Swimsuit by James Patterson

I heart James Patterson. He is one of my favorite authors and Alex Cross is one of my favorite series. When I hear about upcoming releases by Mr. Patterson, they immediately are added to my TBR list. So, I eagerly anticipated the release of Swimsuit.

Granted, I knew very little about the synopsis. A swimsuit model goes missing in Hawaii and her parents head there to learn more about her disappearance. A former cop turned author (also a crime reported for the LA Times) is also on the case. I thought it would be a classic JP style: missing person, lunatic killer and fast-paced plot. Actually, to me, Swimsuit wasn't liked that at all. It was much, much more.

Ben Hawkins meets Levon and Barbara McDaniels, the parents of the missing model Kim, while covering the story for the LA Times. He gains their trust and soon he is privy to meetings and discussions between the police and the McDaniels. He introduces them to Eddie Keloa, a private investigator, who takes on Kim's case.

Meanwhile two more murder victims are found and the police pondered if these crimes are linked to Kim's disappearance. The plot gets scarier when the McDaniels disappear without a trace.

Ben is a likable character. He's a good guy trying to make an honest living. He doesn't know how significant his role will be when he meets the McDaniels. The killer has targeted Ben to write a masterpiece: a book about the killer's murderous spree.

When Henri approaches (okay, threatens) Ben with writing the book, Ben has two choices: write the book or be killed (along with his girlfriend, Amanda). So, I ask you. . .what would your response be if you were Ben? Fearing for both his and Amanda's life, Ben agrees and spends several days interviewing Henri about his violent (and yes, psychopathic past).

What I didn't see coming was Swimsuit being a novel about the killer, not a novel about the missing person. That was a great twist for me. The killer is extremely violent (the scene with the ceiling fan was the worst and that's all I say about that), deep and twisted. The scenes are very graphic and being a visual reader, made it hard to read at times.

As Ben discovered more and more about Henri's relationship with the "Peepers", I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see how this would end. Unfortunately, when the book ended, it ended. I had to read the last few pages several times because I didn't think it could be over. But it was. The ending didn't feel right to me as it was so abrupt. Now looking back, I wonder if it was done intentionally. Maybe Mr. Patterson has plans for Ben in future novels. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-01877-7
Pages: 391
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Date Finished: August 23
Rating: C+

City Dog by Alison Pace

After her divorce, Amy Dodge thought she'd finally write the next Great American Novel. Instead she's now the author of a bestselling children's book series, Run, Carlie, Run! starring her adorable and spirited West Highland White Terrier, Carlie, and a dashing (but fictional) Scottish explorer, Robert Maguire. When Carlie is offered a starring role in her own television show about activities for urban canines, and Robert Maguire begins to take on a life of his own, Amy's world takes a turn toward the surreal.

As Amy finds herself getting cropped out of Carlie's many photo opportunities and unable to get the image of Robert Maguire out of he head, the city she once loved begins to lose it's appeal. But just when Amy starts to think that it's a dog's life after all, she figures out a way to make everything change. And while life in New York isn't always a walk in the park, it might just take Amy and Carlie exactly where they need to be. . .

My review:

Ok, I'll admit it. My initial attraction to this book was its cover. (Seriously, how cute is that dog??) I had seen this book several times while browsing at the book store and just decided to go ahead and buy it.

The story is mainly told by Amy, however Carlie and Robert Maguire appear as needed to share their insights about Amy's life. As much as I enjoyed reading Carlie's perspective, I didn't feel connected to Amy. I felt something was lacking about her character. I did, however, admire her devotion and concern for Carlie.

Overall, I thought it was an okay read. I just expected more from this book. I thought it would be a cute, fun read about a girl living in NYC wanting to make it big, but instead has to live vicariously through her dog. Having the book told by the three different voices was tolerable, however I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it were only Amy and Carlie. Robert Maguire's voice ruined the flow of the story for me.

I did like the ending and thought Amy would see her dreams come true in time. Although this book did not keep my interest, I still think other readers will enjoy it.

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-22143-3
Pages: 288
Year Published: 2008
Genre: Chick Lit
Date Finished: July 31
Rating: C+

The 8th Confession by James Patterson

Title: The 8th Confession
Authors: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Series: The Women's Murder Club #8
ISBN -10: 0316018767
Pages: 352
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Date Finished: May 21

From the dust jacket: Appearances can be deceiving.

As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching-waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home.

But the truth can be deadly.

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed-a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls though the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

Let the confessions begin.

As the hunt for two criminals test the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly betwen Cindy and Lindsay's partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revleations as only James Patterson can. And remember, this is the only Murder Club episode of the year.

First sentence: The old chrome-yellow school bus crawled south on Market Street at half past seven that May morning.

My review: The 8th Confession begins with a bombing of a school bus. Next Cindy Thomas discovers the mutilated body of a homeless man. Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich Conklin are working both cases. Things quickly get complicated when the super-rich are being targeted. Medical examiner Claire Washburn is stomped on the cause of their deaths. To her, it's the perfect crime: no evidence has been left behind.

Meanwhile, Yuki Castellano is prosecuting a woman on trial for murdering her father and the attempted murder of her mother. Yuki cannot afford to lose this case. If she does, she fears she will also be out of a job.

As much as I love JP and this series, this book was a letdown for me. About page 100 or so, I just didn't care about the killer's identity, the plot or the characters. In prior books, The Women's Murder Club played a significant role in solving the crimes. In this book, however the characters' interactions didn't flow. They appeared to be "too separate" for me. Claire was hardly mentioned at all. The storyline for Yuki was abrupt and somewhat disappointing when she met the cute doctor.

I did mange to finish it only because I think JP may be taking the characters in a new direction. I'm curious to see what will happen with Lindsay's relationship with Joe. Despite feeling disappointed, I will continue reading the rest of this series, and of course more of JP's books.

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

Title: Handle with Care
Author: Jodi Picoult
ISBN-10: 0743296419
Pages: 477
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Date Finished: March 22

From the dust jacket: Things break all the time. Day breaks, waves break, voices break. Promises break. Hearts break. Every expectant parent will tell you that they don’t want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they’d been give the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of “luckier” parents, and maybe worst of all, the what-ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it’s all worth it because Willow is, well, funny as it seems, perfect. She’s smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five-year-old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health.

Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what-ifs of all. What if Charlotte should have known earlier of Willow’s illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life?

First sentence: Things break all the time.

My review: When I first started reading Handle with Care, I immediately thought of My Sister’s Keeper. The similarities between the two novels were hard to ignore. As I began to read more, I quickly forgot about My Sister’s Keeper and found myself easily immersed in the story.
Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe were trying to have a baby. Just when they started to give up hope, Charlotte found out she was pregnant. Fortunately for Charlotte, her best friend Piper, is an OB-GYN. Despite their personal relationship, Piper agrees to be Charlotte’s physician. This decision will later haunt Piper.

Charlotte gives birth to Willow, a beautiful girl who is diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta or OI. Sean and Charlotte devote all their time and attention to Willow to make sure she gets the proper care. When they decide to take a family vacation with their oldest daughter, Amelia, the world as they know it will forever be changed.

The events that occurred during their vacation will lead Charlotte down the path, which some may easily say is harsh, unnecessary and selfish. But is it? It’s easy for one to be quick and judge Charlotte for what she decides to do, however the judgment is based on just a small portion of what you currently see. It’s not based on Charlotte’s life 24/7.

What Charlotte decides to do, to her, is best for Willow, while at the same time it destroys others’ lives. While it may appear as though this was an easy decision for Charlotte to make, she struggles with it daily. While she’s looking out for Willow’s future, she’s also sacrificing her marriage and the relationship she has with Amelia. She’s also ruining her best friend’s career, not to mention her self-worth.

True to Ms. Picoult’s style, Handle with Care will touch upon ethical issues, leaving the reader thinking long after the story has ended.

My thoughts on the ending: Early in the book, I knew how the story would end. After I read the last sentence, I wondered if Ms. Picoult did this intentionally. Having said that, the event that occurred at the end, was disappointing to me. All that happened, and this is how the story ended? It was a bit odd to me. I thought perhaps the ending could have remained the same, however the event that led up to the ending could have been different. I don’t want to reveal too much, as I’m afraid I will spoil the ending!

Random thoughts: Jodi Picoult quickly became a favorite author after I read My Sister’s Keeper in 2007. Since that time, I’ve been reading her books, with the goal of reading them all (I have six more to read). Nineteen Minutes is my favorite of hers. It was such an emotional read. I’ve attended three of her book signings and encourage all of her devoted readers to RUN, not walk, if she’s coming to your city. She’s fun and energetic and very personable. To anyone who has never read any of her books, I recommend, Nineteen Minutes, My Sister’s Keeper, The Pact, Change of Heart, Salem Falls and A Perfect Match.

Run for Your Life by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Title: Run for Your Life
Authors: James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Series: Michael Bennett #2
ISBN-10: 0316018740
Pages: 373
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Date Finished: February 22

From the dust jacket: A calculating murderer who calls himself the Teacher is taking on New York City, slaughtering the powerful and the arrogant. Everyone is his potential student—from the loud-mouthed girl on her cell phone to the city's snooty upper crust. His message to them is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences! For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror.

There is only one man in the NYPD who can tackle such a high-profile case. Detective Michael Bennett. For anyone else, the pressure would be overwhelming, but Mike is ready to step up—taking care of his ten children has prepared him for the job. As the media frenzy escalates, all of Mike's children fall victim to virulent flu bug—almost as challenging an assignment for Bennett as tracking down the killer!

A secret pattern emerges in the Teacher's lessons, leaving Detective Bennett just a few precious hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. Run for Your Life is the most speed-charged, adrenaline-packed novel ever from "the man who can't miss" (Time magazine).

First sentence: Getting stuck on a bus in New York City, even under normal circumstances, is a lesson in frustration.

My review: When I read Step on a Crack, the first novel featuring Michael Bennett, I did not know it was the start of a new series. Michael Bennett is a character that is easy to like. He's a dedicated police detective, but sometimes fantasizes about a career change. He's determined to make the streets of NYC safe. At the end of the day, Detective Bennett wants to be a great dad to his ten children. Having just lost his wife to cancer, Mike tries to pick up the pieces and move on while dealing with his grief. He stumbles and sometimes makes mistakes, but his family is his first priority.

While taking care of his sick children, he's also dealing with a serial killer: the Teacher. At first the string of murderers appear to be random, but soon Mike learns the victims were targeted. The question is why? As Mike races to find the answer to this question, little does he realize the Teacher just added a new name to his list.

True to Mr. Patterson's style, Run for Your Life is packed with suspense and twists and turns. The chapters are short, so it's easy to find yourself reading 50 pages before you know it.