Worst Case Written By James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

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AppId is over the quota

This book is excellent. Some of Patterson's books lately have been only fair, especially the ones written with another author. In "Worst Case" I think the story is very well written and in today's world of not knowing what to expect, it is very plausible. This book features Detective Michael Bennett of the NYPD, who has been featured in a few other books by James Patterson. Bennett has 10 children, all adopted and of all origins. He has a nanny to take care of this brood when he has to work, which is quite a bit of time. Since his wife had died several years earlier, the children give Michael Bennett quite a problem of balancing his work and his personal life. In this story he is teamed with an FBI agent, Emily Parker, who, while working close with Bennett, has made both of them open their eyes toward each other.

Children of rich people disappear, followed by a phone call to the parents. When the police get involved, Bennett and Parker along with their teams, at first the culprit says he does not want any ransom but tells them where the child can be picked up. After leading them on a wild goose chase, the body of the first child is found. This is repeated several times with some variation on the kidnappers method of operation. Since all the parents are rich and very influential the police can't make a connection as to why certain children are taken and with different variants involved, how do they get to the whys and wherefores?

As the police are led in circles, or so it seems, they get no closer to finding this dangerous person. Many other aspects are brought into the story such as parents that think they are above all others, priests that don't seem to have any connection, and chases, some of which lead no where. The story is good, well written and has a good flow. The last part of the book will have you wondering what this guy is thinking and when it all comes together you will be very surprised. You might be glad you don't have children in such a mess!

If James Patterson would continue writing this suspenseful type of story, he would remain the best. He, like some others, try to write too many and think that bringing another author into the book helps thihngs along. Not always the case.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman. reviewer of many types of books.

The Falls By Ian Rankin

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

I am not quite sure when this book was written but it was a while ago - I just hadn't read it yet. This mystery has a certain eerie quality to it which I am not usually fond of but, because Rankin is a master of weaving stories, was very enjoyable. The beginning of the book has us meet a university student who is worried because his girlfriend has gone missing. We immediately think the worst, because this is a murder mystery, but there is no body.

Detective Inspector John Rebus has the case and members of the girl's family and her boyfriend's family immediately try to bully our John. He isn't having any of it and succeeds in annoying the higher ups at work as well as many people who seem involved in this girl's life. At first, of course, everyone paints a delightful picture of her but as the time wears on a little more information is given and Rebus and his team begin to see a different story behind the 'perfect' daughter and friend. Meanwhile it seems as though Rebus has a little romance in his life. A curator at the museum returns an interest in him and he is finally going out with someone other than his murder team. She proves helpful to the case as well because there are items in her museum which show up in places that seem to make no sense to anyone.

The Falls comes to play as a miniature coffin is found by them and the lady who calls in the story is only too happy to share her information with not only the police but also the local reporter. She becomes a definite burden for the force as they are trying to keep some information quiet about the details of the disappearance and amazingly the press themselves seem to be getting hold of pertinent details. The actual area known as the Falls is interesting too as it is really only slightly faster moving water with some elevation drops and hardly what one would call a fall but it has been known as the falls for as long as anyone can remember and just so happens to be very near to where the missing girl grew up.

Here is where the plot thickens, literally. The girl's mother seems remote and suspicious, her father bombastic and overly dependent upon a friend as opposed to his wife and a little background history which would give more than one person a great motive to want to punish their family. Typical Rankin right!

This is excellent stuff and a story that is guaranteed to confound you. I thought I had it figured out several times only to be surprised yet again.

You can find more of my book and movie reviews at: http://ukchica.com/