While their relationship was supposed to be low-key and serve as a romantic relief from the complex plot lines, I found it extremely forced and platonic. The Beach House* is an interesting story about how the court and the rich cornering a man when he'll have no choice but to fight back like a feral animal. As he greets his family, his kid brother Peter lies stretched out on a steel gurney, battered, bruised - dead.

On the night in question, Peter had been hired to work as a valet at a huge Memorial Day bash on the Long Island estate of the extremely wealthy and influential Barry Neubauer and family. 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.Jack tries to uncover what really happened on the beach that night, only to come up against the shadowy people who protect the privileges of the multi-billionaire summer residents.

After his brother is murdered by a rich and powerful family, main character James sets out to get revenge and uncover the truth after the family is able to convince the police that the death was a suicide. Motivated by a hundred forms of grief, Jack rallies his hometown friends to help him find the truth of Peter’s death – no matter how rich or corrupt the people who stand in their way. Brooks is a pro at building suspense even if it plays out in some rather spectacularly yucky episodes, one involving a short spear that takes its name from “the sucking sound of pulling it out of the dead man’s heart and lungs. I could feel de Jong's influence a bit on this one as some sections had rambling characters and a feeling of just running on, which is rare for Patterson in his short and concise sentences and chapters. I do like the short chapters because you have complete continuity with this story, as you don't have to keep checking back to remind yourself of the various characters within the story.When Jack’s fired from the firm and Pauline soon follows, it’s clear that there’s no place the Neubauer tentacles don’t reach, and the outcome of the inquest is a foregone conclusion. All I had to do was open the glove compartment and look at the registration, but that would have spoiled the surprise.