Private Beijing is ripped apart after an attack leaves three agents dead and the head of the team missing.With the Beijing branch in turmoil, Private's owner and global head, Jack Morgan, immediately gets on a plane from LA. Soon after Jack lands in China, another Private office is attacked. It's clear that the entire organisation is under threat.As Jack launches a global investigation from unfamiliar territory, he will need the loyalty of his team now more than ever.
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.
An attack kills three Private Beijing operatives tasked with watching David Zhou and Shang Li, in charge in Beijing, is missing, presumed dead. Zhang Daiyu calls her boss Jack Morgan who immediately flies to China. Meanwhile, in New York Private is investigating Ivor Yeadon when the surveillance is interrupted by a masked gunman who kills one and leaves another badly injured. Two attacks on Private personnel in twenty four hours and this is just the beginning of a very murky and dangerous investigation. The storytelling alternates between New York and Jack in Beijing and Moscow.
I really like this series although I can’t claim to have read all 17! In this one the Beijing setting offers a unique and very tense atmosphere which leads Jack and Zhang Daiyu into contact with some very deadly, tattooed, would be assassins. Probing even deeper into these gang shark infested waters there’s a glimpse of Guoanbu, Chinese State Security.
The pace is fast throughout, indeed there is rarely a dull moment as multiple nefarious characters and agencies lurk in the shadows and sometimes scarily in the open. Who is the target? Why are Private operators under such threat? Who can be trusted? They encounter hitmen, explosions, gangs, set ups, traps and breathtaking betrayal in a rotten, corrupt, and revengeful conspiracy that has widespread implications. Behind the scenes tech guru Mo-Bot (Maureen Roth) and Sci (Dr Science, Seymour Kloppenberg) weave their magic and are able to tap into some very helpful contacts.
The characterisation is good, Jack is driven, brave and a very loyal and caring employer as several of his team learn. You see his softer side too in his relationship with profiler Justine.
Overall, this is an exciting, exhilarating, explosive, high octane political thriller- just the way I like them!
This book is definitely the best of the series. The pace is so fast with non-stop action, and at the end, I wonder how our main character, Jack Morgan, survives. A fantastic read that I couldn't put down and I highly recommend. If you like Die Hard books then you'll want to read the Private series.
James Patterson and Adam Hamdy adds to the long-running Private series, taking Jack Morgan to Beijing. In a city full of mystery and suspicion, Morgan helps when the local team is decimated by an unknown killer. The authors work with many of the tools honed in past Private novels. Not as Sino-centric as I would have preferred, using past novels in the series as a comparison. Still worth a read by those who have enjoyed previous novels..
After an attack in Beijing sees a number of the local Private members killed, Jack Morgan knows that this is serious and rushes to get there from LA. While Morgan has no idea what’s happened, he knows that it must be serous. Some poking around to get a lay of the land does little to help, save find Morgan tossed in jail for a few hours after a disagreement with the local police. Once Morgan is out, he’s back on the trail to see what’s been going on.
Not long thereafter, two major events leave Morgan rushing to determine which way is up. First, The Private Beijing offices are bombed and completely destroyed, leaving fire and rubble. Second, an attack in New York sees one of the local Private members trying to piece together what has happened to his wife and all fingers point to a mysterious man of Chinese descent. Could the two attacks be linked?
Morgan can only surmise that Private as a whole is under attack and that the enterprise could be in danger. Working in China, Jack Morgan must rely on his local team to help him uncover the truth in a country where private investigation is not only unwanted, but somewhat illegal. Trying to get to the core of the matter could prove harder than it appears.
Back in New York, the local Private team looks into the kidnapping and potential destruction of the company. It appears as though a Chinese national has been sent on a mission to deliver a message that will not soon be forgotten, Jack Morgan will have to make a major decision that could impact Private in all corners of the globe. This is more than China, but an international affair worth Jack Morgan the central target. A decent addition to the series by Patterson and Hamdy, offering a little insight into Chinese policing, but more American perspectives than anything else.
Patterson’s development of the Private series has done well to highlight police work all over the world as well as bring new and exciting international authors into the fold. While this piece uses the Patterson-Hamdy collaborative effort, it still has a decent Chinese flavouring to it, making the book appear somewhat realistic. The narrative flow is decent, though I felt myself waving a hand in the air on occasion to get the momentum going. I sought something a little sharper and faster, but the book did not lag to the point of me tossing it in the corner. Decent and relevant characters pepper the pages of the book, giving the reader a sense of being in China, but the strong American angle also promotes some stereotypes that I cannot be sure are true to what actually happens. Decent plots emerge, though again there is more US than true Chinese focus on things, leaving me wishing that the authors had kept things in country or a local author cold have been used to really expand the China aspect. The series surely gains some traction and its roots are deepened here, though I am not sure what’s next or how Jack Morgan will expand his empire. Might this be close to the end of the road, or is Adam Hamdy working on something for Patterson to add his name to again soon? Time will surely tell.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Hamdy, for a decent addition to all things Private.
Jack Morgan has spent many years turning around his late father’s failing detective agency. He now has many branches around many cities. In the previous book Jack and his team caused havoc in one country righting many wrongs. Some were raging and wanting revenge.
What better way to return the favour than to start attacking the staff in some of the cities. When this happens Jack will definitely not let it lie. He will go all out to make people pay.
While flying to Beijing to sort out who is behind the death of one of his staff another one of his agencies are hit. Then it becomes clear where the source of the threat is coming from. Not only are his agencies under attack, they want Jack dead. Soon he is flying to Moscow and the danger element ramps up as he finds that his Moscow team have also been taken so he has a huge job on his hands….
Will he come back in one piece? Fast and thrilling and totally engrossing.
Another non stop action Private novel. This series would make e great TV show or movie. Jack Morgan travels to China, where the Private offices and staff are being targeted. Never one to shy away from danger, Jack and the remaining members of the team try to find out who is after them and why. At the same time, the same thing is happening in the New York office.
As always, Jack has to battle the bad guys, bombs, drone, car chases as much much more. It is always exciting reading and ai powered through this installment in a day.
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my advanced copy to read. Publishes 29th December
This series is so addictive that I can’t seem to stop reading it.
This time we are headed to Beijing. I can’t say that I’ve read many if any books set in China and it was interesting to read about a culture that I didn’t know too much.
It is a fast-paced read with many turns and twists. Jack Morgan is teaming up with Zhang Daiyu on the rollercoaster ride to battle the crime society that is killing his team.
I loved how we get a big glimpse into his other facade, the more personal part of his life.
The investigation is downright scary with the adrenaline rush escalating with each new chapter, and the epic conclusion is so worth the wait. I felt it was not all over and maybe we will get to meet some characters in future books.
Addictive, fast paced and thrilling story.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
I got to the end but found this book a struggle. Its as if James Patterson has a timeline to get books out. He starts with a good idea (& the start if the book was great) but then is in a rush to meet the publisher deadline. I have to admit I skipped a fair bit of some if the far fetched action scenes. So not a hit in my opinion and well short of this great writer’s best.
"Private Beijing", the latest book in the long-running "Private" series, is one of James Patterson’s best ever instalments, but be prepared for a gory experience! The usual characters and elements that his readers have grown to love are all present and correct; James Patterson is never likely to make any drastic changes to his winning formula, and we love him for that. However, he has definitely upped the ante this time around with regards to the action and brutality. With tension and jeopardy throughout, “Private Beijing"” is another page-turning triumph from the unstoppable James Patterson - which city will he go to next?!
A huge thanks to the publisher for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
The book revolves around an attack that occurs that leaves three dead people and one missing. I felt lost occasionally as this book is part of a series that i did not read initially. Private Beijing is fast -paced, full of action and engrossing. If you need a good thriller then this is the book for you. I recommend it!
Really entertaining story. Crossing over two continents and two different cultures, albeit both communism, made the journey of following Jack all the more interesting.
Gave it 4 stars but would have given 4.5 stars but that is not an option, and I didn't feel it quite warranted 5 stars
Overall: Too predictable, focused on action and not really the thrill and some passages were not well thought through or rather not elaborated well and made it too easy for the protagonist to achieve things
Although "Private Beijing" is the 17th book in this series it is very easy to pick this up even if you have not read any of the other sixteen prior to this. As you would expect from two experienced writers, the style of this certainly fluent and it may suit readers who like their reading material to move along at a good pace throughout,
Even though there is a fairly basic plot underpinning the narrative, the storyline is predominantly action and event driven. It is difficult not to get the impression that the plot is little more than a necessary means of allowing the authors to link together a series of graphically described action scenes. The characterisation is largely superficial and even the leading protagonist, Jack Morgan, has little in the way of depth.
This is an okay way to pass the time without having to exercise the grey matter too much, but overall it is too formulaic and clichéd to be particularly satisfying.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I have really enjoyed getting to know Jack Morgan and his Private team over the course of the past couple of books. I admit I have come very late to the series, drawn in by James Patterson's co-author in these last three books, but I'm so glad I have picked them up as they are right up my street. Fast paced, packed with high stakes action and tension that is way off the scale, they really are an addictive read that is very hard to put down. That was definitely the case with Private Beijing which starts in explosive style, creating a kind of bow wave effect that carries readers along with it. One stakeout gone wrong is bad enough, but two? It's very clear someone, or some organisation, is targeting Private, and Jack and his entire team are in danger. The who, the why and the how the hell do I stop it, are the facts that Jack needs to get to the bottom of, and fast.
The action in this book is split between several continents, the majority of it taking place in Beijing and New York, the site of the two attacks on Jack's teams. You really get a sense of location, and of the vast difference in culture between the two cities, and how this will help, or impede, Jack's investigation. As far as his investigations in Beijing go, Jack is at a real disadvantage. Private investigation firms are a rarity in China, and support for the Private team is low, which adds a layer of complexity to an already fraught situation. Add into this an enemy who clearly has great skill and a very wide reach, and the scene is set for an almighty showdown.
There is a real element of mystery that threads throughout the book as the team, and we as readers, try to figure out who might be behind this co-ordinated attack. There is no clear correlation between the two incidents, no obvious motive and really keeps the intrigue high and kept me completely hooked on what was happening on the page. I loved the way in which the authors captured Jack's torn loyalties, between resolving the threat in Beijing and supporting his team back home. That mental struggle as he worked out how to keep moving forward when the thought of a simpler life with the person he loves becomes more and more appealing. But that's one of the great things about Jack Morgan as a character. His determination, loyalty and integrity are second to none. And whilst the bumps and scrapes (understatement) he picks up along the way during this particular case prove he is now superhuman, he comes pretty close.
Along with all the action, I do love the camaraderie and banter between the team. There is a good vein of humour, in spite of all the darkness and threat, and Sci and Mo-bot manage to keep the spirits up in New York, applying some of their special brand of geekery to the investigation and keeping Justine focused on what is at hand rather than simply worrying about Jack. In fact, the whole Private team are a joy to read about, the friendship and loyalty to Jack and to each other, one of the draws of the series of books. We are introduced in this book to Zhang Daiyu from the Beijing office, and she is quite a formidable character too, very fitting of her place in the Private crew. A former police officer, her contacts prove invaluable, as well as her knowledge of how to navigate Beijing's less salubrious neighbourhoods. We also catch up with some of Jack's other team members, and another face from Jack's past, all of them some of my favourite characters from the series so far. Can't wait to see what the one particular reconnection may lead to.
If you haven't read the Private series but love a brilliantly tense and fast paced action thriller, then I can highly recommend this book. I think, in fairness, you can start anywhere in the series (I did), although for this particular book I'd recommend reading Private Moscow and Private Rogue first as you will have greater understanding of some of the threads in this story. Energetic, entertaining and definitely recommended.
I am a huge reader, yet this is only my second book by James Patterson. The other book I have read of his was The President is Missing, coauthored with Bill Clinton. I hope to read more of Patterson's books, one coauthored with Hillary Clinton and another with Dolly Pardon. For now, I chose this one, Private Beijing, because I needed something light after some pretty intense reads, and this one also fits within my ongoing exploration of China and Chinese culture in varied literary formats.
This book is part of a series about the Private Detective agency run by Jack Morgan, an agency inherited from his father. The story was brisk and I was fascinated by the sprinklings of innovative detective technology. I don't get much of that in my usual reads; I would have enjoyed more reference to and explanation of technological sleuthing. Though primarily located in Beijing, the story globe trotted to the US and back to Moscow, a setting of a previous Private Detective novel by Patterson, also coauthored with Adam Hamdy. Because this is a sequel from a long line of previous Private Detective Agency novels, there is a lot of history I was not aware of. Because of this, many characters and their relationships seemed flat; even Jack and his relationship with his partner Justine appeared one-dimensional. To better understand Patterson's characters, I am intrigued enough by this book to contemplate reading the series from the beginning. We'll see, though; I tend to jump around a lot in my reading. Reading this series would be a significant commitment. Yet I love location-based stories and am entertained by the thought of traveling with the Private Detective Agency to London, Australia, India, Paris, and other locations.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Private Beijing, the seventeenth thriller to feature PI agency Private and its owner Jack Morgan.
An attack on Private Beijing employees doing surveillance leaves three dead and one missing. Jack has hardly touched down in Beijing when learns that one of his New York employees has been killed and another is in a coma. Why is Private under attack? It’s a question he’s determined to answer.
I thoroughly enjoyed Private Beijing, which is another high octane read, full of action and twists. It never stops. It is told from Jack’s first person point of view with other agency members contributing in the third person. This means that the authors can cover a range of simultaneous events, while keeping it personal to Jack. It works well in keeping the reader turning the pages with a fast pace and multiple developments.
Nobody picks up a James Patterson thriller for realism, it’s more of a “well, it could happen, maybe” type read with more guns, bodies and action scenes. It certainly promotes an American centric world view. Anyway, who needs realism when you can get entertainment and this novel is highly entertaining as Jack blasts his way round Beijing, moves on to meet old friends and foes elsewhere while his girlfriend, Justine Smith, runs the bad guys to earth in New York. There is a lot going on in this novel, but the prose is clear and never difficult to understand. Keeping up with events requires stamina.
Private Beijing is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Now I have read every single Private book in the series since the first ever installment in 2010 (Private). This is one hell of an addictive series and I'm so glad that JP is able to get them on the shelves as quick as he does.
Whilst I have devoured every single one with way too much enthusiasm and then end up devastated its come to and end, Private Beijing is most definitely my favourite of them all.
To say i was gripped was an understatement, sleep deprived or not this had to be finished in one sitting and once again I left myself feeling stupid for not taking it more slowly!
This installment starts with an attack on three Private Operatives from the Beijing office. 2 are fatalities and one operative is missing. Jack is called in to help get Shang li back so flies to Beijing on the next flight.
Meanwhile the New York office falls under attack by a masked gunman. 2 attacks in 24hrs can't be a coincidence, can they?
Alternating between Jack in Beijing (and then Moscow) and New York, these dual locations and weaved seamlessly together, as expected from JP as is the fast pace that all JP have come to love. In this book we also see Jack over in Moscow doing some 'clean up' work from Private Moscow.
I adore JPs collaborations with Adam Hamdy, each one has just been outstanding and this even more so.
As always absolutely an sublime plot, totally unputdownable, thrilling, adrenaline pumping and non stop... I can't recommend enough.
Huge thanks to netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for the ARC.
Jack Morgan, Private’s owner, is enjoying a relaxing evening when he receives a phone call from the Private Beijing office second-in-command, Zhang Daiyu, informing him that three operatives have been killed and the head of the office, Shang Li, is missing. He immediately arranges to fly to Beijing, but as he is on his way news comes of another attack on Private operatives, this time in New York. He has to assume that the attacks are connected and is totally reliant on Zhang Daiyu for support. David Zhou, one of Beijing’s most wealthy and powerful men has been under surveillance and the two colleagues take up this trail again. Meanwhile in New York, Justine, Jack’s partner, is meeting Rafael Lucas, who is coping with the death of one operative and the serious injury of another and feels the need for some leadership.
Jack and his colleagues, Justine, Maureen Roth (a tech expert) and Seymour Kloppenberg (who leads a team of 12 forensic scientists) have to deal with this twin attack and try to understand how they might be linked. The answer is suitably complex.
This is a well-written, fast moving story, with tense action scenes. It’s the 17th in this series and the main characters are well-established. The action involves lots of bravery, not a small amount of luck, but the tension never drops. -------- Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
This is a book that I randomly borrowed, since I've enjoyed James Patterson's writing in the past. It happens to be part of yet another series, so I would have probably understood better who all the characters were if I'd picked up one of the earlier titles.
As I understand it, Jack Morgan is the head of an international detective agency called "Private", but in this book the agency comes under what appear to be terrorist attacks, leading him to travel to China to try and find out who is behind it.
I think the good points about this book were lots of action, though I would probably have enjoyed it more if it had been broadcast on a cinema screen rather than me just having to imagine all the events in my head. There were a lot of plot twists, so the characters would think they had uncovered the kingpin behind all the events, only for them to turn out to be a red herring.
The only real negative was that, as with other James Patterson books I've read, there was the occasional switching between first person narrative from the main character and third person narrative that felt a little distracting, oh and there were a few REALLY bad, almost cringey, lines of dialogue that felt like they needed to be re-written. Having said that, I'm not convinced that I would start trying to read every book in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for this eARC.
This is a great addition to the Private series. If you love books that are action packed, full of thrills and twists this book has it all and more! I really enjoyed this read, it started off very well and immediately captured my attention from the start and just got better the more I read. Jack Morgan’s Private companies in Beijing and the US are targeted simultaneously - but by who and why? Morgan goes to Beijing and his staff follow leads in the US. I found this to be a cracker of a read, it was so well written and engaging I didn’t want it to end. The action, suspense and tension never let up and this is one of those reads you’ll find very hard to put down. I just love the introduction of new characters in each book, who fit in so well alongside the regular characters I already know and am very used to. I loved the different country settings for the story here and for me this added much more depth to the story. Overall a great fast paced read with twist after twist that made me want to know what would happen next and certainly had me enthralled.
Book 17 in the Private security company series and the story this time involves some follow up from book 15, Private Moscow, although it reads well as a stand-alone This is another fast paced and exhilarating adventure for Jack Morgan and his team. With much mayhem as the action moves between Beijing, Moscow and the US the pace never lets up and it is almost impossible to put the book down.
Briefly, the team in Beijing are following up a lead but find the tables turned in the most shocking of ways and the team leader goes missing. Morgan is asked to help find him so heads off to China. This is explosive action as more members of his team are killed and his entire Moscow crew also disappear. Very quickly he finds himself up against old foes who are determined to bring the entire Private team down.
I really like the main protagonist, Jack, he’s strong, focussed and deadly but he also has a softer side and he’s loyal in the extreme. A fabulous fast paced, high octane thriller and I enjoyed every page.
As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot, plenty of reviews like that out there already.
I've read a few novels in the "Private" series, but not all of them, however this book works fine as a standalone novel as there is enough information to fill in the background.
This was an enjoyable - if at times gory - read. The pace is fast, and the action takes place in several different locations, which adds depth and interest. There's an element of tension and peril throughout. I remembered some of the characters from the previous books I've read, and there are plenty of new characters. The goodies are good and the baddies are bad, just what you want in this sort of easy-reading action novel.
I'm not clear how much of this was written by James Patterson and how much by his named co-author Adam Hamdy - but the writing felt seamless to me.
I can imagine this book (and indeed the series) making a great action movie.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
Bust…the characters just love ‘busting’ through doors etc.
Adam Hamdy should be proud. He’s convinced me I can be a successful author. Not just me, I’m almost certain half of the English speaking world could write better than this man. If James Patterson gives us the skeleton of the novel we can also use a thesaurus and horrible cheesy dialogue as filler.
I’m happy Adam Hamdy gets to live his dream. I can’t say his writing skills show any proof that he deserves to be called ‘a best selling author’.
Perhaps I’m too harsh just like the people who criticize Marvels cgi companies instead of blaming Marvel, or James Peterson in this case, for short deadlines. The number of books Hamdy has written in a short space suggests this book was written in a hurry with no time to read over it. It certainly reads like it.
It pays the bulls for Adam I suppose, he’s definitely not doing it to improve the world of literature.
The Private detective group is being targeted. Three workers have been killed in Beijing while on surveillance and their boss is missing presumed dead. Private's owner Jack Morgan flies to Beijing to investigate. While he's there two of Private New York's staff are targeted - one killed and another seriously injured. As Jack becomes a target in China his co-workers in New York find a connection between the two attacks and it becomes clear that someone is out for revenge.
Another enjoyable read from the Private series by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy - a fast paced story with plenty of action and twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. Private Beijing continues from Private Moscow but can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK, James Patterson and Adam Hamdy for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Private Beijing is the latest rip-roaring thriller in the 'Private' series from James Patterson and this time co-author Adam Hamdy. In this episode the Private company offices are all under attack at the same time from one of hero and company owner Jack Morgan's previous enemies. There is certainly never a dull moment in this book with explosions, gun fights and deaths liberally sprinkled over the pages and with action in New York, Beijing and Moscow. I found some of the writing a bit 'clunky' but the story certainly moves on at a fast pace and is sometimes hard to keep up with. I'd describe Private Beijing as a very entertaining page-turner which I'm sure will please the legions of James Patterson readers out there. This is the first of the Private series that I have read and Jack Morgan reminds me very much of Lee Child's Jack Reacher character but with less sex.
This is my favourite series out of the James Patterson stable! I'm also a huge fan of Adam Hamdy and will read anything with his name on it.
Someone is targeting Private, not only in America but also in China. Who is behind this and what is the reason for these attacks? Is it somebody known to them or is there a new player in the game? Will the team and especially Jack Morgan be able to figure it out before more of the team members are killed?
This book was action-packed from the beginning to the end with gunfights and car chases that kept me on the edge of my seat! A brilliant read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
Private Beijing has just been attacked, with three people dead and the team boss missing. Jack Morgan the owner of Private Investigations jumps on the first flight to China to find out what’s going on. Things go from bad to worse when another office in New York is attacked and it’s not long before he realises that this is a personal attempt to destroy his life and company. Never one to back down, Jack takes the fight to his enemies and even he couldn’t imagine the outcome. Another superb story in the Private series. An exhilarating ride with breathtaking twists and turns throughout. James Patterson and Adam Hamdy have again taken the level of this series to a new high. Can’t wait for the next one in the series. Just brilliant.