Customer Reviews

The Midnight Club

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I don't think James Patterson will ever write as good as he does when he writes about Alex Cross. However, this is the first NON Alex Cross book of Patterson's that I have been able to finish. The story in this book was a good one, but it got a little confusing with so many different members of the Club. I felt the author should have focused more on the one main villain in the Midnight Club rather than trying to draw in more of them and show their different personalities. This was a fairly decent read, but I felt that putting the lead character in a wheelchair was a forced flaw. Most of Patterson's lead characters are really not flawed at all, but this one was way too obvious. I felt that the love story was a bit predictable and it seemed forced to me. The contempt these two characters felt for each other at the beginning was a waste of time - it was obvious how that would turn out. All in all, not bad for not having Alex Cross.

I don't usually care for James Patterson's non-Alex Cross books, so I was a little wary of this, one of his earlier books. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the story, which kept me on the edge of the treadmill, so to speak. The main character, John Stefanovitch (Stef), is a good, strong, believable character who rebounds from a brutal attack that leaves him in a wheelchair to take down St. Germain (the Grave Dancer) who organized the ambush in which Stef was injured and who killed Stef's wife.

We catch up with Stef two years after the ambush. He has returned to his job on the NYPD and is still determined to bring the Grave Dancer down and to fight against organized crime. Stef is smart and tough and in no way a victim. Sarah, a true-crime writer who is writing a book about the Midnight Club, a group of organized crime leaders, is also a good, strong character and is more than a match for Stef. The relationship that develops between them is realistic and unforced.

However, it is the young police officer, Isaiah Parker, who steals the show. He is a terrific character- young, idealistic, and determined that good should prevail over evil through whatever means necessary. This book raises the interesting issue of how does good fight against evil when all legal methods fail. The way the book answers the question is gratifying.

Full credit must be given to the narrator of the audio version, Robert Forster. He uses his voice to give life to the various characters, with the different people easily recognizable by the voices used.

If I have a problem with the book, it is the question of why it did not occur to any of these people that Sarah and her son would be an obvious target for the crime lords and take steps to protect them. But that's a minor quibble and in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

This is my second non Alex Cross book that I've read and I'm slowly beginning to feel as if I shouldn't waste anymore time on a book that doesn't feature this character. With that said, I found this book VERY slow moving. The plot moved along very slowly but I kept reading it hoping that it would improve. I must say that I absolutely LOVED the ending which at least made me want to give it 3 stars but I'm sure that lots of people will be so bored that they won't stick around that long!

Like others, I found this book to be very disappointing and one of Patterson's worst works.

The book was very good at some points and there were times when I even found it to be very suspenseful. However, a lot of it was boring and had me rolling my eyes at how recycled it was.

I thought the worst part was by far Patterson's characterization of the main people, especially the cop in the wheelchair. While Jeffery Deavers (who also writes a book series with a hero who is paralyzed) seemed to do research on what it is like to have a spinal cord injury, it is obvious that Patterson was flying strait from the hip. I found it pretty hard to believe that this guy seemed to be able to get around everywhere, and the ending? puhlease! I felt like I was watching a made for TV movie or something. Been there done that. It makes me wonder if he did any research at all when writing his last book "When the Wind Blows."

Anyway, I know this was one of Patterson's first books, but I'm still pretty disappointed. I guess that's what happens when you've been spoiled by his Cross novels for so long.

Isn't it about time to put the paranoia sub-genre to rest? It's been done over and over. The hero just can't trust anyone. The villain is a superman with absolutely no morals. I've read most of the James Patterson novels, and he vacillates between really good and pure nonsense. This book is from the latter end.

The sadistic and perverse sex doesn't add anything to the book. Really, now, naked 12-year old girls? Torture? Rape? I'm not a prude, but I objected to all this sexual melange because it was obvious that the writer threw it in, not because it developed the plot but because it would--well, you supply the rest of that.

Patterson has given us much better books. Much, much, much better. This one is a waste of paper and reading time.

In James Patterson's, The Midnight Club, Patterson uses a variety of literary devices to enhance his writing. First, Patterson uses just about every element of plot in this book. He uses rising action and complications to create vivid pictures of what is happening. For example, when Alexandre St.- Germain, the antagonist, is supposedly killed at the beginning of the book. This poses a complication because the "bad guy" is killed early in the book, or so you think. Also, there were many things that could only be answered through the climax. This rising action helped in creating suspense. Second, suspense was used throughout the book to keep you turning the pages. Wanting to know what would happen next. Further the short one to three page chapters assisted in producing suspense. These short chapters make it easier to read allowing us as the readers to get into a flow. At every thrilling and suspenseful moment the reader is forced to consider all possibilities. It is impossible to guess what will happen next. Last, Patterson is among the best at concocting riveting and exceptional serial killers while still manufacturing detectives who are heroic and complex. He reveals his characters personalities only through their actions and thoughts. Each character has a purpose and is used to make the book better. James Patterson's use of literary devices not only uplifts the books quality but also help the readers to understand it. Patterson shows why he is considered one of the masters of writing a true thriller.

This book will keep you up later than normal. I hated to put it down after I started. Part was a little slow but for the most part it was a very good read. John Stefanovitch was a good character. He fought back after being shot. He continued after St. Germain who was responsible for his getting shot and other personal things that happened. Sarah was fair but Isiah Parker was wonderful. A book with him as the main character would be good. These three are deternmined to bring St. Germain down.

Are they able to do it. Read to find out. The ending is very good. A twist but good.

I thought this was one of his better books not involving Alex Cross. It had an interesting storyline with several good twists. I would recommend this book.

John Stefonovitch, detective of the NYPD, tries to put a stop the the most powerful, low down, evil man in the world... Alexander St. Germain and The Midnight Club.I feel that this exquisite novel can make an excellent movie. Hey, let me direct the movie so that i could win an oscar, and you can win "best author of the year." Come on Pete, give me a shot.

This book is just as good as the Alex Cross series and has one of the best villains ever created. The basic plot is that there is one organisation that every mafia, crime and drug organisation is controlled by. The killer in this book is the head of this organisation.

The detective in The Midnight Club is also an interesting character being that he is confined to a wheel chair.

A lot of reviews seem to dislike this book but I think it is sensational. For those who have never read a Patterson novel it is also great as you do not have to be familiar with any other books to fully appreciate the characters. For those who have read them this is a different detective to follow other than Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club.