Another rollicking good time with the NYPD Red team, namely Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan. This time, they are trying to determine who killed a sex maniac and who is blowing up some of the city’s wealthiest benefactors. The sexual tension between Zach and Kylie continues to simmer, while they both pursue other relationships. Wise-cracking and thrilling, this is another solid novel from James Patterson and Marshall Karp.

#RedAlert #JamesPatterson #MarshallKarp

*after 3 times reading/listening to this, I officially give it 5 stars*


ORIGINAL REVIEW
KYLIE: "Zach, you know what I hate about this job?"

ZACH: "A**-kissing. But on the plus side, you're getting very good at it."


first off, it's been awhile since I've had some music playing in the background while I write a book review and I've been in a HUGE mood for Keith Urban's GRAFFITI U album and so, thank you Alexa for playing this amazing album while I write this review but also cause I'm too lazy to hook up my phone to my blue-tooth speaker haha. it's also a good thing no none's around in my kitchen cause I'm dancing really weird and singing off key so yeah... which idc about the off key thing UNLESS I have to sing for something. but in general, I'm singing off key for fun ;) (despite being a singer even though I think I suck haha)

ONTO THE REVIEW:

Okay so after NYPD Red 4 came out January of 2016, and after A LONG TIME of no news of a 5th book because of all the open holes, I was STOKED and so excited to read this 5th book last year when it was announced to come out last March. BUT it changed to the end of March this year and I was PISSED of course. But after waiting a year and two months PLUS an additional month in a half of being on the library hold list for this book, I can say it was worth the wait.



WHY 3 1/2 STARS WHEN I REALLY LIKED ALL THE OTHERS

Now, 3 stars is good for me in my rating system which is an "okay" but still enjoyable enough. the storyline just wasn't perfectly as executed as I would have liked it to be, but it was still a fun read. There were a few things I thought were kind of random, and felt like one of the stories with the second case Zach and Kylie had to take on was unnecessary and the story of Zach looking up a particular person without a friends consent (only to protect them) was an okay add on, but three separate stories, plus having to go out of the country for 5-6 chapters or so... it felt like Patterson and Karpp didn't know what to do with this story, but it's a good thing they've created great and fun detectives: Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald. I seriously freaking LOVE these two! so they pretty much saved this story for me.

but I guess overall, it wasn't quite my favorite, but still a fun read and I DID find myself laughing and grinning from ear to ear once in awhile which is a good thing. But I'm still hoping we get at least one more or a few other book in this series or better yet, as I keep saying a crime show with Zach and Kylie just cause they're seriously two of the greatest characters and I'm so glad I picked this series up back when book 2 was just about to come out years ago. I would seriously LOVE LOVE LOOOOVE to see these characters and a few others in here come to life on screen on a tv series. it would be so much fun!

I couldn’t finish chapter 1, because for me, the voice didn’t work for the story.

The NYPD series draws you in quickly. These books are hard to put down.

Yeah another satisfying read - 3.5*

James Patterson has me and he's had me since Private (#1). I used to hate Patterson's writing style but I've honestly grown immune to it because there are two things that sell this to me: the characters (Zach Jordan!) and the plot.

I will never give this book higher than 3* because Zach is primarily an idiot (and probably some more words that I shouldn't describe in a Goodreads review). He's still in love with his current police partner (Kylie McDonald) and there are some things where she's over-sexualised and if I was his current girlfriend (Cheryl), I would have literally strung him up by his balls - I am clearly not that patient. I think this series would work as well, possibly even better, if this crappy storyline wasn't underlining it. Kylie does not feel the same way and I'm unsure if he actually loves her or is just in love with the thought of her. Cheryl is clearly so much better than Kylie and errrgh it really infuriates me.

If that underlying issue wasn't still occurring, I would have definitely given this book 4* because the plot was exciting and thrilling that I finished it in a day. I didn't even mean to and I literally have done nothing else - apart from work as well. This book consumed my 'free time'. I was excited to find out what was happening next. I like the three different plots and they didn't need to connect because that's what a busy NYPD cop would probably have to put up with.

I love the idea of NYPD Red (looking after NY's elite) and I think the idea is strong as ever, especially in today's current climate. As long as celebrities are a thing then this book can continue on forever - it is so relevant.

Where's NYPD Red 6?

James Patterson never disappoints with his exciting, fast paced plots and his vibrant characters. NYPD Red 5 is a must for all Patterson fans. This book is a real page turner which will keep you enthralled from start to finish. Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is my second James Patterson series I've gotten sucked into, and if I know anything about James Patterson's series, it's that they go on forever! But oh well. These books are such fast reads and they're always super enjoyable.
So in this one, a bomb blows up at an event while this Del Fairfax character is on stage. At first they think it's supposed to be a hit on the mayor, but it was definitely meant for Del, as he is the only one killed in the entire room. Then, as #1 side story, they find a woman (Audrey Davenport) dead, sex act gone wrong, but realize it was actually murder. Then as #2 side story, Shelley (Kylie's ex-boyfriend's old boss) was apart of an illegal gambling ring and they got robbed $800,000. While they're investigating this robbery, Zach also gets to meet Kylie's new boyfriend who is a professional gambler and involved in this robbery. Zach gets suspicious of him which puts him in a weird position between his ex, Kylie.
They find out there's 4 men that are involved with Del Fairfax and seem to think they're all on this hit list with a drug cartel member. Not long after, Arnie Zimmer (2 of 4) winds up dead too.
Back to the #1 side story, they find video of Judge Rafferty having sex with this Audrey Davenport in his chambers, and now he's being blackmailed for $100,000. They figure the killer and the blackmailer are the same person but end up not being either. They set up the judge to meet with the blackmailer, but they end up stealing the money via drone and getting away for the time being.
They find out it was two guys that just happened upon the videos and figured it'd be an easier way to make some money. They also find another video of her having sex with her sex therapist, who is very well known. They find out he is the one who killed her to protect his career after she secretly taped them. Cheryl, Zach's girlfriend is upset because she knew him very well.
Meanwhile, with the main story, they fly to Bangkok to meet with the bomb maker, and he basically tells them that the person who is setting these bombs and killing these guys is Geraldo Segura. He was their friend a long time ago, and he got put away in Thai prison for their crimes. Transporting heroin across the border. So they know Segura is running around NYC trying to kill all 4 men. They find out Nathan Hirsch (3 of 4) is handcuffed to a bomb and sitting on courthouse steps. They realize the only way to stop the bomb is to jam cell phones which is illegal without a warrant. Judge Rafferty comes in again by doing Kylie a favor and getting the warrant. They save Nathan Hirsch from the bomb. Segura makes a deal with the last man, Princeton Wells (4 of 4) of 5 million dollars for 20 years of his time in prison, and Princeton gets to walk free. However, Seguar makes another deal with Malique La Grande, which was the man in charge of the heroin deal those years ago, and realized they actually stole 3 kilos of heroin, so Princeton Wells gets murdered by Malique, and Segura leaves the country.
Back to #2 side story, Zach does a little undercover work and finds out the robber with the gambling ring was not Kylie's boyfriend, so it all works out in the end!