Watch your step (Step On A Crack - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)

Member Name: NewYork2006

Product:	Step On A Crack - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Date:	02/07/07 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent plot, fast paced, action packed, cannot put it down!

Disadvantages: A few late night staying up to read it!

We’ve met Alex Cross. We’ve Met Lindsay Boxer. Now meet Michael Bennett.

For those of you who have read my previous reviews you will know that I am an avid reader and am a huge fan of the great James Patterson. Apart from two of his books, I have loved all of the others and thankfully Step on A Crack falls into the latter and doesn’t disappoint.

On hearing that Patterson would be releasing a new series (which was quite expected after hearing that the conclusion of the Alex Cross series would soon be on our shelves) the first of which to be co-written with Michael Ledwidge, author of 'Before the Devil knows you're dead' another book I thoroughly enjoyed, I was not sceptical at all and eagerly waited its release at the end of last year. Luckily I didn’t have to wait long as The Boyfriend bought it for me for Christmas (he does listen occasionally!). After having approximately 40 books still unread in my bookcase that I need to get through, I didn’t read it straight away but settled down on a dark rainy night in the middle of June (Great British Summer? hmm…….) to be introduced to the newest character, Detective Michael Bennett of the NYPD.

I was endeared to Mike Bennett immediately, to the evident love he has for his wife who is laying in a hospital bed dying of cancer and his 10 children. 10? Yes 10. They could not have children of their own and so decided to adopt thinking they would stop at 3 or 4 but what turned out to be 10.

The main premise of the book is the demise of the former first lady, bringing pop stars, actors, sports hero’s and other billionaires to a famous Cathedral in the hub of Manhattan for her funeral. However, things take a turn for the worst when hijackers, dressed as monks, take the ‘celebrities’ hostage and hold them to ransom.

Mike Bennett, an ex-negotiator, has to deal with the situation happening behind the walls of the Cathedral in an attempt to free the hostages before they are harmed, along with coping with his dying wife and struggling to look after 10 children on his own.

I wont tell you too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil it but I will say that James Patterson has definitely done it again - produced a book that draws you in as a reader, engaging you with the characters, whether good or bad, leaving you with a book that you just cannot put down. His usual approach to his writing - the short chapters but full of impact - and the incredible emotion portrayed to the reader are palpable in this book. It is in fact full of so much emotion that it left me literally sobbing at certain parts (I’m not ashamed to say that I’m not exaggerating - I was bawling, so much so that The Boyfriend had to ask if I was ok!) which left me feeling like I was actually there, seeing it for myself and left me feeling emotionally drained at the end. This, to me, shows the outstanding brilliance of a book as it has achieved its purpose of connecting with the reader.

Like his previous books, the narrator switches throughout from the protagonist, Mike Bennett to the antagonist, in this case, being ‘Jack’ the leader of the hijackers. I found myself warming to Jack, despite who he is, because of his charm and humour throughout.

The 400 pages of the book itself took me approximately 9 hours to read (spread over a couple of days - I do actually go to work!) and I was actually sad when it finished as I wanted to read more.

If you like Patterson’s style and enjoyed his Alex Cross series then I would recommend you read this as I think you wont be disappointed and if you’ve never read a Patterson before but enjoy an action packed, fast paced, explosive thriller full of plot twists and engaging characters then I suggest you give this a try. I’m looking forward to the next instalment in the series!

As I said earlier it was a Christmas present so I don’t know how much it cost but I have had a look around and you can pick up a copy from Amazon from approximately £6 and it is available in most bookshops for about £9.99 for the hardback edition (which is the one I have). Also released in paperback and as an audiobook.

Thanks for reading
-x-

Summary: New thriller series from the master of the genre.