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Billy Harney #2
The Red Book
Detective Billy Harney’s reputation as a dirty cop may be the only thing keeping Chicago clean in James Patterson’s most critically-acclaimed thriller since The Black Book.
For Detective Billy Harney, getting shot in the head, stalked by a state’s attorney, and accused of murder by his fellow cops is a normal week on the job. So when a drive-by shooting on the Chicago's west side turns political, he leads the way to a quick solve. But Harney's instincts—his father was once chief of detectives and his twin sister, Patti, is also on the force—run deep. As a population hungry for justice threatens to riot, he realizes that the three known victims are hardly the only casualties.
When Harney starts asking questions about who's to blame, the easy answers prove to be the wrong ones. On the flip side, the less he seems to know, the longer he can keep his clandestine investigation going . . . until Harney's quest to expose the evil that's rotting the city from the inside out takes him to the one place he vowed never to return: his own troubled past.
For Detective Billy Harney, getting shot in the head, stalked by a state’s attorney, and accused of murder by his fellow cops is a normal week on the job. So when a drive-by shooting on the Chicago's west side turns political, he leads the way to a quick solve. But Harney's instincts—his father was once chief of detectives and his twin sister, Patti, is also on the force—run deep. As a population hungry for justice threatens to riot, he realizes that the three known victims are hardly the only casualties.
When Harney starts asking questions about who's to blame, the easy answers prove to be the wrong ones. On the flip side, the less he seems to know, the longer he can keep his clandestine investigation going . . . until Harney's quest to expose the evil that's rotting the city from the inside out takes him to the one place he vowed never to return: his own troubled past.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 29, 2021
3307 people are currently reading
11890 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
958 books356k 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 972 reviews
August 26, 2022
JP is the only author who releases new books faster than I can read them. 😉 This forces me to pick and read only the ones or series I find to be worthwhile. Black Book series with Detective Billy Harney of Chicago PD written by David Ellis has become one of my top choices.
The Red Book has complex characters. Billy, his sister Patti, and father are all cops. Each with strong backstory. The mystery is multi-layered that runs deep and dirty. I think I still like The Black Book more (It's been four years since the first one came out), but this is a very good follow up and I look forward to reading the next.
The Red Book has complex characters. Billy, his sister Patti, and father are all cops. Each with strong backstory. The mystery is multi-layered that runs deep and dirty. I think I still like The Black Book more (It's been four years since the first one came out), but this is a very good follow up and I look forward to reading the next.
January 13, 2026
Coauthors' James Patterson and David Ellis continue with The Red Book (Billy Harney,#2), the second book (following The Black Book) in their high-intensity police procedural series.
Detective Billy Harney has been reinstated back into the Chicago Police Department after being exonerated of a double homicide, and still, a large number of his compeers continue to loath him with a passion.
Harney is is shocked to learn he has been reassigned to a newly established strike force, and is now tasked with handling a complex and dangerous investigation into a quadruple homicide - and all while trying to rebuild his life.
Adding salt to the wound, Harney has also been saddled with an abrasive new partner who makes no effort to conceal her disdain for him. Welcome back...
In typical Patterson fashion, the writing is taut and captivating. Not just a substantial sequel, The Red Book is also a major thriller unto itself.
As sole narrator for each of these multidimensional characters, Edoardo Ballerini's performance is (as always) simply magnificent. Kudos.
Detective Billy Harney has been reinstated back into the Chicago Police Department after being exonerated of a double homicide, and still, a large number of his compeers continue to loath him with a passion.
Harney is is shocked to learn he has been reassigned to a newly established strike force, and is now tasked with handling a complex and dangerous investigation into a quadruple homicide - and all while trying to rebuild his life.
Adding salt to the wound, Harney has also been saddled with an abrasive new partner who makes no effort to conceal her disdain for him. Welcome back...
In typical Patterson fashion, the writing is taut and captivating. Not just a substantial sequel, The Red Book is also a major thriller unto itself.
As sole narrator for each of these multidimensional characters, Edoardo Ballerini's performance is (as always) simply magnificent. Kudos.
September 14, 2021
Young girls getting murdered, teen killed by crooked cop on the take, white slavery, junkie and gang elements. I can get this nonsense from my local news. 1 of 10 stars
March 8, 2021
Detective Billy Harney of Chicago PD gets a surprise posting to Special Operations Section and is assigned a new partner in Detective Carla Griffin. Their first investigation is a drive by shooting which appears to be gang related. However, delving deeper reveals links to Harney’s past in more ways than one.
This is a clever multilayered thriller that takes us into the murky world of gangs, drugs, organised crime and sex trafficking. If that’s no enough throw some corruption ans manipulation into the mix. The characters are really interesting, I like Billy as there’s a lot of depth to him and he makes for a fascinatingly complex central character. Carla is a puzzle to start with which makes you want to read in to establish where her truth actually lies. The plot is exciting, the pace speeds up well as the book progresses with plenty of good twists and jaw droppers as we sift through the lies, cover ups, threats and betrayal. I’ll say nothing about the Red Book of the title as that’s a good twist! It’s violent in places which you’d expect because the plot deals with organised crime members who are not known for talking things out over a cuppa and things become very dangerous for Billy. It becomes a compelling page turner and the further you progress you realise nothing is as it seems. The conclusion is good and it ends on a satisfying note.
Overall, an easy to read and immersive thriller - allow some time as you won’t want to put it down!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Random House, Cornerstone, Century for the arc in return for an honest review.
This is a clever multilayered thriller that takes us into the murky world of gangs, drugs, organised crime and sex trafficking. If that’s no enough throw some corruption ans manipulation into the mix. The characters are really interesting, I like Billy as there’s a lot of depth to him and he makes for a fascinatingly complex central character. Carla is a puzzle to start with which makes you want to read in to establish where her truth actually lies. The plot is exciting, the pace speeds up well as the book progresses with plenty of good twists and jaw droppers as we sift through the lies, cover ups, threats and betrayal. I’ll say nothing about the Red Book of the title as that’s a good twist! It’s violent in places which you’d expect because the plot deals with organised crime members who are not known for talking things out over a cuppa and things become very dangerous for Billy. It becomes a compelling page turner and the further you progress you realise nothing is as it seems. The conclusion is good and it ends on a satisfying note.
Overall, an easy to read and immersive thriller - allow some time as you won’t want to put it down!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Random House, Cornerstone, Century for the arc in return for an honest review.
February 15, 2023
Detective Billy Harney was quickly on the scene after the drive-by shooting which saw two drug dealers dead plus an unknown young woman. But the death of the little girl inside the house - La Tisha - was tragic. The city was up in arms, rioting would take place in Chicago if the police didn't get an immediate solve. So Billy and his partner Carla put everything into it - heading for the gangs to see if they could get a deal and learn the shooter's identity. But things were going on behind the scenes and it wasn't long before the shooters turned up - dead. Two days and the case was solved; the city was happy, as was the mayor. But was it all too easy?
The Red Book is the 2nd in the Billy Harney series by James Patterson & David Ellis and it was fast-paced and nasty. With child sex trafficking, drugs, gangs, corrupt cops and officials, I wondered if there was anyone good in this book!! Billy's twin sister Patti was by his side as he dealt with issues from his past, and she was a good person! I unfortunately made the mistake of reading #3 after #1, so am glad to have rectified that situation now! Recommended.
The Red Book is the 2nd in the Billy Harney series by James Patterson & David Ellis and it was fast-paced and nasty. With child sex trafficking, drugs, gangs, corrupt cops and officials, I wondered if there was anyone good in this book!! Billy's twin sister Patti was by his side as he dealt with issues from his past, and she was a good person! I unfortunately made the mistake of reading #3 after #1, so am glad to have rectified that situation now! Recommended.
May 5, 2021
An absolutely average read!
I loved 'The Black Book' but this instalment in the series was not nearly as engaging or entertaining. Points for ease and speed of readability but the characters are flat and boring. The story arc is generic and the writing lacks colour and energy.
Yet another hit one miss one from Patterson.
I loved 'The Black Book' but this instalment in the series was not nearly as engaging or entertaining. Points for ease and speed of readability but the characters are flat and boring. The story arc is generic and the writing lacks colour and energy.
Yet another hit one miss one from Patterson.
September 20, 2021
I admit that I have have struggled with James Patterson’s writing for a number of years, as books appear for sale faster than anything I have ever seen. Quality suffers, but money surely flows into the Patterson bank accounts, causing those who respect a good book to feel a slight offence. Whenever Patterson works alongside David Ellis, the quality appears high and there stories rise above many of the other novels that adorn the Patterson name. This was another stunner, keeping the reader gripped until things come to an abrupt halt in the closing chapters, resonating long after putting the book aside. Ellis surely makes it clear that some Patterson collaborations are worth a second look!
Detective Billy Harney has been through a great deal over the last while and all he wants is a strong distraction. He’s pulled into the Chicago PD's Special Operations Section (SOS), an elite group that looks to bring hope to a city that has been ravaged by crime and corruption. It’s a start, and after many of the things that Harvey has seen, it’s just what the doctor’s ordered.
After a drive-by shooting on a known drug corner leaves a woman dead, Harney is keen to use his position on the SOS to help find answers, some of which are deeply seeded in politics, something on which Chicago thrives. Harney and his family have a strong presence on the CPD and use finely-tuned instincts to work cases that do not appear as straightforward.
Harney learns that there are numerous victims lying in the morgue, all with a common tattoo. What looked like a drug-deal gone wrong now has a deeper and perhaps more sinister criminal element. All three were women, working the streets. While a pimp angle is possible, these women are foreign, leaving Harney to wonder if human trafficking might me more the crime of the day.
As Harney is keen to ask the tough questions, he turns over a few rocks that reveal more than answers. By working this case and confronting those who may be behind the killings, Harney has to face a dark secret of his own, one that could cripple him forever.
The Patterson-Ellis connection has never let me down in the past and this novel proves the chemistry between them remains strong. Well-paced writing and a sensational plot prove to me that there’s a great deal of potential when the reader invests time in this sort of novel. While I am not convinced that Patterson has changed his ways (alas, the book titles keep flooding the market), I know how to hone my searches to find golden nuggets.
Billy Harney impresses in this book and connects with the reader from the opening lines of the novel. His grit and determination emerge, assisted by a strong cast of characters begging to be noticed. While police procedurals are a dime a dozen, the authors craft a protagonist the reader wants to know better. Great backstory is balanced with some development throughout, even as Harney’s darkest secrets come out.
With so many novels on the market, set in the ‘big city’, it’s tough to make a mark on readers who seek something unique. The authors may not have something that will leave an indelible mark, but their style is sure to impress the reader who loves the genre. A strong narrative flows throughout and keeps the reader on their toes, with momentum increasing with every page turn. There’s something dark, yet hopeful, as the story progresses and I could not get enough, devouring the book as swiftly as time permitted. I’ll keep my eye on these two authors, as I have in the past for their collaborative efforts, and hope the series continues in the coming years!
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis, for high quality and easy reading!
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/...
Detective Billy Harney has been through a great deal over the last while and all he wants is a strong distraction. He’s pulled into the Chicago PD's Special Operations Section (SOS), an elite group that looks to bring hope to a city that has been ravaged by crime and corruption. It’s a start, and after many of the things that Harvey has seen, it’s just what the doctor’s ordered.
After a drive-by shooting on a known drug corner leaves a woman dead, Harney is keen to use his position on the SOS to help find answers, some of which are deeply seeded in politics, something on which Chicago thrives. Harney and his family have a strong presence on the CPD and use finely-tuned instincts to work cases that do not appear as straightforward.
Harney learns that there are numerous victims lying in the morgue, all with a common tattoo. What looked like a drug-deal gone wrong now has a deeper and perhaps more sinister criminal element. All three were women, working the streets. While a pimp angle is possible, these women are foreign, leaving Harney to wonder if human trafficking might me more the crime of the day.
As Harney is keen to ask the tough questions, he turns over a few rocks that reveal more than answers. By working this case and confronting those who may be behind the killings, Harney has to face a dark secret of his own, one that could cripple him forever.
The Patterson-Ellis connection has never let me down in the past and this novel proves the chemistry between them remains strong. Well-paced writing and a sensational plot prove to me that there’s a great deal of potential when the reader invests time in this sort of novel. While I am not convinced that Patterson has changed his ways (alas, the book titles keep flooding the market), I know how to hone my searches to find golden nuggets.
Billy Harney impresses in this book and connects with the reader from the opening lines of the novel. His grit and determination emerge, assisted by a strong cast of characters begging to be noticed. While police procedurals are a dime a dozen, the authors craft a protagonist the reader wants to know better. Great backstory is balanced with some development throughout, even as Harney’s darkest secrets come out.
With so many novels on the market, set in the ‘big city’, it’s tough to make a mark on readers who seek something unique. The authors may not have something that will leave an indelible mark, but their style is sure to impress the reader who loves the genre. A strong narrative flows throughout and keeps the reader on their toes, with momentum increasing with every page turn. There’s something dark, yet hopeful, as the story progresses and I could not get enough, devouring the book as swiftly as time permitted. I’ll keep my eye on these two authors, as I have in the past for their collaborative efforts, and hope the series continues in the coming years!
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis, for high quality and easy reading!
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/...
March 25, 2021
Oh James Patterson has done it again. He is an author that I can always rely on for an addictive and fantastic read and The Red Book was exactly that. The long awaited follow up to The Black Book, it was great to have Billy Harney back. You don 't need to have read the first book but it will help understand the characters and why they do some of the things they do.
After the explosive events of Black Book, including being shot in the head, Billy returns to work in the SOS team for Chicago PD. He has a new partner, a woman who is not quite what she seems and he is trying to put his life back together. Called to the scene of a drive-by shooting that gives even the killers more than they bargained for. As Billy and the team get to work investigating they discover that the shooting is just the tip of the iceberg.
As always there is alot of tangents and characters but it never gets confusing or hard to follow. I enjoyed every minute of it and highly recommend it.
After the explosive events of Black Book, including being shot in the head, Billy returns to work in the SOS team for Chicago PD. He has a new partner, a woman who is not quite what she seems and he is trying to put his life back together. Called to the scene of a drive-by shooting that gives even the killers more than they bargained for. As Billy and the team get to work investigating they discover that the shooting is just the tip of the iceberg.
As always there is alot of tangents and characters but it never gets confusing or hard to follow. I enjoyed every minute of it and highly recommend it.
May 21, 2021
This the sequel to the hugely successful 'The Black Book' and is equally pacy! Detective Billy Harney is investigating a drive by shooting in a crime infested neighborhood. But it is not a drug related gang war as suspected, there's a far more despicable crime hidden behind it and people Billy can trust may also be involved.... For that, a visit to his troubled past may also be necessary.
Please read my detailed review from the link
https://www.aniblogshere.com/the-red-...
Do Read 📖, Like 👍 and Comment 💭
It's encouraging 🙏🙏
#theredbook #jamespatterson #davidellis #billyharney #murdermystery #policethriller #crime #thrillernovel #thrilling #mysterious #bookfan #bookreviewer
Please read my detailed review from the link
https://www.aniblogshere.com/the-red-...
Do Read 📖, Like 👍 and Comment 💭
It's encouraging 🙏🙏
#theredbook #jamespatterson #davidellis #billyharney #murdermystery #policethriller #crime #thrillernovel #thrilling #mysterious #bookfan #bookreviewer
August 17, 2024
Billy Harney is back on the force and with a new, female partner, on an elite task force. I won't rehash all the crimes they're investigating as there were several and one led to the next. The book did rehash some things that happened in Book #1, but of course, series like to do that for clarity. There was a lot going on here, and miraculously it all got settled in the end, including some newly discovered loose ends with dear old dad, and the real truth about his new partner.
I liked Book #1 much better as this felt repetitive and a little out there. It was a decent ending and good narration by Edoardo Ballerini. I am not yet sure if I'll continue with #3. 3.5 stars
I liked Book #1 much better as this felt repetitive and a little out there. It was a decent ending and good narration by Edoardo Ballerini. I am not yet sure if I'll continue with #3. 3.5 stars
May 14, 2023
2,5/5
يتشابه هذا الجزء مع الجزء الأول كثيرًا وهذا التشابه مزعج، يبدو وكأنهم كتبوا روايتين افتتاحيتين للسلسلة ولكن جعلوا إحداها الجزء الثاني بدلا من رميها أو إضافة الأحداث المهمة للجزء الأول .
يتشابه هذا الجزء مع الجزء الأول كثيرًا وهذا التشابه مزعج، يبدو وكأنهم كتبوا روايتين افتتاحيتين للسلسلة ولكن جعلوا إحداها الجزء الثاني بدلا من رميها أو إضافة الأحداث المهمة للجزء الأول .
July 27, 2021
Another excellent Patterson (summer) read. Harney is a solid character with a future. It’s also always nice to read a book set here in Chicago. Looks like there is another one coming, I look forward to it. Carla should be a good addition. Love to see how the relationship with the Superintendent works out.
April 14, 2021
I really like The Black Book but this one didn’t quite do it for me
June 22, 2021
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!
Now, in 2021, Patterson and Ellis have brought back Billy Harney in the aptly titled, “The Red Book”. This time, Detective Harney, has recovered from his first adventure and medically cleared to return to work. Due to his discovery of corruption and the political fallout, he is assigned to the Special Operations Sections, an elite strike force assigned to major crimes and a focus on the crime ridden West side of Chicago. He is also assigned a boss that previously arrested and charged him with murder, as well as a partner he cannot trust.
Then goes get immediately worse. On his first day back a drive-by gang related shooting on the West side, Harney and his partner, Carla Griffin, and the SOS team are thrown into chaos as a four-year old girl, LaTisha, is caught in the gunfire and killed, causing screams of protests for justice and rioting. With city hall demanding a quick arrest to keep the peace, Harney finds himself fighting ghosts of the past, as well as an incredibly powerful and secretive criminal organization that has connections in the highest levels of Chicago law enforcement.
The interesting thing about this book is that it’s a lot like the previous 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’s a lot of good things to enjoy in this one.
As expected in a Patterson story, the plot unfolds at a frenetic pace, being told in first-and-third-person point-of-views, as well as both added flashbacks throughout to add depth to the current storylines. The characters were surprisingly interesting and had more depth and personality than usual. There were several inter-connected storylines that kept moving back and forth with tension and twists that delivered action and conflict. There was a lot going on in this one and pretty much every character had a secret they were hiding that was part of the tapestry of the storylines.
Overall, this book was an absolute joy to read (and that is rare statement coming from me when it comes to Patterson). It had plot, characters, and surprising twists that kept me glued from beginning to end. It was a tight and enjoyable read. I also noted that there was an excerpt at the end promoting the next Detective Harney adventure. Who knows when it will get published, but hopefully, it won’t be four years between now and then because I am so looking forward to reading it. The Green Book… The Yellow Book… The Brown Book… Who cares what it’s called. Just keep it going…
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!
Now, in 2021, Patterson and Ellis have brought back Billy Harney in the aptly titled, “The Red Book”. This time, Detective Harney, has recovered from his first adventure and medically cleared to return to work. Due to his discovery of corruption and the political fallout, he is assigned to the Special Operations Sections, an elite strike force assigned to major crimes and a focus on the crime ridden West side of Chicago. He is also assigned a boss that previously arrested and charged him with murder, as well as a partner he cannot trust.
Then goes get immediately worse. On his first day back a drive-by gang related shooting on the West side, Harney and his partner, Carla Griffin, and the SOS team are thrown into chaos as a four-year old girl, LaTisha, is caught in the gunfire and killed, causing screams of protests for justice and rioting. With city hall demanding a quick arrest to keep the peace, Harney finds himself fighting ghosts of the past, as well as an incredibly powerful and secretive criminal organization that has connections in the highest levels of Chicago law enforcement.
The interesting thing about this book is that it’s a lot like the previous 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’s a lot of good things to enjoy in this one.
As expected in a Patterson story, the plot unfolds at a frenetic pace, being told in first-and-third-person point-of-views, as well as both added flashbacks throughout to add depth to the current storylines. The characters were surprisingly interesting and had more depth and personality than usual. There were several inter-connected storylines that kept moving back and forth with tension and twists that delivered action and conflict. There was a lot going on in this one and pretty much every character had a secret they were hiding that was part of the tapestry of the storylines.
Overall, this book was an absolute joy to read (and that is rare statement coming from me when it comes to Patterson). It had plot, characters, and surprising twists that kept me glued from beginning to end. It was a tight and enjoyable read. I also noted that there was an excerpt at the end promoting the next Detective Harney adventure. Who knows when it will get published, but hopefully, it won’t be four years between now and then because I am so looking forward to reading it. The Green Book… The Yellow Book… The Brown Book… Who cares what it’s called. Just keep it going…
April 5, 2021
Outstanding sequel to last years "The Black Book". This is crime fiction at its best with dynamic characters, action, humor, bad guys, good cops, bad cops and a compromised cop family of both. The good news here is coauthor David Ellis, one of my "must read" authors!
April 20, 2022
Review to follow!
June 11, 2024
Another banger but the plot was a lot
March 10, 2024
4 Stars
December 30, 2023
"The Red Book," by THE James Patterson and David Ellis is the second in the "Billy Harney" Series of thrillers about Detective Billy Harney of a special investigative unit in Chicago, Illinois. This hardcover local public library copy has 392 pages, including end pages.
I AM very impressed with this series, and hopes it continues for a long time. I had inadvertently read Book 3, "Escape," prior to reading "The Red Book," but have now rectified this.
One thing I enjoyed most about this installment were all the plot twists. Frankly, I AM surprised I did not get whiplash with all of the plot twists that I DID NOT SEE COMING! Ha!!
At some point, I need to read the books that these co-authors write, because their talents shine, and yes, I say that, in part because they are co-writing with THE James Patterson.
I would definitely read the books in this series again, but this time in the order in which they were published.
I AM very impressed with this series, and hopes it continues for a long time. I had inadvertently read Book 3, "Escape," prior to reading "The Red Book," but have now rectified this.
One thing I enjoyed most about this installment were all the plot twists. Frankly, I AM surprised I did not get whiplash with all of the plot twists that I DID NOT SEE COMING! Ha!!
At some point, I need to read the books that these co-authors write, because their talents shine, and yes, I say that, in part because they are co-writing with THE James Patterson.
I would definitely read the books in this series again, but this time in the order in which they were published.
March 29, 2021
The Red Book is the sophomore instalment in The Black Book series, set in and around the city of Chicago. For Detective Billy Harney, getting shot in the head, stalked by a state's attorney, accused of murder by his fellow cops, and subsequently being exonerated, is a normal week on the job for him. He has been through the mill regarding his family too with his 3-year-old daughter having died from a stroke and his wife seemingly committing suicide as she was unable to handle the grief four years ago and having helped convict, and imprison, his own father, the chief of detectives, who was indicted on charges of federal corruption. Harney is back on duty after a period of paid administrative leave after unearthing rampant corruption rising to the highest echelons of the Chicago Police Department. Now that most of his colleagues distrust him and label him as a rat, Harney is assigned to the Special Operations Section (SOS), an elite strike unit put together merely a month ago to focus on the widespread and horrific gang violence happening on the city's West Side. Little does he know he will be working under Lieutenant Paul Wizniewski, the officer who had previously arrested Harney for murder. When a young girl is gunned down alongside 4 others in a K-Town drive-by, it rapidly turns political with pressure being piled on the police to quickly solve the case. To make matters his new partner, Detective Carla Griffin, is a miserable sod who has been sent by higher-ups to spy on him and report back in the hope of finding conduct that could destroy Harney’s career when revealed.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, the captain of the Bureau of Internal Affairs, Dennis Porter, is in over his head with those running an international human trafficking ring. As a population hungry for justice threatens to riot, Harney realised that the three known victims are hardly the only casualties. When he starts asking questions about who's to blame, the easy answers prove to be the wrong one's; they aren't looking at a normal turf war featuring Jericho Hooper's Imperial Gangster Nation. He discovers that the shooter's identity and motive are not as straightforward as they initially seem. Then Harney's quest to expose the evil that's rotting the city from the inside out takes him to the one place he vowed never to return: trauma from his own troubled past. This is a riveting, palpably tense and absorbing read with so much action you are left breathless and drama that never seems to end. Rapid-fire pacing, mystery and intrigue fill the pages and I always find I can never put a Patterson book down once I've started; The Red Book is no exception. It's quick and easy to immerse yourself in and the engaging writing allows you to race through it. Harney has one hell of a backstory and must be the unluckiest guy in the world given everything he's been, and is still, going through. It makes for interesting reading and is almost as scintillating as the gritty gangland plot. Patterson's abundant use of twists, turns and misdirection is second to none and you never know what is about to happen from one page to the next. Dark, violent and with continually rising suspense, this is a thriller Patterson fans will devour as I did.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, the captain of the Bureau of Internal Affairs, Dennis Porter, is in over his head with those running an international human trafficking ring. As a population hungry for justice threatens to riot, Harney realised that the three known victims are hardly the only casualties. When he starts asking questions about who's to blame, the easy answers prove to be the wrong one's; they aren't looking at a normal turf war featuring Jericho Hooper's Imperial Gangster Nation. He discovers that the shooter's identity and motive are not as straightforward as they initially seem. Then Harney's quest to expose the evil that's rotting the city from the inside out takes him to the one place he vowed never to return: trauma from his own troubled past. This is a riveting, palpably tense and absorbing read with so much action you are left breathless and drama that never seems to end. Rapid-fire pacing, mystery and intrigue fill the pages and I always find I can never put a Patterson book down once I've started; The Red Book is no exception. It's quick and easy to immerse yourself in and the engaging writing allows you to race through it. Harney has one hell of a backstory and must be the unluckiest guy in the world given everything he's been, and is still, going through. It makes for interesting reading and is almost as scintillating as the gritty gangland plot. Patterson's abundant use of twists, turns and misdirection is second to none and you never know what is about to happen from one page to the next. Dark, violent and with continually rising suspense, this is a thriller Patterson fans will devour as I did.
December 23, 2025
Loved this book! This series has turned out to be so so good. Billy Harney is one of my favorite characters ever. I’m really excited to continue this series
April 28, 2021
I felt like a book was missing in the series. I couldn’t enjoy it cause so much had changed in Detective Billy Harneys life since the black book
July 14, 2021
2.5 Stars
Another miss by this author. The characters aren't horrible but they aren't my favorite and I may have gotten a few confused. Some of the scenes were pretty cringeworthy too.
Another miss by this author. The characters aren't horrible but they aren't my favorite and I may have gotten a few confused. Some of the scenes were pretty cringeworthy too.
May 9, 2021
The red book is the second story in The black book series and another page-turner from a favourite author.
Over the years I read a lot of his books and I enjoyed finding new authors that he co-wrote so many stories with.
The red book is no different from his highly praised ones.
It’s full of action, never a dull moment. There are many interesting characters, ones that I got to like immediately, like detective Billy Harney, others that needed to work their way up for me to have more trust in them and their actions.
It ticks all the boxes for everything you can expect, from organised crime groups to so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge throughout the book and a few moments that hit me hard because I am an immigrant from Romania and unfortunately all those things that happened here are still true, so it’s not all fiction.
Another must-read story for all the lovers of the genre.
May 23, 2021
Not as good as The Black Book and started slow but it did eventually pick up speed and I enjoyed the ending. I will continue to limit my James Patterson to only books which involve David Ellis books only because I really like David Ellis.
April 25, 2021
I have read over 80 Patterson’s stories. Yep I have been a longtime fan.
However, I didn’t’ do my homework on this one ~ didn’t realize that that is the second in “The Black Book’ series. I ended up giving “The Black Box’ 3 stars but it was not an enjoyable read.
Most of JP’s recent stories have too much profanity for my enjoyment. I had a hard time getting into the actual story.
However, I didn’t’ do my homework on this one ~ didn’t realize that that is the second in “The Black Book’ series. I ended up giving “The Black Box’ 3 stars but it was not an enjoyable read.
Most of JP’s recent stories have too much profanity for my enjoyment. I had a hard time getting into the actual story.
December 24, 2022
The second book in the series. It is good to read the first one to learn more about the main character Billy.
The story starts with learning that Billy, a cop, lost both his young daughter (from a stroke) and his wife (supposedly from suicide). In the last book Billy was shot in the head so his memory is a little messed up and he has trouble remembering correctly.
He investigates a quadruple homicide where a drug dealer was gunned down but a bullet went through the wall of the house and killed a little girl. This made the news and pressure to find the killers.
Billy and his new partner Clara are 'spoiled goods' and now are working together as partners. Neither one can trust the other.
Digging into the murder, Billy finds out more about what was behind the drug shooting... sex trafficking. And he also finds out how all this is connected to his wife's death.
Definitely a little far fetched....and to connect the dots it was a little out there!!
But still good story. Bad cops again (same as first book).
The story starts with learning that Billy, a cop, lost both his young daughter (from a stroke) and his wife (supposedly from suicide). In the last book Billy was shot in the head so his memory is a little messed up and he has trouble remembering correctly.
He investigates a quadruple homicide where a drug dealer was gunned down but a bullet went through the wall of the house and killed a little girl. This made the news and pressure to find the killers.
Billy and his new partner Clara are 'spoiled goods' and now are working together as partners. Neither one can trust the other.
Digging into the murder, Billy finds out more about what was behind the drug shooting... sex trafficking. And he also finds out how all this is connected to his wife's death.
Definitely a little far fetched....and to connect the dots it was a little out there!!
But still good story. Bad cops again (same as first book).
February 1, 2022
This is basically a continuing story of Billy Varney and his woes with life, family, and work. He is an excellent detective, but always being setup by others in the department.
This is a good book and the story is good, but not as good as the first. Once you understand the format of the stories you kind of get the idea where the story is going.
Overall I still see it as a good read.
This is a good book and the story is good, but not as good as the first. Once you understand the format of the stories you kind of get the idea where the story is going.
Overall I still see it as a good read.
September 17, 2025
The second book in the Billy Harney series. Loved it.
It was fast paced and suspenseful. I didn't understand all that happened until the end (just like the first book). This story includes police politics/corruption, family drama, human trafficking, Russian mobsters, etc. and finally, justice.
Highly recommend if you like crime thrillers and James Patterson.
It was fast paced and suspenseful. I didn't understand all that happened until the end (just like the first book). This story includes police politics/corruption, family drama, human trafficking, Russian mobsters, etc. and finally, justice.
Highly recommend if you like crime thrillers and James Patterson.
September 29, 2022
Another great Billy Harney book. I highly recommend reading this book only after reading the equally great Billy Harney in The Black Book. Suspenseful and written in Patterson’s traditional, conversational style.
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