on June 28th 2010
Pages: 464
ISBN: 0316096237
Goodreads
The police can't help youFormer Marine helicopter pilot Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.
The press will destroy you
Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer.
Only one place to turn: Private
But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson sleekest, most exciting thriller ever.
#PI #SportsScandal #MurderIsNotaGame #DaddysMoney #MaxinePaetro #FirstInSeries @JP_Books @PeterHermann @HachetteAudio @audible_com
Private is the opening salvo of the Private Novels Series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Because Audible was kind enough to give the download free for the asking to its members, I thought I would repay their kindness by posting a review. I’m guilty of frequently warning my readers to pay close attention because of the many details in a complex storyline, but this time I mean it. There is so much going on in this book right out of the gate, I think even the authors realized they needed to simplify things a bit because they have Jack Morgan, the leading force behind Private, a company that has turned “knowing things” into a successful business, tell his team they need to drop everything except for three cases. From that point on the way becomes clearer. A combat hero with the recurrent scary memories to prove it, Jack makes the most of having an infamous father and uses Daddy’s money and a gift package of dirty little secrets to re-start Daddy’s company. Private utilizes formidable technology and an unconventional team of scientists, computer experts, detectives, and a psychiatric profiler who is also a former love interest of Jack’s. Speaking of love interests, our man Jack gets around. He was once involved with the psychiatric profiler Justine Smith as well as his BFF Andy’s wife who is the murder victim in one of the three focal cases. His current main squeeze is his receptionist who is crazy about Jack, but Jack doesn’t feel the love. Not everyone loves Jack, however. He is cursed with a nasty twin brother who despises him and does all he can to make Jack’s life hell.
Actor Peter Hermann gives an outstanding performance. This is my first book narrated by him and he has one of those voices that you love to hear reading anything. Be sure to click on the link for his bio. Very interesting reading!
Private is a relatively short listen that will hold your attention once the dust clears at the beginning of the book and the Private investigative team settles into their three cases. I’m not sure there is a lot of mystery, but there are some surprises and I enjoyed the fact that regardless of how heavy the storyline got, there were always light moments in the dialogue. If you are a fan of James Patterson’s work, Private won’t disappoint.
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