What do you think?
Rate this book
NYPD Red #7
NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority
Lower Manhattan: A sniper's bullet ends the life of a high-profile New Yorker. Five miles uptown, a second prominent victim has his throat slashed. And that's only the beginning.
A network of professional assassins is on the loose in New York City. Trained by the US military, they're on their own now, with a new unit called Kappa Omega Delta. Killers On Demand.
NYPD Red detectives Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan are called in to hunt them down, but these mercenaries are as gifted in the art of escape as they are in snuffing out lives. It's the biggest professional challenge the Red team has ever faced, and before it's over, both Kylie's and Zach's personal lives will change. Forever.
A network of professional assassins is on the loose in New York City. Trained by the US military, they're on their own now, with a new unit called Kappa Omega Delta. Killers On Demand.
NYPD Red detectives Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan are called in to hunt them down, but these mercenaries are as gifted in the art of escape as they are in snuffing out lives. It's the biggest professional challenge the Red team has ever faced, and before it's over, both Kylie's and Zach's personal lives will change. Forever.
350 pages, Hardcover
Published November 22, 2022
About the author
Marshall Karp
35 books425 followersMARSHALL KARP co-created and co-authored the first six books in the #1 bestselling NYPD Red series with James Patterson. Starting with NYPD Red 7, Marshall will become the sole author of the series, which features Detectives Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan as members of an elite task force dedicated to solving crimes committed against — and sometimes by — New York City’s rich and famous.
He is also the author of the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs Mysteries featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs, who work homicide out of the Hollywood Division.
After a successful career in advertising, Marshall’s first mid-life crisis transported him from New York to LA, where he wrote and produced numerous TV sitcoms and a feature film, Just Looking, a coming-of-age comedy loosely based on his own embarrassing teenage years. It was during his time in Hollywood that Marshall met many of the people he kills off in his novels — a cathartic yet perfectly legal way for a writer to exorcise his demons.
For more information, visit www.karpkills.com.
He is also the author of the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs Mysteries featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs, who work homicide out of the Hollywood Division.
After a successful career in advertising, Marshall’s first mid-life crisis transported him from New York to LA, where he wrote and produced numerous TV sitcoms and a feature film, Just Looking, a coming-of-age comedy loosely based on his own embarrassing teenage years. It was during his time in Hollywood that Marshall met many of the people he kills off in his novels — a cathartic yet perfectly legal way for a writer to exorcise his demons.
For more information, visit www.karpkills.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
December 10, 2022
I love this series by James Patterson and Marshall Karp. I have given 4 stars to EVERY book from 1-6. Book #7 is a solo work by Marshall Karp!
NYPD Red is a prestigious police task force assigned to high-profile crimes concerning elite New Yorkers. Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan are the two detectives that readers are familiar with from the beginning and I like their partnership. Their characters are what kept me reading and of course, the mysteries are solid as well. I really enjoyed the pacing of this series with short chapters and mini cliffhangers after each one.
The Murder Sorority involves assassins in NYC, the Kappa Omega Delta or K-O-D "Killers On Demand". Apparently, someone hired the KODs to do the deeds when the rich and untouchables got away with murder. When a fellow detective got shot off duty it becomes personal.
Some major developments are coming and I can't wait for Red #8 now after the ending!
I love the narrators. This ebook is on Netgalley, but I've been listening to this series from the get-go and enjoy Edoardo Ballerini with Jay Snyder. 👏🎧
NYPD Red is a prestigious police task force assigned to high-profile crimes concerning elite New Yorkers. Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan are the two detectives that readers are familiar with from the beginning and I like their partnership. Their characters are what kept me reading and of course, the mysteries are solid as well. I really enjoyed the pacing of this series with short chapters and mini cliffhangers after each one.
The Murder Sorority involves assassins in NYC, the Kappa Omega Delta or K-O-D "Killers On Demand". Apparently, someone hired the KODs to do the deeds when the rich and untouchables got away with murder. When a fellow detective got shot off duty it becomes personal.
Some major developments are coming and I can't wait for Red #8 now after the ending!
I love the narrators. This ebook is on Netgalley, but I've been listening to this series from the get-go and enjoy Edoardo Ballerini with Jay Snyder. 👏🎧
March 23, 2023
Usually, Mr. Karp writes better than this one. 2 of 10 stars
January 14, 2023
Marshall Karp takes over sole writing responsibility on the NYPD Red series, after collaborating on the previous novels with James Patterson. With intensity being a key element of the series to date, Karp has large shoes to fill, but does so with ease, keeping things on par with past publications. A gripping set of crimes, great character development, and some humour where it matters most, Karp is sure to impress series fans and has me wanting to explore some of his other solo work.
After a highly-publicised trial rocks Manhattan, what follows creates utter havoc. The defendant is killed by a sniper’s bullet while on the courthouse steps and his brother is murdered across town a short time later. Enter NYPD Red, the team assigned to the highest-calibre cases in the city, where the most prominent have their worries handled by the likes of Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald. While these two are well-versed in homicide and how to handle people with kid gloves, nothing will prepare them for what they discover on this case.
It would appear that there is a group of trained assassins on the loose around New York, killing those who are on a secret list. The Kappa Omega Delta (Killers on Demand) troll the city and fulfil needed hits, while secreting themselves away from the eyes of the authorities. While Jordan and Macdonald begin looking into things, they are sidelined when a more personal shooting takes place. Detective MacDonald’s boyfriend is shot and left to bleed out, for no apparent reason. It’s may be a distraction but Red have honed their skills to not allow anything to derail them while on a case.
Chasing down the Killers on Demand will require astute abilities and a sense of commitment, though both detectives go through some significant personal roadblocks that they cannot ignore. Still, once the clues begin falling into place, it will be a race to the finish, to neutralise these killers before NYC becomes a city with blood flowing through the streets, at least more than usual. Karp does a masterful job steering this novel on his own, keeping series fans excited for what is to come.
Collaborations with James Patterson tend to be a mixed bag, which I have long said when reading a book with his name on the cover. Marshall Karp has done really well to elevate this series since its inception, gripping me and keeping the series at the top of my list. Karp has been great at using poignant topics to entertain his readers and has yet to run out of ideas for cases. If his own writing is as exciting as these collaborative efforts, I am in for a treat when I tackle one of Karp’s own series later this year. Stay tuned for that in the coming months.
The narrative flow of this series has long been one of its strongest attributes. I find the momentum of the writing is dictated by the clipped pace on offer. Karp builds on this throughout, keeping the reader attentive as they make their way through the novel. Strong characters with some decent development help add something for series fans to enjoy, as there are some key aspects discussed in this seventh novel. The plot twists and story arcs presented keep the reader engaged and ready to learn more, stopped only by the limitations of Karp’s ability to publish future pieces. I can only hope there is more to come soon, as this is one series well worth my time!
Kudos, Mr. Karp, for keeping this series going with another great novel!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After a highly-publicised trial rocks Manhattan, what follows creates utter havoc. The defendant is killed by a sniper’s bullet while on the courthouse steps and his brother is murdered across town a short time later. Enter NYPD Red, the team assigned to the highest-calibre cases in the city, where the most prominent have their worries handled by the likes of Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald. While these two are well-versed in homicide and how to handle people with kid gloves, nothing will prepare them for what they discover on this case.
It would appear that there is a group of trained assassins on the loose around New York, killing those who are on a secret list. The Kappa Omega Delta (Killers on Demand) troll the city and fulfil needed hits, while secreting themselves away from the eyes of the authorities. While Jordan and Macdonald begin looking into things, they are sidelined when a more personal shooting takes place. Detective MacDonald’s boyfriend is shot and left to bleed out, for no apparent reason. It’s may be a distraction but Red have honed their skills to not allow anything to derail them while on a case.
Chasing down the Killers on Demand will require astute abilities and a sense of commitment, though both detectives go through some significant personal roadblocks that they cannot ignore. Still, once the clues begin falling into place, it will be a race to the finish, to neutralise these killers before NYC becomes a city with blood flowing through the streets, at least more than usual. Karp does a masterful job steering this novel on his own, keeping series fans excited for what is to come.
Collaborations with James Patterson tend to be a mixed bag, which I have long said when reading a book with his name on the cover. Marshall Karp has done really well to elevate this series since its inception, gripping me and keeping the series at the top of my list. Karp has been great at using poignant topics to entertain his readers and has yet to run out of ideas for cases. If his own writing is as exciting as these collaborative efforts, I am in for a treat when I tackle one of Karp’s own series later this year. Stay tuned for that in the coming months.
The narrative flow of this series has long been one of its strongest attributes. I find the momentum of the writing is dictated by the clipped pace on offer. Karp builds on this throughout, keeping the reader attentive as they make their way through the novel. Strong characters with some decent development help add something for series fans to enjoy, as there are some key aspects discussed in this seventh novel. The plot twists and story arcs presented keep the reader engaged and ready to learn more, stopped only by the limitations of Karp’s ability to publish future pieces. I can only hope there is more to come soon, as this is one series well worth my time!
Kudos, Mr. Karp, for keeping this series going with another great novel!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 6, 2022
This, the seventh book in the series co-written by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, marks Karp's first solo effort. And I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly and hope to read many more. For those not familiar with the series, the books focus on the elite New York group of detectives known as NYPD Red and specifically on detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald.
Two in-your-face assassinations happen in fairly rapid succession - one man killed by a long-range sniper and the other done in by a killer obviously well versed on where a knife should slice to do the damage quickly and efficiently. As the investigation picks up steam, Zach and Kylie learn about an old guy who brags about a "sorority" called Kappa Omega Delta (Killers On Demand) that's actually a group of elderly military-trained male assassins who apparently have been plying their trade for years. Finding them, however, doesn't come easy; they may be good at killing, but they're even better at eluding identification and capture.
Tracking them down is only part of the story, though; both Kylie, has a serious boyfriend who develops a serious issue, and Zach has a current main squeeze and at least one in his past who comes back to haunt him - though not necessarily in a bad way. All in all, there's plenty of action that kept me turning pages, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
Two in-your-face assassinations happen in fairly rapid succession - one man killed by a long-range sniper and the other done in by a killer obviously well versed on where a knife should slice to do the damage quickly and efficiently. As the investigation picks up steam, Zach and Kylie learn about an old guy who brags about a "sorority" called Kappa Omega Delta (Killers On Demand) that's actually a group of elderly military-trained male assassins who apparently have been plying their trade for years. Finding them, however, doesn't come easy; they may be good at killing, but they're even better at eluding identification and capture.
Tracking them down is only part of the story, though; both Kylie, has a serious boyfriend who develops a serious issue, and Zach has a current main squeeze and at least one in his past who comes back to haunt him - though not necessarily in a bad way. All in all, there's plenty of action that kept me turning pages, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.
January 15, 2023
Definitely one of the best in the RED series so far. With Karp going solo, leads me to believe he was doing the majority of the writing anyway. Anxiously awaiting 8 because we’re left knowing what at least one of the subplots will be about!
November 28, 2022
Wow, I’m stunned by how much I enjoyed this book! I went into this read with a ho-hum attitude because police procedurals are not my top reading genre and because it was book seven in a series. Author Marshall Karp has taken over writing The NYPD Red series which he was previously ghost writing with James Patterson, and he did a marvelous job of it.
From “The jury has reached a verdict” to “I was next” I was hooked. I never felt that I was reading book seven of an established series because there was sufficient character development and backstory. Karp’s writing is crisp. The plot pace was perfect—never slowed by unnecessary detail. There were plenty of interesting twists and action. Karp got me with his reference to Jaws. He used his reference to perfectly set the tone for the book; it provided just the right amount of foreboding.
“We had our yellow barrel, and we were going to follow it…before it [the movie] ends the shark sinks Quint’s boat and eats him alive, but still, a lead is a lead.”
I especially enjoyed the character of Detective Kylie MacDonald. She is a no- nonsense officer with an engaging personality. The camaraderie between her and Detective Zach Jordan is great, and their witty banter is enjoyable. In addition to the case she is working on, she is following another case that involves the shooting of her boyfriend. Since it is not the case featured in the title, we readers don’t get as much information about that case, but it is an interesting secondary story nonetheless.
Good writing, a solid plot, and a fun (but improbable) premise made NYPD Red 7 an easy read. A good read for anyone who loves suspense, intrigue and action.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at
www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
From “The jury has reached a verdict” to “I was next” I was hooked. I never felt that I was reading book seven of an established series because there was sufficient character development and backstory. Karp’s writing is crisp. The plot pace was perfect—never slowed by unnecessary detail. There were plenty of interesting twists and action. Karp got me with his reference to Jaws. He used his reference to perfectly set the tone for the book; it provided just the right amount of foreboding.
“We had our yellow barrel, and we were going to follow it…before it [the movie] ends the shark sinks Quint’s boat and eats him alive, but still, a lead is a lead.”
I especially enjoyed the character of Detective Kylie MacDonald. She is a no- nonsense officer with an engaging personality. The camaraderie between her and Detective Zach Jordan is great, and their witty banter is enjoyable. In addition to the case she is working on, she is following another case that involves the shooting of her boyfriend. Since it is not the case featured in the title, we readers don’t get as much information about that case, but it is an interesting secondary story nonetheless.
Good writing, a solid plot, and a fun (but improbable) premise made NYPD Red 7 an easy read. A good read for anyone who loves suspense, intrigue and action.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at
www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
January 13, 2023
I've read all 7 of these books, all written by Patterson and Karp. I always wondered how much involvement Patterson had in these books. With Karp flying solo on this one, it seems Patterson was more involved than I realized. The first most glaring change was the use of the word f*ck. I'm not offended by its use but I am offended by lazy writing. A search on Kindle reveals this installment uses the word 137 times. The first book in the series used it 17 times.
You are drawn in to the whodunit aspect of the story, which is part of the fun, but the whole thing is a convoluted overly complicated mess. Lead character, Kylie, seems to have had a complete personality makeover.
I read the book and listened on Audible. The one positive is the Audible narration which made the whole experience a bit more palatable. I'd say this series has run its course.
You are drawn in to the whodunit aspect of the story, which is part of the fun, but the whole thing is a convoluted overly complicated mess. Lead character, Kylie, seems to have had a complete personality makeover.
I read the book and listened on Audible. The one positive is the Audible narration which made the whole experience a bit more palatable. I'd say this series has run its course.
July 31, 2024
This was an excellent mystery and wonderful on audio! So glad I picked it up!
Full review coming soon
Full review coming soon
January 13, 2023
Very fun read. Karp is excellent. This seems, interestingly enough, to be the first author to take a series he wrote “with” Patterson on his own. He learned plenty, evidently, because I couldn’t tell the difference. I hope he has more in store for NYPD RED.
May 14, 2024
So this book I LOVED. They did mention only once maybe twice about Kylie and Zach's past relationship. That was the biggest grievance I had with the past books and how they would dwell on how much they loved the one they couldn't have. This one was all about the murders. There was a twist that came about was a happy one in my opinion. It wasn't related to the murders but a good one regardless.
November 18, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S NYPD RED 7: THE MURDER SORORITY ABOUT?
Part of this feels like too much to say, but it's right there in the title (also, the publisher's description), so...
Practically simultaneously, two wealthy and well-known producers are killed. One was shot by a sniper pulling off an incredibly difficult shot. The other was killed by a knife attack in broad daylight with no witnesses. These two were brothers, and each had given some people clear motives to kill them. But both at the same time? It's difficult to tie them together. The NYPD Red squad—with Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan in the lead—is assigned to these cases and they want to consider that there's one person behind the killings—with two accomplices doing the killing. But can they actually establish a link?
During their investigation, a theory begins to surface about a team of assassins operating under the name of a sorority—Kappa Omega Delta. KOD—Killers On Demand. It sounds farfetched to the partners (and their captain), but they keep running into the idea. And soon, they might start to find some actual evidence pointing to it.
Meanwhile, in a probably unrelated incident, Kylie's boyfriend is shot. Officially barred from investigating (and she is front-and-center on a case the media and City Hall are focused on), Kylie is mostly watching this from the sidelines—but manages to help the detectives on the case while worried about his recovery.
THE KOD STORY
I'm both annoyed and glad that the description of the book tipped its hand so much about the assassins. I prefer to discover that kind of thing in my mystery novels—don't tell me what the characters are going to figure out, let me do it with them. But knowing it was coming did make it easier to buy into.
Up to the point that Zach and Kylie really start to take the notion seriously this novel had the feel of a pretty by-the-book procedural. They were being methodical, beating the bushes, checking off the things they needed to—and that's the kind of thing I really appreciate seeing in detective novels. I've said it before, I'll keep saying it, too.
Then there's a shift in the way the novel worked once we get to that point, though, and it takes on a heightened reality*-sense as the detectives try to work out the details of the KOD group—how they operate**, who they are, and how to track them down. The shift isn't a qualitative one, really, it's more subjective—it's a different feel to the book. One that is probably more in line with the rest of the series. The transition jarred me a bit, but not so much that it took me out of the book—but it reminded me what kind of book I was reading.
* I really need to find or develop a synonymous phrase for that, because I use it too often in this post. Sorry about that.
** I fought off the temptation to really dig into this part here, you should read it for yourself.
Looking back over this whole thing, I'm really impressed with it—at several points Karp plays against what you believe is happening. I don't think he ever pulls the rug out from beneath the reader—but he gives it a good, strong tug, and makes you stumble a bit. It may not be as flashy as a huge twist but can leave the reader just as discombobulated and unprepared for what's next.
THE PERSONAL SUBPLOTS
I thought these were handled pretty well. There were elements of Zach's story that seemed like pretty large coincidences, but if a reader isn't willing to accept a convenient coincidence here and there, it might be time for a new hobby. I do think that story was handled pretty well.
The same goes for the plot about Kylie's boyfriend and the shooting (and what that suggests about the ongoing story about her now-missing husband). I think this shooting, the investigation, and the resolution was actually the strongest storyline in the novel and Karp developed it well. Especially in the heightened reality of this series, this came across as pretty grounded.
I'd have to go and look at my posts about the first two books in this series to see if I say anything about it—but I don't want to. I'm pretty sure that at the time I thought the books spent too much time on the personal lives of these two detectives. To an extent, it made sense while establishing the characters, but I still thought the balance was off. Perhaps it's because this is a later book in the series, perhaps it's the shift in authors, maybe it's just the way things worked out here in NYPD Red 7—I'm not sure I care—but that problem is gone. I even paused to note a couple of times how compared favorably to my memories of the first two books.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT NYPD RED 7: THE MURDER SORORITY?
I went into this book with apprehensions—I dropped this series after two books and while I don't remember being opposed to coming back, I sure wasn't in a hurry to. But when someone mails me an ARC, I tend to read it. And I'm really glad I did—it won me over pretty easily, I got invested and caught up in the story, and generally had fun reading the book.
The best thing I can compare this to is an episode of Castle—but with two Detective Becketts and no novelist. Detectives—and their friends, lovers, contacts—who are impossibly attractive and extraordinarily bright on the trail of implausibly effective and skilled killers. And it's just as entertaining as that series was at its best.
The heightened reality of this series works well in the cases these detectives are involved with—Entertainment personalities and the super-rich. I've always liked the idea of a squad like NYPD Red (see also, The Closer's Priority Homicide), and halfway assume something like this actually exists. Given media scrutiny and politics, it makes sense for cases of this profile to be handled differently (as long as no one's ignoring other cases per Bosch's maxim). I enjoy seeing detectives work in this world as much as I do seeing them in more "everyday" settings belonging to the middle and lower class.
There's part of me that wants to harp on the implausibility of KOD. But I don't know why I would—it's a fun idea and works well in this novel. Karp's version of this thing that we've seen and read about in other books/shows/movies/comics is as successfully conceived and executed as I've seen it. And as I said before, if you accept the world of this series, the outlandish nature of the KOD works well. So, I don't know why I feel like I have to make excuses for it or justify it, but I do feel that way. The KOD is a good challenge for Kylie and Zach and the way they confront it is entertaining. Which is what this book is about. He's not attempting to tell a gritty story like Winslow's The Badge (which has parts that are just as implausible)—this is an action-adventure story.
This is a fun read—I raced through it because Karp's writing and pacing wouldn't let me put it down until I had to. I thought the novel was stronger than the first two in the series and I'm tempted to go back and see where the series started improving. I'm definitely interested in NYPD Red 8, assuming that Karp gets to do another one and I hope the sales without Patterson's name on the cover allow it.
Even if you've never read this series (maybe particularly), pick this up if you're in the mood for an adventurous Police Detective novel, I think you'll be glad you did.
---
WHAT'S NYPD RED 7: THE MURDER SORORITY ABOUT?
Part of this feels like too much to say, but it's right there in the title (also, the publisher's description), so...
Practically simultaneously, two wealthy and well-known producers are killed. One was shot by a sniper pulling off an incredibly difficult shot. The other was killed by a knife attack in broad daylight with no witnesses. These two were brothers, and each had given some people clear motives to kill them. But both at the same time? It's difficult to tie them together. The NYPD Red squad—with Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan in the lead—is assigned to these cases and they want to consider that there's one person behind the killings—with two accomplices doing the killing. But can they actually establish a link?
During their investigation, a theory begins to surface about a team of assassins operating under the name of a sorority—Kappa Omega Delta. KOD—Killers On Demand. It sounds farfetched to the partners (and their captain), but they keep running into the idea. And soon, they might start to find some actual evidence pointing to it.
Meanwhile, in a probably unrelated incident, Kylie's boyfriend is shot. Officially barred from investigating (and she is front-and-center on a case the media and City Hall are focused on), Kylie is mostly watching this from the sidelines—but manages to help the detectives on the case while worried about his recovery.
THE KOD STORY
I'm both annoyed and glad that the description of the book tipped its hand so much about the assassins. I prefer to discover that kind of thing in my mystery novels—don't tell me what the characters are going to figure out, let me do it with them. But knowing it was coming did make it easier to buy into.
Up to the point that Zach and Kylie really start to take the notion seriously this novel had the feel of a pretty by-the-book procedural. They were being methodical, beating the bushes, checking off the things they needed to—and that's the kind of thing I really appreciate seeing in detective novels. I've said it before, I'll keep saying it, too.
Then there's a shift in the way the novel worked once we get to that point, though, and it takes on a heightened reality*-sense as the detectives try to work out the details of the KOD group—how they operate**, who they are, and how to track them down. The shift isn't a qualitative one, really, it's more subjective—it's a different feel to the book. One that is probably more in line with the rest of the series. The transition jarred me a bit, but not so much that it took me out of the book—but it reminded me what kind of book I was reading.
* I really need to find or develop a synonymous phrase for that, because I use it too often in this post. Sorry about that.
** I fought off the temptation to really dig into this part here, you should read it for yourself.
Looking back over this whole thing, I'm really impressed with it—at several points Karp plays against what you believe is happening. I don't think he ever pulls the rug out from beneath the reader—but he gives it a good, strong tug, and makes you stumble a bit. It may not be as flashy as a huge twist but can leave the reader just as discombobulated and unprepared for what's next.
THE PERSONAL SUBPLOTS
I thought these were handled pretty well. There were elements of Zach's story that seemed like pretty large coincidences, but if a reader isn't willing to accept a convenient coincidence here and there, it might be time for a new hobby. I do think that story was handled pretty well.
The same goes for the plot about Kylie's boyfriend and the shooting (and what that suggests about the ongoing story about her now-missing husband). I think this shooting, the investigation, and the resolution was actually the strongest storyline in the novel and Karp developed it well. Especially in the heightened reality of this series, this came across as pretty grounded.
I'd have to go and look at my posts about the first two books in this series to see if I say anything about it—but I don't want to. I'm pretty sure that at the time I thought the books spent too much time on the personal lives of these two detectives. To an extent, it made sense while establishing the characters, but I still thought the balance was off. Perhaps it's because this is a later book in the series, perhaps it's the shift in authors, maybe it's just the way things worked out here in NYPD Red 7—I'm not sure I care—but that problem is gone. I even paused to note a couple of times how compared favorably to my memories of the first two books.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT NYPD RED 7: THE MURDER SORORITY?
I went into this book with apprehensions—I dropped this series after two books and while I don't remember being opposed to coming back, I sure wasn't in a hurry to. But when someone mails me an ARC, I tend to read it. And I'm really glad I did—it won me over pretty easily, I got invested and caught up in the story, and generally had fun reading the book.
The best thing I can compare this to is an episode of Castle—but with two Detective Becketts and no novelist. Detectives—and their friends, lovers, contacts—who are impossibly attractive and extraordinarily bright on the trail of implausibly effective and skilled killers. And it's just as entertaining as that series was at its best.
The heightened reality of this series works well in the cases these detectives are involved with—Entertainment personalities and the super-rich. I've always liked the idea of a squad like NYPD Red (see also, The Closer's Priority Homicide), and halfway assume something like this actually exists. Given media scrutiny and politics, it makes sense for cases of this profile to be handled differently (as long as no one's ignoring other cases per Bosch's maxim). I enjoy seeing detectives work in this world as much as I do seeing them in more "everyday" settings belonging to the middle and lower class.
There's part of me that wants to harp on the implausibility of KOD. But I don't know why I would—it's a fun idea and works well in this novel. Karp's version of this thing that we've seen and read about in other books/shows/movies/comics is as successfully conceived and executed as I've seen it. And as I said before, if you accept the world of this series, the outlandish nature of the KOD works well. So, I don't know why I feel like I have to make excuses for it or justify it, but I do feel that way. The KOD is a good challenge for Kylie and Zach and the way they confront it is entertaining. Which is what this book is about. He's not attempting to tell a gritty story like Winslow's The Badge (which has parts that are just as implausible)—this is an action-adventure story.
This is a fun read—I raced through it because Karp's writing and pacing wouldn't let me put it down until I had to. I thought the novel was stronger than the first two in the series and I'm tempted to go back and see where the series started improving. I'm definitely interested in NYPD Red 8, assuming that Karp gets to do another one and I hope the sales without Patterson's name on the cover allow it.
Even if you've never read this series (maybe particularly), pick this up if you're in the mood for an adventurous Police Detective novel, I think you'll be glad you did.
January 13, 2023
A very entertaining and fast paced thriller.
May 11, 2024
3.5 stars
February 26, 2024
Love the NYPD Red series and this one did not disappoint!
December 26, 2023
I know I gave NYPD Red 6 5 stars as well, but it might have been force of habit. You know, when it's a series you always read. BUT, let me tell you, Red 7 was so much better! This is the way they should be! Three "what the hecks" at the end made this so exciting.
November 26, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one in the series. When two brothers are killed within minutes of each other it starts the Red Team off an unbelievable quest to solve the murders.Kylie and Zach must find the deaths as the murders increase. Also, personal issues occur.
December 22, 2023
Ahhh!! This book was so good so many plot twists and unexpected moments. So many predictions were wrong love that Detective Jordan has his own plot twist. Thought the writing was brave with all the details that were added. Can’t wait for the next one 🤞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2024
I LOOOVVEE NYPD Red series.
The banter, sarcasm, relationships, twists, and crime solving. Can't wait for 8
The banter, sarcasm, relationships, twists, and crime solving. Can't wait for 8
August 8, 2022
In the 7th installment of NYPD Red, a series about a duo of cops, Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan, who are assigned the high profile celebrity cases of New York City, Marshall Karp is now the sole author, having taken over after co-authoring the previous six books with James Patterson. The series retains its excellence with Karp in charge — interesting plots, well-written characters, action packed chapters, truly evil bad guys, and heroic efforts by Kylie and Zach.
In this installment, a Harvey Weinstein type is unbelievably exonerated of killing a police officer and as he steps up to a microphone on the courthouse steps to gloat, an invisible sniper delivers Wild West justice. And then another assasination simultaneously takes place (the scumbag’s equally scummy brother who also got away with murder). So it seems that there is militarily trained squad of killers for hire (known as Kappa Omega Delta/KOD — Killers on Demand) operating in NYC. The subtitle of the book is “The Murder *Sorority*” and not “Murder *Fraternity.*” A clue for the reader in advance of Kylie and Zach uncovering what’s really going on? Or people who “were gender-fluid before it was cool”? This investigation is further complicated when someone close to the team is shot in a seemingly unrelated incident.
Of all of James Peterson’s various series, I have come to love the NYPD Red ones over the others. Marshall Karp delivers an expected exciting plot, witty camaraderie between Kylie and Zach, and thrilling twists. He’ll do well with continuing this series. 5 stars!
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Always in the NYPD Red series, since lead detective Kylie is a green-eyed blonde.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO It’s Manhattan, so lots of parks and greenways make guest appearances.
In this installment, a Harvey Weinstein type is unbelievably exonerated of killing a police officer and as he steps up to a microphone on the courthouse steps to gloat, an invisible sniper delivers Wild West justice. And then another assasination simultaneously takes place (the scumbag’s equally scummy brother who also got away with murder). So it seems that there is militarily trained squad of killers for hire (known as Kappa Omega Delta/KOD — Killers on Demand) operating in NYC. The subtitle of the book is “The Murder *Sorority*” and not “Murder *Fraternity.*” A clue for the reader in advance of Kylie and Zach uncovering what’s really going on? Or people who “were gender-fluid before it was cool”? This investigation is further complicated when someone close to the team is shot in a seemingly unrelated incident.
Of all of James Peterson’s various series, I have come to love the NYPD Red ones over the others. Marshall Karp delivers an expected exciting plot, witty camaraderie between Kylie and Zach, and thrilling twists. He’ll do well with continuing this series. 5 stars!
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Always in the NYPD Red series, since lead detective Kylie is a green-eyed blonde.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO It’s Manhattan, so lots of parks and greenways make guest appearances.
July 10, 2022
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Blackstone Publishing and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Suspense, intrigue, action full of police action.
Suspense, intrigue, action full of police action.
February 2, 2023
NYPD Red is one of Patterson’s lesser-known mystery series co-created and co-written with Marshall Karp. It is about two detectives - Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald – who make up a special investigative team focused on serving and protecting the rich and elite of New York city. In typical Patterson style, Zach and Kylie were also former lovers coming out of the police academy years ago and Zach has never stopped loving her, even though Kylie has sworn off ever dating a cop again. Because they work so close together, the sexual tension adds to the aura of their working relationship and is optimistically used as a tool to keep the reader’s interest.
Things are now taking a change. Starting with the current outing – “NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority” – the baton has been passed from Patterson to Karp as a solo artist, who is taking over the series as a solo writer. The book cover blurb expressing Patterson’s confidence and approval in Karp taking over the writing comes across as the marketing ploy, but I guess that should be expected.
So, what is the result of Karp taking over the series? Did it make much of a difference? Let’s see…
“NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority” starts off with two murders. First, a sniper marksman takes the life of Warren Hellman, a high profile movie producer, as he leaves the court following his being found not guilty of intentionally killing a well-respected New York detective. Across town, his brother, Curtis Hellman, is found dead on a jogging pathway along 102nd street. Someone left him with his throat slashed.
This sends Zach and Kylie on a wild hunt for multiple killers that may turn out to be a group of professional assassins who once worked for the U.S. government and don’t appear to want to retire. Their military background and training make them more than formidable foes who have formed a sorority called Kappa Omega Delta aka Killers on Demand.
To make matters worse, this band will not only challenge Zach and Kylie professional skills and abilities, but it looks like their personal lives will be horrendously impacted and changed forever…
So, to answer to my previous question. Actually, not much really… Not much at all… Except for one surprise…
This was structured like most of Patterson collaborations where there is a lot of fast-paced action where the leads spend most of their time running around following the clues and distractions left by the bad guys. This one had a lot of twists and turns, most of which you could see coming and a few well-placed ones that you don’t. It also includes some very coincidental, but well-delivered, character development for Zach that was a surprisingly beneficial element that strengthened the storylines. Kudos to Karp for that creative thinking.
Truth be told, if I had read this book without knowing Patterson’s named was removed, I wouldn’t have noticed any differences. It felt just like their previous six books in the series. I am not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It just is. I am also not sure what this says about Patterson’s involvement in their writing partnership. It’s weird. Patterson steps away and I can’t tell the difference. I am going to stop talking about this now and let you form your own opinion on the matter.
Moving on… And the surprise that I alluded to in paragraph seven above is this… I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It was better than I expected. As a matter of fact, it was my favorite book in the entire series so far. For the first time, I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. That was a big surprise for me. This had been one of Patterson’s lesser series, but Karp somehow made it shine and seem fresh for the first time.
Overall, Karp delivered a tight thriller read that provided a very entertaining escape for two or three evenings.
My rating - 4 out of 5 stars.
Things are now taking a change. Starting with the current outing – “NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority” – the baton has been passed from Patterson to Karp as a solo artist, who is taking over the series as a solo writer. The book cover blurb expressing Patterson’s confidence and approval in Karp taking over the writing comes across as the marketing ploy, but I guess that should be expected.
So, what is the result of Karp taking over the series? Did it make much of a difference? Let’s see…
“NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority” starts off with two murders. First, a sniper marksman takes the life of Warren Hellman, a high profile movie producer, as he leaves the court following his being found not guilty of intentionally killing a well-respected New York detective. Across town, his brother, Curtis Hellman, is found dead on a jogging pathway along 102nd street. Someone left him with his throat slashed.
This sends Zach and Kylie on a wild hunt for multiple killers that may turn out to be a group of professional assassins who once worked for the U.S. government and don’t appear to want to retire. Their military background and training make them more than formidable foes who have formed a sorority called Kappa Omega Delta aka Killers on Demand.
To make matters worse, this band will not only challenge Zach and Kylie professional skills and abilities, but it looks like their personal lives will be horrendously impacted and changed forever…
So, to answer to my previous question. Actually, not much really… Not much at all… Except for one surprise…
This was structured like most of Patterson collaborations where there is a lot of fast-paced action where the leads spend most of their time running around following the clues and distractions left by the bad guys. This one had a lot of twists and turns, most of which you could see coming and a few well-placed ones that you don’t. It also includes some very coincidental, but well-delivered, character development for Zach that was a surprisingly beneficial element that strengthened the storylines. Kudos to Karp for that creative thinking.
Truth be told, if I had read this book without knowing Patterson’s named was removed, I wouldn’t have noticed any differences. It felt just like their previous six books in the series. I am not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It just is. I am also not sure what this says about Patterson’s involvement in their writing partnership. It’s weird. Patterson steps away and I can’t tell the difference. I am going to stop talking about this now and let you form your own opinion on the matter.
Moving on… And the surprise that I alluded to in paragraph seven above is this… I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It was better than I expected. As a matter of fact, it was my favorite book in the entire series so far. For the first time, I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. That was a big surprise for me. This had been one of Patterson’s lesser series, but Karp somehow made it shine and seem fresh for the first time.
Overall, Karp delivered a tight thriller read that provided a very entertaining escape for two or three evenings.
My rating - 4 out of 5 stars.
April 18, 2023
This is a continuation of the NYPD Red series, coauthors James Patterson and Marshall Karp. It has been a truly exciting series to follow and I was pleased to see that Mr Karp was the solo author in this book, and his writing talent really shined in this book. Kylie and Zach were back in their role as Detectives of the NYPD Red elite. What a gem the 18 year old Theo was as he was added to the cast of characters. Theo is an up and coming, very smart, wanna be movie director. Theo volunteers at a assisted living facility and he befriends a man with early stage Alzheimer’s. The man over time tells Theo an amazing story from his past. Theo doesn’t know if any of it is true, but he sees it as a future movie hit. Things happen very fast in this book and soon Theos life is in danger. A very interesting and original plot line in this book.
Kudos to you, Mr. Karp, for an exciting well written book.
Kudos to you, Mr. Karp, for an exciting well written book.
February 24, 2023
This was the best of the NYPD books yet and I’m so glad that the series is going to continue even without James Patterson, with only Marshall Karp at the head. This book really changed my mind about Kylie, making me enjoy reading about her just as much as I did at the beginning of the series which also made reading about the crime fighting duo of Zach and Kylie a lot more fun as well. This book follows one of my favorite plot lines yet, a group of assassins that all kill in a different way, sibling drama, and fights over who will get the money. This plot also contains more development of the romantic relationships of both Zach and Kylie making me even more fond of Cheryl and Shane. And introduced my favorite character in this entirety of this series: Theo! He really added a lot intrigue and mystery to this book as well as being just overall a lovable character.
December 8, 2022
I think this may have been my favorite NYPD Red book yet!
I wish I had more to add here. Those who are faithful readers to this series will not be disappointed - all of your favorite characters are back and the mystery in this book was intriguing.
I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just add:
I'm hoping the new reveal also means we'll get more books in the future (sooner, rather than later).
I wish I had more to add here. Those who are faithful readers to this series will not be disappointed - all of your favorite characters are back and the mystery in this book was intriguing.
I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just add:
I'm hoping the new reveal also means we'll get more books in the future (sooner, rather than later).
April 25, 2023
The 7th in the Patterson/Marshall Karp series about the prestigious NYPD Red Task Force that handles the Rich & Famous of the Big Apple, that Karp has taken solo...Picture NYPD detectives handling all of the cases that Stone Barrington has to confront...Kylie MacDonald and Zack Jordan face a militarily trained squad of killers for hire (known as Kappa Omega Delta/KOD — Killers on Demand) operating in NYC...This series is always a fun read!
July 4, 2023
What a fantastic read but also what a crazy main storyline plot at the end!!! There is obviously going to be another NYPD Red book because they cannot leave it at that. The crime plot was also fun to read but the sub plot was kind of weird. Still crazy but also didn’t have the omg factor. The main crime storyline of the sorority was definitely the better read.
January 11, 2023
I love this series and this one did not disappoint. It was fast moving and multiple intertwined parts that are wrapped up like a nice bow by the end. The story will draw you in right up to the last page. I look forward to the next one in this series.
January 15, 2023
Marshall Karp keeps on delivering with every book he puts out. The 2 cases that Kylie and Zach are on were entertaining as hell. This book is a true page turner. The way it ended made me want book 8 right away. You can never go wrong with a Marshall Karp book.
October 20, 2023
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
I really like this series and it was my first time listening to it in audiobook form. I will say, I think I would have liked it more if I just read the physical book but you win some, you lose some. I'd still recommend if you like police procedurals!
I really like this series and it was my first time listening to it in audiobook form. I will say, I think I would have liked it more if I just read the physical book but you win some, you lose some. I'd still recommend if you like police procedurals!
December 26, 2022
Awesome read
Best NYPD red ever ! Captivating ! Couldn't put it down ! Can't wait for NYPD Red 8! Love Kylie and Zach
Best NYPD red ever ! Captivating ! Couldn't put it down ! Can't wait for NYPD Red 8! Love Kylie and Zach
Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews