New York does not need this! (Step On A Crack - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)

Member Name: Good_Guy

Product:	Step On A Crack - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Date:	01/11/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good fast pace, easy to read

Disadvantages: A little unbelievable, skirts reality at times

Detective Michael Bennett of NYPD homicide department and one time hostage negotiator finds himself drawn into a dramatic situation in when a group of famous people are taken hostage in Saint Patrick's Cathedral in downtown New York. There stars of TV and film, politicians; a selection of New York's great and good who are now under threat of their lives unless a multi-million dollar ransom is paid.

Detective Bennett already has a lot on his plate, its a couple of days before Christmas, he has ten children at home to care for and his wife Maeve is in hospital dying of cancer. He certainly does not need any more pressure but circumstances lead to him being pitched into the role of chief negotiator with the lives of 34 VIPs very much in his hands and a cunning gang leader, Jack, to parley with. With the entire world watching, tension builds to boiling point as the a ruthless gang of hostage takers seem to be constantly one jump ahead of a combination of NYPD's best and a specialist FIB section surrounding them outside the chapel. Surely they can't get away with such an audacious plan and cause yet another catastrophic event here right in the shadow of ground zero.

Bennett is caught between two stools, a tragic domestic situation as his wife's life ebbs away and a highly charged situation as events rapidly unfold at St Pats but he is determined that he will do his damnedest to stop Jack in his tracks!

Typical of Patterson this tale moves at a fast and furious pace with surprises at every turn. He writes in short sharp chapters, often not much more than a page or two per chapter but he is able to pack lots of narrative into short succinct passages. Using the first person story telling angle for the sections Michael Bennett features in gets you personally involved. But Patterson has no problem pulling you back to move quickly to scene unfolding within the Cathedral; the predicament of the hostages and the seemingly well founded cockiness and confidence of the hostage takers.

It pushes the bounds of reality in places but, hey, we get reality every day so no harm in that. All the ingredients for great movie are within this story; I found it altogether a entertaining read with that unput-downable element.

Summary: Great narrative and characters