Private Games [Hardcover]

James Patterson (Author), Mark Sullivan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 13, 2012 | Series: Private

On your mark

Private, the world's most renowned investigation firm, has been commissioned to provide security for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Its agents are the smartest, fastest, and most technologically advanced in the world, and 400 of them have been transferred to London to protect more than 10,000 competitors who represent more than 200 countries.

Get set

The opening ceremony is hours away when Private investigator and single father of twins, Peter Knight, is called to the scene of a ruthless murder. A high-ranking member of the games' organizing committee has been killed. It's clear to Peter that this wasn't a crime of passion, but one of precise calculation and execution.

Die

Newspaper reporter Karen Pope receives a letter from a person who calls himself Cronus claiming responsibility for the murders. He promises to restore the Olympics to their ancient glory and to destroy all those who have corrupted the games with lies, corruption, and greed. Immediately, Karen hires Private to examine the letter, and she and Peter uncover a criminal genius who won't stop until he's completely destroyed the modern games. "America's #1 storyteller" (Forbes) delivers an exhilarating, action-packed thriller that brings the splendor and emotion of the Olympics to a wildly powerful climax.

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 240 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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First Edition edition (February 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316206822
• ISBN-13: 978-0316206822
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 1.5 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (414 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It is no surprise that in January, 2010, The New York Times Magazine featured James Patterson on its cover and hailed him as having "transformed book publishing," and that Time magazine hailed him as "The Man Who Can't Miss." Recently, NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams profiled Patterson's prolific career, AARP named him one of the "50 Most Influential People Who Make Our Days a Little Brighter," and Variety featured him in a cover story highlighting his adventures in Hollywood.

In 2011, it was estimated that one-in-four of all hardcover suspense/thriller novels sold was written by James Patterson, he is the first author to achieve five million ebook sales (and is expected to hit ten million in early 2013), and he holds the Guinness record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers of any author. And his success isn't based solely on thrillers like the perennially popular Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club and Michael Bennett series. Patterson is now also the current bestselling author in the young adult and middle grade categories.

He's been called the busiest man in publishing, and that's not just because of his own books. For the past decade, James has been devoting more and more of his time to championing books and reading. From the James Patterson Pageturner Awards, to his website ReadKiddoRead.com, to his College Book Bucks scholarships and his regular donations of hundreds of thousands of books to schools here in the states and troops overseas (see interviews on Fox & Friends, The Dennis Miller Radio Show and CNN.com), Patterson has passed on his passion of books and reading and supported those who do the same. Jim personally funded a major ad campaign re-printing a recent opinion piece on CNN.com about how it is our responsibility to get our kids reading. The ad has run in the New York Times, The New Yorker, and USA Today. Those ads are a call to action to parents to make their kids reading a top priority; and were featured by USA Today here. Patterson believes that we cannot rely on schools, teachers or the government to get our kids reading; only parents can make this crucial change in the reading habits of our kids. Here are links to some interviews on his first-ever dual lay down (two books, one for parents and one for kids, in one day): AOL's You've Got, NBC's "Today Show" with Hoda and Kathie Lee, USA Today and Family Circle, NBC's "Today Show" with Al Roker, as well as an interview with AARP.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#2 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#1 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#2 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#2 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#2 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#4 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#1 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#2 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#2 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#2 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#4 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 79 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book February 21, 2012

By L. K. Whitley

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have read practically all of James Patterson's books and have enjoyed most of them. This one left me puzzled but I couldn't figure out why. The story is engaging, characters are well-developed and it moves along at a fast pace. It does take place in London but that was not the problem. I finally realized that the style of writing is not James Pattersons. After you read a lot of his books, his writing style becomes apparent. This book is totally different. I wondered which of the two listed authors actually wrote it. It is well-written just not like the other Patterson books.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really enjoying this Private February 24, 2012

By Maggie

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having read the first two books in the Private series I was anticipatng a good read with this most recent one, Private Games. I have made it through to Chapter 9 and am really struggling. I agree with a previous reviewer that states they can tell that James Patterson did not write this one. The narrative style is completely different. I enjoyed the first two Private books and not just because they were set in L.A. The writing was quicker paced, the characters more enjoyable and the grittiness of the storylines made me want more. LEt's see if I can get through this one.

39 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Worth It February 10, 2012

By Rob Parker

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a long time fan and I can tell you this one's totally worth it. I read all 16 chapters in one sitting. It's one of his best in a while, at least what I've read so far is. The wait to get the rest of the book is a-g-o-n-y.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing March 20, 2012

By Terry Alverson

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a huge James Patterson fan so having to choke down this book was disappointing. It was hard to get into and the dialogue was almost juvenile. The story itself was moronic. I love to read and have read a lot of books and this one may be one of the worst I have ever read. If I had a choice on number of stars it would be zero.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not my cup of tea February 23, 2012

By Nancy News

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I realize James Patterson does not actually write most of his books. I understand he makes the outline and another author actually writes the page by page lines. That being said, I usually love his books anyway and have read most everything he has written This was one of the worse books I have read with Pattersons name in the title. The only one worse was "The Postcard Killers" which had absolutely NO story line. I was so looking forward to this Private because the first 2 in this series were so good. Unfortunately, the co-writer is not the same as the others and it is not anywhere near as good. If Patterson is going to have a series, at least have the same co-writer for all of the series books!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother! March 20, 2012

By Ab Uffalo

Format:Hardcover

Lord, but this book IS rubbish! Mark Sullivan seems no better than the other lacklustre writers (& I use the word writers loosely) who pen Patterson's
abysmal works these days. Clearly, quality writing is no longer the aim of Patterson these days.

92 of 121 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars PRIVATE #1SUSPECT January 30, 2012

By silverboi

Format:Kindle Edition

I have been a James Patterson fan for years since his first Alex Cross novel and even before but this book keep me on the edge of my seat I read it in one night

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Huge disappointment June 15, 2012

By ggma

Format:Hardcover

Being a Patterson fan (I do not read the kid books) this one was just a flat failure, it just didn't have the suspense that a Patterson story usually has and the characters fall flat of being interesting. It is a quick easy read and I did finish it but the 'Private' series will fall completely flat if the stories don't get more interesting and suspenseful. I don't buy the concept of the investigation firm getting the high priority jobs especially the Olympics! I'd say don't waste your money and just pick it up at a garage sale if you want to read it.