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Michael Bennett #13
The Russian
A killer crashes Michael Bennett's wedding in the thirteenth thrilling novel by James Patterson featuring the NYPD's top detective
A series of gruesome murders in New York City has Michael Bennett angry – but when he identifies similar cases in Atlanta and San Francisco, his anger escalates into all-out alarm.
All of the victims are young women. And each one is killed in a horrifyingly distinct fashion.
In the midst of such devastating loss of life, Bennett’s longtime love, Mary Catherine, is soon to become his wife. But just when New York’s top investigator should be donning his wedding finery, he may be stepping into a diabolical trap.
A series of gruesome murders in New York City has Michael Bennett angry – but when he identifies similar cases in Atlanta and San Francisco, his anger escalates into all-out alarm.
All of the victims are young women. And each one is killed in a horrifyingly distinct fashion.
In the midst of such devastating loss of life, Bennett’s longtime love, Mary Catherine, is soon to become his wife. But just when New York’s top investigator should be donning his wedding finery, he may be stepping into a diabolical trap.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2021
5098 people are currently reading
13217 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
950 books356k 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 1,083 reviews
February 4, 2021
3.5 ⭐
Not bad and not great. An average crime thriller although I did enjoy this quick mystery. I believe the Patterson factory aims at attracting wider audiences so I wasn't expecting complex, too dark or too cozy story.
In The Russian we have a happy Bennett family story development and if you read the last one you probably know what to expect! Crimewise it was a serial killer on the loose with a little eye-roll conclusion. This book was also read by a new narrator. The voice is much younger than the old Bennett I'm used to, but this didn't take long to get familiar with. Ari Fliakos also reads for Ben Coes.
Not bad and not great. An average crime thriller although I did enjoy this quick mystery. I believe the Patterson factory aims at attracting wider audiences so I wasn't expecting complex, too dark or too cozy story.
In The Russian we have a happy Bennett family story development and if you read the last one you probably know what to expect! Crimewise it was a serial killer on the loose with a little eye-roll conclusion. This book was also read by a new narrator. The voice is much younger than the old Bennett I'm used to, but this didn't take long to get familiar with. Ari Fliakos also reads for Ben Coes.
May 12, 2021
Keep the title of this book in your mind while you are reading and see if you can guess how it is linked to the story before the author tells you at the end! I must admit that I missed it totally. But then I was probably more absorbed in the wedding plans!
At last the Bennett wedding is about to take place. I was in a permanent state of suspense waiting for something to happen to put it off for a future book. Other things do happen of course including a series of particularly brutal murders and a killer who appears to be escalating at a scary rate.
As usual for a James Patterson novel the book moves fast and it is a very easy read. Chapters spent on the Bennetts at home and girls trying on bridesmaids dresses offer light relief from the hunt for the sadistic murderer. It all builds up to a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it all very much.
At last the Bennett wedding is about to take place. I was in a permanent state of suspense waiting for something to happen to put it off for a future book. Other things do happen of course including a series of particularly brutal murders and a killer who appears to be escalating at a scary rate.
As usual for a James Patterson novel the book moves fast and it is a very easy read. Chapters spent on the Bennetts at home and girls trying on bridesmaids dresses offer light relief from the hunt for the sadistic murderer. It all builds up to a satisfying ending. I enjoyed it all very much.
August 14, 2022
With a series of bloodthirsty and gruesome murders in New York taking up Detective Michael Bennett's time at the NYPD, he has no time for the posturing of the mayor's sidekick. And when his partner and new Detective is injured while on the job, Bennett knew he needed to step up the game. With the FBI on the sidelines, Bennett was thrilled to match similar murders in Atlanta and San Francisco. Would following the clues and working harder than he'd ever done before, bring him the answers?
The Russian is the 13th in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and James O. Born and it was brilliant. I knew there would be a twist at the end - there had to be! But I sure didn't see what it was, coming. With Mary Catherine and Bennett's 10 children preparing for the upcoming wedding, Bennett trying to catch a serial killer, and sidetracking politics, The Russian is action packed and highly recommended. I'm looking forward to #14, Shattered, sometime in the not too distant future!
The Russian is the 13th in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and James O. Born and it was brilliant. I knew there would be a twist at the end - there had to be! But I sure didn't see what it was, coming. With Mary Catherine and Bennett's 10 children preparing for the upcoming wedding, Bennett trying to catch a serial killer, and sidetracking politics, The Russian is action packed and highly recommended. I'm looking forward to #14, Shattered, sometime in the not too distant future!
January 30, 2021
Michael Bennett is back for his next case, lucky book number thirteen. In the capable hands of James Patterson and James O. Born, Bennett is ready to face off against another wily killer who stalks New York City. However, this one has a different motive and a larger kill area than many others who have crossed Bennett’s path. With his massive brood at home and a wedding on the horizon, Bennett will have to push the distractions aside and focus on catching a ruthless killer. A nice addition for those who enjoy the Michael Bennett series, though not as sharp as some police procedurals I have read lately.
The faint sound of wedding bells seems to pervade Michael Bennett’s every thought, as the big day approaches. With ten children, one grandfather, and a fiancée at home, he has a great deal to juggle. Add to that, a new partner learning the ropes of Homicide, and Bennett has little time to collect his thoughts.
Bennett is soon called to the scene of a brutal murder, one in which the victim’s body is not only slain, but her eye eviscerated. Bennett has not seen something like this in a long while, which can only mean that this killer has something to prove. The murder is similar not only to others in surrounding boroughs, but also other cities crisscrossing America.
All the while, Daniel Ott watches as New York panics. He knows what he’s doing and chooses to push people to the brink. Anyone who disrespects him has a chance of being his next victim; he’s that easily swayed. Between his kills, which he is sure will baffle the NYPD, he makes regular calls back to his family. A wife and two young girls have no idea what he’s doing and hope to see him soon.
Bennett makes little progress on the case until he finds something that ties all three cities together, a computer system update ordered by numerous companies. While everyone remembers a single tech, Ott was so forgettable that no one can recall a physical description. However, Ott knows Bennett and is preparing to derail the detective and the investigation long enough to flee the city and find new victims.
As with most series that extend past a handful of books, things can get a little stale without new plot lines and story arcs. Patterson (with Born in the later novels) has continued to push Michael Bennett to find killer that lurk across the five boroughs, rarely leaving the confines of NYC. Still, there are moments when readers will likely enjoy Bennett’s work, but things appear to be dragging, in my humble opinion.
Bennett returns as the series protagonist, still juggling the usual mix of personal issues and professional responsibilities. While he is well past backstory, Bennett is always evolving, if incrementally. His upcoming marriage has him a tad nervous, though he knows that he’s madly in love. Working with a new partner forces Bennett to be more open with his views and help teach the next generation of Homicide detectives. Gritty and ready to break down any barriers, Michael Bennett shines as best he can with a killer out for blood.
Patterson and Born develop a decent supporting case to push the story along. While it can be hard to find unique approaches to killers, the collaborators do a decent job of spinning the Daniel Ott backstory to offer a fresh approach. With some decent recurring characters and new faces, the story stays somewhat fresh and intriguing, though the sharp edge is gone from both the plot and the characters.
It could be the format of Patterson’s work that breeds a less than chilling approach to the series as it sticks around, something that Born does not see when he collaborates on standalone novels. There’s just something lacking in these latter books that was there in the early stories, though I cannot put my finger on it. Patterson is apt for selling books because of his name, rather than content, as I have bemoaned before, though the issue cannot be placed solely on Born’s shoulders. With short chapters, the story does move forward and keeps the reader guessing, even if it is not a piece that forces late night page flipping to determine how things will end. I wonder if Michael Bennett, like his DC counterpart Alex Cross, might want to look for new adventures. That said, I am still hoping that Patterson can create a Bennett-Cross-Boxer collaborative effort that would pull all three of his successful detectives into a single case crossing multiple novels and keeping readers scrambling to read them all in succession. Then again, that might be too much to ask... or is it?
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Born, for keeping things going. You work well together, though I wish there was something a tad grittier in your collaborative efforts.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The faint sound of wedding bells seems to pervade Michael Bennett’s every thought, as the big day approaches. With ten children, one grandfather, and a fiancée at home, he has a great deal to juggle. Add to that, a new partner learning the ropes of Homicide, and Bennett has little time to collect his thoughts.
Bennett is soon called to the scene of a brutal murder, one in which the victim’s body is not only slain, but her eye eviscerated. Bennett has not seen something like this in a long while, which can only mean that this killer has something to prove. The murder is similar not only to others in surrounding boroughs, but also other cities crisscrossing America.
All the while, Daniel Ott watches as New York panics. He knows what he’s doing and chooses to push people to the brink. Anyone who disrespects him has a chance of being his next victim; he’s that easily swayed. Between his kills, which he is sure will baffle the NYPD, he makes regular calls back to his family. A wife and two young girls have no idea what he’s doing and hope to see him soon.
Bennett makes little progress on the case until he finds something that ties all three cities together, a computer system update ordered by numerous companies. While everyone remembers a single tech, Ott was so forgettable that no one can recall a physical description. However, Ott knows Bennett and is preparing to derail the detective and the investigation long enough to flee the city and find new victims.
As with most series that extend past a handful of books, things can get a little stale without new plot lines and story arcs. Patterson (with Born in the later novels) has continued to push Michael Bennett to find killer that lurk across the five boroughs, rarely leaving the confines of NYC. Still, there are moments when readers will likely enjoy Bennett’s work, but things appear to be dragging, in my humble opinion.
Bennett returns as the series protagonist, still juggling the usual mix of personal issues and professional responsibilities. While he is well past backstory, Bennett is always evolving, if incrementally. His upcoming marriage has him a tad nervous, though he knows that he’s madly in love. Working with a new partner forces Bennett to be more open with his views and help teach the next generation of Homicide detectives. Gritty and ready to break down any barriers, Michael Bennett shines as best he can with a killer out for blood.
Patterson and Born develop a decent supporting case to push the story along. While it can be hard to find unique approaches to killers, the collaborators do a decent job of spinning the Daniel Ott backstory to offer a fresh approach. With some decent recurring characters and new faces, the story stays somewhat fresh and intriguing, though the sharp edge is gone from both the plot and the characters.
It could be the format of Patterson’s work that breeds a less than chilling approach to the series as it sticks around, something that Born does not see when he collaborates on standalone novels. There’s just something lacking in these latter books that was there in the early stories, though I cannot put my finger on it. Patterson is apt for selling books because of his name, rather than content, as I have bemoaned before, though the issue cannot be placed solely on Born’s shoulders. With short chapters, the story does move forward and keeps the reader guessing, even if it is not a piece that forces late night page flipping to determine how things will end. I wonder if Michael Bennett, like his DC counterpart Alex Cross, might want to look for new adventures. That said, I am still hoping that Patterson can create a Bennett-Cross-Boxer collaborative effort that would pull all three of his successful detectives into a single case crossing multiple novels and keeping readers scrambling to read them all in succession. Then again, that might be too much to ask... or is it?
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Born, for keeping things going. You work well together, though I wish there was something a tad grittier in your collaborative efforts.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 5, 2021
If your idea of teaching someone manners by making them dead, this is for you. The less than satisfying end shows how to get away with it. 4 of 10 stars
February 21, 2021
James Patterson has several bestselling series, each carrying different levels of readership popularity. Detective Alex Cross is his coveted franchise and most successful series, followed by the Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett, NYPD Red, and the Private novels.
The Detective Michael Bennett series is one of Patterson’s better feel-good characters. Bennett is a successful Detective working special crimes in New York City. His home life and (very large) family are really the center of his world and provide the primary reason for the readers to cheer him on. Bennett’s first wife, Maeve, died after fighting a losing battle with cancer, leaving him with their 10 adopted children to raise, along with his sour grandfather and catholic priest, Seamus. During most of the books, Bennett has moved on by falling in love and becoming engaged to his wonderful housekeeper, Mary Catherine.
The good news is that most of the books in this series have been pretty enjoyable and worth reading for the most part. The first nine books in the series were co-authored by Howard Roughan and built up a nice consistency and rhythm in the plotting and overall character development. However, there was a change.
The last four books have a new co-author - James O. Born - working with Patterson. With that came change. Change in style, plotting, and quality. To be honest, I personally found the first two books co-written with Born to be less than pleasing due to weak plotting and several characters acting inconsistently. They were definitely my least liked Bennett books in the series. I felt like the new co-author was struggling in his understanding of the characters, especially after having Bennett’s son arrested for selling drugs. That just made no sense at all and was so completely out of character, I am still trying to figure out how this move was consistent to any of the character’s previous history.
Then last year’s book, the third with Born, - “Ambush” had some improvements in plotting and characterization, which wasn’t hard to do considering the lesser quality of those previous two outings. Now, their fourth book together – “The Russian” – is out, and having finished it I am ready to share my review.
When it starts, Michael and Catherine are just weeks away from their planned wedding. At the same time a new serial killer makes his presence known in New York city in a deadly way. His name is Daniel Ott, his profession involves being an IT computer specialist who contracts with companies to work on their systems in major cities like San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York. However, Daniel has a secret. When young attractive professional women don’t treat him as well as he feels he deserves, Daniel hunts them down, stabbing them in the chest or neck, and finishing off his work by stabbing them in their left eye.
As expected, Bennet is assigned to investigate, along with his new partner, Brett Hollis, a young but smart investigator with a talent for research and analysis. Before they can get started and build any momentum, more killings and victims are discovered. The FBI is called in to work alongside Bennet and Hollis, bringing Agent Emily Parker back to work with Michael again, and provide seriously needed resources.
Then Hollis performs some serious research on serial killers and finds a scary pattern that he shares with Bennett. There have been similar killings in other major cities, most recently two to four murders in Atlanta. To make matters worse, the city’s mayor sends his bull-in-a-china-closet bully over to demand action and results, which Bennett’s refusal to participate only makes worse. Not only does he have no clues to finding a killer, he is faced with the threat of being replaced just a few weeks away from what is supposed to be the happiest day of his life. The day when he finally exchanges wedding vows with the one woman he loves and needs most…
Although this was one wasn’t as bad as the first two that Patterson and Born combined on, but it's definitely a step back from the last one. It’s not terrible, but it is average. A very average outing that comes across as ho-hum or who cares by the time you finish. The biggest highlights were the finally-we-get-to-the altar which should be a magical moment, but barely got three pages of coverage, as well as Michael’s new partner, Brett Hollis, who was a brightly developing supporting character with a bright future. We definitely want to see more of him.
Outside of that, the serial killer mystery plotline was standard, with a bland protagonist that was vanilla as vanilla can be, and followed the usual Patterson storyline from beginning to end with a weak and tepid twist. There were some nice quality family moments sprinkled throughout, and I wished we had more of them.
Overall, this book average and didn’t do much to challenge and move Michael Bennett forward. Some Patterson may enjoy “The Russian”, but the mind-candy escapism that we seek was less than stellar in this predictable and tension lacking outing. This makes Patterson and Born partnership in a hole 3 out of 4 times, and counting…
Here’s hoping for some improvement sooner rather than later…
The Detective Michael Bennett series is one of Patterson’s better feel-good characters. Bennett is a successful Detective working special crimes in New York City. His home life and (very large) family are really the center of his world and provide the primary reason for the readers to cheer him on. Bennett’s first wife, Maeve, died after fighting a losing battle with cancer, leaving him with their 10 adopted children to raise, along with his sour grandfather and catholic priest, Seamus. During most of the books, Bennett has moved on by falling in love and becoming engaged to his wonderful housekeeper, Mary Catherine.
The good news is that most of the books in this series have been pretty enjoyable and worth reading for the most part. The first nine books in the series were co-authored by Howard Roughan and built up a nice consistency and rhythm in the plotting and overall character development. However, there was a change.
The last four books have a new co-author - James O. Born - working with Patterson. With that came change. Change in style, plotting, and quality. To be honest, I personally found the first two books co-written with Born to be less than pleasing due to weak plotting and several characters acting inconsistently. They were definitely my least liked Bennett books in the series. I felt like the new co-author was struggling in his understanding of the characters, especially after having Bennett’s son arrested for selling drugs. That just made no sense at all and was so completely out of character, I am still trying to figure out how this move was consistent to any of the character’s previous history.
Then last year’s book, the third with Born, - “Ambush” had some improvements in plotting and characterization, which wasn’t hard to do considering the lesser quality of those previous two outings. Now, their fourth book together – “The Russian” – is out, and having finished it I am ready to share my review.
When it starts, Michael and Catherine are just weeks away from their planned wedding. At the same time a new serial killer makes his presence known in New York city in a deadly way. His name is Daniel Ott, his profession involves being an IT computer specialist who contracts with companies to work on their systems in major cities like San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York. However, Daniel has a secret. When young attractive professional women don’t treat him as well as he feels he deserves, Daniel hunts them down, stabbing them in the chest or neck, and finishing off his work by stabbing them in their left eye.
As expected, Bennet is assigned to investigate, along with his new partner, Brett Hollis, a young but smart investigator with a talent for research and analysis. Before they can get started and build any momentum, more killings and victims are discovered. The FBI is called in to work alongside Bennet and Hollis, bringing Agent Emily Parker back to work with Michael again, and provide seriously needed resources.
Then Hollis performs some serious research on serial killers and finds a scary pattern that he shares with Bennett. There have been similar killings in other major cities, most recently two to four murders in Atlanta. To make matters worse, the city’s mayor sends his bull-in-a-china-closet bully over to demand action and results, which Bennett’s refusal to participate only makes worse. Not only does he have no clues to finding a killer, he is faced with the threat of being replaced just a few weeks away from what is supposed to be the happiest day of his life. The day when he finally exchanges wedding vows with the one woman he loves and needs most…
Although this was one wasn’t as bad as the first two that Patterson and Born combined on, but it's definitely a step back from the last one. It’s not terrible, but it is average. A very average outing that comes across as ho-hum or who cares by the time you finish. The biggest highlights were the finally-we-get-to-the altar which should be a magical moment, but barely got three pages of coverage, as well as Michael’s new partner, Brett Hollis, who was a brightly developing supporting character with a bright future. We definitely want to see more of him.
Outside of that, the serial killer mystery plotline was standard, with a bland protagonist that was vanilla as vanilla can be, and followed the usual Patterson storyline from beginning to end with a weak and tepid twist. There were some nice quality family moments sprinkled throughout, and I wished we had more of them.
Overall, this book average and didn’t do much to challenge and move Michael Bennett forward. Some Patterson may enjoy “The Russian”, but the mind-candy escapism that we seek was less than stellar in this predictable and tension lacking outing. This makes Patterson and Born partnership in a hole 3 out of 4 times, and counting…
Here’s hoping for some improvement sooner rather than later…
March 29, 2024
This is number 13 in the Michael Bennett series and I’m almost caught up. I saw some high star reviews for this so I was hoping for a main character twist/death to happen, but sadly it never came.
While the story was quickly paced and exciting, I really had the feeling that something big was going to happen at the end of this being that the killer is just a regular dude and someone you’d never expect.
While there is a decent twist at the end of this one it wasn’t what I was thinking or like I said hoped for. I long for the days of early Alex Cross when his wife first wife got killed off or some crazed killer that made it through multiple books. I think I just expect too much out of these when it seems like Patterson would rather have things tied up nicely by the end of the book.
Overall still decent. 4 stars
While the story was quickly paced and exciting, I really had the feeling that something big was going to happen at the end of this being that the killer is just a regular dude and someone you’d never expect.
While there is a decent twist at the end of this one it wasn’t what I was thinking or like I said hoped for. I long for the days of early Alex Cross when his wife first wife got killed off or some crazed killer that made it through multiple books. I think I just expect too much out of these when it seems like Patterson would rather have things tied up nicely by the end of the book.
Overall still decent. 4 stars
April 19, 2021
Another great Bennett book that really brought him full circle. Patterson’s main “series” books are excellent. Bennett, Cross and Boxer. I can read them as fast as he publishes them. This was as good as any Bennett book to date. Great villain, thrilling story. I loved it. The way his family is woven in makes the grizzly stories even more readable. Bring me the next one!
May 23, 2021
Review to come
November 30, 2024
Totally kept me on the edge of my seat. Really unexpected solving of the case, but a beautiful ending. Great read!
March 2, 2025
It's been a long while since I've read a Michael Bennett written by James Patterson and James O. Born. This was a very entertaining book, one that kept my interest, and of course the romance between Michael and his love Mary Catherine. Ahhhhhh!
The book begins by a serial killer who weeks before Michael Bennett's and Mary Catherine's wedding crashes it and attempts to murder them. This assassin announces his return to New York City and continues with a string of very gruesome murders. Each had been killed in as precise as it was gruesome. Tasked with working alongside the FBI, Bennett and his brand new partner uncover multiple cold-case homicides across the country that fit the same distinctive pattern-proving the perpetrator they seek is as experienced at ending lives as he is at evading detection.
Bennett promises Mary Catherine that the case won't affect their upcoming wedding. But as Bennet prepares to make a lifetime commitment, the killer has a lethal vow of his own to complete.
I felt that a new installment in James Patterson and James O. Born’s Michael Bennett series was long overdue.
The core of the book is the hunt for a serial killer who is murdering women in New York in a particularly brutal manner. His signature is a grisly mutilation, the details of which are being kept under wraps by the police as they keep their collective eye out for the culprit, who is striking literally at will. There is no mystery here, as his identity is revealed --- to the reader, not to Bennett --- within the first several pages. He is Daniel Ott, and his job enables him to travel to cities, stay for a while, kill a few people and go somewhere else. We eventually learn that Ott has been doing this for a while. It takes Bennett and his new partner, Brett Hollis, some time to figure it out. However, there are ticking clocks of the “will he be stopped before he kills again?” variety.
"The intricate parts of this latest installment in this thrilling and, yes, charming series come together seamlessly to create a reading experience that flows quickly and satisfactorily from beginning to end."
Bennett is in danger of losing the case on two fronts if he doesn’t solve it quickly. The Mayor’s office has sent a somewhat obnoxious lackey to micromanage the investigation, which doesn’t sit well with him at all. Meanwhile, the FBI is trying to include itself into the proceedings for reasons that are ultimately made clear in a twist that takes place toward the book’s conclusion.
There is also the home front to consider. Longtime readers of this series have followed the slow-burning romance between Bennett and Mary Catherine, who was hired to take care of his children but who ended up stealing his heart. At long last they are scheduled to get married, though he has a killer to catch first. Bennett’s son Brian, who recently has been released from prison, also seems to be having some difficulty adjusting to civilian life. He is behaving strangely and in certain instances appears to be on the verge of letting his anger get the better of him. But the biggest domestic crisis of all is that Bennett’s daughter, Jane, has her first real boyfriend. He is somewhat of a jerk, being the entitled son of a hedge fund manager.
I'm a little behind on some of the plot. Need to go back and figure out which book(s) I've missed. They are all quite good. Happy Reading All.
The book begins by a serial killer who weeks before Michael Bennett's and Mary Catherine's wedding crashes it and attempts to murder them. This assassin announces his return to New York City and continues with a string of very gruesome murders. Each had been killed in as precise as it was gruesome. Tasked with working alongside the FBI, Bennett and his brand new partner uncover multiple cold-case homicides across the country that fit the same distinctive pattern-proving the perpetrator they seek is as experienced at ending lives as he is at evading detection.
Bennett promises Mary Catherine that the case won't affect their upcoming wedding. But as Bennet prepares to make a lifetime commitment, the killer has a lethal vow of his own to complete.
I felt that a new installment in James Patterson and James O. Born’s Michael Bennett series was long overdue.
The core of the book is the hunt for a serial killer who is murdering women in New York in a particularly brutal manner. His signature is a grisly mutilation, the details of which are being kept under wraps by the police as they keep their collective eye out for the culprit, who is striking literally at will. There is no mystery here, as his identity is revealed --- to the reader, not to Bennett --- within the first several pages. He is Daniel Ott, and his job enables him to travel to cities, stay for a while, kill a few people and go somewhere else. We eventually learn that Ott has been doing this for a while. It takes Bennett and his new partner, Brett Hollis, some time to figure it out. However, there are ticking clocks of the “will he be stopped before he kills again?” variety.
"The intricate parts of this latest installment in this thrilling and, yes, charming series come together seamlessly to create a reading experience that flows quickly and satisfactorily from beginning to end."
Bennett is in danger of losing the case on two fronts if he doesn’t solve it quickly. The Mayor’s office has sent a somewhat obnoxious lackey to micromanage the investigation, which doesn’t sit well with him at all. Meanwhile, the FBI is trying to include itself into the proceedings for reasons that are ultimately made clear in a twist that takes place toward the book’s conclusion.
There is also the home front to consider. Longtime readers of this series have followed the slow-burning romance between Bennett and Mary Catherine, who was hired to take care of his children but who ended up stealing his heart. At long last they are scheduled to get married, though he has a killer to catch first. Bennett’s son Brian, who recently has been released from prison, also seems to be having some difficulty adjusting to civilian life. He is behaving strangely and in certain instances appears to be on the verge of letting his anger get the better of him. But the biggest domestic crisis of all is that Bennett’s daughter, Jane, has her first real boyfriend. He is somewhat of a jerk, being the entitled son of a hedge fund manager.
I'm a little behind on some of the plot. Need to go back and figure out which book(s) I've missed. They are all quite good. Happy Reading All.
January 29, 2021
I feel like this series has gotten boring. I just want to hurry and finish so I can move on to something else.
July 9, 2021
3 stars for a reliable and entertaining Michael Bennett detective story.
No kudos for writing, style, or character development, but it meets the average rating for a Patterson co-author piece. The series is a feel-good one, and this 13th instalment is no different. The detective works in New York City but finally branches out to other locations to catch serial killer and IT technician Daniel Ott (not a spoiler, this is revealed in the first few chapters). Bennet's home life verges on the usual chaos. Still, this one did seem more Evanovich-like with the 10 adopted children, his grandfather, Seamus and looming marriage to Mary Catherine all coalescing in this book.
I went in with lowered expectations, and it was pretty enjoyable reading for the most part. I miss the co-authoring with Howard Roughan (first nine books); however, the change is growing.
With so many co-authorships linked to Patterson, wouldn't one with Michael Bennett, The Woman's Murder Club and Alex Cross be a winner?
No kudos for writing, style, or character development, but it meets the average rating for a Patterson co-author piece. The series is a feel-good one, and this 13th instalment is no different. The detective works in New York City but finally branches out to other locations to catch serial killer and IT technician Daniel Ott (not a spoiler, this is revealed in the first few chapters). Bennet's home life verges on the usual chaos. Still, this one did seem more Evanovich-like with the 10 adopted children, his grandfather, Seamus and looming marriage to Mary Catherine all coalescing in this book.
I went in with lowered expectations, and it was pretty enjoyable reading for the most part. I miss the co-authoring with Howard Roughan (first nine books); however, the change is growing.
With so many co-authorships linked to Patterson, wouldn't one with Michael Bennett, The Woman's Murder Club and Alex Cross be a winner?
November 12, 2023
Well I certainly didn’t expect that!!! The killer is a monster. But there is more to him. Read the book to find out what. Great story. Bennett finally marries Mary Catherine. Emily was in this one. Still don’t like her. Ugh. Four stars!!
February 6, 2021
Michael Bennet is an amazing man and NYPD detective. But he would be none of these things with out the support of his ten kids, grandfather and amazing fiance. Although I have just finished this book moments ago I am already awaiting the next installment
April 5, 2021
Next in the Michael Bennett series. I like his new partner and hopefully he returns. Michael combines searching for a serial killer with getting married to Mary Catherine and raising ten children. Truly the killer is someone you would overlook. I kept wondering how the title tied in with the book. You have to be patient and read the whole book to get the answer.
January 29, 2021
Very fast reading. A good mystery.
March 28, 2021
Best so far
Best so far for this series. There were several stories going on simultaneously and never a dull moment. Highly, highly recommended
Best so far for this series. There were several stories going on simultaneously and never a dull moment. Highly, highly recommended
April 13, 2021
Just a so-so Patterson book. Glad they are a fast read!.
April 24, 2021
I like the Michael Bennett series - but this wasn’t my favorite. Frankly, the way serial killer part ended was a little stupid.
May 16, 2021
A typical Michael Bennett novel. Lots of action, intrigue, law enforcement agency quarrels, and a few other twist. Was very hard to put down.
January 14, 2022
THIS WAS THE BEST JAMES PATTERSON BOOK I HAVE EVER REDAD I'M NOT KIDDING. I loved the way he wrote each character's stories. Ok but can we talk about how M. Bennett is literally one of the best detectives of all of Patterson book, omg I loved his a Brett's relation shop it was so Cute. Daniel Ott was so annoying and sexisf but SUCH A calculated and smart killer except when he got sloppy later on when he killed that guy and that girl outside their apartment, like how could he get triggered by such small comments ppl make, imagine there are actually killer alike this, how jarring. I LOVED BENNETS family, and him and Mary Catherine are such goals their bike riding parts are so cute and they way they care for each of their children is just amazing. OMG when Brian hugged him at the end I was gonna cry it was so emotional and so cute and when brett came to his wedding 🥺🥺🥺🥺that wa sso cute. I hated that because of Daniels stupid actions Brett is now handicapped, he had so much potential working alongside Bennett, but I guess he can get a new career I WAS SO SCARED WHEN OTT WAS CONSIDERING THAT HE WOULD KILL MARY CATHERINE, IM GLAD HE DISSMISSED THAT IDEA. I wish macy would have got killed, he's that person in life who thinks they are better than everyone else and thinks everyone likes them but it's the opposite, he should actually get off his high horse. Harry Grimson-i literally love him, I swear if I don't get a boss like this, that would be so disappointing, he's literally SUCH A baddie. It was so funny when Bennett was saying he liked Allan and then he did a 180 and said he was a little *bleep*. Ugh that made me laugh. Imagine having 12 people in ur house tho, u would never gte lonely itd be so annoying low key tho. AND YA when Jane's brother forced Allan to call Jane so that she could break up with HIM that's was such an adorable monent, I low-key wish Brian beat Allan up tho. Overall my fav characters when bennet hollis, Grimson and Brian, so basicaly most of the characters
November 14, 2021
Having just finished Michael Bennett no 12 I wondered if I would get more of the same in this one, which is The Russian , Book 13. I needn't have worried because in complete contrast to the previous one this is a gritty serial killer novel.
Again, pacy, very gritty and completely compelling I stormed through reading this one. Told from the Point of view of the serial killer and Michael Bennett in turn it was plotted to perfection, giving just enough from the killers perspective to keep you guessing about his motivations whilst keeping the procedural elements of the investigation into the horrific murders at the forefront but balancing the grittiness with the usual Bennett family scenes.
Some hard hitting, jaw dropping moments , some poignant ones, but all of them with heart. Again a fast paced, easy to read Patterson novel.
Again, pacy, very gritty and completely compelling I stormed through reading this one. Told from the Point of view of the serial killer and Michael Bennett in turn it was plotted to perfection, giving just enough from the killers perspective to keep you guessing about his motivations whilst keeping the procedural elements of the investigation into the horrific murders at the forefront but balancing the grittiness with the usual Bennett family scenes.
Some hard hitting, jaw dropping moments , some poignant ones, but all of them with heart. Again a fast paced, easy to read Patterson novel.
August 7, 2021
Book #13 in the Michael Bennett series, and what a winner this one is. Bennett is a NYPD Detective, actually the top detective in the city. He is a widower raising 10 adopted kids. While his first wife, Mauve, was dying of cancer, she hired a woman from Ireland to move in as a nanny, cook, and housekeeper, Mary Catherine. Little did anyone know Mauve was taking care of Michael by finding a perfect match for Michael. As time went by Michael and Mary Catherine definitely did fall in love and are going to be married.
Bennett is in charge of a horrendous serial killer case as his wedding approaches. I don’t want to put any spoilers in here so you’ll have to read the book to find out the details.
Anyone who has followed this series as I have, knows how much he loves his exceptional children and Mary Catherine. There is always some special moments with his kids, and there are a few in here that brought tears to my eyes.
Bennett is in charge of a horrendous serial killer case as his wedding approaches. I don’t want to put any spoilers in here so you’ll have to read the book to find out the details.
Anyone who has followed this series as I have, knows how much he loves his exceptional children and Mary Catherine. There is always some special moments with his kids, and there are a few in here that brought tears to my eyes.
June 29, 2023
Probably my least favorite of the series. I think too much is crammed into a book that maybe should have been longer to expand a little bit, at least on the work side of things for Mike. He and his new young partner are searching for a serial killer. The whole hunt seems rushed and when the pieces start to come together, it happens too easily. Mixed in with this is a possible copy-cat killer, office politics with the FBI and the mayor's office, his worry about Brian, and his upcoming wedding. Then there is the bizarre twist with the killer at the end, which is a head scratcher. Just too much crammed into a book that quite frankly, lacks good writing. I'm never in a rush these days to read this series. I basically only do in order the catch up with what's going on with the family.
December 25, 2025
Detective Bennett on point once again. This collaboration ran slightly slower than other stories.
August 16, 2021
The title was strange for this book, and frustrated me somewhat. But not a big deal. Just seemed like a loop thrown in just because. But I enjoyed the series. I feel as if I marathoned Criminal Minds or CSI. I enjoyed the continuous thread of Michael Bennet and his family, and by the third book I was used to hearing the bad guys minds work as well. I wanted to read a series this summer and while I stumbled into this one thanks to my sister I'm glad I did so.
September 8, 2021
This is the second James Patterson book I've read recently and I think I can confidently say I know exactly what to expect from this author - and why he is so wildly popular. There's not a whole lot to challenge the reader here and it's well written for the most part, but it is pure, fluffy, mindless entertainment. Nothing more. But I guess that's what a lot of people want, right?
Apparently there are like twelve other novels featuring the protagonist of this book and I can honestly say I have little interest in reading others. I really doubt there's going to be much difference other than the crime on which they center. I'm sure they are all full of the same cliches and overly dramatic dialogue. Also, to appeal to today's short-attention-span crowd, the chapters are usually no more than two pages long. Plenty of stopping points, but also strong motivation to read just one more!
In many ways this book is like watching an episode of Criminal Minds on TV, with a little SVU and The Americans thrown in for good measure. Like many dramatic shows it also slows the action down periodically to humanize the characters and show some totally unrelated awww. I thought these got in the way, but maybe I'm not the right audience.
So I'm done with Patterson for a while until I need another mindless literary recharge. He serves a purpose and I can't criticize his popularity for fulfilling it.
Apparently there are like twelve other novels featuring the protagonist of this book and I can honestly say I have little interest in reading others. I really doubt there's going to be much difference other than the crime on which they center. I'm sure they are all full of the same cliches and overly dramatic dialogue. Also, to appeal to today's short-attention-span crowd, the chapters are usually no more than two pages long. Plenty of stopping points, but also strong motivation to read just one more!
In many ways this book is like watching an episode of Criminal Minds on TV, with a little SVU and The Americans thrown in for good measure. Like many dramatic shows it also slows the action down periodically to humanize the characters and show some totally unrelated awww. I thought these got in the way, but maybe I'm not the right audience.
So I'm done with Patterson for a while until I need another mindless literary recharge. He serves a purpose and I can't criticize his popularity for fulfilling it.
January 17, 2022
I liked this a lot better than I do many of the recent Bennett clan books. The plot was more believable, the characters more well developed. I really enjoyed Hollis, especially. Nice counter to Bennett and it was nice to see Emily back. Glad Macy got what was coming to him in a non violent sense. I liked how the plots interwove with one another, especially the somewhat surprising ending to the parallel plot just as it was getting to the meat of it. I was also pleasantly surprised at the turns to Brian's arc. Formulaic long weekend read, but those aren't always bad.
March 29, 2021
Another Michael Bennett novel. A serial killer is running around leaving victims mutilated, desecrated, and destroyed in chilling fashion with no motive much less insight. White collar crimes have always fascinated readers so perhaps this new work will entice with Michael Bennett's signature mark as this is lucky number thirteen in the series. It also deals with the longtime love Mary Catherine and they finally get married. I feel the title of the novel and relation with the story was a bit of a stretch as it was dealt with almost as an afterthought in the story line. I enjoy the Michael Bennett series but this one really lacked the luster and effort as previous books in the series.
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