230 of 247 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
an interesting read, February 1, 2010
In James Patterson's latest thriller, "The Worst Case," Francis X. Mooney is a do-gooder lawyer who believes in changing the world--rescuing people from poverty, donating to humanitarian causes, and increasing social equality. In the beginning, he tries handing out pamphlets about making the world a better place--but no one listens. And so, he decides on a much deadlier path--becoming a serial killer. But his victims are no ordinary folks.
Meanwhile, New York Detective Michael Bennett, a widower and a father of ten foster children, is called to investigate a string of kidnappings concerning teenagers from wealthy families. His co-investigator becomes Emily Parker, a beautiful FBI Agent specializing in abduction. Soon enough, Bennett and Parker notice a pattern. The abductor quizzes his victims about the current state of the world--killing them if they fail the test.
What further complicates matters is that the killer has Bennett's personal contact information, and is willing to lead him to his dead victims. In each case, the parents are contacted but are powerless when it comes to negotiating with the kidnapper. And so, the children of a media mogul, a pharmaceutical company CEO, and the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, are left fighting for their lives.
And while the kidnappings of the first two victims--Jacob Dunning and Chelsea Skinner are very similar in scope, the case of wheelchair bound Dan Hastings is drastically different--starting from the sudden demand for ransom, to his unexplained disappearance. But the kidnappings only continue, while Mooney's sinister plan takes him to the center of New York's decadence and money.
This is only the second Patterson book that I read, but I enjoyed the suspense and some plot twists towards the later half of the book. Aside from the dark plot, Patterson throws in some lightweight chapters--Bennett's relationship with his kids, the romantic tension between him and Emily Parker, as well as his nanny's, Mary Catherine's, crush on him.
Overall, I felt that the plot was especially relevant given the state of today's world. Unfortunately, there is a lot of economic inequality, and, in spite of the book's darkness, Mooney comes across as this warped Robin Hood character with a hidden motive. I found the book itself a quick, but interesting read, with middle-sized text and short chapters.
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55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This one is a good one., February 2, 2010
One thing is certain, when you read a James Patterson book you're generally in for a good time. Tension, suspense, and thrills on virtually on every page. Worst Case delivers.
Leading man Michael Bennett is back in James Patterson's latest thriller Worst Case. Joining Bennett this time is FBI agent Emily Parker who specializes in abduction cases. The plot is pretty straight forward. What do you do when all of your efforts to ease the suffering of people around you have little or no impact? Simple! You become a serial killer. And who do you direct this maddening frustration at? Also simple! You go after those you feel have caused this suffering and you do it in a murdering way; a way that will make everyone pay and suffer, even the innocent. Any more information and I'm afraid this would become a spoiler.
I seem to run hot and cold on Patterson's works. For his last book, a nonfiction book, The Murder of King Tut, I could only bring myself to rate with two stars. I regret buying the book and feel a bit embarrassed to have it on my shelf. However, in the world of buying books it is buyer beware.
Worst Case on the other hand is a fitting effort by this very seasoned author. I don't believe you'll regret buying the book and you certainly won't regret reading it.
I highly recommend.
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71 of 78 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
No Scooby-Doo, February 3, 2010
The book features a veteran NYPD detective, Michael Bennett, who's a widower with ten (count `em) kids. Those kids have an attractive young nanny who has a big surprise for the detective.
Bennett stays busy in this novel by working (and playing) with an attractive young FBI agent. Bennett and the agent pursue a nutty aging hippie/corporate lawyer who cries a lot and has a heavy agenda. A little Karl Marx philosophy. A little Groucho Marx humor. Kidnappings and vicious murders. Talk of a greener, better world. A priest who gleefully admits he's a grandfather. A physically challenged Columbia student who has a "Russian squeeze." And we get to learn that corporate greed is really, really bad.
Mixed throughout are giggling and light-hearted fun. Zaniness coexists with mayhem. It's more than a little cartoonish, and remarkably like a Scooby-Doo episode; but, alas, there's no Scooby. I looked.
It's a quick read, for the 356 pages have large font, plenty of white space, and there's the classic James Patterson (writing with Michael Ledwidge) style: mini-chapters of two-four slam-bang pages.
The ending is clever and exciting. Although there's absolutely nothing that's profound, it's a good read for those who want to be entertained, escaping briefly the real troubles of the world.
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