Lifeguard (Mass Market Paperback)

by James Patterson (Author), Andrew Gross (Author) "DON'T MOVE," I said to Tess, sweaty and out of breath..." (more)
Key Phrases: split aces, alarm code, art theft, Palm Beach, James Patterson, Agent Shurtleff (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Beach bum Ned Kelly, a part-time lifeguard, pool guy and errand runner in Palm Beach, Fla., has just scored with beautiful, rich Tess McAuliffe. Life sure is looking up, especially from his days back in chilly South Boston. He's looking forward to another round with Tess, but first he has to help some smalltime hoodlum pals commit a $60-million art heist. It's supposed to be an easy job, but everything goes to hell—the paintings they were after weren't even there—and soon enough his pals are all dead, as is Tess. Ned goes on the run, accused of the murders and the heist as well. He flees back to Boston, but gets caught by cute-as-a-button FBI agent Ellie Shurtleff, assigned to investigate the case for the agency's Art Theft and Fraud department. After some rough stuff, he takes her hostage and in short order they've bonded. Ellie can see that Ned's a good guy who could never have committed the crimes he's charged with, so the two of them join forces to bring down the actual thieves and killers. It's a twisty story that will engage the interest of beach-goers everywhere, whose sun-addled brains will put up with pedestrian writing and an improbable plot just to find out exactly whodunit and why.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Don't be fooled by the title of Patterson's latest thrilling yarn--the action goes far beyond the beach. Ned Kelly grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Brockton, but he got out, and now his life seems to be falling into place. He's interested in a beautiful woman named Tess and has decided to chance one last heist with four of his childhood friends. Ned's job is simple--all he has to do is set off several house alarms while his friends hit the real target, the mansion of Dennis Stratton, to steal three valuable paintings. But when Ned's friends enter the house and discover the paintings already gone, they realize they've been double-crossed, and before Ned can reach them, all four are murdered. Then Tess is found dead in her hotel room, and, fearing how bad things are looking for him, Ned goes on the lam, hoping to clear his name. He goes back to Brockton to find his father, a small-time criminal he suspects may have been involved in setting up his friends. He's being pursued by Federal Agent Ellie Shurtleff, an art expert, who becomes an unlikely ally. Packing all the punches readers have come to expect from Patterson's books, this one delivers at every turn. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1st edition (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044661761X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446617611
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (166 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars WHY IS THIS A BEST SELLER?, July 13, 2005

By	Bart Austin "THEY CALL ME THE FIREMAN. . .THA... (New Orleans) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lifeguard (Hardcover)

The story of Beach bum Ned Kelly, lifeguard, pool boy and and gofer in Palm Beach, Fla. Who gets mixed up in a botched art heist and ends up on the run until he gets caught by a beautiful FBI agent who then teams up with him to go after the real bad guys. Yes the plot is a joke! But I guess it does make for a good beach read, only someone who has been out in the sun to long would read this junk (Well, except for me). Ok maybe I am being a bit hard, there is cheap thrills entertainment here, but best seller? I am also put off by Peterson's hiring a stable of authors to write this stuff then plaster his name on the front cover as a marketing ploy. what's he published this year, 4 to 5 books, most are co-authored. Who is really writing here? Thankfully I was given an advance copy from a friend in the industry. If you are looking for something diferent this is not it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Note worth it, whatsever!!!!, December 19, 2005

By	D. Williams (Greenville, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lifeguard (Hardcover)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars READ IT IN A DAY!, May 30, 2006

By	Sandeeee "Sandy" (AnytownPA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lifeguard (Hardcover)

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 !!!!!!