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Michael Bennett #12
Blindside
When New York City's Mayor is desperate to find his missing daughter, Detective Michael Bennett steps in to help the Mayor and strike a deal to save his son in prison.
Bennett and the mayor have always had a tense relationship, but now the mayor sees in Bennett a discreet investigator with family worries of his own. Just one father helping another.
The detective leaps into the case and sources lead him to a homicide in the Bronx. The victim has ties to a sophisticated hacking operation—and also to the mayor's missing daughter, Natalie, a twenty-one-year-old computer prodigy. The murder is part of a serial killing spree, one with national security implications. And suddenly Bennett is at the center of a dangerous triangle anchored by NYPD, FBI, and a transnational criminal organization.
Michael Bennett has always been an honorable man, but sometimes—when the lives of innocents are at stake—honor has to take a back seat. Survival comes first.
Bennett and the mayor have always had a tense relationship, but now the mayor sees in Bennett a discreet investigator with family worries of his own. Just one father helping another.
The detective leaps into the case and sources lead him to a homicide in the Bronx. The victim has ties to a sophisticated hacking operation—and also to the mayor's missing daughter, Natalie, a twenty-one-year-old computer prodigy. The murder is part of a serial killing spree, one with national security implications. And suddenly Bennett is at the center of a dangerous triangle anchored by NYPD, FBI, and a transnational criminal organization.
Michael Bennett has always been an honorable man, but sometimes—when the lives of innocents are at stake—honor has to take a back seat. Survival comes first.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2020
7411 people are currently reading
22917 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
955 books355k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
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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 1,020 reviews
July 24, 2024
Detective Michael Bennett is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is involved in a shooting of an armed robber holding a gun to his head. When a PR nightmare turns against him, he has to take time off, and the mayor asks him to look into the disappearance of his daughter, who has gotten mixed up with cybercriminals in Estonia. This was a fast-paced international police procedural with lots of POVs and not a lot of background on characters, but more a quick, action-based novella type telling. Some twists and turns when we get to Estonia, and of course lots of back and forth between the NYPD and the FBI and bad guy chases through the streets.
April 30, 2020
After Detective Michael Bennett was involved in a shooting, he was tasked with finding the Mayor of New York’s daughter Natalie, who’d been missing for quite some time. The mayor and his wife were divorced, and Natalie wasn’t close to her father. But he adored her and when notified by his ex-wife that she was unable to contact Natalie, the mayor asked for Bennett. Then began a fast paced, intense and critical phase of Bennett’s life where anything could – and did – happen.
After several murders, Bennett’s leads pointed him towards Estonia where he found himself tangling with the Estonian police, the FBI and a criminal organization like no other. Would he find Natalie, and would they get out of it alive?
Blindside is the 12th in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and once again it was a great addition to the series. The inclusion of Bennett’s family – Mary Catherine, Seamus and Bennett's ten adopted children – was a poignant reminder of what cops go through in their daily work/home lives. An excellent read – bring on #13! Recommended.
After several murders, Bennett’s leads pointed him towards Estonia where he found himself tangling with the Estonian police, the FBI and a criminal organization like no other. Would he find Natalie, and would they get out of it alive?
Blindside is the 12th in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and once again it was a great addition to the series. The inclusion of Bennett’s family – Mary Catherine, Seamus and Bennett's ten adopted children – was a poignant reminder of what cops go through in their daily work/home lives. An excellent read – bring on #13! Recommended.
February 29, 2020
A fan of the Michael Bennett series, I was pleased to get my hands on the latest novel, which exemplifies the collaborative efforts of James Patterson and James O. Born. In a story that does little for Bennett’s character development, but showcases his abilities, the authors provide the reader with a decent crime thriller set on both sides of the Atlantic. While working a double murder, Michael Bennett stops in at a local store, where things take a turn for the worse and he shoots two men attempting to mug him. While Bennett is sure it was a justified shooting, the public are not so sure. Bennett takes some time off, which allows him to enjoy a little family time, but that is cut short with Internal Affairs wants him to meet with the mayor. At this meeting the mayor asks for some help on a case that must remain off the books. The mayor’s daughter has been missing for weeks and Bennett is asked to find her, but tell no one of the job. As Natalie Lunden is deep into the world of computer hackers, Bennett starts there, finding himself following a few leads. When others with ties to Lunden turn up dead, Bennett is sure he is onto something and ends up in a firefight while trying to protect a close friend of Natalie’s. All this leads to an infamous hacker in Estonia, which will be an adventure in and of itself. With no financial support, Bennett will have to make the trip and work with some of the resources the NYPD and FBI can provide there, though the latter wants him out of the country as soon as he arrives. While Bennett looks for Natalie in and around the capital, he encounters the ruthless killers from NYC, who will stop at nothing from keeping Bennett from making his way back to America with the mayor’s daughter. Stretching himself as thin as he has ever been, Michael Bennett must remember who awaits him at home and how his safety is of paramount importance. A decent thriller in a series that may be showing signs of closure. Recommended to series fans who want to check in on Bennett, as well as those who enjoy crime thrillers that span the globe.
Some of James Patterson’s work tends to grate on my nerves because it lacks that hook that I like in my thrillers. However, he is usually able to work effectively with James O. Born to find a happy medium to his work. Michael Bennett has done much in his career, while supporting a massive family. He works well within the NYPD structure, though is always looking to challenge some of the authority and red tape that he finds useless. In this piece, Bennett is challenged at every turn and stays level-headed throughout, while juggling a personal life that has a fiancée looking to set a date. His resourcefulness is front and centre as he enters Estonia, seeking to find someone and leave, but things never end up being that easy. Others keep the story flowing well and the reader can enjoy a variety of personalities as they clash on the page. The story worked well, though I found it lacked the intensity I needed. Bennett’s mission was a locate and return, with little mystery involved. The early search on US soil seemed to lack something as Bennett bounced around from one person to the next, all before landing the big lead. Perhaps I am cynical or used to something a little more action-packed, but I will return to see if Michael Bennett and his brood have more to offer.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Born, for a decent addition to the series. Eager to see what’s to come for Bennett and 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/...
Some of James Patterson’s work tends to grate on my nerves because it lacks that hook that I like in my thrillers. However, he is usually able to work effectively with James O. Born to find a happy medium to his work. Michael Bennett has done much in his career, while supporting a massive family. He works well within the NYPD structure, though is always looking to challenge some of the authority and red tape that he finds useless. In this piece, Bennett is challenged at every turn and stays level-headed throughout, while juggling a personal life that has a fiancée looking to set a date. His resourcefulness is front and centre as he enters Estonia, seeking to find someone and leave, but things never end up being that easy. Others keep the story flowing well and the reader can enjoy a variety of personalities as they clash on the page. The story worked well, though I found it lacked the intensity I needed. Bennett’s mission was a locate and return, with little mystery involved. The early search on US soil seemed to lack something as Bennett bounced around from one person to the next, all before landing the big lead. Perhaps I am cynical or used to something a little more action-packed, but I will return to see if Michael Bennett and his brood have more to offer.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Born, for a decent addition to the series. Eager to see what’s to come for Bennett and 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/...
October 16, 2020
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a Bennett story, but this was a pleasant surprise! 9 of 10 stars!
January 3, 2021
First couple chapters were really good. Then... Extreme action hero alert.
Michael Bennett, NYPD Detective followed leads from NY to Estonia to find/rescue the Mayor's daughter. Pretty much all by himself.
I still like this series because of the Bennett's family, especially his eldest son who is in jail. But the thriller (cyber crime) was just okay.
Michael Bennett, NYPD Detective followed leads from NY to Estonia to find/rescue the Mayor's daughter. Pretty much all by himself.
I still like this series because of the Bennett's family, especially his eldest son who is in jail. But the thriller (cyber crime) was just okay.
October 25, 2022
Another easy read. Crisp sentences and chapters. Far fetched in the extreme but entertaining. Michael Bennett should be the spokesman for Gillette he has so many close shaves. Pure escapism and formulaic but so addictive. Ten adopted kids, West side apartment near Central Park and a fiancé who is basically a Saint doing all the housework and cooking.
Estonia was a twist, cybercrime the motive as well as Henry the megalomaniac with a Napoleon complex and very incompetent professional killers. Against my better instincts I enjoyed the mind candy read. So ridiculous, no mention of Interpol and so many narrow escapes that Houdini could take lessons.
Estonia was a twist, cybercrime the motive as well as Henry the megalomaniac with a Napoleon complex and very incompetent professional killers. Against my better instincts I enjoyed the mind candy read. So ridiculous, no mention of Interpol and so many narrow escapes that Houdini could take lessons.
March 7, 2020
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, 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 dang good 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 three books have a new co-author - James O. Born - working with Patterson. With that has come change. Change in style and change in plotting.
To be honest, I personally found the first two books co-written with Born to be less than pleasing due to weak plotting and characters acting out of character. 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.
This year’s book, the third with Born, - “Ambush” has some improvements in plotting and characterization; however. The adventure kicks off with Bennett being called to late night double murder scene, which ends up finding him being involved in a shooting with two street thugs who force him to defend himself. Killing a civilian, although clearly being forced to, causes bad press and the NYPD leadership to have Bennett removed from the public eye.
Which ends up being timing when the New York mayor brings Bennett in for a private meeting. The mayor has a daughter who’s gone missing and he’s sure that she’s in danger. Since Bennett has a son in prison, the mayor is hoping the detective will help find her, and in return, the mayor will seek to shorten Bennett’s son’s service time. The mayor knows how important family is to Bennett and it pays when the detective agrees to help.
As Bennett begins his search for the mayor’s daughter, Natalie, he discovers the twenty-year old college student dropout is a computer prodigy, and she has become involved in a very international based sophisticated hacking operation. His investigation to find out whether she is intentionally involved or unwillingly been taken raises the attention of multiple serial assassins who are being paid to remove him. Their orders come from cyber genius and psycho leader of the hacker team, Endrik “Henry” Laar, whose operations are monitoring Bennett’s every move.
But Michael Bennett won’t give up even though he finds himself trying to escape murderous killers, traveling without protections to the country of Estonia, and becoming the center of international security involving the NYPD, FBI, and an extremely dangerous international criminal organization. Protecting family may be his last stand…
There were definitely some improvements in this book over the last one. I found the Amsterdam assassins, Chrispoh and Ollie, interesting and a decent challenge for Bennett, as well as testosterone-filled Henry, a decent villain. For the most part, the plotting developed pretty well, providing some good moments of tension and drama. I especially liked the characters of Agent Fiore and Father Marty. They brought a refreshing sense of personality to the storylines.
I also appreciated two things about the ending, which was an improvement over the last two books. First, I liked how it wrapped up the three different plots and sub-plots, providing closure to the storylines in ways that made sense and didn’t short-change the reader. Second, at the same time, the ending still left opportunities for the return of one or two characters which could prove interesting in future books.
Overall, this book took away some of the bitterness left from the prior books in the Detective Michael Bennett series. It was starting to wane, but this one was a nice step forward. Michael Bennett and his family deserve better storyline development and quality challenges. And Michael needs to marry Catherine. Their wedding is just being dragged out too long. Still, “Blindside” provided some decent mind-candy escapism reading and got us back to a three-and-a-half-star outing. Here’s hoping for more continued improvement moving forward…
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 dang good 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 three books have a new co-author - James O. Born - working with Patterson. With that has come change. Change in style and change in plotting.
To be honest, I personally found the first two books co-written with Born to be less than pleasing due to weak plotting and characters acting out of character. 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.
This year’s book, the third with Born, - “Ambush” has some improvements in plotting and characterization; however. The adventure kicks off with Bennett being called to late night double murder scene, which ends up finding him being involved in a shooting with two street thugs who force him to defend himself. Killing a civilian, although clearly being forced to, causes bad press and the NYPD leadership to have Bennett removed from the public eye.
Which ends up being timing when the New York mayor brings Bennett in for a private meeting. The mayor has a daughter who’s gone missing and he’s sure that she’s in danger. Since Bennett has a son in prison, the mayor is hoping the detective will help find her, and in return, the mayor will seek to shorten Bennett’s son’s service time. The mayor knows how important family is to Bennett and it pays when the detective agrees to help.
As Bennett begins his search for the mayor’s daughter, Natalie, he discovers the twenty-year old college student dropout is a computer prodigy, and she has become involved in a very international based sophisticated hacking operation. His investigation to find out whether she is intentionally involved or unwillingly been taken raises the attention of multiple serial assassins who are being paid to remove him. Their orders come from cyber genius and psycho leader of the hacker team, Endrik “Henry” Laar, whose operations are monitoring Bennett’s every move.
But Michael Bennett won’t give up even though he finds himself trying to escape murderous killers, traveling without protections to the country of Estonia, and becoming the center of international security involving the NYPD, FBI, and an extremely dangerous international criminal organization. Protecting family may be his last stand…
There were definitely some improvements in this book over the last one. I found the Amsterdam assassins, Chrispoh and Ollie, interesting and a decent challenge for Bennett, as well as testosterone-filled Henry, a decent villain. For the most part, the plotting developed pretty well, providing some good moments of tension and drama. I especially liked the characters of Agent Fiore and Father Marty. They brought a refreshing sense of personality to the storylines.
I also appreciated two things about the ending, which was an improvement over the last two books. First, I liked how it wrapped up the three different plots and sub-plots, providing closure to the storylines in ways that made sense and didn’t short-change the reader. Second, at the same time, the ending still left opportunities for the return of one or two characters which could prove interesting in future books.
Overall, this book took away some of the bitterness left from the prior books in the Detective Michael Bennett series. It was starting to wane, but this one was a nice step forward. Michael Bennett and his family deserve better storyline development and quality challenges. And Michael needs to marry Catherine. Their wedding is just being dragged out too long. Still, “Blindside” provided some decent mind-candy escapism reading and got us back to a three-and-a-half-star outing. Here’s hoping for more continued improvement moving forward…
March 21, 2024
I don’t know if I’ve read too many of these lately but I found this one #12 extremely boring. Easily forgettable, with the story of Michael Bennett trying to find the mayors kidnapped daughter in another country.
It had the recipe for a good Bennett novel but something just didn’t click with me. It dragged at the end as well. Also sad the story of Bryan in jail comes to an end. I felt they could have played that for maybe a book or 2 more. But I digress.
This was just meh for me. 3 stars
It had the recipe for a good Bennett novel but something just didn’t click with me. It dragged at the end as well. Also sad the story of Bryan in jail comes to an end. I felt they could have played that for maybe a book or 2 more. But I digress.
This was just meh for me. 3 stars
March 8, 2020
Another explosive story from James Patterson - can you believe this is book 12 from Michael Bennett! I love this character and his family and hope for many many more books!
April 16, 2021
This is the first James Patterson book I’ve read. Three pages per chapter. Three words per sentence. This is the kind of book even I can read. I gotta get some more James Patterson books.
March 14, 2020
Really good addition to the Michael Bennett series. I love that this one took readers to Estonia because it really added extra to the movement of the plot. The plot is interesting and the characters are well written. Good, quick read. Love this series.
March 22, 2020
Meh. This book is just...meh. And rather ridiculous. The idea that a street punk would try to rob a man in an area with massive police presence is more than laughable. And that a double murderer would be hanging around the murder scene to encourage the robbery to become murder is equally ridiculous. Next in the line of ridiculousness is that an Estonian cyber criminal with a vast network of hackers is sending killers to America to murder hackers if they don't go back to work for him
MB spent most of the book with guns pointed at him and him deftly escaping. How many times was he held under someone else's control? There were 3 plots and they were all solved with very little actual drama or suspense.
1. The murder of the nurse and her daughter was solved because the killer tried to have MB killed right near the murder scene. When MB got back from Estonia, a snitch calls, they go to the park and get the murderer. Easy peasy. He even confesses on the spot.
2. MB's shooting of the robber is solved in one day because of video surveillance. Throw in some gratuitous, thinly veiled Al Sharpton character to stage some protests even though the white cop is innocent and you nicely imply that black people are wrong for protesting the police shootings of unarmed black people.
3. The mayor's daughter was found the day after MB got to Estonia. He went right to the warehouse, and there she was with the cyber criminal. She throws him over to help IN with only a few choice words.
The overall sappiness of the book is also meh. When he wasn't having guns pointed at him but never getting shot because there was a better place to shoot him and he needed to walk there, he was crying over how much he loved his family. This book is a bit of an insult to people's intelligence.
MB spent most of the book with guns pointed at him and him deftly escaping. How many times was he held under someone else's control? There were 3 plots and they were all solved with very little actual drama or suspense.
1. The murder of the nurse and her daughter was solved because the killer tried to have MB killed right near the murder scene. When MB got back from Estonia, a snitch calls, they go to the park and get the murderer. Easy peasy. He even confesses on the spot.
2. MB's shooting of the robber is solved in one day because of video surveillance. Throw in some gratuitous, thinly veiled Al Sharpton character to stage some protests even though the white cop is innocent and you nicely imply that black people are wrong for protesting the police shootings of unarmed black people.
3. The mayor's daughter was found the day after MB got to Estonia. He went right to the warehouse, and there she was with the cyber criminal. She throws him over to help IN with only a few choice words.
The overall sappiness of the book is also meh. When he wasn't having guns pointed at him but never getting shot because there was a better place to shoot him and he needed to walk there, he was crying over how much he loved his family. This book is a bit of an insult to people's intelligence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2020
The James Patterson co authored books are very hit and miss for me but there are a few pairings I really enjoy. I so enjoy the Michael Bennett series of books that James Patterson had co authored with Michael Ledwidge. This is the first Michael Bennett I have read written with James O Born. It was well done. The wonderful Bennett family dynamics are still intact and while there are not a lot of levels to Michael Bennett , he is a pretty neat cop.
As with all Patterson books, this one was a very quick read packed with loads of dialogue. The plot was good , the ending very satisfying. All and all , a good read on this snowy weekend.
As with all Patterson books, this one was a very quick read packed with loads of dialogue. The plot was good , the ending very satisfying. All and all , a good read on this snowy weekend.
January 23, 2020
Sorry to say but all his books are gettin g so predictable still a good read though
September 18, 2021
This started out about like any of the more recent Michael Bennett books, not bad but not great. The storyline was taken right out of the evening news, which I tend to steer away from. Halfway through the book, Mike’s investigation takes him to Estonia and I ended up getting drawn right it. It’s fun for a series that you’ve been reading for so long to take you to a different place. Makes it feel more fresh. And as always, I think the biggest reason I continue with this series is mostly to check in with the family and see how everybody is doing. Fans of the series will enjoy this one.
April 24, 2020
Had had to give this book a 5. James Patterson makes things thrilling and quick paced in this great read. An NYPD homicide detective that takes caring about the victims seriously. A chief official needing his help finding his daughter. This takes him to a country unknown to him. Personally I have no idea how he was able to come out alive! Exciting, thrilling, lots of action. I say no more.
February 3, 2020
The James Patterson's novels are like pizza - even if they aren't great, they're still pretty good.
March 16, 2025
Compelling.
I've had this book for four years and I'm glad that I've finally read it. It's an excellent read with good pacing amazing characters and a super story.
I've had this book for four years and I'm glad that I've finally read it. It's an excellent read with good pacing amazing characters and a super story.
March 15, 2020
Well another James Patterson book finished. And once again I find the book less than satisfying. Michael Bennett and his family are so so good. The children never fight, and there is rarely any arguing. Even though one son is in prison, he is rehabilitated and had no bitterness. Bennett is a perfect cop, always makes the right decision, fights the good fight. It’s not that I want my heroes to be less than good, but human would be nice. The plot is interesting, but the one-man show is a little unbelievable. However, the books are always consistent.
May 6, 2020
I've been in love with the Bennett family since "Step on a Crack" way back in 2007...Love the values and the soft Catholicism that infuses each story...In this one, Michael Bennett and the NYPD confront cyber criminals operating out of Estonia as Bennett endures the political static resulting from his justified shooting of a young Black man...To avoid the furor, Bennett is tasked to find the missing daughter of the Mayor...I much prefer the use of NYC as a setting, but I still love the series
July 19, 2020
A very average thriller. Even the humour doesn't match up to the previous books in the series. Both the good and bad guys seem to be making so many obvious errors to keep the story alive. Strictly avoidable.
July 25, 2021
Too many cuss words. Fast pace action suspense. A bit graphic for me. Not reading again. Plot was good. MC was way cliche but I liked him in the end somehow anyway.
Missed the chance at a killer of a last line tho.
“There were *finally* ten kids waiting at home to see me.”
Missed the chance at a killer of a last line tho.
“There were *finally* ten kids waiting at home to see me.”
October 15, 2020
"Blindside" by James Patterson was copyrighted in February 2020, so this was before the unjustified murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the massive protests after.
Now, in the story, the writers take very careful time to tell you how the main detective had a gun pointed at his face in a robbery attempt, how the only option was to shoot - although he did it twice in the book - but then gets frustrated when a community used to police brutality questions whether he shot an unarmed man and plan to protest.
Now, certainly circumstances are different in the novel, but Patterson says in the Author's Note at the end he wrote the book to make sure a certain state's police department's "reputation remain positive".
And then this at the end which I skipped to because I was already turned off to reading it:
SPOILERS AHEAD
p.348, brackets are my own -
Mayor: "He's agreed to stop his protests directed at you."
Cop: "How did you manage that?"
Mayor: "The reverand [an allusion to Al Sharpton] and I have a good working relationship. I assured him that backing off your case will help him in the future. His living depends on getting a cut of all the settlements the city makes on cases he's involved in. It's not a great system, but it's worked in the past."
I couldn't help but think that Patterson and his co-writer think that protests are somehow a political and economical move only and that as long as someone is on the take they can be squashed.
This is a major author and major publication and while I certainly think the timing was wrong for its release, it doesn't stop the fact that this book is saying that there's only ever one side and that power doesn't belong to the people.
But it does.
Now, in the story, the writers take very careful time to tell you how the main detective had a gun pointed at his face in a robbery attempt, how the only option was to shoot - although he did it twice in the book - but then gets frustrated when a community used to police brutality questions whether he shot an unarmed man and plan to protest.
Now, certainly circumstances are different in the novel, but Patterson says in the Author's Note at the end he wrote the book to make sure a certain state's police department's "reputation remain positive".
And then this at the end which I skipped to because I was already turned off to reading it:
SPOILERS AHEAD
p.348, brackets are my own -
Mayor: "He's agreed to stop his protests directed at you."
Cop: "How did you manage that?"
Mayor: "The reverand [an allusion to Al Sharpton] and I have a good working relationship. I assured him that backing off your case will help him in the future. His living depends on getting a cut of all the settlements the city makes on cases he's involved in. It's not a great system, but it's worked in the past."
I couldn't help but think that Patterson and his co-writer think that protests are somehow a political and economical move only and that as long as someone is on the take they can be squashed.
This is a major author and major publication and while I certainly think the timing was wrong for its release, it doesn't stop the fact that this book is saying that there's only ever one side and that power doesn't belong to the people.
But it does.
March 11, 2020
Somewhere in the book Michael Bennett asks himself "when was this shit going to end?" And that was exactly what I was thinking. This seemed like an exercise in 'how many times can you face death in 350 pages'. Still, I haven't given up on him the way I've given up on Jeffrey Archer, I just won't be as excited to get the next one.
October 11, 2023
Michael Bennett, one of my favorite characters... a good clean family man with 10 adopted children, a soon-to-be wife, and a grandpa who keep him grounded while he investigates the most serious of crimes and disappearances, managing to put himself in harms way with his very life threatened. This story is no different. Layers to unfold as he fights for his reputation, life, answers to the mysteries and justice.
Most of the books in the series have some backstory that will fill you in on minor details of family or another case, but not so much that's it sounds repetitive or gets bobbed down. So for that reason, I would say the far majority of the books in the series can be read as stand alone (including this one).
The audio book is excellent - the narrator's pace and accents are spot on. He reads perfect to keep the listener engaged.
I enjoy this series so much, by far, one of my favorites. I hope Mr. Patterson will continue on and keep building it.
Most of the books in the series have some backstory that will fill you in on minor details of family or another case, but not so much that's it sounds repetitive or gets bobbed down. So for that reason, I would say the far majority of the books in the series can be read as stand alone (including this one).
The audio book is excellent - the narrator's pace and accents are spot on. He reads perfect to keep the listener engaged.
I enjoy this series so much, by far, one of my favorites. I hope Mr. Patterson will continue on and keep building it.
July 16, 2020
The 12th book in the Michael Bennett series. Michael Bennett is a detective in New York City. In this book, he is involved with a shooting that is used to make the NYPD look bad. In an effort to stay out of the spotlight, Bennett takes a job to help the mayor find his missing daughter. An exciting and fast-paced addition to the series. I think this is a fun series, mostly because of Bennett's chaotic home life with his 10 adopted children, his nanny/girlfriend, and his cantankerous father.
December 10, 2020
Another great Michael Bennett book! Love the series, love the characters. Always a happy ending!
January 3, 2022
I finally found the book I've been wanting to read as it fits with a very important part of the Detective Michael Bennett story. It fits in the right place and the sort of wrong time and is involved in a shooting of an armed robber holding a gun to his head. When a PR nightmare turns against him, he has to take time off, and the mayor asks him to look into the disappearance of his daughter, who has gotten mixed up with cybercriminals in Estonia. This was a fast-paced international police procedural with lots of POVs and not a lot of background on characters, but more a quick, action-based novella type telling. Some twists and turns when we get to Estonia, and of course lots of back and forth between the NYPD and the FBI and bad guy chases through the streets. Bennett and family story.
After Detective Michael Bennett was involved in a shooting, he was tasked with finding the Mayor of New York’s daughter Natalie, who’d been missing for quite some time. The mayor and his wife were divorced, and Natalie wasn’t close to her father. But he adored her and when notified by his ex-wife that she was unable to contact Natalie, the mayor asked for Bennett. Then began a fast paced, intense and critical phase of Bennett’s life where anything could – and did – happen.
Well another James Patterson and James O. Born book finished. And once again I find the book very satisfying. Michael Bennett and his family are so so good. The children never fight, and there is rarely any arguing. Even though one son is in prison, he is rehabilitated and had no bitterness. Bennett is a perfect cop, always makes the right decision, fights the good fight. It’s not that I want my heroes to be less than good, but human would be nice. The plot is interesting, but the one-man show is a little unbelievable. However, the books are always consistent.
The highlight of the book to me is !) Son Brian is released from prison YAHOO!!! and 2)Michael and Mary Catherine are getting closer to their wedding day. Didn't think I'd ever check out the right book, but alas!!! Yea!!!! Enjoy!!!
After Detective Michael Bennett was involved in a shooting, he was tasked with finding the Mayor of New York’s daughter Natalie, who’d been missing for quite some time. The mayor and his wife were divorced, and Natalie wasn’t close to her father. But he adored her and when notified by his ex-wife that she was unable to contact Natalie, the mayor asked for Bennett. Then began a fast paced, intense and critical phase of Bennett’s life where anything could – and did – happen.
Well another James Patterson and James O. Born book finished. And once again I find the book very satisfying. Michael Bennett and his family are so so good. The children never fight, and there is rarely any arguing. Even though one son is in prison, he is rehabilitated and had no bitterness. Bennett is a perfect cop, always makes the right decision, fights the good fight. It’s not that I want my heroes to be less than good, but human would be nice. The plot is interesting, but the one-man show is a little unbelievable. However, the books are always consistent.
The highlight of the book to me is !) Son Brian is released from prison YAHOO!!! and 2)Michael and Mary Catherine are getting closer to their wedding day. Didn't think I'd ever check out the right book, but alas!!! Yea!!!! Enjoy!!!
March 7, 2020
Thrilling! Crime drama at it’s best! James Patterson at his best!!
I loved this book. I listened to the audible version and was completely satisfied! I love this series because it’s Michael Bennett the cop as well as the family man who comes home every night. It really is a great series. This book has a lot of great crime suspense and drama. Great story line. Keeps you entertained and guessing what’s going to happen next. I won’t give it away. Great ending! Michael I’m ready for book 13!
I loved this book. I listened to the audible version and was completely satisfied! I love this series because it’s Michael Bennett the cop as well as the family man who comes home every night. It really is a great series. This book has a lot of great crime suspense and drama. Great story line. Keeps you entertained and guessing what’s going to happen next. I won’t give it away. Great ending! Michael I’m ready for book 13!
March 7, 2020
I have a soft spot for Bennett and Cross. Generally I love these books. This one was just as much fun as I’ve come to expect. I wonder just how much Patterson actually writes anymore, but the Bennett and Cross books seem to be the ones he spends the most time on. This series is almost always good
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