Murder IRL

by James Patterson, Max DiLallo (coauthor )

The second half of Patterson’s book Murder Thy Neighbor

160 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Official US Site
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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.

Reviews

[Donna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, yet terrifying story about the downside of social media. However, I do find it a little strange that a family moves from Philadelphia to a tiny town in Tennessee, and suddenly talk like they lived in in the backwoods all their lives. Also, I don’t understand the need to wear a gun at ALL times, even when you are at home. Who needs 60 firearms, including handguns, rifles, and an AK-47? And why would the CIA monitor someone’s social media feud? (Maybe after the January 6 storming of the US Capitol.) Hooray for forensic linguistics. But that aside, the story is horrifying.

[Marjolaine LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick true crime read

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. It gave me Jodie A, the serial killer, vibes

[Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collected in Murder Thy Neighbor, book 4 in James Patterson's written version of Discovery's Murder is Forever Series, this is a tale of an internet war that goes WAY off the rails. Jenelle, an intellectually disabled very sheltered almost 30 year old woman moves to Tennessee with her family, befriends Tracy, a local drug store clerk and falls head over heels in love with Tracy's brother Billy. Unfortunately Billy falls in love with someone else. Angry, Jenelle begins an online smear campaign against the couple.


As Billy and his new girlfriend are now the parents of a child, the bullying escalates. Then a CIA operative contacts Jenelle's parents warning them that the young couple is involved in drugs and plan to assassinate Jenelle. Her father, a Vietnam vet, decides to take matters into his own hands.


The trial is a sensation as the truth comes out and the prosecutor decides to charge Jenelle and her mother as accessories, in addition to the men who actually killed the couple leaving their child an orphan. I still cannot believe this whole thing was real, because a story like this feels like it was made to sell tabloids. Amazingly tawdry, and impossible to resist similar to how people just can't help rubber necking at car accidents, except worse.

[Janis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short, too weird

[Kathy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just goes to reinforce the fact that online bullying can have devastating consequences

[Brian Tooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a twisted story!! James Patterson tells real life murder cases and draws you in from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end.

[Bernice Rizor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sad how one girl being so jealous of relationship she wipe out boy and girl but didn’t killed child jealousy so wrong in every way

[✨ Lauren ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good plot twist

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time on this.

[Amy E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Gypsy Rose

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

a second book shot story combined with Murder Thy Neighbor

[Janet Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not think this was up to snuff

[Nelly's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story and a warning about the dangers of social media.