Im a bit confused. I did enjoy the book, but what's bothering me is Dan Hasting's kidnapping. His kidnapping is described in detail from his point of view. From wondering where security was to wondering what the f... is going on. So... I was assuming he was kidnapped by someone other than Mooney because of the differences from the other kidnappings. But, no... he faked his kidnapping himself to get money from his dad? How does that go along with the whole incident being described???

Good read.

This book started off so well!!! While Michael Bennett has never been one of my favorite or most compelling Patterson protagonists, this looked to be a very interesting and different story than I've come to expect from the factory I suspect James co-writes most of his novels out of nowadays. Then, about half way through, it takes a sharp turn to crapsville.

One of my biggest complaints is the giving away of the villain right away. This book does such a great job of leaving in a mystery of who our Big Bad is, it's refreshing as a fan. But then, for no real reason I can fathom, they give away the goose and show us a name. And it isn't in the usual way of "Oh look at this character we've been building towards in subtle ways and now they're actually evil". It's out of the blue, and to me comes off as lazy.

The book also does a lot of set up for no real pay off. A sub plot romantic triangle forms, then breaks apart for no real reason, then restructures itself in the final 20 pages. There's also a sense that friends and family asked to have their names placed into the book, and those became various squad leaders and other characters who serve no purpose other than to deliver the exposition we need to get from place to place. This world feels like far too many cooks, even by New York standards.

All in all, this is a bigger issue than just this novel that I've noticed with later Patterson works. It might be part of the reason the Bennett series isn't one of my favorites. I admired Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club from back when James actually wrote the things he attached his name to by himself. Those characters felt real, lived in, and like a real family. Lately though, the stories I'm seeing could have names swapped out and be considered standalone works. I can appreciate them for how easy they are to get folks into reading, but it's become a sad state of affairs hoping to crack open one of these stories and praying to climb above 2 stars.

another great micheal bennett read - love the police officer and his 10 kids

Yet another brainless but fast-paced action thriller about NY's supercop Michael Bennett. After foiling a hostage situation in St. Patrick's Cathedral and a spree killer's broad daylight attack, it seems that Bennett has becoming the go-to for the city's wildest cases, and this novel covers his wildest yet. A terminally ill madman is kidnapping the children of New York's wealthy and testing them to make sure that they are well-aware of their world. For the kids too vain to care about their world, the madman kills them. But as Bennett - partnered with an attractive FBI agent (cue the sexual tension) - tracks down this madman with few leads, he discovers a madman's far more sinister plan of attack. Like the previous Bennett novels, the exposition is easy to read and the chapters are brief. And like previous novels, it's your brainless eye candy novel with a fantastical and over-the-top climax.

Was fast reading. Got it in large print and couldn't put it down. Mike Bennet and his family of 10 kids make the story even better.

A+++++++++++++++++++++++++

There are plenty of NY cop books, but this character is one of the best.

So the kidnapper in this book was absolutely brilliant! He is terrible of course in what he does. But the way he goes about it is genius. I’ve also met Emily Parker. She’s TROUBLE! Great read. Totally hooked on this series.