He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Effing Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Princess Diana, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses.

Their arrival at the abandoned farm house began a chain of events, including the death of Carla, that kept Billy forging forward, determined to find the kidnapper and cop killer. I was especially disappointed that so much unnecessary nasty language was used in this middle school story ~ I know middle schoolers hear and use profanity all the time but I see no reason for a popular author to encourage it!However, I must say that back in 2017 I read his heavily promoted novel, “The Black Book” co-written with David Ellis. It appears that the mom has found out horrible things about her husband, enough to drive her to leave and divorce him. Now, in 2022, Patterson and Ellis have brought back Harney for a third thriller, changing the book type title lingo to “Escape” and setting up Detective Harney’s hunt for a child kidnapper. While the case ramps up, Harney cannot help but find distraction in his personal life, which could prove detrimental, but also somewhat necessary.

Great story lines, with some interesting curves and the ending is a perfect setup for another installment of this character. He’s mind candy – simple, fast-paced, detective and mystery-oriented adventures that can be read in about two to three days and easily left behind. Jericho Hooper is built up pretty big in the beginning but plays a smaller role than expected, and also comes across a bit stiff and one dimensional. Harney’s sordid past and willingness to bend the rules help grease the wheels to ensure that nothing will keep CPD from catching the accused, once they are identified.The action is furious, and Patterson and Ellis use the investigation to introduce Billy to readers and give them a thorough tour of the Windy City and its suburbs. His experience and solid writing ability are present in his solo novels, which make for enjoyable reading. Harney and his partner, Carla, follow a lead to a remote house, only to find themselves caught in a deadly trap.