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Billy Harney #3
Escape
'Brilliantly twisty' Publisher's Weekly
'The plot twists will give you whiplash' Washington Post
'The mystery is authentic, the lead-up genuinely suspenseful' Kirkus
____________________________
FIVE VICTIMS. ONE KILLER.
When five teenage girls are abducted, Chicago PD Detective Billy Harney leads the investigation to find them.
Harney and his partner, Carla, follow a lead to a remote house, only to find themselves caught in a deadly trap. A huge explosion rips through the building, killing Carla and allowing the kidnapper to escape.
With the loss of his partner fuelling him, Harney strengthens his resolve to find her killer - and to make sure the body count ends there.
____________________________
Readers are loving Escape
'Another cracking story'
'How could a James Patterson book not be good? A great story and great characters'
'If you love Jack Reacher you'll love this'
'Heart-pounding scenes'
'Loads of twists'
'Couldn't put it down'
'A great and gripping story'
'Keeps you reading until the very end'
____________________________
Praise for The Black Book series
'A total page-turner that will keep you guessing from start to terrifying finish' Karin Slaughter
'Deeply rooted characters, a touch of humour, and a climax nobody can see coming - it's vintage Patterson' Brad Taylor
'The plot twists will give you whiplash' Washington Post
'The mystery is authentic, the lead-up genuinely suspenseful' Kirkus
____________________________
FIVE VICTIMS. ONE KILLER.
When five teenage girls are abducted, Chicago PD Detective Billy Harney leads the investigation to find them.
Harney and his partner, Carla, follow a lead to a remote house, only to find themselves caught in a deadly trap. A huge explosion rips through the building, killing Carla and allowing the kidnapper to escape.
With the loss of his partner fuelling him, Harney strengthens his resolve to find her killer - and to make sure the body count ends there.
____________________________
Readers are loving Escape
'Another cracking story'
'How could a James Patterson book not be good? A great story and great characters'
'If you love Jack Reacher you'll love this'
'Heart-pounding scenes'
'Loads of twists'
'Couldn't put it down'
'A great and gripping story'
'Keeps you reading until the very end'
____________________________
Praise for The Black Book series
'A total page-turner that will keep you guessing from start to terrifying finish' Karin Slaughter
'Deeply rooted characters, a touch of humour, and a climax nobody can see coming - it's vintage Patterson' Brad Taylor
422 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2022
2100 people are currently reading
5500 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 752 reviews
August 26, 2022
Billy Harney, Chicago PD Special Ops detective, and his partner Carla pursue a serial kidnapper. This predator targets only black teen girls. The chase was thrilling with unexpected consequences (no spoilers). Shocking! I love the beginning case in this one. But there are more villains added to the mix as Billy juggles more cases and I wasn't into the rest of the story. From good it was okay.
I may hit a reading wall of some kind that I suddenly lose interest when I reach halfway. Go away 🧱🤬!
I may hit a reading wall of some kind that I suddenly lose interest when I reach halfway. Go away 🧱🤬!
January 14, 2026
I forgot how much I love Billy Harney and cannot believe his books end here.
Sending high praises for the topnotch narration to the supremely talented Edoardo Bellerini. Many thanks.
Sending high praises for the topnotch narration to the supremely talented Edoardo Bellerini. Many thanks.
December 15, 2022
Chicago PD Detective Billy Harney was on the trail of a kidnapper, who as far as they knew, had a victim in the vehicle as they followed him. Carla, Billy's partner, manned the phones and contact with air support. Their arrival at the abandoned farm house began a chain of events, including the death of Carla, that kept Billy forging forward, determined to find the kidnapper and cop killer.
The biggest and most dangerous gang in Chicago, the Nations, was run by a man the cops wanted desperately to take down. When the lines became blurred between the drug cartel, the kidnapper and a billionaire, Billy knew they'd have their work cut out. Would they catch the perpetrators? Or would they once again escape their clutches?
Escape is the 3rd in the Billy Harney series by James Patterson and it was breathtaking. Fast paced, furious, gritty and filled with tension, this is Patterson at his best. I thoroughly enjoy Harney's character and am looking forward to more. (I've just discovered I've read #3 before #2 so I'll have to rectify that soon!!) Highly recommended.
The biggest and most dangerous gang in Chicago, the Nations, was run by a man the cops wanted desperately to take down. When the lines became blurred between the drug cartel, the kidnapper and a billionaire, Billy knew they'd have their work cut out. Would they catch the perpetrators? Or would they once again escape their clutches?
Escape is the 3rd in the Billy Harney series by James Patterson and it was breathtaking. Fast paced, furious, gritty and filled with tension, this is Patterson at his best. I thoroughly enjoy Harney's character and am looking forward to more. (I've just discovered I've read #3 before #2 so I'll have to rectify that soon!!) Highly recommended.
June 25, 2022
My annual read with the Patterson banner. We all know David Ellis wrote it, and he delivered another Billy Harney one-two punch. I'm ready for the fourth installment considering how this one ended. Fun & fast-paced.
November 1, 2022
Could have been better with more pleasant moments and clear cut endings. 5 of 10 stars
March 6, 2023
James Patterson and David Ellis return with another in their Billy Harney series, offering up some great action in a fast-paced police procedural. Full of sarcasm and great narrative flow, Patterson and Ellis provide readers with a great deal of entertainment throughout the reading experience. While not the best of the Patterson’s attributed series, it kept me intrigued until the final page turn, with a cliffhanger of its own.
After five teenage girls are abducted in Chicago, all eyes turn to CPD Detective Billy Harney to find them. Following a few key leads, Harney and his partner travel to a rural home, where they hope to find the girls and solve the case with little issue. However, it’s a trap and the house is rigged, which leads to Harney’s partner dying and the kidnapper slipping through his fingers.
Harney vows not to stand down until the killer is caught and the victims are returned to their families. This is easier said than done, as this is one conniving individual, happy to stay one pace ahead of the rest. Harney’s sordid past and willingness to bend the rules help grease the wheels to ensure that nothing will keep CPD from catching the accused, once they are identified.
While the case ramps up, Harney cannot help but find distraction in his personal life, which could prove detrimental, but also somewhat necessary. Harney’s past collides with the present as he does battle with himself and the killer in tandem. Even when things appear to be clear-cut, there’s a twist and the story reaches a tense climax, with Harney in the middle. Patterson and Ellis offer up a decent piece of writing here, sure to find a number of readers eager to explore Billy Harney a little more.
While I have had some issues with James Patterson and his writing, he has certain collaborators who coax out some superior writing to which the popular author is attributed. David Ellis has done this repeatedly and this proves to be one of those partnerships. The narrative flow works well for this piece, which has moments of greatness and others that link two larger plot lines together. Decent characters pepper the story and provide entertainment throughout, though none standout as being stellar for me. Firm plot lines offer the reader some suspense and leave the book from being too predictable, helping to keep the book mysterious when needed. Patterson and Ellis have worked well together on this series and this is another positive outcome, proving that there is still something to be said of books that bear the former’s name.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis, on a book I could enjoy with ease.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After five teenage girls are abducted in Chicago, all eyes turn to CPD Detective Billy Harney to find them. Following a few key leads, Harney and his partner travel to a rural home, where they hope to find the girls and solve the case with little issue. However, it’s a trap and the house is rigged, which leads to Harney’s partner dying and the kidnapper slipping through his fingers.
Harney vows not to stand down until the killer is caught and the victims are returned to their families. This is easier said than done, as this is one conniving individual, happy to stay one pace ahead of the rest. Harney’s sordid past and willingness to bend the rules help grease the wheels to ensure that nothing will keep CPD from catching the accused, once they are identified.
While the case ramps up, Harney cannot help but find distraction in his personal life, which could prove detrimental, but also somewhat necessary. Harney’s past collides with the present as he does battle with himself and the killer in tandem. Even when things appear to be clear-cut, there’s a twist and the story reaches a tense climax, with Harney in the middle. Patterson and Ellis offer up a decent piece of writing here, sure to find a number of readers eager to explore Billy Harney a little more.
While I have had some issues with James Patterson and his writing, he has certain collaborators who coax out some superior writing to which the popular author is attributed. David Ellis has done this repeatedly and this proves to be one of those partnerships. The narrative flow works well for this piece, which has moments of greatness and others that link two larger plot lines together. Decent characters pepper the story and provide entertainment throughout, though none standout as being stellar for me. Firm plot lines offer the reader some suspense and leave the book from being too predictable, helping to keep the book mysterious when needed. Patterson and Ellis have worked well together on this series and this is another positive outcome, proving that there is still something to be said of books that bear the former’s name.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis, on a book I could enjoy with ease.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 19, 2025
fast paced, twisted, cop & jail bird thriller! enjoyed it !
June 26, 2022
James Patterson has written countless books with well-known figures, including former President Bill Clinton, sportswriter Mike Lupica and singer Dolly Parton. Also participating as co-authors are established writers, the most recent of whom is David Ellis, a judge and Edgar Award winner who has penned 10 novels of his own.
Ellis, who served as legal counsel to the Illinois legislature, garnered public attention for leading the impeachment proceedings against former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. In 2014, he was sworn in as the youngest-serving Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, where he now spends his days writing judicial opinions. While not engaged in that staid and formal work, Ellis writes legal thrillers. His experience and solid writing ability are present in his solo novels, which make for enjoyable reading.
ESCAPE is the third installment in Patterson and Ellis’ series featuring Billy Harney, a Chicago detective who works in an elite unit that focuses exclusively on what we used to call “heater” cases, the high-publicity crimes that lead the evening news broadcasts. I am late to the series, but quite a bit has happened to Billy in the first two entries, THE BLACK BOOK and THE RED BOOK. He has had to endure the death of his wife, as well as that of his partner, and the imprisonment of his father, also a Chicago police officer. These unfortunate events all play a part in ESCAPE.
The book begins with the Chicago PD searching for a kidnapping victim. The action is furious, and Patterson and Ellis use the investigation to introduce Billy to readers and give them a thorough tour of the Windy City and its suburbs. Interestingly, the authors portray their protagonist as an officer who would make Chicago proud. Hard-working and honest to a fault, he cannot be bought but is willing to circumvent procedures and policies that he believes would prevent justice from being administered.
The cast of villains includes a sadistic sexual predator and an evil billionaire who believes his money makes him invulnerable to the criminal justice system. There is also a street gang whose members have infiltrated every aspect of Chicago life. While there are quite a few stereotypes here, the storyline still has some interesting twists, turns and tumbles. In the end, as you would expect, the good guys and gals come out all right.
ESCAPE meets all the James Patterson tests --- clear, sharp writing; an entertaining plot; and 121 chapters in 400 pages. Take it with you on vacation and enjoy it as you wait for his next book, which you know will be right around the corner.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
Ellis, who served as legal counsel to the Illinois legislature, garnered public attention for leading the impeachment proceedings against former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. In 2014, he was sworn in as the youngest-serving Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, where he now spends his days writing judicial opinions. While not engaged in that staid and formal work, Ellis writes legal thrillers. His experience and solid writing ability are present in his solo novels, which make for enjoyable reading.
ESCAPE is the third installment in Patterson and Ellis’ series featuring Billy Harney, a Chicago detective who works in an elite unit that focuses exclusively on what we used to call “heater” cases, the high-publicity crimes that lead the evening news broadcasts. I am late to the series, but quite a bit has happened to Billy in the first two entries, THE BLACK BOOK and THE RED BOOK. He has had to endure the death of his wife, as well as that of his partner, and the imprisonment of his father, also a Chicago police officer. These unfortunate events all play a part in ESCAPE.
The book begins with the Chicago PD searching for a kidnapping victim. The action is furious, and Patterson and Ellis use the investigation to introduce Billy to readers and give them a thorough tour of the Windy City and its suburbs. Interestingly, the authors portray their protagonist as an officer who would make Chicago proud. Hard-working and honest to a fault, he cannot be bought but is willing to circumvent procedures and policies that he believes would prevent justice from being administered.
The cast of villains includes a sadistic sexual predator and an evil billionaire who believes his money makes him invulnerable to the criminal justice system. There is also a street gang whose members have infiltrated every aspect of Chicago life. While there are quite a few stereotypes here, the storyline still has some interesting twists, turns and tumbles. In the end, as you would expect, the good guys and gals come out all right.
ESCAPE meets all the James Patterson tests --- clear, sharp writing; an entertaining plot; and 121 chapters in 400 pages. Take it with you on vacation and enjoy it as you wait for his next book, which you know will be right around the corner.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
August 12, 2022
2.5 stars for another bean in bank for Patterson & collaborator.
Stock standard evil twisted unrealistic antagonists, followed closely behind by overly courageous, can-do-no wrong protagonists.
All the trademarks: 121 short chapters over 400 pages. Your mind can blank for half and you’ll still have the plot. Good wins, bad loses, no brain cells damaged. Liam it from a library but definitely don’t pay for it!
Stock standard evil twisted unrealistic antagonists, followed closely behind by overly courageous, can-do-no wrong protagonists.
All the trademarks: 121 short chapters over 400 pages. Your mind can blank for half and you’ll still have the plot. Good wins, bad loses, no brain cells damaged. Liam it from a library but definitely don’t pay for it!
August 20, 2022
I’ve generally enjoyed reading Patterson’s books, which I get from the library because I don’t find him good enough to buy and keep in my library. He’s mind candy – simple, fast-paced, detective and mystery-oriented adventures that can be read in about two to three days and easily left behind. Nice escapism, but nothing super memorable.
However, I must say that back in 2017 I read his heavily promoted novel, “The Black Book” co-written with David Ellis. This was one of his best books (along with the list of his many co-authors) that I had read in a long time. It was a detective story of Billy Harney, who survives a shooting with his girlfriend and partner while investigating corrupt government officials and police officers in Chicago. The big kicker is that the mystery was well thought out, had multiple layers, and even more important (for those of us who confidently feel that we can figure out the guilty party before he/she is revealed), the outcome was surprising and extremely well-delivered! What a payoff ending!
Then, in 2021, Billy Harney returned in the aptly titled, “The Red Book”. This time, Detective Harney, had recovered from his first adventure and medically cleared to return to work. The second book is a lot like the first one in style, plotting, and pace. However, you can enjoy this one without having reading the first one. You are fine either way. And like the first book, there was a lot of good things to enjoy in this one.
Now, in 2022, Patterson and Ellis have brought back Harney for a third thriller, changing the book type title lingo to “Escape” and setting up Detective Harney’s hunt for a child kidnapper. Evidently, the success of the first two books have generated enough desire for a third outing and possible series potential with another sympathetic Patterson created law enforcement officer.
“Escape” starts off with Harney and his partner tailing a potential kidnapper of a teenage girl, and ends in a devastating outcome that surprisingly caught me off guard. No spoilers here, my friends, but it was an impactful and sad event that kicked the plot forward in a way that invested the reader emotionally into the outcome of the story.
Harney finds himself involved in two big investigations. One that involves being the lead for a task force focused on a major gang bust, taking down Jericho Hooper, the leader of the Imperial Gangster Nation, the biggest and most powerful street gang in Chicago. Hooper is so smart he’s never been caught. He also launders millions of dollars a year through his nightclubs, strip clubs, and laundry mats. He has twenty-year-old advanced mathematics prodigy, Mason Tracy, that takes care of his books and keeps everything under the IRS thresholds for investigation.
The other investigation is personal for Harney and has brought him pain and loss. A teenage girl comes to Harry, pleading with him to protect her mother. It appears that the mom has found out horrible things about her husband, enough to drive her to leave and divorce him. However, the daughter’s overheard her father plotting to kill her mom because of the damaging information she has. Can Harry stop him in time?
There was a lot going on in this book. A lot, yes. A lot. Multiple plotlines ran parallel until most of them connected in interesting ways and surprising ways; although there was some convoluted and far from realistic situations happening. One key rule to reading Patterson is that you really have to suspend your sense of reality and disbelief to enjoy the adventure. Sometimes a lot. This was one of those times.
I enjoyed Billy Harney as a lead character, his side bar comic moments on the bar stage, and his hope for a potential romance. Still, as most Patterson lead heroes, he is pretty much physically beat to a pulp chasing bad guys by the end of the book, and barely escapes death several times. That’s the cost of being a detective lead in a Patterson series.
I struggled a bit with the bad guys though in this one. Jericho Hooper is built up pretty big in the beginning but plays a smaller role than expected, and also comes across a bit stiff and one dimensional. I also struggled with Henry Arcola. Was he brilliant or was he cocky and overconfident. They kept flipping his character around throughout the book. One minute he’s a psycho and the next he was brilliant. It felt like the writers couldn’t make up their mind, which made him appear as inconsistent and unrealistic.
My other challenge with this one was there was so much going on with the many storylines and characters dropping and out. In some ways, too many activities and variables negatively impacted the telling of the story. Although the suspense and mysteries weren’t bad, there were some actions and outcomes that didn’t really make sense to me and hurt the plotting. I would mention a few, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Overall, this book was an okay escapist read if you are willing to suspend your sense of realism in the storytelling. Still. I rather like Billy Harney as a lead character. He is basically Chicago’s version of New York’s Michael Bennett, another Patterson series (but more established). Billy is a lot like Michael Bennett, minus the 10 children. With the surprise twist in the last few pages, it’s safe to say that Billy will be returning again, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I would read another one of his and hope they improve their storytelling and develop him more in his own unique way.
Rating – 3 stars out of 5.
However, I must say that back in 2017 I read his heavily promoted novel, “The Black Book” co-written with David Ellis. This was one of his best books (along with the list of his many co-authors) that I had read in a long time. It was a detective story of Billy Harney, who survives a shooting with his girlfriend and partner while investigating corrupt government officials and police officers in Chicago. The big kicker is that the mystery was well thought out, had multiple layers, and even more important (for those of us who confidently feel that we can figure out the guilty party before he/she is revealed), the outcome was surprising and extremely well-delivered! What a payoff ending!
Then, in 2021, Billy Harney returned in the aptly titled, “The Red Book”. This time, Detective Harney, had recovered from his first adventure and medically cleared to return to work. The second book is a lot like the first one in style, plotting, and pace. However, you can enjoy this one without having reading the first one. You are fine either way. And like the first book, there was a lot of good things to enjoy in this one.
Now, in 2022, Patterson and Ellis have brought back Harney for a third thriller, changing the book type title lingo to “Escape” and setting up Detective Harney’s hunt for a child kidnapper. Evidently, the success of the first two books have generated enough desire for a third outing and possible series potential with another sympathetic Patterson created law enforcement officer.
“Escape” starts off with Harney and his partner tailing a potential kidnapper of a teenage girl, and ends in a devastating outcome that surprisingly caught me off guard. No spoilers here, my friends, but it was an impactful and sad event that kicked the plot forward in a way that invested the reader emotionally into the outcome of the story.
Harney finds himself involved in two big investigations. One that involves being the lead for a task force focused on a major gang bust, taking down Jericho Hooper, the leader of the Imperial Gangster Nation, the biggest and most powerful street gang in Chicago. Hooper is so smart he’s never been caught. He also launders millions of dollars a year through his nightclubs, strip clubs, and laundry mats. He has twenty-year-old advanced mathematics prodigy, Mason Tracy, that takes care of his books and keeps everything under the IRS thresholds for investigation.
The other investigation is personal for Harney and has brought him pain and loss. A teenage girl comes to Harry, pleading with him to protect her mother. It appears that the mom has found out horrible things about her husband, enough to drive her to leave and divorce him. However, the daughter’s overheard her father plotting to kill her mom because of the damaging information she has. Can Harry stop him in time?
There was a lot going on in this book. A lot, yes. A lot. Multiple plotlines ran parallel until most of them connected in interesting ways and surprising ways; although there was some convoluted and far from realistic situations happening. One key rule to reading Patterson is that you really have to suspend your sense of reality and disbelief to enjoy the adventure. Sometimes a lot. This was one of those times.
I enjoyed Billy Harney as a lead character, his side bar comic moments on the bar stage, and his hope for a potential romance. Still, as most Patterson lead heroes, he is pretty much physically beat to a pulp chasing bad guys by the end of the book, and barely escapes death several times. That’s the cost of being a detective lead in a Patterson series.
I struggled a bit with the bad guys though in this one. Jericho Hooper is built up pretty big in the beginning but plays a smaller role than expected, and also comes across a bit stiff and one dimensional. I also struggled with Henry Arcola. Was he brilliant or was he cocky and overconfident. They kept flipping his character around throughout the book. One minute he’s a psycho and the next he was brilliant. It felt like the writers couldn’t make up their mind, which made him appear as inconsistent and unrealistic.
My other challenge with this one was there was so much going on with the many storylines and characters dropping and out. In some ways, too many activities and variables negatively impacted the telling of the story. Although the suspense and mysteries weren’t bad, there were some actions and outcomes that didn’t really make sense to me and hurt the plotting. I would mention a few, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Overall, this book was an okay escapist read if you are willing to suspend your sense of realism in the storytelling. Still. I rather like Billy Harney as a lead character. He is basically Chicago’s version of New York’s Michael Bennett, another Patterson series (but more established). Billy is a lot like Michael Bennett, minus the 10 children. With the surprise twist in the last few pages, it’s safe to say that Billy will be returning again, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I would read another one of his and hope they improve their storytelling and develop him more in his own unique way.
Rating – 3 stars out of 5.
May 17, 2023
هذا الجزء جيد جدًا، متوقع في بعض الأحيان لكن هذا عادي مع كثرة قراءة روايات الجريمة، النهاية صادمة وأترقب الجزء الجديد بحماس .
June 30, 2022
A Perfect Ending?
A great set up for the next Billy Harney thriller. Of course now I can’t wait to read it. I love this character and the way he solves the crimes. Highly recommend this series to any James Patterson fans.
A great set up for the next Billy Harney thriller. Of course now I can’t wait to read it. I love this character and the way he solves the crimes. Highly recommend this series to any James Patterson fans.
July 8, 2022
Title: Escape
Author: James Patterson
Series: Billy Harney Thriller Book #3
Audiobook Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Publisher: Little Brown & Co
Genre: Middle School
Pub Date: June 7, 2022
My Rating: 2.3 Stars
I have been a big fan of James Patterson for perhaps thirty years having read over a hundred novels but have been disappointed with the nasty language in the more recent stories. I know people love to use profanity but that doesn’t make it less vulgar.
I was especially disappointed that so much unnecessary nasty language was used in this middle school story ~ I know middle schoolers hear and use profanity all the time but I see no reason for a popular author to encourage it!
On the positive side: I do love audiobook narrator Edoardo Ballerini.
Author: James Patterson
Series: Billy Harney Thriller Book #3
Audiobook Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Publisher: Little Brown & Co
Genre: Middle School
Pub Date: June 7, 2022
My Rating: 2.3 Stars
I have been a big fan of James Patterson for perhaps thirty years having read over a hundred novels but have been disappointed with the nasty language in the more recent stories. I know people love to use profanity but that doesn’t make it less vulgar.
I was especially disappointed that so much unnecessary nasty language was used in this middle school story ~ I know middle schoolers hear and use profanity all the time but I see no reason for a popular author to encourage it!
On the positive side: I do love audiobook narrator Edoardo Ballerini.
January 30, 2025
Ended a good series with a dud
January 15, 2026
EASY 5 star! This book is one of the best I’ve ever read! Billy Harney is awesome, the story was captivating, and the twists were wild. The cliffhanger at the end had me going crazy. I cannot believe I need to wait OVER A YEAR for the next book in the series. I enjoyed this book more than most I’ve read in the past year. 100% recommend this series to anyone who likes thrillers
July 27, 2022
I am a big fan of David Ellis and the Billy Harney series. Yes, I know it says James Patterson is an author, but let’s be honestly. We know he had very little to do with the writing of this book. Billy starts out with two cases. The first is his task force is charged with finding a repeat kidnapper. The other involves a rich man who believes he can write the rules how he sees fit.
I like the twists and turns the Mr. Ellis brings to the book. While some are expected, he does a good job keeping you off balance and guessing. Billy is a very likeable character and you find yourself rooting for him.
It looks like the ending of this book sets up another book in the series and I for one will be picking it up.
I like the twists and turns the Mr. Ellis brings to the book. While some are expected, he does a good job keeping you off balance and guessing. Billy is a very likeable character and you find yourself rooting for him.
It looks like the ending of this book sets up another book in the series and I for one will be picking it up.
July 16, 2022
So many storylines but I didn’t feel lost at all
January 1, 2023
An enjoyable read. Fast paced right from the first page. Much better than book 2. Hoping there is more to come in the Billy Harney series.
October 9, 2023
Billy Harney is a new addition to my roster of Favorite Detectives in Literature and book 3 did not disappoint.
I had no idea where this story was going; it was all over the place at one point, but the authors did a phenomenal job of bringing everything together for a nice ending which included one hell of a surprise!
Looking forward to more in this series.
I had no idea where this story was going; it was all over the place at one point, but the authors did a phenomenal job of bringing everything together for a nice ending which included one hell of a surprise!
Looking forward to more in this series.
August 18, 2025
Realistically 3.5 stars. I would give 4 if I was rating from a neutral pov but I’m not. Only 3 because it was a good book but just not the best book for ME. Again, good plot, v dramatic and action packed. Very American, very boy-y. I’m not an American boy that’s why it’s a 3 from me but if I was an American boy I reckon I’d like it more. Lots of people died, lots of things blew up, prison escapes, kidnappings, drug gangs, money transfers and the list goes on. Well written for boys, but clearly written by men (not negative). I can see that it’s a good book but I personally won’t be rushing back to read it. You did get me at the end there hahahahah and I could see how that could lead to the next book
July 14, 2022
This is the third book in the series. I will give it a 3.5 overall. Bill does standup at the cop bar when he’s needing to unwind and is on the special assignments force handling the tough stuff. The story line was good it was more the narrator who lost this for me.
September 22, 2022
I liked the characters so am continuing with the series. This third book in the series is darker than the previous two.
There are several different cases going on for Billy to investigate. I wondered if the cases were somehow related. But they probably aren't (no spoilers...) as this reflects what happens in reality for police detectives. They consistently work several cases at a time b/c well...crime...yeah...crime doesn't stop.
And I wasn't sure about the Mia character and I didn't like that side story.
Very gripping towards the end.
Trigger warning: most of the stories revolve around sex crimes.
There are several different cases going on for Billy to investigate. I wondered if the cases were somehow related. But they probably aren't (no spoilers...) as this reflects what happens in reality for police detectives. They consistently work several cases at a time b/c well...crime...yeah...crime doesn't stop.
And I wasn't sure about the Mia character and I didn't like that side story.
Very gripping towards the end.
Trigger warning: most of the stories revolve around sex crimes.
November 18, 2025
It's ok I guess? The premise of the book takes forever to actually get to. I am not joking, the actual premise from the back of the book does not occur until you are almost finished with the book. The police and detective work is fun but any character dialogue outside of it feels cliche and 2-Dimensional. Not to mention the poor autistic representation, somewhat derogatory at points.
June 30, 2022
Though started (and continued almost till the middle of book) like a juggler juggling too many balls, managed to salvage the position and handled things much better towards the end.
So far the Bill Harney books have been pretty good.
So far the Bill Harney books have been pretty good.
September 2, 2022
Wonderful read! Brings together remarkably dispersed l elements into a driving finish.
October 6, 2022
A pretty good book. Fast paced and tricky. Ending left open for further books.
October 21, 2023
I enjoyed this novel of James Patterson's because of David Ellis' contribution! It was fast paced, short chapters and totally gripping! I really enjoy the character of Billy Harney, very enjoyable quick read!
August 12, 2022
4.5 stars. Thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced thriller. And the ending of this 3rd book in the series will make for a great story in book 4!
June 25, 2023
This was my first James Patterson book with co-author David Ellis —not realizing it was Book 3 of a Billy Harney series. I was intrigued and curious that Patterson has co-authored many books.
Book 3 was engaging with plenty of conflict and rising tension. Very well written about solving crimes and figuring out the moves of dangerous criminals. I will seek out Books 1 & 2 to get the whole story of detective Billy Harney.
Book 3 was engaging with plenty of conflict and rising tension. Very well written about solving crimes and figuring out the moves of dangerous criminals. I will seek out Books 1 & 2 to get the whole story of detective Billy Harney.
September 5, 2022
I’m enjoying the character Billy Harley in David Ellis’s books! Great story lines, with some interesting curves and the ending is a perfect setup for another installment of this character.
Having said this, it’s time for James Patterson to let the other coauthors stand on their own. I didn’t notice anything in this book that resembles Patterson’s writing style. Ellis did a great job telling this story on his own. I see David Ellis has a new book where he is the sole author, “Look Closer”. Can’t wait to read it.
Having said this, it’s time for James Patterson to let the other coauthors stand on their own. I didn’t notice anything in this book that resembles Patterson’s writing style. Ellis did a great job telling this story on his own. I see David Ellis has a new book where he is the sole author, “Look Closer”. Can’t wait to read it.
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