinged.
July 25, 2014
Emmy Dockery had lost her sister Marta to a house fire eight months previously, a fire the authorities had called accidental. But Emmy was convinced Marta’s death wasn’t an accident; she was an FBI analyst and because she was consumed by grief had been put on indefinite leave. Emmy in the meantime had been researching house fires right across the US, doing the leg work on her own as no-one within the FBI would believe her claims.
As more and more deaths continued to occur, always a house fire, always declared accidental, Emmy became desperate – she was convinced there was an ingenious and deadly serial killer at work. Frustrated and angry she wondered why no-one would take notice of her. So she decided to call on Harrison Bookman, ex FBI agent and ex-fiancé as a last resort, convinced he would help her. Books had one of the best brains in the business; rarely had he missed getting his man when he was an agent – she also knew he was the one the FBI director would listen to…
With a very small team of four – the director’s concession – they had limited time to find evidence. But they were frustrated at every turn. Emmy knew she was right – but how to find that small shred of evidence she needed to convince her bosses….what would it take? It seemed that Emmy was the only one who was convinced there was a sadistic madman out there – the dangers were multiplying, the clock was ticking…
This thriller was absolutely brilliant! I felt like I was holding my breath for the last 100 pages! Totally gripping, the pace was fast, the plot intense. For me things started a little slowly, but I wasn’t far in when things began to ramp up, and it didn’t stop until the very last page. I have no hesitation in recommending this latest stand-alone thriller by Patterson and Ellis highly.
As more and more deaths continued to occur, always a house fire, always declared accidental, Emmy became desperate – she was convinced there was an ingenious and deadly serial killer at work. Frustrated and angry she wondered why no-one would take notice of her. So she decided to call on Harrison Bookman, ex FBI agent and ex-fiancé as a last resort, convinced he would help her. Books had one of the best brains in the business; rarely had he missed getting his man when he was an agent – she also knew he was the one the FBI director would listen to…
With a very small team of four – the director’s concession – they had limited time to find evidence. But they were frustrated at every turn. Emmy knew she was right – but how to find that small shred of evidence she needed to convince her bosses….what would it take? It seemed that Emmy was the only one who was convinced there was a sadistic madman out there – the dangers were multiplying, the clock was ticking…
This thriller was absolutely brilliant! I felt like I was holding my breath for the last 100 pages! Totally gripping, the pace was fast, the plot intense. For me things started a little slowly, but I wasn’t far in when things began to ramp up, and it didn’t stop until the very last page. I have no hesitation in recommending this latest stand-alone thriller by Patterson and Ellis highly.
November 3, 2022
رواية مثيرة..مُشوقة..ومُرعبة...
مُحللة الأبحاث بالمباحث الفيدرالية " إيمي" لم تقتنع بأن أختها قد ماتت إثر حادث حريق عرضي ، بل ثمة ما يربط ذاك الحادث بتلك الحرائق التي اندلعت بأماكن متفرقة في أنحاء البلاد....
هل يُمكن لها وهى حادة الذكاء متقدة الذهن أن تقنع حبيبها السابق وهو العميل الخاص بالمباحث الفيدرالية بوجود قاتل وحشي يرتكب تلك الجرائم وإنه لابد من تشكيل فريق عمل للقبض عليه ؟؟...
هنا يحلو لك أن تشاركهم وهم يتتبعون الخيوط الدقيقة ، ينقادوا للحدس الغريزي الذي ينذر باقتراب خطر وشيك ..يتلقفون أي معلومة مهما بدت بسيطة وصغيرة لتشتعل حماستهم وينطلقوا في جميع الإتجاهات بعد تحليل المعلومات والربط بين البيانات...
الحوار الساخر وإلقاء الدعابات لكي يتمكنوا من الإفلات من قبضة الخوف التي تُسدد لكماتها من حينٍ لآخر...
المشاكسات الحوارية تثير اهتمامي وتجتذبني طرفاً مُشاركاً بها...فتراني أضحك وألقي بدعابة أنا الأخرى...ولماذا لا أفعل !....
اما عن السفاح...لا لن أخبرك عنه الكثير ، يكفي أن اقول إنه دائماً يسبق الجميع ولو بخطوة واحدة..ولك أن تحذر كيف هي ؟...
الأحداث سريعة وتتخذ منعطفات حادة ومتقلبة ، لذا هواجسك وشكوكك لن تلتقط أنفاسها أبداً...
فقد كانت تقول لي ثمة شيء في عينيك ، وكأنك ترغب في شيء لا تملكه ، ما الشيء الذي قد أكون راغباً فيه ولا أملكه بالفعل؟....
مُحللة الأبحاث بالمباحث الفيدرالية " إيمي" لم تقتنع بأن أختها قد ماتت إثر حادث حريق عرضي ، بل ثمة ما يربط ذاك الحادث بتلك الحرائق التي اندلعت بأماكن متفرقة في أنحاء البلاد....
هل يُمكن لها وهى حادة الذكاء متقدة الذهن أن تقنع حبيبها السابق وهو العميل الخاص بالمباحث الفيدرالية بوجود قاتل وحشي يرتكب تلك الجرائم وإنه لابد من تشكيل فريق عمل للقبض عليه ؟؟...
هنا يحلو لك أن تشاركهم وهم يتتبعون الخيوط الدقيقة ، ينقادوا للحدس الغريزي الذي ينذر باقتراب خطر وشيك ..يتلقفون أي معلومة مهما بدت بسيطة وصغيرة لتشتعل حماستهم وينطلقوا في جميع الإتجاهات بعد تحليل المعلومات والربط بين البيانات...
الحوار الساخر وإلقاء الدعابات لكي يتمكنوا من الإفلات من قبضة الخوف التي تُسدد لكماتها من حينٍ لآخر...
المشاكسات الحوارية تثير اهتمامي وتجتذبني طرفاً مُشاركاً بها...فتراني أضحك وألقي بدعابة أنا الأخرى...ولماذا لا أفعل !....
اما عن السفاح...لا لن أخبرك عنه الكثير ، يكفي أن اقول إنه دائماً يسبق الجميع ولو بخطوة واحدة..ولك أن تحذر كيف هي ؟...
الأحداث سريعة وتتخذ منعطفات حادة ومتقلبة ، لذا هواجسك وشكوكك لن تلتقط أنفاسها أبداً...
فقد كانت تقول لي ثمة شيء في عينيك ، وكأنك ترغب في شيء لا تملكه ، ما الشيء الذي قد أكون راغباً فيه ولا أملكه بالفعل؟....
July 11, 2014
It's hard to love a book when you hate the protagonist.
July 26, 2015
I absolutely hated Emmy. Her interactions with everyone in this book made me dislike her more and more until the last quarter of the book when I contemplated casting it aside. The way Emmy and the other investigators came to their conclusions was not convincing. I will not read another book that features her. This is my first James Patterson novel. I have heard such good things about him that I was excited to start this book. I am so disappointed. I listened to the audible. Maybe the reader is the reason I hated this so much.
February 11, 2016
I did not plan to read this book in a day, it just happened that way.
February 15, 2015
Review can be read at It's About The Book
I am going to just jump right in and say that this book scared the hell out of me!
Patterson and Ellis have written the most terrifying villain since Hannibal Lector first gave me nightmares years ago. It was chilling! It. Was. Delicious!
This book made me remember late nights with the covers pulled up to my chin, knowing the next scene on the screen was going to make me scream! Lovely, scary story.
Emmy is going right to the top of my favorite heroines list. She is strong, she is determined and she is grieving. One of those deaths she is investigating is the death of her sister, her twin sister, Marta, a death that has been labeled an accident by the local authorities. Death by fire. Emmy is convinced that Marta’s death was no accident. In trying to find evidence to prove her theory, she begins to uncover more and more accidental deaths by fire that seem similar to the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death. But no one believes her, and her credibility with her FBI supervisor is already in jeopardy over an unrelated issue.
This book is not a romance, but there is a love interest. With no help from her own supervisor, Emmy appeals to her former fiancé, Books Bookman, a retired FBI special agent, to use his influence to have the FBI take a more serious look at the evidence she has found. With his help they begin to make a case that the FBI can no longer ignore.
In the meantime, throughout the story, the villain taunts us with his manifesto. Taunt after taunt. I wanted to help hunt him down. Pure evil.
The ending of this story, this hunt for a demented killer, will make me lose sleep. Just when I was convinced that I had it all figured out, I was wrong. The ending is stunning.
I know that this book is labeled as a stand alone, but I would love to see more of Emmy and Books. What a team. What a story. What a rush!
I am going to just jump right in and say that this book scared the hell out of me!
Patterson and Ellis have written the most terrifying villain since Hannibal Lector first gave me nightmares years ago. It was chilling! It. Was. Delicious!
This book made me remember late nights with the covers pulled up to my chin, knowing the next scene on the screen was going to make me scream! Lovely, scary story.
Emmy is going right to the top of my favorite heroines list. She is strong, she is determined and she is grieving. One of those deaths she is investigating is the death of her sister, her twin sister, Marta, a death that has been labeled an accident by the local authorities. Death by fire. Emmy is convinced that Marta’s death was no accident. In trying to find evidence to prove her theory, she begins to uncover more and more accidental deaths by fire that seem similar to the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death. But no one believes her, and her credibility with her FBI supervisor is already in jeopardy over an unrelated issue.
This book is not a romance, but there is a love interest. With no help from her own supervisor, Emmy appeals to her former fiancé, Books Bookman, a retired FBI special agent, to use his influence to have the FBI take a more serious look at the evidence she has found. With his help they begin to make a case that the FBI can no longer ignore.
In the meantime, throughout the story, the villain taunts us with his manifesto. Taunt after taunt. I wanted to help hunt him down. Pure evil.
The ending of this story, this hunt for a demented killer, will make me lose sleep. Just when I was convinced that I had it all figured out, I was wrong. The ending is stunning.
I know that this book is labeled as a stand alone, but I would love to see more of Emmy and Books. What a team. What a story. What a rush!
July 7, 2016
This felt more like a bad episode of Criminal Minds than a great read. I expected more smart writing, more excitement, more gravitas, and I was sorely disappointed. There wasn't much content to this so-called thriller/detective story, except the many pages that were narrated by the serial killer, which added little or no quality to it. Personally, I'm sick and tired of this format where half of a book is from the bad guy's perspective. There's no plus side. It borders the unhealthy, IMO.
As for the final pages, I already knew who Mary was and that it was going to end badly.
No, for me this book was not worth the purchase, or the time spent reading it. And yes, I feel let down because these co-authors are capable of so much more.
As for the final pages, I already knew who Mary was and that it was going to end badly.
No, for me this book was not worth the purchase, or the time spent reading it. And yes, I feel let down because these co-authors are capable of so much more.
January 27, 2020
This was an awesome book with some great twists. Emmy was a frustratingly strong willed character but she was amusing for sure. I was seriously surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I am going to move on to the second book of the series tomorrow. Great plot and characters and I highly recommend this book to any crime thriller fan.
July 11, 2014
I loved this book. It kept me guessing the whole time. As I said once before though about James Patterson's co-authored books I definitely give all the credit to David Ellis. I'm getting ready to buy Mr. Ellis's first book he published on his own.
December 23, 2023
Of course, Emmy is far from being the nicest person on Earth.
Of course, the first pages are rather dull and boring.
Of course, some scenes could make even Stephen King blush.
But, nonetheless, it is a magnificent written book and certainly one of Mr. Patterson's best products ever...
Of course, the first pages are rather dull and boring.
Of course, some scenes could make even Stephen King blush.
But, nonetheless, it is a magnificent written book and certainly one of Mr. Patterson's best products ever...
June 25, 2023
I first discovered how talented David Ellis is when I read Look Closer back in 2021, and it quickly became a favorite. When I saw that two of my favorite Bookstagrammers had read and gave 5 stars to Invisible (just one of the many series he’s co-written with James Patterson) I knew I needed to get my hands on it. And. It. Did. Not. Disappoint.
Invisible might just be one of the scariest books I have ever read/listened to. Complete with the sounds of victim’s screams in his own raw “podcast” style recordings he sends to the FBI, the antagonist is one of the most disturbed I’ve ever read about. Let’s just say, I had trouble sleeping after finishing this one.
Each book is entirely unique, sans the detectives at the heart of them, FBI agent Emmy Dockery and her ex-fiancé and fellow agent Harrison “Books” Bookman. Their messy, complex relationship added a personal element that I could not get enough of.
I highly recommend listening to both on audio, because as discussed above, the audiobooks help to immerse you in the story in a very unique way with realistic sounds and scary music.
Read if you like:
•serial killer plots
•fbi procedurals
•podcast format
•twisty reads
•romance subplot
Invisible might just be one of the scariest books I have ever read/listened to. Complete with the sounds of victim’s screams in his own raw “podcast” style recordings he sends to the FBI, the antagonist is one of the most disturbed I’ve ever read about. Let’s just say, I had trouble sleeping after finishing this one.
Each book is entirely unique, sans the detectives at the heart of them, FBI agent Emmy Dockery and her ex-fiancé and fellow agent Harrison “Books” Bookman. Their messy, complex relationship added a personal element that I could not get enough of.
I highly recommend listening to both on audio, because as discussed above, the audiobooks help to immerse you in the story in a very unique way with realistic sounds and scary music.
Read if you like:
•serial killer plots
•fbi procedurals
•podcast format
•twisty reads
•romance subplot
March 17, 2015
I am amazed at how high a rank this got. I hate to say this but I thought it was absolute crap. I really feel like James Patterson is so much better than this. I listened to the unabridged audio book and couldn't wait for it to finish. The music was overpowering, the actor who played Marty/ Mary /Graham was so over dramatic I was embarrassed for him. I knew exactly what was going to happen 2/3 into the book thanks to not so subtle foreshadowing.( she must really work out a lot as her arms were really ripped) or some such nonsense.. duh! The oh so trite lines that were delivered.. "probably the most evil person to roam the earth" What the hell?? Really? Even Emmy's character, oh please. Stereotype much? Commitment shy, tough but sweet female cop who's an absolute genius, running into the house to save the day in spite of all the risks , misdirected heroism in hopes of avenging her sister's death? Ugh. I'm so disappointed and even a little angry. It felt sloppy and damn lazy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2015
I remember reading Patterson in the early days of Alex Cross novels. I loved the pacing and twists and turns the stories would take. Though maybe not literary masterpieces they were the kind of books I had a hard time putting down. Over the years something has changed - part of me feels that it is Patterson's writing in combination with the fact that there are so many excellent suspense/thriller books out there. In any case I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. I needed something fairly "mindless" to fill the reading gap between the "heavier" books I've been picking up lately.
Invisible is a stand alone novel and that was a part of its appeal. Emmy Dockery is an FBI research analyst obsessed with a series of fires that have been declared accidental. Emmy is convinced that they are a work of an extremely meticulous arsonist who is so good that he managed to make himself invisible to the police. She is also emotionally damaged (in more ways than one) and not the easiest person to like. In her quest to convince her agency that she is not delusional and that these murders are actually happening she enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend and a former FBI agent, Harrison Bookman. Despite their complicated personal relationship they join forces in an attempt to uncover enough evidence in order to prove that there actually is a killer before they can even begin hunting him.
Though it was not mind-blowing and though I kind of figured out what the plot twist is half way through the book (I think most readers who "consume" a lot of this genre have this issue), the story served its purpose. It was entertaining enough and I read it pretty fast. Just a fair warning, parts of it were pretty gruesome, so it might not be the kind of story for everybody's stomach. I am sure I will return to Patterson's work at some point again but I am pretty sure it will always be for the same reason - to kind of mentally cool off between two books that require greater mental engagement on my part.
Invisible is a stand alone novel and that was a part of its appeal. Emmy Dockery is an FBI research analyst obsessed with a series of fires that have been declared accidental. Emmy is convinced that they are a work of an extremely meticulous arsonist who is so good that he managed to make himself invisible to the police. She is also emotionally damaged (in more ways than one) and not the easiest person to like. In her quest to convince her agency that she is not delusional and that these murders are actually happening she enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend and a former FBI agent, Harrison Bookman. Despite their complicated personal relationship they join forces in an attempt to uncover enough evidence in order to prove that there actually is a killer before they can even begin hunting him.
Though it was not mind-blowing and though I kind of figured out what the plot twist is half way through the book (I think most readers who "consume" a lot of this genre have this issue), the story served its purpose. It was entertaining enough and I read it pretty fast. Just a fair warning, parts of it were pretty gruesome, so it might not be the kind of story for everybody's stomach. I am sure I will return to Patterson's work at some point again but I am pretty sure it will always be for the same reason - to kind of mentally cool off between two books that require greater mental engagement on my part.
September 14, 2015
How does this book have four and a half stars? One of the worst books I've ever read. The authors clearly have no idea how to write female characters other than the typical juvenile girl who throws tantrums and then at the end does want to marry her ex-boyfriend. The ending was super cliche. No new or interesting writing here. Don't read.
March 16, 2025
Patterson and Ellis write intriguing entertaining books! 10/10 recommend any of their collaborations 🤩 I haven’t read a boring one yet!
June 16, 2020
Hands down one of the best Patterson thrillers I've read in ages, if not ever! An FBI analyst discovers some surprising data in a string of fires, uncovering a sadistic but extremely forward thinking serial killer. The FBI sets out to catch him! Great suspense, great read! 8 out of 12.
November 2, 2022
"فقد كانت تقول لي شئ في عينيك، وكأنك ترغب في شئ لا تملكه، ما الشئ الذي قد أكون راغباً فيه ولا أملكه بالفعل؟؟ .... "
ايه يا جيمس دة؟؟؟
دي رواية يناسبها مقولة " تخطفك كدة لحد آخر نفس "
جراهام ماري مارتي مهما اختلفت الأسم فالقضية واحدة,. أنه دايماً سابقهم ب خطوة .
محستش ب ثانية ملل واحدة، رواية مثيرة و مشوقة جداً
رغم اني مش من ميولي اني اقرأ حاجات فيها عُنف اوي لأني ممكن يجيلي كوابيس :')) بس في نفس الوقت اكتر جزء عجبني فالرواية هو جزء الطبيبة لما اعترفت أن دي حرائق مُتعمدة و نتيجة التشريح وتفاصيل العذاب بقى اللى اعترضوله .
وبيعجبني لما قصة تتناول الجانب النفسي للجاني مثل رواية "الوعد" كدة ويخليك مُتعاطف معاه - بس طبعاً مينفيش أن "مرض نفسي "
الحوارات الساخرة وإلقاء الدعابات والمشاكسات كانت زي البلسم كدة عشان يهون علينا اللى هنعرفه بعدين!
واللي خلاني احط ٤ نجوم مش ٥ هو سبب واحد بس اني كنت متعشمة شوية أن النهاية تكون مُفصلة اكتر من كدة وان يكون فيها كلام عن اخت ايمي مثلاً,
July 17, 2014
What a refreshing change from some of the very disappointing reads that have been released recently under the James Patterson brand. I was getting very close to stopping reading his novels completely due to the poor books he has released lately under different guises. This book is like going back to the early books which were a big success with their short punchy chapters and plenty of action. Again this book is co-written so it is difficult to tell what input Patterson had exactly but nevertheless it ticks all the boxes. A very entertaining read that I completed in less than 24 hours due to the tension it produced.
June 16, 2019
I am a pretty avid reader of James Patterson. However, for the purposes of honesty, I get his books from the library because I don’t find him good enough to buy and keep in my library. He’s mind candy – simple, fast-paced, detective and mystery oriented adventures that can be read in about two to three days and easily left behind. Nice escapism, but nothing super memorable.
I noticed his new book coming out is called UNSOLVED and is listed as the second book in the “Emmy Dockery” series. I couldn’t remember the first book so looked it up on Amazon and found “INVISIBLE” (also co-written with David Ellis), published back in June, 2014. My memory betrayed me and I couldn’t remember if I read it or not. So, in preparation of reading the new book, I have checked out the first one. And what a nice surprise this turned out to be.
INVISIBLE is a story focused on failing FBI research analyst, Emmy Dockery, and her hunt for a serial killer that may or may not exist. She is beyond obsessed with finding out who she thinks killed her beloved sister, Marta, even though the authorities felt an accidental fire in her home caused her death.
Emmy has done her investigatory research and believes there is a link between hundreds of accidental fires over the last 18 months, including her sister’s, that will lead to a monster who has been quietly getting away with murder. Emmy has taken a leave of absence from the FBI and put together her own research and analysis to build her case.
However, no one believes her because of her erratic behavior and inability to conform to social behaviors. She is not a team player and no one wants to work with her. Not even her ex-fiancée and former FBI field investigator, “Books” Bookman wants to hear about the case from her. She broke his heart and now wants him to believe that her circumstantial evidence is real.
And then, Emmy pushes hard enough and scientific evidence is discovered, revealing that extreme torture may be part of the murderer’s horrific process. Now Books and Emmy’s FBI team must try and find one of the most prolific killers ever as he continues his pattern of two victims each week across the country. Without any suspects, motives, weapons, or profiles to help them, the challenge seems almost impossible as the killer continues to outwit them at every step along the way.
After reading INVISIBLE, there is good news and bad news.
The bad news first. I did not care for the lead character, Emmy. She was extremely selfish, uncaring and downright narcistic. She treated her former fiancée and investigation lead, with complete and utter disrespect. She had no social grace or understanding of emotional intelligence. Several times I found myself wanting to yell at her as if she were real to grow up, which is something I cannot ever doing before when reading a Patterson book. She was not a nice person in any way, shape, or form.
However, the good news outweighs the bad. The book was really good. Even with having to deal with Emmy’s incessant and degrading personality, the book delivered for the most part.
There were several good things about it. The story was well layered, displaying a strongly conceived plot that unfolded in a well-developed tension-filled manner. It was complex, reflecting creatively researched ideas that made the story stronger. The pacing moved along at a steady staccato pace, with several twists and turns along the way. And the characters (which are not always Patterson’s strong suit, were better than normal, pulling you with empathetic interest. And, more importantly, the story had a certain fresh feeling to it, including a few good surprises, and a strong ending.
Truth be told, it has been a long time since I completely devoured a Patterson book in one day with such escapist enthusiasm. This was one of those times and it brought a pleasing smile to my face. Even Emmy couldn’t ruin that.
Overall, it was one of my favorite Patterson books and I am looking forward to the second book – INVISIBLE – when my turn comes at the library. Although, Truth be told again, I’m more interested in finding out what’s next for field agent Books than I am for Emmy. I can only hope she’s had a change in perspective and behavior. I am hopeful, but we’ll see…
I noticed his new book coming out is called UNSOLVED and is listed as the second book in the “Emmy Dockery” series. I couldn’t remember the first book so looked it up on Amazon and found “INVISIBLE” (also co-written with David Ellis), published back in June, 2014. My memory betrayed me and I couldn’t remember if I read it or not. So, in preparation of reading the new book, I have checked out the first one. And what a nice surprise this turned out to be.
INVISIBLE is a story focused on failing FBI research analyst, Emmy Dockery, and her hunt for a serial killer that may or may not exist. She is beyond obsessed with finding out who she thinks killed her beloved sister, Marta, even though the authorities felt an accidental fire in her home caused her death.
Emmy has done her investigatory research and believes there is a link between hundreds of accidental fires over the last 18 months, including her sister’s, that will lead to a monster who has been quietly getting away with murder. Emmy has taken a leave of absence from the FBI and put together her own research and analysis to build her case.
However, no one believes her because of her erratic behavior and inability to conform to social behaviors. She is not a team player and no one wants to work with her. Not even her ex-fiancée and former FBI field investigator, “Books” Bookman wants to hear about the case from her. She broke his heart and now wants him to believe that her circumstantial evidence is real.
And then, Emmy pushes hard enough and scientific evidence is discovered, revealing that extreme torture may be part of the murderer’s horrific process. Now Books and Emmy’s FBI team must try and find one of the most prolific killers ever as he continues his pattern of two victims each week across the country. Without any suspects, motives, weapons, or profiles to help them, the challenge seems almost impossible as the killer continues to outwit them at every step along the way.
After reading INVISIBLE, there is good news and bad news.
The bad news first. I did not care for the lead character, Emmy. She was extremely selfish, uncaring and downright narcistic. She treated her former fiancée and investigation lead, with complete and utter disrespect. She had no social grace or understanding of emotional intelligence. Several times I found myself wanting to yell at her as if she were real to grow up, which is something I cannot ever doing before when reading a Patterson book. She was not a nice person in any way, shape, or form.
However, the good news outweighs the bad. The book was really good. Even with having to deal with Emmy’s incessant and degrading personality, the book delivered for the most part.
There were several good things about it. The story was well layered, displaying a strongly conceived plot that unfolded in a well-developed tension-filled manner. It was complex, reflecting creatively researched ideas that made the story stronger. The pacing moved along at a steady staccato pace, with several twists and turns along the way. And the characters (which are not always Patterson’s strong suit, were better than normal, pulling you with empathetic interest. And, more importantly, the story had a certain fresh feeling to it, including a few good surprises, and a strong ending.
Truth be told, it has been a long time since I completely devoured a Patterson book in one day with such escapist enthusiasm. This was one of those times and it brought a pleasing smile to my face. Even Emmy couldn’t ruin that.
Overall, it was one of my favorite Patterson books and I am looking forward to the second book – INVISIBLE – when my turn comes at the library. Although, Truth be told again, I’m more interested in finding out what’s next for field agent Books than I am for Emmy. I can only hope she’s had a change in perspective and behavior. I am hopeful, but we’ll see…
August 19, 2014
The ending almost saved this story and does to some extent. There is too much cutesy play in character relationships that undermine this novel. I would not have rated it this high except for the ending. 5 of 10 stars
September 16, 2019
The book was readable, and held my attention, but wasn't great. Some of the James Patterson books lately seem to be more flash and less substance of story. The characters were undeveloped and rather flat, and the plot was uneven. I figured out who the killer was part way through, which was disappointing—I like to be kept on the edge of my seat when reading a thriller, not thinking, “Why am I the only one who sees what's going on?!”
James Patterson is capable of such great writing, so perhaps I put the bar unfairly high when reading one of his books. But this book, while better than some of his recent stuff, is still not as good as the Alex Cross series or Patterson's other earlier works.
However, as I said, it was readable and wasn't boring. It's just...C'mon, JP, where are those great books, that kept me mesmerized, that made me say Holy Crap at the ending, that made me call up reader friends and insist that they read the book??
James Patterson is capable of such great writing, so perhaps I put the bar unfairly high when reading one of his books. But this book, while better than some of his recent stuff, is still not as good as the Alex Cross series or Patterson's other earlier works.
However, as I said, it was readable and wasn't boring. It's just...C'mon, JP, where are those great books, that kept me mesmerized, that made me say Holy Crap at the ending, that made me call up reader friends and insist that they read the book??
March 21, 2015
I wanted to give this 4 stars, due to the action and suspense, but I have to deduct a star for the annoying main character.
At first, Emmy is a dedicated FBI analyst with dreadful people skills. She's rude, selfish, unappreciative, jealous, and naive. Okay, I can deal with some of that, as she is the relative of a crime victim. But when she *twice* runs into a crime scene against orders (remember, she's a civilian, not an agent!) and risked the lives of others, I really wanted her to suffer the consequences. I wanted her to get fired and have to teach preschool with a whole classroom of children with the same lack of obedience and respect for others that she showed.
Does Emmy learn from her mistakes? I don't want to give anything away, but parents of preschoolers can feel safe that she won't be influencing their children any time soon.
At first, Emmy is a dedicated FBI analyst with dreadful people skills. She's rude, selfish, unappreciative, jealous, and naive. Okay, I can deal with some of that, as she is the relative of a crime victim. But when she *twice* runs into a crime scene against orders (remember, she's a civilian, not an agent!) and risked the lives of others, I really wanted her to suffer the consequences. I wanted her to get fired and have to teach preschool with a whole classroom of children with the same lack of obedience and respect for others that she showed.
Does Emmy learn from her mistakes? I don't want to give anything away, but parents of preschoolers can feel safe that she won't be influencing their children any time soon.
June 24, 2014
I thought this book was fantastic. It had all the ingredients of a first class mystery and was quick to read. Or at least I couldn't put it down! I will be looking for the Co author's books from now on. Patterson did good by putting his name on this one. Usually you don't know what you are getting with one of his 'shared' books. They can be anywhere from bad to great and I do think this was one of the best.
July 7, 2014
This book was terrible! I generally enjoy Patterson, but this book was not at all enjoyable. Despite an exceptionally interesting premiss, the story was flat and the characters unappealing. I flipped through to the end to find out whodunnit and never looked back. Another author asked, "is James Patterson an author or a brand?" and this question is worth asking after such a disappointing read.
March 15, 2017
4.5*
Todo o livro é inteiramente compulsivo, com a parte final a alcançar o êxtase total, só não leva as 5*, porque a determinado momento achei a protagonista (Emmy) uma autêntica “tia de Cascais”, com tiques de quero, posso e mando. Mas não deixem de ler, a pesquisa elaborada para nos apresentar os factos sobre mortes “invisíveis” são de colocar qualquer um de boca aberta e com os cabelos em pé.
Opinião aqui:
http://baudatanocas.blogs.sapo.pt/inv...
Todo o livro é inteiramente compulsivo, com a parte final a alcançar o êxtase total, só não leva as 5*, porque a determinado momento achei a protagonista (Emmy) uma autêntica “tia de Cascais”, com tiques de quero, posso e mando. Mas não deixem de ler, a pesquisa elaborada para nos apresentar os factos sobre mortes “invisíveis” são de colocar qualquer um de boca aberta e com os cabelos em pé.
Opinião aqui:
http://baudatanocas.blogs.sapo.pt/inv...
August 26, 2022
I like this one alot. I find the audio version very well done. If you listen to his Women Murder Club series, it's the same narrator and she some how made the main character of Invisible more likable. Good ending twist with this one and I will definitely listen to the next book with David Ellis.
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