Customer Reviews

Lifeguard

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I read this book on a very nice day on the beach. I started it at 8am and by 830 pm, the sun had set and I had finished the book. What this all means is that it's VERY HARD TO PUT DOWN! Lots of action, surprises, mystery, all the great things that Patterson is known for!! I definitely recommend it !!!!!!

I am a very big fan of James Patterson and normally find his writing to be of the highest quality and quite suspenseful. The book "Lifeguard" however, is neither good, nor surprising in any way.
The hero, Ned Kelly, is a whiny, complaining. know-it-all, n'er do-well. This book would have more aptly been titled, "Ned Kelly's 300 Page Pity Party for Himself". If that,in itself, isn't bad enough, the things that he is constantly moaning about, all came about, in one way or another, because of HIM!!! Many times throughout the reading of this book, I sat wishing the protagonist would simply blow "Neddy" away and put me out of MY misery in reading this book.
As if Neds insideous complaining throughout the book is not bad enough, the plot unravels to the point of actually financially REWARDING Ned for his participation in illegal activities and unwitting responsibility for the deaths of his brother and friends. Even a multi-million dollar pay off does not shut up Neds whining. I was so disgusted after finishing this book I will have to seriously investigate the next novel I read by Mr. Patterson. I am VERY disappointed!!!
The only saving grace in this book is an Aussie character named Champs. Unfortunatly, he is not utilized very much at all.
I wonder if the author is of Irish-American descent himself because he paints an EXTREMELY unflattering picture (drunks, theives, criminals, and whiners) of a truly industrious, hard-working, group of nationalites (the Irish).
If you have already bought this book, Good Luck, if you haven't, consider yourself forewarned.

The only thing that James Patterson had to do with this book is to allow the publisher to use his name. The writing was at best amatuerish, and I will certaily think twice before buying another of his "co authored" books. The Lifeguard was pathetic.

What the heck happened to the James Patterson's books? I don't know who's writing these books, but it's certainly not him. There were parts in this book that didn't even make sense. I think Mr. Patterson should stop loaning his name out and get down to writing something fantastic like some of his first books.

Ned Kelly makes his living as a lifeguard at a Florida resort, but when he meets Tess he realizes he'll need an increase in his salary to keep her in the lifestyle she is accustomed to. Ned's friends offer to cut him in on a deal if he agrees to be their look-out man and driver...

The plan is simple, Ned is to set off a series of house alarms to send the police in a frenzy, while they run around checking the false alarms Ned's friends will break into a house holding a fortune in priceless art. In and out, it's an easy job until they enter the house to find all the art already stolen. Within hours, all of Ned's friends are murdered as well as Tess, and he is on the run for his life as the police want him for murder and the killer wants him dead.

Ned has no one to trust except Ellie Shurtleff, the FBI agent assigned to the case and together they must clear his name, bring the real killer to justice and avoid falling in love.

'Lifeguard' is another guaranteed page-turner. The characters are well-drawn, the action scenes exciting and the plot twists genuinely surprising...what more can you ask for in a summer read.

There is absolutely no one better than James Patterson when it comes to un-put-downable thrillers and his newest, while a different style of thriller from his usual, is one of his best. Don't plan on doing anything once you begin this novel because you won't stop reading until you finish it, most likely in one sitting.

Expect 'Lifeguard' to fly to the top of the bestseller lists!

Don't miss this MUST read novel.

Actor Billy Campbell's career has been on the upswing since he made his Broadway debut in 1992. An in-demand performer, he starred in the ABC series "Once and Again" and acquired a number of screen credits. Campbell takes on the role of narrator in "Lifeguard" with skill and distinction, carrying reader's from Ned Kelly's initial bravado to later fear.

Those who have read any of James Patterson's books (Kiss The Girls, Along Came A Spider) well know that he packs a wallop, and he does so again in this story of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks who thought he could take a quick ride to the top.

Ned Kelly has left the chill of Boston for a sunnier clime - Palm Beach, Florida. That's a pretty heady switch for someone who suddenly finds himself surrounded by a posh lifestyle yet makes his living as a part-time lifeguard and go-fer. Then he meets gorgeous Tess, seemingly unattainable because she's rich and he most definitely is not.

In an effort to become one of the haves Ned signs on for a robbery - supposedly a snap - steal some paintings from a wealthy man's home. It doesn't quite work that way. First, the paintings aren't where they're supposed to be and then his cohorts are killed. Tess, too, is found dead.

Ned knows when it's time to make a run for it so he heads back to Massachusetts where he's nabbed by FBI agent Ellie Shurtleff. Ii looks like curtains for the fellow who had big dreams. Or is it?

Listen as Patterson and Campbell treat you to a tension packed story.

- Gail Cooke

The only "Patterson" I found in this book is his signature short chapters. The book is short, the print is large and the chapters average about three to four pages long. Obviously a reader could finish it off in a night, which I did. But it wasn't because I couldn't put it down.

I found the characterization horrible. The characters were so flat and boring. How can a guy who came so close to receiving his MA be so gullible, air-headish, and stupid? Or an up and coming FBI agent so easily believe a total stranger even when ALL the facts say something different? This can't possibly be Patterson's writing. It sounds nothing like his earlier books that so easily captured the actions and thoughts of a complex character. I don't think I'd bother with another of his co-authorships again.

The last couple of James Patterson novels have given me hope that titles like London Bridges were an aberration... that he hasn't lost his touch. At least in my mind, Lifeguard is my proof that he's back to running on all eight cylinders (with the help of Andrew Gross). This was a great recreational read...

Ned Kelly is enjoying life as a lifeguard and go-pher for a rich Florida resident. He meets a rich socialite woman on the beach one day and falls hard for her. But before he can get beyond the first afternoon fling, she's found dead in the hotel room where they romped. What's worse, he left her to try and pull off a one-time art heist with some long-time friends that would net him a cool million. The planned burglary goes sour when they are double-crossed and all of his partners are murdered. Panicking, he goes on the run, knowing that the killings and art deal all make him look utterly guilty. He compounds the issue when Ellie Shurtleff, an FBI special agent shows up at a place he's at, and he ends up taking her hostage to get out. He tells his story, and she actually believes him. The art theft was most likely an inside job, and the "victim" is looking like he could be both the mastermind of the theft and the architect of all the killings. She needs to prove who did the killings in order to clear Ned and save her job. Other than falling in love with Ned, the complicating factor is that she can't trust her boss at the Bureau as there's someone on the inside...

Written in typical Patterson fashion (short three and four page chapters), the story speeds along at a rapid pace. While the story of "FBI agent falls for honest crook who's not guilty" might be somewhat implausible, the characters are likeable and it's easy to find yourself empathizing with and rooting for them to win. It's obvious early on that all the players probably aren't who they appear to be, but you're kept guessing until pretty much the end.

If you have a day or two where you don't want to accomplish anything important and just want to get lost in a book, this works just fine. I'm glad to see that Patterson is back...

This is the story of a lifeguard, but don't expect to find him on the beach too much. In one of his rare appearances on the shore, Ned meets a beautiful and seductive woman. Hoping to have the money to live on her level, he consents to take part in a robbery with four of his oldest and dearest friends. The plan is to rob a ritzy home of valuable artwork, but when the would-be thieves arrive, the art has already been stolen. Later in the evening, the four friends plus the beautiful woman are all murdered and Ned is on the run.

A female FBI agent that is attracted to Ned, a father with a lifetime record for petty crime, a malicious millionaire, an avenging spouse, and a gin partner who redefines friendship, are some of the characters you'll meet in this novel. But it is Ned Kelly, the good guy with a bad streak, headstrong and often foolish, that will keep you reading at breakneck speed to discover who the elusive "Doctor Gachet" might be. Surprising twists and Patterson's plotting keep things moving, but the over-the-top ending makes this more fairy-tale than thriller.

The only complaint about this book is that I got no sleep, no housework done, no bills paid----all I could do was read this story from the first page until the end.It was impossible to put down. I loved the story about Ned, the lifeguard. It was the kind of story that grips you from the beginning and holds your interest the entire ride. I felt like I "know" the players and never wanted the story to end. I don't care if Patterson writes with another author as long as he continues to write fun stories such as this. Thanks for the entertainment. Now I must get back to my other life.