Book Review: Private (Private #1)

Author: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Published: May 2010

Format Read: Library Ebook

Genre: Mystery, Crime

My Rating: 3/5 stars

I currently base my reviews loosely around the CAWPILE system developed by Book Roast on YouTube. I modify the categories depending on the format of the story I’m reviewing.

My star ratings are purely by my opinion and not measured by any particular metric.

SPOILER WARNING: This review will contain spoilers! Proceed with caution!

Summary

Former CIA agent Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe, for maximum force and maximum discretion. Already deep into the investigation of a multimillion-dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of eighteen schoolgirls, he learns his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed.

Characters

All were different, even if some were overdone. Head-hopping worked in this case. Jack was okay, don’t know that I root for him all that much; his brother Tommy is eugh. Hot-heads like Del Rio often make me tense. I liked Emilio the most, maybe followed by Justine. Connelly (I believe her name was) has issues and didn’t really play much of a part in the story other than to make Jack feel guilty. PTSD was handled decently.

Atmosphere

Freaking grimy Hollywood/LA. Typical big city setting. Not sure id sufficiently tense, maybe a bit disconnected.

Writing Style

A practiced hand, so it was quick and easy to read. There was maybe a bit too-much name-dropping. By using actual actors and brand names it actually pulled me out of the story.

Plot

Three mysteries at once I thought might connect, but didn’t. As a consequence, the story was a little disjointed and none of the payoffs were really satisfying. Perhaps if each story was its own book. I don’t think focusing on three case like this was a good idea.

Intrigue

I mean, it is a PI novel, so mystery has to be there. I was curious, but didn’t devour it. I think I didn’t feel the stakes were high enough to truly care. Also, I figured out it was a group of killers several chapters before the characters, even though I thought they’d figured it out at the same time as me.

Logic

Well enough. Read like a crime show speaks.

Enjoyment and Final Thoughts

I had to push through a lot of it. I didn’t really connect with the characters enough to really care about what was happening. It couldn’t been better.

I was expecting it to be a bit more engaging considering who the author is. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the series, to be honest.

Would I Recommend?

Not really. It was a moderately easy read, but I don’t think it had the best intrigue.