Step on a Crack - I'm a Celebrity.....PLEASE Get Me Out of Here! (Step On A Crack - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)

Member Name: carcraig

Product:	Step On A Crack - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Date:	25/03/09 (466 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced, action-packed plot, well written

Disadvantages: Far fetched in places - but it IS fiction! You may lose sleep reading it

Step on a Crack - James Paterson & Michael Ledwidge


When a tragic incident claims the life of the First Lady in the days leading up to Christmas, the great and good find themselves gathered in New York's St. Patrick's cathedral for her funeral. Politicians, churchmen and celebrities alike are then stunned to find themselves the victims of a brilliantly orchestrated and daring hostage scenario.


Michael Bennett is one of the NYPD's top negotiators in such hostage situations. He also has a lot on his plate at the time - his wife is dying of cancer and he has their ten children to raise.


As the world watches, the kidnappers outwit and out-manoeuvre the authorities at every turn.


Can Bennett negotiate the safe release of the 34 high profile hostages? How do the kidnappers intend to make good their escape from St. Patrick's? Who is the brains behind the operation? And will Bennett's tragic family survive Christmas?


James Paterson is an author I had heard of previously although I can't recall which of his books I have read previously (but it was a good number of years ago). He is a prolific writer, probably best known for the Alex Cross series, but he has also written a number of books specifically for young readers. (For more information and his bibliography, see his official website at http://www.jamespatterson.com/index.html)


Michael Ledwidge is not an author I was familiar with before I plucked this book at random from the Paperback New Releases table at our local library. He has written a few books independently but has also collaborated with James Paterson on a number of occasions. (See http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/michael-ledwid ge/ for more details)


I don't know how the mechanics of co-writing a book operate. Do they chat and write together? Brainstorm and write independently and then compare results? Write it chapter about? I was sufficiently intrigued to investigate further. Apparently, on the occasion, Paterson wrote a thirty page detailed plot outline, Ledwidge then wrote the book and sent drafts of his work to Paterson several chapters at a time for revisions and suggestions. And so on until they are happy with the result.


However done, it certainly seems to work in my opinion. It's a very fast paced action/suspense thriller, although the momentum does slow towards the last 10% or so of the book. Just as well, or you could find yourself severely sleep-deprived trying to finish it in one night. It really is that good a page-turner.


It's written in short, snappy chapters. Some chapters are literally only a couple of pages long, sometimes a bit too short to my mind, but it certainly does keep the action rocketing along at a fair old pace. There are 116 chapters in the 407 pages of this book; as I said, short and snappy.


The book switches from being written in the first person, from Bennett's perspective mainly, to the third person when describing the action elsewhere. This worked well and I didn't get confused at all as to who the "I" being referred to was.


The writers did make considerable reference to Maeve, Bennett's dying wife as a vehicle to emphasise whose perspective was being portrayed as well as to assist in the character development of the main character.


Plot-wise, it is fairly far-fetched. Would a man really leave his dying wife in hospital and his ten children at home in the care of a Nanny he has known for 10 minutes, to risk his own life in such a way? And the heist itself is sheer class. An American "I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here", but with guns and bad men and no jungle or Ant 'n' Dec. The audacious nature of the crime committed by the kidnappers shows great invention on the part of the writers and the whole scenario is set up in such a way that you want to read on and find out what can possibly happen next.


If you can cast aside your cynical nature and enjoy it for what it is, it is an rollicking good read which will entertain anyone who enjoys a good crime thriller.


Step on a Crack by James Paterson & Michael Ledwidge
ISBN: 978-0755330416
RRP £5.99
Available on Amazon Marketplace from 1p plus P&P
Or try your local library for free!

Summary: A fast paced, action thriller! Another good collaboration by Paterson.