Private: #1 Suspect (Jack Morgan) [Hardcover]

James Patterson (Author), Maxine Paetro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2012 | Series: Jack Morgan

Unsolvable cases

Since former Marine Jack Morgan started Private, it has become the world's most effective investigation firm--sought out by the famous and the powerful to discreetly handle their most intimate problems. Private's investigators are the smartest, the fastest, and the most technologically advanced in the world--and they always uncover the truth.

Impossible murders

When his former lover is found murdered in Jack Morgan's bed, he is instantly the number one suspect. While Jack is under police investigation, the mob strong-arms him into recovering $30 million in stolen pharmaceuticals for them. And the beautiful manager of a luxury hotel chain persuades him to quietly investigate a string of murders at her properties.

The #1 suspect is Jack Morgan

While Jack is fighting for his life, one of his most trusted colleagues threatens to leave Private, and Jack realizes he is confronting the cleverest and most powerful enemies ever. With more action, more intrigue, and more twists than ever before, PRIVATE: #1 SUSPECT is James Patterson at his unstoppable best.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Acclaim for Private

"Private will grab you from page one and force you to sit there until you turn the very last page. A great start to new a series from the master of fast-paced thrill rides." (lorisreadingcorner.com )

"Slick and suspenseful." (BookLoons.com )

"PRIVATE mixes action, mystery and personal drama...Patterson and Paetro may well be on their way to rivaling--and possibly surpassing--the popularity of their Women's Murder Club series." (BookReporter.com )

About the Author

James Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to Guinness World Records. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1977, James Patterson's books have sold more than 230 million copies. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Mr. Patterson also writes the bestselling Women's Murder Club novels, set in San Francisco, and the top-selling New York detective series of all time, featuring Detective Michael Bennett. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.

Maxine Paetro is the author of three novels, two works of nonfiction, and the coauthor of seven books with James Patterson. She lives in New York with her husband.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (January 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316097403
• ISBN-13: 978-0316097406
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

From my publisher:

James Patterson...


* James Patterson holds the New York Times bestsellers list record with 63 New York Times bestselling titles.

* JP has sold more than 220 million books worldwide. And considering pass-along and libraries, it's safe to say many more people than that have read a Patterson!

* In 2010, JP was named by kids everywhere the Children's Book Councils' Children's Choice Book Awards "Author of the Year" in 2010. More than 15,000 kid and teen readers voted for JP in a category he shared with Suzanne Collins, Carl Hiaasen, Jeff Kinney, and Rick Riordan. His Witch and Wizard series saw the biggest launch of a series for young readers ever, surpassing sales of first installments of Twilight, Diary of A Wimpy Kid, and Percy Jackson & The Olympians.

* JP has grossed over 3 billion dollars in worldwide sales. This is larger than the worldwide theatrical gross of Avatar, the highest grossing film of all time.

* JP has had 43 New York Times hardcover #1 bestselling novels, also a publishing industry record.

* Last year, JP has sold more books than John Grisham, Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, and Stephen King combined (source: Nielsen BookScan).

* JP properties are gaining wide interest amongst film and TV producers. JP's award-winning series for young readers, Maximum Ride, is currently with Avi Arad (Spiderman, Iron Man) and Universal Pictures. Lloyd Levin (Green Zone, Watchmen) is attached to produce a feature film adaptation of JP's newest young readers series, Witch and Wizard, and James Patterson Entertainment is set to produce the next Alex Cross film, I, Alex Cross which will feature Idris Elba (The Wire, The Losers) as Alex Cross. And, a television adaptation of JP's 2007 love story Sundays At Tiffanys aired in December 2010 starring Alyssa Milano and Eric Winter.

* JP's books are licensed in 43 countries worldwide, and are in print and actively sold in 100 countries.

* According to a 2010 Bowker Sisters in Crime Survey, JP is the favorite mystery writer amongst readers under 50...AND over 50! Survey respondents comprised American men, women and teens who bought at least one mystery fiction title in 2009 and/or 2010.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twist a minute thriller, January 2, 2012

By 

Horatio Q. Miguel "Tapa Tío" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Private: #1 Suspect (Jack Morgan) (Audio CD)

Without the fascinating underlying philosophy you'll find in Chaos and Kingdom or other thrillers, the latest Patterson smash will take you on a rollercoaster of twists and turns that only a master can.

Ex-Marine Morgan has become the world's best private investigator (using unconventional means to get to his ends for clients "who demanded and paid well for services not available through public means"). He's good at what he does and not afraid to step outside the lines to make sure he meets his objective.

Unfortunately for Morgan, someone stepped outside the lines all over his ex-girlfriend and left the remains in his luxurious home's master bed. But was the murderer just messing with him or is there a deeper plot? Well, it turns out that the perpetrator set it up to frame Morgan and the more he delays in reporting the crime (for self-preservation and curiosity), the more he digs his own hole.

The book kind of drags on near the end, but overall it's an exciting, fast-paced rocker. You're gonna love it.

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Jack's Busy. Very Busy., January 3, 2012

By 

C. Wallace (L.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Private: #1 Suspect (Jack Morgan) (Kindle Edition)

This book looks at the glamorous and sensational detective agency, Private, which is run by ex-Marine and ex-CIA agent Jack Morgan. Private has branches in six countries and a flashy headquarters in L.A. Hey, the police go to Private for investigative help.

Early on in this novel, Jack is framed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Colleen. Two particularly malevolent LAPD homicide detectives want to see Jack convicted, even though Colleen was shot in Jack's bed with Jack's gun. Jack called 911 himself. The gun is easily found close to the crime scene. Jack vehemently proclaims his innocence. Would Jack, a top investigator, make it all so easy for the police? That is the question...

As if getting himself cleared is not challenging enough, Jack also investigates the theft of thirty million dollars worth of Oxycodone. The "victim" of this heist is a mobster. Why would Jack take on this explosive case? Another big question.

While all of the above swirls around, Jack and his crew hunt a serial killer who targets men who call an escort service. A prostitute shows up at the hotel room and the john ends up strangled to death.

Finally, a young movie star may be guilty of statutory rape and murder. Or maybe not. Private gets involved.

Add to this volatile mix Jack's evil twin who is determined to destroy Jack.

This is a classic James Patterson (writing with Maxine Paetro) "page turner." Nothing profound. Often superficial. Yet, there were enough bursts of excitement to keep me engaged.

It's the seventeenth work written or co-written by Patterson that I have reviewed for this site. I would put it somewhere in the middle.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mass Production, January 24, 2012

By 

Jeffrey Swystun (Ottawa & New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Private: #1 Suspect (Jack Morgan) (Hardcover)

Another one from the Patterson factory rolls off the line. On the one hand, I appreciate his business acumen and prolific output ... both requiring co-authors. On the other hand, uniqueness and quality are frequently at risk. His work is becoming so formulaic as to be predictable. Gone is the intrigue and suspense that marked earlier efforts. Private, the world's most effective investigation firm, was more of a gumshoe effort than a slick global intelligence agency that the book's promotion implied. The characters were one dimensional or stereotypical even though the authors dropped them into three competing plots. Mr. Patterson ... quality trumps quantity.