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Private #2
Private London
SOMETIMES WHEN THE NIGHTMARE ENDS - THE TERROR IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING
For Hannah Shapiro, a beautiful young American student, this particular nightmare began eight years ago in Los Angeles, when Jack Morgan, owner of Private - the world's most exclusive detective agency - saved her from a horrific death. She has fled her country, but can't flee her past. The terror has followed her to London, and now it is down to former Royal Military Police Sergeant Dan Carter, head of Private London, to save her all over again.
In central London, young women are being abducted off the street. When the bodies are found, some days later, they have been mutilated in a particularly mysterious way. Dan Carter's ex-wife, DI Kirsty Webb, is involved in the investigation and it looks likely that the two cases are gruesomely linked.
Dan Carter draws on the whole resources of Private International in a desperate race against the odds. But the clock is ticking... Private may be the largest and most technologically advanced detection agency in the world, but the only thing they don't have is the one thing they need - time.
James Patterson's white-knuckle rollercoaster has just reached London. Buckle up, it's one hell of a ride!
For Hannah Shapiro, a beautiful young American student, this particular nightmare began eight years ago in Los Angeles, when Jack Morgan, owner of Private - the world's most exclusive detective agency - saved her from a horrific death. She has fled her country, but can't flee her past. The terror has followed her to London, and now it is down to former Royal Military Police Sergeant Dan Carter, head of Private London, to save her all over again.
In central London, young women are being abducted off the street. When the bodies are found, some days later, they have been mutilated in a particularly mysterious way. Dan Carter's ex-wife, DI Kirsty Webb, is involved in the investigation and it looks likely that the two cases are gruesomely linked.
Dan Carter draws on the whole resources of Private International in a desperate race against the odds. But the clock is ticking... Private may be the largest and most technologically advanced detection agency in the world, but the only thing they don't have is the one thing they need - time.
James Patterson's white-knuckle rollercoaster has just reached London. Buckle up, it's one hell of a ride!
364 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2011
About the author
James Patterson
1,184 books350k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,144 reviews
November 10, 2023
Yet another competent and gripping Patterson thriller, although in this case the style of co-writer Mark Pearson is evident and complimentary to (that is, improves on) James Patterson's. Kidnapping, murders, rape, twists and turns, and all set in London! A bit darker than normal Patterson fare, and as ever a definite page turner. 6 out of 12 Three Stars.
2012 read
2012 read
January 14, 2012
At the end of Chapter 108, (this man writes in incredibly short breathy chapters and there are tons of them), Patterson has his hero saying, on being asked if he is ready for a fight, 'I resisted the temptation to say that I was born ready '. Throughout this novel I think it is probably the only hard man/tough guy cliche he does resist. Every cocky, cool, hip or wanky (choose your term) phrase that has ever passed the lips of a cocky, cool, hip, wanky bloke passes this wanker's lips (oops sorry i think I may have nailed my colours to the mast a tad too clearly).
Having said that the story is exciting and I presume that is why it is constructed with those mini chapters. Admittedly I was listening on audio rather than reading but I presume it is the same construction in the novel. It does keep the story moving but sometimes the divisions seem very bizarre and unnecessary, breaking up the flow of the story so as to create a breathiness which annoys.
The main character, Dan Carter, is a total arse. I think you are supposed to admire him and be impressed by his sang-froid and wittiness, his confidence in his ability with women, his muscular build (he is at pains to tell us about his gym sessions and how much he presses), but he is an arse. The story is of brutal kidnap of a young american student sent to the UK for safety reasons by her extraordinarily wealthy father and running alongside that is the secondary storyline of a serial killer who kills and removes fingers from each corpse, each victim seemingly totally unconnected. The uncovering of truth and counter-truth, the deepening crisis as the true nature of the kidnap unfolds, of victims and perpetrators is fascinating and is believable but I still can never get over my annoyance at the cocky prat who is Dan Carter.
Everyone in London in this novel seems physically to gather in extremes. You are either in the beautiful team, and this is physically cos in that team you may be horrible just as easily as noble or you lurk in the ugly team. The only exceptions are shy nervous types who, when they succeed at something have a flush that comes to their cheeks which make Carter appraise them slightly differently...well if they are women anyway. No man flushes attractively it seems in London or at least not to the macho Carter. He is a new man though, he is very comfortable with his bi-sexual female assistant and has an ex-wife, gorgeous of course, with unresolved issues.
If you can get over Carter's macho bullshit, if you can block out the fact that he has taken a correspondence course in 'how-to-sound-cool-and-be-butch' oh and he knows lots about english literature, his favourite book is 'The beautiful and the damned' and he quotes from, amongst others, both Gerald Manley Hopkins and Shakespeare, then you might enjoy this. It is quick moving, it is, if not intricately plotted, then at least cleverly so and the violence seems never to be gratuitous but necessary for the plot.
Story 3, Hero -1, hence 2
ps. I forgot to add I had another minor frisson of pleasure as for the second time in as many weeks one of the characters had Skelton as their surname. Childish but always fun.
Having said that the story is exciting and I presume that is why it is constructed with those mini chapters. Admittedly I was listening on audio rather than reading but I presume it is the same construction in the novel. It does keep the story moving but sometimes the divisions seem very bizarre and unnecessary, breaking up the flow of the story so as to create a breathiness which annoys.
The main character, Dan Carter, is a total arse. I think you are supposed to admire him and be impressed by his sang-froid and wittiness, his confidence in his ability with women, his muscular build (he is at pains to tell us about his gym sessions and how much he presses), but he is an arse. The story is of brutal kidnap of a young american student sent to the UK for safety reasons by her extraordinarily wealthy father and running alongside that is the secondary storyline of a serial killer who kills and removes fingers from each corpse, each victim seemingly totally unconnected. The uncovering of truth and counter-truth, the deepening crisis as the true nature of the kidnap unfolds, of victims and perpetrators is fascinating and is believable but I still can never get over my annoyance at the cocky prat who is Dan Carter.
Everyone in London in this novel seems physically to gather in extremes. You are either in the beautiful team, and this is physically cos in that team you may be horrible just as easily as noble or you lurk in the ugly team. The only exceptions are shy nervous types who, when they succeed at something have a flush that comes to their cheeks which make Carter appraise them slightly differently...well if they are women anyway. No man flushes attractively it seems in London or at least not to the macho Carter. He is a new man though, he is very comfortable with his bi-sexual female assistant and has an ex-wife, gorgeous of course, with unresolved issues.
If you can get over Carter's macho bullshit, if you can block out the fact that he has taken a correspondence course in 'how-to-sound-cool-and-be-butch' oh and he knows lots about english literature, his favourite book is 'The beautiful and the damned' and he quotes from, amongst others, both Gerald Manley Hopkins and Shakespeare, then you might enjoy this. It is quick moving, it is, if not intricately plotted, then at least cleverly so and the violence seems never to be gratuitous but necessary for the plot.
Story 3, Hero -1, hence 2
ps. I forgot to add I had another minor frisson of pleasure as for the second time in as many weeks one of the characters had Skelton as their surname. Childish but always fun.
February 13, 2018
I hate writing negative reviews, but the characters in this book were just not likeable. Only a few were even remotely enjoyable to read about. It was like reading the characters of Jaws, the characters were very unsympathetic. Which is a shame because the crime plot on the serial killer was not bad at all; it was the characters that tanked the book for me.
My quick and simple overall: just did not connect with the characters.
My quick and simple overall: just did not connect with the characters.
August 18, 2015
I did not like London.
I liked Jack. I did not like Dan.
Jack is smooth (book one). Dan is cocky (and wrong...a lot).
Too many characters and threads being pulled and maneuvered to get any real grip on this story. Very thin writing led to unsatisfying conclusions and a story wrapped up quickly, but was complicated getting there.
I listened to this on audio and it did nothing to enhance my interest. Most likely not the narrator's fault. Let's leave that to the writer himself.
I liked Jack. I did not like Dan.
Jack is smooth (book one). Dan is cocky (and wrong...a lot).
Too many characters and threads being pulled and maneuvered to get any real grip on this story. Very thin writing led to unsatisfying conclusions and a story wrapped up quickly, but was complicated getting there.
I listened to this on audio and it did nothing to enhance my interest. Most likely not the narrator's fault. Let's leave that to the writer himself.
April 7, 2019
I’m a sucker for Patterson’s work as many of you know. The past few days, I’ve been sick with the stomach bug and have not left my bed much (other than 5million trips to the bathroom), so I needed a mindless, easy-breezy read. Patterson is my go-to for this prescription. I’m happy to say, Private LONDON, was just what the doctor ordered. It was a good story that kept me guessing. 4 stars for this one.
February 23, 2016
the second crime book I've read and loved it. There were a few twists I didn't see coming and then there were things I suspected. It's a hard book to put down
February 13, 2013
Private London Review
I’m not through with this book yet, but felt compelled to review it anyway. And I’m sorry, but this will not be a favorable review. If you’re a fan of the Private series – stop reading now.
Although I am not an avid reader of James Patterson novels, I do like his novels, particularly the Alex Cross series and the Women’s Murder Club. So, I feel I’m acquainted with his style. That said, I think the only thing about this particular book that reeks of James Patterson is his name splashed across the cover. If he contributed anything other than the basic idea (Hey – I’ve got this idea for a series! We’ll build stories around a private investigative service with offices worldwide, with one author writing about the owner, and different writers each writing about a different agent of the organization. Yeah. And we’ll say the series is written by me with whomever that other writer is.). In fact, if he contributed any more to this book than what is in parenthesis above, I wouldn’t admit it if I were him.
First, the author (and I don’t mean Patterson), seems to be a fan of noir fiction or maybe he’s channeling Raymond Chandler. While the novel is set in present time, the main character has all the earmarks of those noir P.I.s, right down to addressing a woman, a London police detective at that (albeit his ex-wife) as “Dollface.” Dollface? Really?
This character, who is investigating a kidnapping in which his god daughter is grievously injured, is a bundle of mixed up inconsistencies. Hell-bent for revenge one minute, backing down the next, blustering through in a take-the-devil fashion in one scene and being cowed in another. And there’s the matter of his libido. Evidently every woman is fair game, and even when he goes to the Intensive Care Unit to visit his comatose god daughter, he spends his time ogling her visitor, describing her figure and attire while imagining definite “sparks” between them, even noting the remarkable figure of the injured girl's mother -- and then goes home to find his ex-wife waiting for him and, yes, they end up in bed. Yep. One cold horn dog.
Then, let’s address the writing specifics. Plotting. Okay. It moves along and has interesting twists and turns. Characterization (and I’m now on page 224 of 373, so I’d expect characterizations of main characters to be fleshed out by now) kinda sucks. While I know a lot about Dan Carter, the main character, I don’t know much about his sidekick, Sam, nor the injured god daughter – and only back story on the kidnapped girl, Hannah. There are things about a couple of other characters that I think are intentionally withheld to be revealed later – and that’s okay by me – but the basic characterizations are just missing. I don’t relate to the characters; I neither love them nor do I hate them – so far, I’ve not been given a reason to have any feeling at all about them.
There are no real mistakes in spelling or grammar – I’d assume that’s thanks to Patterson’s resources. For that I’m grateful, because if my progress in the book were being stopped by those problems even more often than it already is, I would have long ago thrown the book across the room and moved on to the next novel in my bookcase.
The use of short (read that miniscule) chapters is driving me crazy. I don’t mind chapters that aren’t lengthy as long as they complete a scene and leave me at a spot where I could easily put in a bookmark and go about my real life. As I’ve noted in other reviews, with this book I feel like I’m reading a movie script. The chapters are never more than a few pages (maybe 4) long and often it takes more than one chapter to complete a scene. I feel like the author is breaking for a commercial. Chapter 39 is a whopping 1 page long. Well, really just half a page as it doesn’t even start until halfway down the page. 40 is about 3 pages long (the 1st page being just ½ and the 4th being just ½) and ends exactly where the 2 page long chapter 41 begins. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGH. Either this author thinks his readers are idiots with the attention span of a gnat or he just sits down to write and when he’s done a little bit, calls it a chapter and goes for a latte.
Hopefully, if Patterson’s plan is to stay with his “co-authors” and their characters, this particular character, Dan Carter will just fade away.
Oh – and by the way, whose intellectual property would the character Dan Carter be? Patterson’s or the co-author, Mark Pearson’s?
I’ve decided not to waste my time with any of the other books in this series. This one? I’m determined to finish it, even though I literally have to make myself pick it up every day to read some more. I refuse to skip to the last chapter (maybe two or three In this case…) to just find out what happens. But, then again, reading is supposed to be enjoyable – isn’t it?
Feb 13th
Well, I finally finished the book -- all 116 chapters in 364 pages. That's about 3 and a fraction pages per chapter (Kat shakes her head and sighs -- loudly).
I will say that if you can manage to slog through the first 70 or so chapters, the pace picks up, the action starts zipping along, ends get tied up (sort of) and the last 40 or so chapters go much faster than the first 3/4 of the book. I found it extremely funny that this main character, Dan Carter, who sounds like an escapee from a Sam Spade novel, makes fun of someone in the final chapters who says "Don't do this, man. We can work something out." by thinking 'Man? Was he living in the 1960s?' But at least he wrote 1960s correctly -- without an apostrophe.
I found the ending to be far fetched, unsatisfying and downright unbelievable. Red herrings and clues -- all given at least their due 3 page chapter -- with no connections, no clues as to why any event was or wasn't important. This or that character is depicted as good, then bad, then good again. To tell you the truth, the storyline wasn't worth trying to puzzle them all together.
So, nice try at the finish, Mark Pearson, but no gold stars for you. And, although it may be unfair to the other authors in this series, and I could be cutting off my nose to spite my face, so to speak, I will not read another book in the series.
I’m not through with this book yet, but felt compelled to review it anyway. And I’m sorry, but this will not be a favorable review. If you’re a fan of the Private series – stop reading now.
Although I am not an avid reader of James Patterson novels, I do like his novels, particularly the Alex Cross series and the Women’s Murder Club. So, I feel I’m acquainted with his style. That said, I think the only thing about this particular book that reeks of James Patterson is his name splashed across the cover. If he contributed anything other than the basic idea (Hey – I’ve got this idea for a series! We’ll build stories around a private investigative service with offices worldwide, with one author writing about the owner, and different writers each writing about a different agent of the organization. Yeah. And we’ll say the series is written by me with whomever that other writer is.). In fact, if he contributed any more to this book than what is in parenthesis above, I wouldn’t admit it if I were him.
First, the author (and I don’t mean Patterson), seems to be a fan of noir fiction or maybe he’s channeling Raymond Chandler. While the novel is set in present time, the main character has all the earmarks of those noir P.I.s, right down to addressing a woman, a London police detective at that (albeit his ex-wife) as “Dollface.” Dollface? Really?
This character, who is investigating a kidnapping in which his god daughter is grievously injured, is a bundle of mixed up inconsistencies. Hell-bent for revenge one minute, backing down the next, blustering through in a take-the-devil fashion in one scene and being cowed in another. And there’s the matter of his libido. Evidently every woman is fair game, and even when he goes to the Intensive Care Unit to visit his comatose god daughter, he spends his time ogling her visitor, describing her figure and attire while imagining definite “sparks” between them, even noting the remarkable figure of the injured girl's mother -- and then goes home to find his ex-wife waiting for him and, yes, they end up in bed. Yep. One cold horn dog.
Then, let’s address the writing specifics. Plotting. Okay. It moves along and has interesting twists and turns. Characterization (and I’m now on page 224 of 373, so I’d expect characterizations of main characters to be fleshed out by now) kinda sucks. While I know a lot about Dan Carter, the main character, I don’t know much about his sidekick, Sam, nor the injured god daughter – and only back story on the kidnapped girl, Hannah. There are things about a couple of other characters that I think are intentionally withheld to be revealed later – and that’s okay by me – but the basic characterizations are just missing. I don’t relate to the characters; I neither love them nor do I hate them – so far, I’ve not been given a reason to have any feeling at all about them.
There are no real mistakes in spelling or grammar – I’d assume that’s thanks to Patterson’s resources. For that I’m grateful, because if my progress in the book were being stopped by those problems even more often than it already is, I would have long ago thrown the book across the room and moved on to the next novel in my bookcase.
The use of short (read that miniscule) chapters is driving me crazy. I don’t mind chapters that aren’t lengthy as long as they complete a scene and leave me at a spot where I could easily put in a bookmark and go about my real life. As I’ve noted in other reviews, with this book I feel like I’m reading a movie script. The chapters are never more than a few pages (maybe 4) long and often it takes more than one chapter to complete a scene. I feel like the author is breaking for a commercial. Chapter 39 is a whopping 1 page long. Well, really just half a page as it doesn’t even start until halfway down the page. 40 is about 3 pages long (the 1st page being just ½ and the 4th being just ½) and ends exactly where the 2 page long chapter 41 begins. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGH. Either this author thinks his readers are idiots with the attention span of a gnat or he just sits down to write and when he’s done a little bit, calls it a chapter and goes for a latte.
Hopefully, if Patterson’s plan is to stay with his “co-authors” and their characters, this particular character, Dan Carter will just fade away.
Oh – and by the way, whose intellectual property would the character Dan Carter be? Patterson’s or the co-author, Mark Pearson’s?
I’ve decided not to waste my time with any of the other books in this series. This one? I’m determined to finish it, even though I literally have to make myself pick it up every day to read some more. I refuse to skip to the last chapter (maybe two or three In this case…) to just find out what happens. But, then again, reading is supposed to be enjoyable – isn’t it?
Feb 13th
Well, I finally finished the book -- all 116 chapters in 364 pages. That's about 3 and a fraction pages per chapter (Kat shakes her head and sighs -- loudly).
I will say that if you can manage to slog through the first 70 or so chapters, the pace picks up, the action starts zipping along, ends get tied up (sort of) and the last 40 or so chapters go much faster than the first 3/4 of the book. I found it extremely funny that this main character, Dan Carter, who sounds like an escapee from a Sam Spade novel, makes fun of someone in the final chapters who says "Don't do this, man. We can work something out." by thinking 'Man? Was he living in the 1960s?' But at least he wrote 1960s correctly -- without an apostrophe.
I found the ending to be far fetched, unsatisfying and downright unbelievable. Red herrings and clues -- all given at least their due 3 page chapter -- with no connections, no clues as to why any event was or wasn't important. This or that character is depicted as good, then bad, then good again. To tell you the truth, the storyline wasn't worth trying to puzzle them all together.
So, nice try at the finish, Mark Pearson, but no gold stars for you. And, although it may be unfair to the other authors in this series, and I could be cutting off my nose to spite my face, so to speak, I will not read another book in the series.
July 30, 2011
I listened to the audiobook and was not all that impressed with the book at all. Perhaps it is just me, or Patterson's co-author in this series is just not grabbing me. I said it after book 1, but really, this series should stop sooner than later... as it just does not have the grip that his others do.
It could be the reader, I suppose, but I am not feeling the plot as much as I do with the other series, particularly WMC and AC.
Poor storyline and character development, as well as presentation... stop now, while readers don't judge all books under this rubirc!
It could be the reader, I suppose, but I am not feeling the plot as much as I do with the other series, particularly WMC and AC.
Poor storyline and character development, as well as presentation... stop now, while readers don't judge all books under this rubirc!
May 27, 2016
Plot twist after plot twist.
I absolutely loved it! I loved the new characters, I loved the story, and I loved the conclusion. I cannot wait to read more from the London office! Until then I'll have to find myself a copy of Private Berlin to see how the German team does!
I absolutely loved it! I loved the new characters, I loved the story, and I loved the conclusion. I cannot wait to read more from the London office! Until then I'll have to find myself a copy of Private Berlin to see how the German team does!
December 29, 2015
Loving this series wish he could bring more out where private is set around the world
April 19, 2024
Forgot how good this book is.
July 12, 2024
Flowed well, lots going on. New characters in this chapter and set in London.
January 7, 2013
Did you enjoy James Patterson's first novel in the Private series featuring Jack Morgan - an ex-military turned Private Investigator . Since the first book, where Jack decided to go into the Private Eye business , we have read in Private London that his business has boomed and there are now offices all around the world. The second book in the series "Private London" takes us to his London office where Jack has employed another ex-military cop called Dan Carter , as a New Zealander this made me chuckle as one of our All Black Rugby Players who was the pin-up of the team was also called Dan Carter. The novel starts on 9 September 2003 , a significant date for three of the main characters in the novel , a day that started out awesome and a wonderful occasion ending in heartbreak and terror. For Hannah Shapiro, it was the day she watched her mother be murdered and for Dan Carter it was the day he lost his best friends in an landmine explosion in Iraq. The two brought together seven years later because of one man - Jack Morgan. Looking out for Hannah, Jack is sending her to England to attend University however she needs a distant bodyguard and companion , this is where Dan enters - he will be her bodyguard and his god-daughter Chloe ,her best friend and companion.
However one night , things take a turn for the worse and we see that seven years later - an attack similiar to the one that eerily occured is happening again as we see one friend in a coma and the other kidnapped. Across town , there are also a number of murders occuring , are they related to each other ?
Will Jack and Dan be able to save Chloe and Hannah or is Private London over before it's even got it's feet off the ground.
Find out in the new Jack Morgan series "Private" by James Patterson and Mark Pearson.
However one night , things take a turn for the worse and we see that seven years later - an attack similiar to the one that eerily occured is happening again as we see one friend in a coma and the other kidnapped. Across town , there are also a number of murders occuring , are they related to each other ?
Will Jack and Dan be able to save Chloe and Hannah or is Private London over before it's even got it's feet off the ground.
Find out in the new Jack Morgan series "Private" by James Patterson and Mark Pearson.
August 23, 2011
Does anyone else feel like James Patterson and his cohorts have become the Mills and Boon of the thriller genre? Churning out thinly researched books as fast as they can, with little regard for quality or consistency.
This particular novel is based around the flawed premise that a private firm would have the reach, resources and forensics capabilities above and beyond a government funded security organisation (MI5, CIA, FBI etc). The first book in the series was ok, this time I didn't buy it.
Appearing hastily written to a formula, the storyline was tedious and the ending apparent before halfway. Hardly suspenseful or thrilling, and probably the last Patterson (plus whoever) book I will read!
This particular novel is based around the flawed premise that a private firm would have the reach, resources and forensics capabilities above and beyond a government funded security organisation (MI5, CIA, FBI etc). The first book in the series was ok, this time I didn't buy it.
Appearing hastily written to a formula, the storyline was tedious and the ending apparent before halfway. Hardly suspenseful or thrilling, and probably the last Patterson (plus whoever) book I will read!
October 23, 2016
3.5 Stars. An enjoyable read. An intriguing abduction takes place in London, and it turns out to have a quite unforeseen reason for the abduction. On top of this we also have a serial murderer on the loose, whose signature is chopping the third finger off! This is a good light read, as usual with James Patterson, with short sharp chapters and a plot that moves quickly. If you are looking for an in-depth plot and great characterisation this isn't the book for you, but it is a good break from books of this nature. I will happily continue with the series from time to time.
Read
November 4, 2020If I had to sum up Private London up in just one word - that word would have to be 'ludicrous'. I am a big fan of James Patterson and though I know it wasn't written by him it does come from his stable of writers, coauthored by Mark Pearson as it is. So, surely Patterson must carry some responsibility for this travesty.
Spoiler alert!!!!!
I listened to the audio version of this story. First off, we come across the narrator who plays Dan Carter our 'hero' for want of a better word. He must have one of the most irritating, grating, nauseating voices I have heard so far from any audiobook actor (maybe if I had read the book rather than listened to it my feelings might be slightly different but I can't say). Now, back that awful narration up with some of the worst dialogue and scenes and you have a flimsy character. Desperate to sound cool, Carter comes across as a vain idiot with sexist cliches galore. Of course, he has the stereotypical backstory of suffering PTSD, which is a vital prerequisite for such a character - hooray. But overall he is weak and dull. Indeed, if this joker ever crosses paths with Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne or even James Bond, there would only be a bloody mess with bits of Carter left strewn all over the place.
Then there is Private itself, a global network of PIs under one umbrella organisation. Every opportunity is taken to let readers know about the sophisticated setup that is the Private enterprise - this global network of private detectives is above the Law and has access to technologies the rest of law enforcement can only dream of.
Next is the plot. What a shambles. In a desperate attempt to keep the reader guessing and engaged to the bitter end, it is strewn with blatant red herrings. It is the only way you can get through the story - 'how does it all tie together?' you keep asking yourself as you plod and persevere through. And that's the point, it doesn't but who cares, you've bought the book/CDs already so it's too late. In the author's desperation to create something unique and appealing to the contemporary reader we end up being treated to a fair amount of Islamophobia & xenophobia amongst the muddle of ideas (plenty of anti-Palestinian sentiments aired including a face veil wearing Hispanic supporter of Palestinian liberation would you believe?) - so this should at least appeal to the many Trumpophiles out there. Couple that with a pseudo-lesbian professor and a damsel in distress suffering a variation of the Stockholm syndrome to confuse matters further. Then throw in an East London old-school mob selling drugs and engaged in porn just to make sure we know we're still in London, and top off with a mysterious serial killer who cuts off fingers from her victims postmortem and you have a broth that is a tasteless mess. No more from the Private series for me. I'll stick to those James Paterson books where only HIS name appears on the cover.
Spoiler alert!!!!!
I listened to the audio version of this story. First off, we come across the narrator who plays Dan Carter our 'hero' for want of a better word. He must have one of the most irritating, grating, nauseating voices I have heard so far from any audiobook actor (maybe if I had read the book rather than listened to it my feelings might be slightly different but I can't say). Now, back that awful narration up with some of the worst dialogue and scenes and you have a flimsy character. Desperate to sound cool, Carter comes across as a vain idiot with sexist cliches galore. Of course, he has the stereotypical backstory of suffering PTSD, which is a vital prerequisite for such a character - hooray. But overall he is weak and dull. Indeed, if this joker ever crosses paths with Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne or even James Bond, there would only be a bloody mess with bits of Carter left strewn all over the place.
Then there is Private itself, a global network of PIs under one umbrella organisation. Every opportunity is taken to let readers know about the sophisticated setup that is the Private enterprise - this global network of private detectives is above the Law and has access to technologies the rest of law enforcement can only dream of.
Next is the plot. What a shambles. In a desperate attempt to keep the reader guessing and engaged to the bitter end, it is strewn with blatant red herrings. It is the only way you can get through the story - 'how does it all tie together?' you keep asking yourself as you plod and persevere through. And that's the point, it doesn't but who cares, you've bought the book/CDs already so it's too late. In the author's desperation to create something unique and appealing to the contemporary reader we end up being treated to a fair amount of Islamophobia & xenophobia amongst the muddle of ideas (plenty of anti-Palestinian sentiments aired including a face veil wearing Hispanic supporter of Palestinian liberation would you believe?) - so this should at least appeal to the many Trumpophiles out there. Couple that with a pseudo-lesbian professor and a damsel in distress suffering a variation of the Stockholm syndrome to confuse matters further. Then throw in an East London old-school mob selling drugs and engaged in porn just to make sure we know we're still in London, and top off with a mysterious serial killer who cuts off fingers from her victims postmortem and you have a broth that is a tasteless mess. No more from the Private series for me. I'll stick to those James Paterson books where only HIS name appears on the cover.
November 23, 2014
So this is my first Patterson book I read. Well, I did read the Maximum Ride manga series. But having read read a Patterson book, this would be it then. And it was a very promising start in me wanting to check his other series.
I started reading this one, not knowing its part of a series. But once I started the first page, I kept going. I also liked the pace and where the story was going.
The chapters while short, kept the suspense interesting. Same with the characters, what with one case happening and other going. The different POV's didn't feel crowded but added to the story. Looking forward to starting the first one in the series than the rest.
I started reading this one, not knowing its part of a series. But once I started the first page, I kept going. I also liked the pace and where the story was going.
The chapters while short, kept the suspense interesting. Same with the characters, what with one case happening and other going. The different POV's didn't feel crowded but added to the story. Looking forward to starting the first one in the series than the rest.
October 31, 2020
I enjoyed this installment of the Private series more than some of the predecessors. Interesting London Office employees and back story.
February 17, 2013
This was such a smooth read, I couldn't stop. I barreled through the 364 pages like a maniac reader on a rampage. Former Royal Military Police officer Dan Carter, now working for the worldwide powerhouse private detective firm of Private is given charge of college student Hannah Shapiro. He is to take her to London from the USA so she can go to college. His college grad god-daughter Chloe is to enroll in classes and pretend to be a student when she is really helping watch Hannah.
Years earlier at the age of 13, Hannah and her mother had been kidnapped. When her mega-rich daddy refused to "deal with terrorists" by paying ransom, Hannah is forced to watch her mother be raped and then murdered. Just before the kidnappers could rape her, Jack Morgan of Private burst on the scene and rescued her.
One night, Hannah is out drinking with Chloe and her other room mate Laura when Chloe's drink is drugged and Laura and Hannah appear to be attacked with Hannah kidnapped. Chloe tries to intervene and is almost beaten to death with a ball bat and left for dead. Hannah was kidnapped-or was she part of a plot? Who all is involved? Who knows what? Dan must find her with the help of Private team members but is she kidnapped or part of a sinister plot to get her father to London? And who is killing women and stealing body parts? Who killed a man and stole his heart? Why are their ring fingers being stolen? Who is that woman in a burka and why does Hannah's college tutor speak Arabic? Why is someone putting fingers in a box at the grave of a 9 year old dead girl named Emily's grave? And was Dan wise to sleep with his ex-wife on what would have been their 10th anniversary even if they are both trying to solve the same cases?
Join James Patterson and co-writer Mark Pearson on a wild and thrilling ride to solve this mystery.
Only one problem here. If one is going to drag Al Qaeda into stories to demonize them, please get the facts straight. Al Qaeda does NOT want to make the world Muslim. They just want to get those who stole Palestinian land out of there and they are pissed with the UK and the USA for their involvement. Al Qaeda's members are more intellectual and better educated than a truly religiously motivated group like the Taliban whose members are not well educated. Turning the world Muslim is a goal of the Taliban but not Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda only framed things along religious lines when the USA began demonizing Muslims as a means to grow sympathy. These are not mullahs. Bin Laden had a doctorate in engineering and was not religious. I've recently been deep in research about both groups and if I can research it, so can Patterson.
Years earlier at the age of 13, Hannah and her mother had been kidnapped. When her mega-rich daddy refused to "deal with terrorists" by paying ransom, Hannah is forced to watch her mother be raped and then murdered. Just before the kidnappers could rape her, Jack Morgan of Private burst on the scene and rescued her.
One night, Hannah is out drinking with Chloe and her other room mate Laura when Chloe's drink is drugged and Laura and Hannah appear to be attacked with Hannah kidnapped. Chloe tries to intervene and is almost beaten to death with a ball bat and left for dead. Hannah was kidnapped-or was she part of a plot? Who all is involved? Who knows what? Dan must find her with the help of Private team members but is she kidnapped or part of a sinister plot to get her father to London? And who is killing women and stealing body parts? Who killed a man and stole his heart? Why are their ring fingers being stolen? Who is that woman in a burka and why does Hannah's college tutor speak Arabic? Why is someone putting fingers in a box at the grave of a 9 year old dead girl named Emily's grave? And was Dan wise to sleep with his ex-wife on what would have been their 10th anniversary even if they are both trying to solve the same cases?
Join James Patterson and co-writer Mark Pearson on a wild and thrilling ride to solve this mystery.
Only one problem here. If one is going to drag Al Qaeda into stories to demonize them, please get the facts straight. Al Qaeda does NOT want to make the world Muslim. They just want to get those who stole Palestinian land out of there and they are pissed with the UK and the USA for their involvement. Al Qaeda's members are more intellectual and better educated than a truly religiously motivated group like the Taliban whose members are not well educated. Turning the world Muslim is a goal of the Taliban but not Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda only framed things along religious lines when the USA began demonizing Muslims as a means to grow sympathy. These are not mullahs. Bin Laden had a doctorate in engineering and was not religious. I've recently been deep in research about both groups and if I can research it, so can Patterson.
December 6, 2016
Think of Private London (Dan Carter) as Private's (Jack Morgan) not as smart or as charming younger brother.
Private London is a sub part of the Private Organization. It is run by Dan Carter, a former royal military police sergeant, who is even more closed off and private than world Private leader Jack Morgan. Jack trusts Dan to keep an eye on Hannah Shaprio, the daughter of one of Private's top clients, who Jack has saved before. Of course, Dan screws up and Hannah is again kidnapped.
In another totally unrelated story, Dan's ex-wife, Kirsty Webb (are we suppose to care about her? I don't even know if I care about Dan) is working on a case where unidentified murdered women are missing their fingers. Kristy really wants to solve this case, so she can apply for another job far away from Dan (great motive to solve a crime!).
Overall, I didn't love Dan and Private London (almost felt like a wanna be Private), but the mysteries were good and I didn't see the endings coming.
Private London is a sub part of the Private Organization. It is run by Dan Carter, a former royal military police sergeant, who is even more closed off and private than world Private leader Jack Morgan. Jack trusts Dan to keep an eye on Hannah Shaprio, the daughter of one of Private's top clients, who Jack has saved before. Of course, Dan screws up and Hannah is again kidnapped.
In another totally unrelated story, Dan's ex-wife, Kirsty Webb (are we suppose to care about her? I don't even know if I care about Dan) is working on a case where unidentified murdered women are missing their fingers. Kristy really wants to solve this case, so she can apply for another job far away from Dan (great motive to solve a crime!).
Overall, I didn't love Dan and Private London (almost felt like a wanna be Private), but the mysteries were good and I didn't see the endings coming.
August 1, 2019
I've largely given up on Patterson. Not only is his output ridiculous, but I think a lot of the time there's a linked decrease in quality. He also suffers from what I've been calling "stakes inflation," by which I mean they just keep tacking on extra plots. This book has that, but is overall decent.
Private is the world's largest and most successful private investigation firm. They have offices globally and a truly improbable reach into various official agencies and even governments. The London office is run by Dan Carter, former MP (police, not the House), who has a messy and complicated personal life.
The events start off when a trio of college women are attacked after a night on the town. One is kidnapped and the other two sent to the hospital. There's a special tie to Private, so the group swings into action. The case has many twists and turns, eventually linking up with terrorists and local gangsters in a series of surprises that just keep coming.
That would, and arguably should, be enough. But there's a serial killer at work at the same time, who may or may not be related to the case. This case, headed by the ex wife of the main character, takes its own series of bizarre turns before the killer and motive are revealed... and you sort of identity more with the killer than the victims.
All of this gets wrapped up, eventually, as the threads are followed to their surprising ends. It's a decently written thriller, I just find a good bit of it too unlikely to manage the complete suspension of disbelief. One character in the story sarcastically refers to the Private agents as "superheroes" and they do almost come across that way, just without the masks and costumes.
A decent read, thriller with a lot of reveals along the course of the twisty plot.
Private is the world's largest and most successful private investigation firm. They have offices globally and a truly improbable reach into various official agencies and even governments. The London office is run by Dan Carter, former MP (police, not the House), who has a messy and complicated personal life.
The events start off when a trio of college women are attacked after a night on the town. One is kidnapped and the other two sent to the hospital. There's a special tie to Private, so the group swings into action. The case has many twists and turns, eventually linking up with terrorists and local gangsters in a series of surprises that just keep coming.
That would, and arguably should, be enough. But there's a serial killer at work at the same time, who may or may not be related to the case. This case, headed by the ex wife of the main character, takes its own series of bizarre turns before the killer and motive are revealed... and you sort of identity more with the killer than the victims.
All of this gets wrapped up, eventually, as the threads are followed to their surprising ends. It's a decently written thriller, I just find a good bit of it too unlikely to manage the complete suspension of disbelief. One character in the story sarcastically refers to the Private agents as "superheroes" and they do almost come across that way, just without the masks and costumes.
A decent read, thriller with a lot of reveals along the course of the twisty plot.
December 23, 2022
This started off better but honestly it became forgettable pretty easily. I first became distracted to learn the main character died in the last book. I became more interested why we went back in time or did the publisher misnumber them. Why did this book end with a promise of future stories when he died in a plane crash? I’m so confused, still confused but pegged the killer/villain early on. I kept rewinding as I would drift off. Plus this narrator gave a character from a previous installment a very weird sounding voice which also threw me off. And why would I continue? I haven’t hit the “I’m done” stage and I’m listening for “free” through the library.
March 21, 2017
Lots of twist and turns! Very much enjoyed this book, with some new characters, new location, and same agency. I do hope that we get to see some of them return in other books of the series. I know this series jumps around locations a lot, but one can still hope.
January 4, 2013
The Private series by James Patterson is really turning out to be multiple series that are all tied to Private International, a private investigative firm with office in major cities all across the globe. This is the second novel in the series that focuses on the London branch, which is managed by Iraq War veteran Dan Carter. The previous volume had him and his team working to save the London Olympics from terrorists.
In this volume, Dan is dealing with a kidnapping of a college-aged girl named Hannah Shapiro. Her father is an extremely wealthy American who has hired Private to protect her after she and her mom were kidnapped when she was 13. The kidnappers in that situation demanded money, which wasn't paid. Hannah was rescued, but not before watching her mother being brutally raped and murdered. Her dad decided to send her to Britain with a name change and some heavy protection.
Until recently, that had worked out nicely. Now, she has been taken once again. To make things worse, Hannah's protection was a fellow student named Chloe, who was working for Private. She was injured quite severely during the attack. Chloe is also Dan's god-daughter. Dan served with her dad in Iraq, and he died saving Dan.
While this intense manhunt is going on, Dan's ex-wife Kirsty, a DI with the Met, has her own case to deal with. Someone is abducting young people, stealing organs, killing them, and cutting off one of their fingers. There is a big question whether the two cases are connected, and it is only made more difficult because Kirsty and Dan really don't get along that well ... except when they do. Then, it is all fireworks.
This was a pretty good read. I have to admit that I am liking the Private books, though this one kind of suffered a bit in the end, which sort of deflated. After all of the build up, it was just simply anticlimactic. With that said, I still liked it and am looking forward to more books in the series. The next one is Private Berlin so I am curious if we will meet a third team rather than focusing on the American or British characters.
In this volume, Dan is dealing with a kidnapping of a college-aged girl named Hannah Shapiro. Her father is an extremely wealthy American who has hired Private to protect her after she and her mom were kidnapped when she was 13. The kidnappers in that situation demanded money, which wasn't paid. Hannah was rescued, but not before watching her mother being brutally raped and murdered. Her dad decided to send her to Britain with a name change and some heavy protection.
Until recently, that had worked out nicely. Now, she has been taken once again. To make things worse, Hannah's protection was a fellow student named Chloe, who was working for Private. She was injured quite severely during the attack. Chloe is also Dan's god-daughter. Dan served with her dad in Iraq, and he died saving Dan.
While this intense manhunt is going on, Dan's ex-wife Kirsty, a DI with the Met, has her own case to deal with. Someone is abducting young people, stealing organs, killing them, and cutting off one of their fingers. There is a big question whether the two cases are connected, and it is only made more difficult because Kirsty and Dan really don't get along that well ... except when they do. Then, it is all fireworks.
This was a pretty good read. I have to admit that I am liking the Private books, though this one kind of suffered a bit in the end, which sort of deflated. After all of the build up, it was just simply anticlimactic. With that said, I still liked it and am looking forward to more books in the series. The next one is Private Berlin so I am curious if we will meet a third team rather than focusing on the American or British characters.
November 24, 2020
It is not clear exactly where this installment in the Private series fits into the sequence. Some have it listed as the second and others as the fourth book, depending on whether the list originates in Britain or the United States. That and the different titles for the same books further complicate matters, which is annoying because events occur affecting the characters and some who are killed suddenly reappear! I read this as the second book, although other lists have it as the fourth book, but readers must just accept the problem and move on.
Private, the high-level investigation agency Jack Morgan owns and runs has continued to expand and has gone global with branches all over the world. But the London office always has the biggest share of high-profile cases.
The main case centers on the story of Hannah Shapiro who barely thirteen at the time, was out shopping with her mother Jessica in Beverley Hills when they were grabbed by two men with black hoods and shoved into a black Mercedes. They were held for ransom, the kidnappers demanding a huge sum from her father for their release. When the ransom was not delivered, Hannah was forced to watch the kidnappers rape and kill her mother and then turn to her. Suddenly Jack Morgan, hired by Hannah’s father, burst on the scene and rescued her. Jack was working for a company called Prentiss at the time, long before he was running his own investigative agency. Now seven years later, he has been hired once again by Hannah’s father, this time as the head of Private, to make sure Hannah is safe while in London to attend school. Jack delegates the task to Dan Carter, the head of London’s Private office.
Hannah was seriously affected by the kidnapping and over the years has tried to put her life back together and move on with her life. Now that she is twenty, she is headed to London to attend Chancellors and complete a three-year degree studying Psychiatry. Dan has been tasked with discretely keeping an eye on her, acting more like a companion than a bodyguard. Hannah is not aware of this arrangement made by her father , a wealthy industrialist who is a major seven figure client of Private. Apart from her first name, she has been given a new identity, with “Durrant” as her new surname.
Incredibly, Hannah is kidnapped again when she is out on a night on the town with two college friends, Chloe Wilson, who happens to be Dan Carter’s goddaughter and Laura Skelton, both students at the college. After leaving the Union bar, the girls are grabbed by men in dark clothing and hoods. Chloe tries her best to fight them off but is severely injured in the attack while Laura is slashed with a knife wielded by one of the kidnappers and has her wrist sliced. The men shove Hannah into a dark van and take off, leaving Laura behind and Chloe in a heap on the pavement.
As Chloe lies comatose fighting for her live in an intensive care unit, Dan wonders if Hannah’s cover has been blown or if this is a random attack, a case of her being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is sometime before Hannah’s abductors make contact with him but when they do, Hannah appears in a video begging for her life and asking her millionaire father, Harlan Shapiro to pay a huge ransom to her kidnappers for her release.
At the same time, Private London becomes involved in another case. The bodies of unidentified and mutilated women are turning up and Private has partnered with the police to help in the investigation. Detective Inspector Kristy Webb, Dan’s ex-wife is investigating these puzzling cases but so far after examining the crime scenes they are not sure if this is human trafficking, ritualized killing or if someone is harvesting organs to sell on the black market. Or it may be a serial killer. A signature is left with each body. The ring finger on the left hand has been surgically removed.
The novel flows back and forth between these two plots with the Dan Carter/Kristy Webb relationship a tangle in the middle of it all.
Dan Carter, a former Military Police Sergeant, is not a very likeable character and lacks the charm and self-assurance of someone like Jack Morgan. He reeks of his own self-styled masculine authority, is quick with a smart remark and sees women as playthings, sexual toys rather equal partners in either life or business. He is just a little too cocky, thinks too much of himself and has an annoying self-confidence and a bottled charm that makes it difficult to connect with him.
The remaining characters are fleetingly presented. Adrian Tuttle is a photographer and Private’s bumbling new hire. Wendy Lee is an ex-Forensic Science pathologist, enticed to the job by the generous salary dangled in front of her and the kind of superior technology she would have to work with at Private. Vladimir Kopchek or “Sponge”, known because of his ability to soak up and retain information is their computer expert, a man with a mind “shaper than an ex-wife’s tongue”. Sam Riddel is Dan’s second in command, a black ex-boxer and ex-cop from one of the poorer estates in London. Suzy Malone also an ex-cop, is bi-sexual and a Kung fu expert. Another ex-cop Brad Dexter took an early retirement from the Child Protection Unit and now heads Private’s personal security division. Like other Private novels, none of these characters are fleshed out, just presented with a few lines, a broad bland sketch.
The Shapiro case is well done, with a few twists and turns, well developed characters and an engaging fast-moving plot. The second case however is never fully developed with barely presented characters, making it feel like “filler” to add something more to the book. The resolution of that case is also a hurried affair, brought to a quick, far-fetched conclusion which proves entirely unsatisfying. It adds nothing to the novel and even detracts from the main event although, if better developed could have been very good.
There is some quirky British colloquialisms and cop talk that readers may find confusing and with the two evolving cases spilling out simultaneously there are lots of characters to keep track of and tangents in each plot to track.
Another so-so book in the series. Okay, but not great.
Private, the high-level investigation agency Jack Morgan owns and runs has continued to expand and has gone global with branches all over the world. But the London office always has the biggest share of high-profile cases.
The main case centers on the story of Hannah Shapiro who barely thirteen at the time, was out shopping with her mother Jessica in Beverley Hills when they were grabbed by two men with black hoods and shoved into a black Mercedes. They were held for ransom, the kidnappers demanding a huge sum from her father for their release. When the ransom was not delivered, Hannah was forced to watch the kidnappers rape and kill her mother and then turn to her. Suddenly Jack Morgan, hired by Hannah’s father, burst on the scene and rescued her. Jack was working for a company called Prentiss at the time, long before he was running his own investigative agency. Now seven years later, he has been hired once again by Hannah’s father, this time as the head of Private, to make sure Hannah is safe while in London to attend school. Jack delegates the task to Dan Carter, the head of London’s Private office.
Hannah was seriously affected by the kidnapping and over the years has tried to put her life back together and move on with her life. Now that she is twenty, she is headed to London to attend Chancellors and complete a three-year degree studying Psychiatry. Dan has been tasked with discretely keeping an eye on her, acting more like a companion than a bodyguard. Hannah is not aware of this arrangement made by her father , a wealthy industrialist who is a major seven figure client of Private. Apart from her first name, she has been given a new identity, with “Durrant” as her new surname.
Incredibly, Hannah is kidnapped again when she is out on a night on the town with two college friends, Chloe Wilson, who happens to be Dan Carter’s goddaughter and Laura Skelton, both students at the college. After leaving the Union bar, the girls are grabbed by men in dark clothing and hoods. Chloe tries her best to fight them off but is severely injured in the attack while Laura is slashed with a knife wielded by one of the kidnappers and has her wrist sliced. The men shove Hannah into a dark van and take off, leaving Laura behind and Chloe in a heap on the pavement.
As Chloe lies comatose fighting for her live in an intensive care unit, Dan wonders if Hannah’s cover has been blown or if this is a random attack, a case of her being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is sometime before Hannah’s abductors make contact with him but when they do, Hannah appears in a video begging for her life and asking her millionaire father, Harlan Shapiro to pay a huge ransom to her kidnappers for her release.
At the same time, Private London becomes involved in another case. The bodies of unidentified and mutilated women are turning up and Private has partnered with the police to help in the investigation. Detective Inspector Kristy Webb, Dan’s ex-wife is investigating these puzzling cases but so far after examining the crime scenes they are not sure if this is human trafficking, ritualized killing or if someone is harvesting organs to sell on the black market. Or it may be a serial killer. A signature is left with each body. The ring finger on the left hand has been surgically removed.
The novel flows back and forth between these two plots with the Dan Carter/Kristy Webb relationship a tangle in the middle of it all.
Dan Carter, a former Military Police Sergeant, is not a very likeable character and lacks the charm and self-assurance of someone like Jack Morgan. He reeks of his own self-styled masculine authority, is quick with a smart remark and sees women as playthings, sexual toys rather equal partners in either life or business. He is just a little too cocky, thinks too much of himself and has an annoying self-confidence and a bottled charm that makes it difficult to connect with him.
The remaining characters are fleetingly presented. Adrian Tuttle is a photographer and Private’s bumbling new hire. Wendy Lee is an ex-Forensic Science pathologist, enticed to the job by the generous salary dangled in front of her and the kind of superior technology she would have to work with at Private. Vladimir Kopchek or “Sponge”, known because of his ability to soak up and retain information is their computer expert, a man with a mind “shaper than an ex-wife’s tongue”. Sam Riddel is Dan’s second in command, a black ex-boxer and ex-cop from one of the poorer estates in London. Suzy Malone also an ex-cop, is bi-sexual and a Kung fu expert. Another ex-cop Brad Dexter took an early retirement from the Child Protection Unit and now heads Private’s personal security division. Like other Private novels, none of these characters are fleshed out, just presented with a few lines, a broad bland sketch.
The Shapiro case is well done, with a few twists and turns, well developed characters and an engaging fast-moving plot. The second case however is never fully developed with barely presented characters, making it feel like “filler” to add something more to the book. The resolution of that case is also a hurried affair, brought to a quick, far-fetched conclusion which proves entirely unsatisfying. It adds nothing to the novel and even detracts from the main event although, if better developed could have been very good.
There is some quirky British colloquialisms and cop talk that readers may find confusing and with the two evolving cases spilling out simultaneously there are lots of characters to keep track of and tangents in each plot to track.
Another so-so book in the series. Okay, but not great.
January 20, 2013
I'm still not sure about this whole venture of James Patterson's of using different foreign authors for each book in the Private series. It's hard for me to put this into words, but the feel of the repeat characters seems to change from book to book, and of course, the whole tone and writing style of the book, depending on who wrote it. This doesn't work well in a series. Again, in Private London, it's as if Patterson lent his name only to the book, and it was completely written by Mark Pearson. It doesn't read like a Patterson book; the only similarities are the subject matter and the short chapters.
That said, I enjoyed the book, although I often got confused due to strange wording and the fact that there were two crimes occurring simultaneously to keep track of. It was almost like reading two books at the same time, except that they would converge once in awhile, usually through Dan's relationship with his ex-wife, Kirsty.
I'm looking forward to reading Private Berlin, which co-authors Mark Sullivan (the same author who collaborated with Patterson on Private Games, which was excellent).
That said, I enjoyed the book, although I often got confused due to strange wording and the fact that there were two crimes occurring simultaneously to keep track of. It was almost like reading two books at the same time, except that they would converge once in awhile, usually through Dan's relationship with his ex-wife, Kirsty.
I'm looking forward to reading Private Berlin, which co-authors Mark Sullivan (the same author who collaborated with Patterson on Private Games, which was excellent).
July 28, 2012
Disappointed. Not impressive enough. Confusing. Doesn't make an impact on a reader like me.
Above is the summary that I feel suited enough for Private London. To make it worse, those 116 chapters are short and there are actually two different cases in the book (I can’t understand how this is connected and is granted the permission to combine it together – ah, wait, I just don’t care anymore as I was too derange with the ‘scenes-gone-short’).
Worth mentioning, I don’t know who’s who; too many characters in this book resulted in a hazy brain, thus I experienced a horrible taste of reading.
Just hope his other books aren’t as poor as this one.
Above is the summary that I feel suited enough for Private London. To make it worse, those 116 chapters are short and there are actually two different cases in the book (I can’t understand how this is connected and is granted the permission to combine it together – ah, wait, I just don’t care anymore as I was too derange with the ‘scenes-gone-short’).
Worth mentioning, I don’t know who’s who; too many characters in this book resulted in a hazy brain, thus I experienced a horrible taste of reading.
Just hope his other books aren’t as poor as this one.
December 16, 2012
I have enjoyed the other "Private" books, but this is an exception. Basically, it had TOO MUCH! Within one novel of less than 400 pages, Pearson skims over kidnapping, murder, insane medical personnel, terrorism, and betrayal--TOO MUCH! One major plot is piled upon a previous one. Little is resolved except for a very brief summary at the end. I also object to Pearson's too casual grammar, which has many fragments and dangling modifiers that force the reader to re-read parts. The very short chapters are distracting as many just continue the action and dialogue of the previous one. A more careful editor could have solved many of these structural problems.
May 22, 2017
I'm not too sure what I just read. So the two cases weren't really related to each other despite what the blurb says? So many characters I kind of forgot who was who as I went, and I'm still not 100% sure I understood one of the cases and how it was solved other than it involved a child pornography ring.
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