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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
1...I couldn't get passed the awful attempt at a knockoff version of Gregory House!!! Sorry folks...there is only one...A psychiatrist...Sorry, Next!!
Disappointed that there are 3 different stories in this book. 2 of them are 13 minute murders and was not great. James Patterson is better off writing by himself then with others. Enjoy only his writing.
The 13-Minute Murder is three short stories James Patterson co-wrote. The first story was fast paced and engaging. The second story pretty good in the beginning. The ending had me scratching my head, while saying huh. The last story was ridiculous from the first page to the very last. I forced myself to finish it so this wasn’t another abandoned book. Seriously, I want my time back. If you read it, I suggest you stop after the second story. The third one will make your rating of the book drop at least a point. I was originally going to give it a three once I was done with the second story, but that last madness I read dropped it. I’m not into guns like that and that story was filled with all sort of confusing gun names. They could have used a slingshot and darts as a weapon as long as the story was solid. That last story was my deadline is here just pick something and call the book done. I’m happy I’m done.
First and second stories are good, third is a snooze fest
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Probably a 2.5.
There are three (not two as the book description says) shorter stories by three separate co-authors in this book, something I didn't realize when I grabbed it off the new books library shelf. I think this may have been a vehicle to test the waters as to whether Mr. Patterson will begin a few new series. I do enjoy a few of his co-authored series, not so much others.
I read the book quickly and found them quite ridiculous in some aspects, and honestly forgettable.
I'd recommend reading other's reviews.
There are three (not two as the book description says) shorter stories by three separate co-authors in this book, something I didn't realize when I grabbed it off the new books library shelf. I think this may have been a vehicle to test the waters as to whether Mr. Patterson will begin a few new series. I do enjoy a few of his co-authored series, not so much others.
I read the book quickly and found them quite ridiculous in some aspects, and honestly forgettable.
I'd recommend reading other's reviews.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Loved the first two (thirteen minute murder and dead man running) the last one was, however, disappointing. But harry styles made an appearance in it (for half a second) so it gains a few points for that.
In this political thriller, James Patterson and Christopher Farnsworth team up to create a high-impact BookShot story to entertain the reader for a few hours. Dr. Randall Beck enjoys his work as a psychiatrist, helping some of the most stressed out people who are keen to save the world. When a new client enters his office, Beck senses that there is something especially troubling going on. As the client departs, he is gunned down on the sidewalk, uttering a single word to Beck before he expires. Beck, uncertain what he ought to do, is soon approached by the Secret Service, though will not reveal anything passed along during patient-doctor exchanges. Beck finds himself placed under arrest for reasons that remain unclear to him, though he gets the feeling there is something he’s not being told. After he is able to escape, he tells his story to a friend and colleague, before trying to communicate with his client’s wife. Things become a massive game of cat and mouse, before Beck is accused of trying to kill the president at an upcoming debate. Now on the run for his life and unsure who he can trust, Beck must hope that the terminal tumour in his brain kills him before a bullet to the back of the head. Explosive in its delivery and quick-paced to keep the reader hooked from the early going, BookShot fans and thriller junkies alike will love this piece.
These are the types of stories I feel BookShots were made to depict. There is so much going on that only the rapid succession of short chapters and cliffhanger moments can truly give the story the justice it deserves. Patterson and Farnsworth pack so much into a short piece that the reader has no time to breathe or even blink. Randall Beck is an interesting character, plucked from his day job and placed in the centre of an assassination plot that has parts of the Secret Service turning on one another. The pace permits the reader to learn nothing of Beck’s backstory, but a little development as he faces death on a few occasions. The secondary characters keep the story moving and pave the way for the explosive finish that is to pass by the final few chapters. The story, by no means unique, is told in a wonderful way to keep things moving and leaving little to the imagination. The reader will love the quick turns, though the bodies pile up as the plot takes unexpected turns. Still, I can only hope there are more BookShots out there that tell of something equally as exciting.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Farsworth, for such a wonderful piece. It buoys my spirits and has me hoping you’ll come back soon to work on another project.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
These are the types of stories I feel BookShots were made to depict. There is so much going on that only the rapid succession of short chapters and cliffhanger moments can truly give the story the justice it deserves. Patterson and Farnsworth pack so much into a short piece that the reader has no time to breathe or even blink. Randall Beck is an interesting character, plucked from his day job and placed in the centre of an assassination plot that has parts of the Secret Service turning on one another. The pace permits the reader to learn nothing of Beck’s backstory, but a little development as he faces death on a few occasions. The secondary characters keep the story moving and pave the way for the explosive finish that is to pass by the final few chapters. The story, by no means unique, is told in a wonderful way to keep things moving and leaving little to the imagination. The reader will love the quick turns, though the bodies pile up as the plot takes unexpected turns. Still, I can only hope there are more BookShots out there that tell of something equally as exciting.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Farsworth, for such a wonderful piece. It buoys my spirits and has me hoping you’ll come back soon to work on another project.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
This book is a collection of 3 Bookshots. I'll rate each story separately, and my final, overall rating is the average.
Dead Man Running - James Patterson & Chris Farnsworth
4 stars
My favorite of the three bookshots. Could have easily been a full novel (in fact, I wish it had been). I think the ending was a LITTLE too contrived (not the ending of the standoff, but where Beck found himself... you know what I mean if you've read it).
113 Minutes - James Patterson & Max DiLallo
2 stars
Too confusing and, at the same time, too straightforward. The confusing aspect is all the timestamps that are thrown in at the beginning of each scene. I still don't know what they were alluding to. I also assume that when you add them all up, they will give you 113 minutes? I dunno. I did this as an audio book, so I am not going back through the thing to do the math. The straightforward part is the twist relies on both portraying the police as idiots, and vigilante justice being achieved instead of actual justice. Don't get me wrong, I felt for these people, but I just found the outcome problematic on a number of levels.
13-Minute Murder - James Patterson & Shan Serafin
3 stars
I really liked the main character in this one. It's hard to make a hitman personable, but it definitely happened in this book. But I found the plot a little too linear and zero surprise at the end. I kind of want to have at least SOME form of suspense, or trying to puzzle out who the guilty party is.
Dead Man Running - James Patterson & Chris Farnsworth
4 stars
My favorite of the three bookshots. Could have easily been a full novel (in fact, I wish it had been). I think the ending was a LITTLE too contrived (not the ending of the standoff, but where Beck found himself... you know what I mean if you've read it).
113 Minutes - James Patterson & Max DiLallo
2 stars
Too confusing and, at the same time, too straightforward. The confusing aspect is all the timestamps that are thrown in at the beginning of each scene. I still don't know what they were alluding to. I also assume that when you add them all up, they will give you 113 minutes? I dunno. I did this as an audio book, so I am not going back through the thing to do the math. The straightforward part is the twist relies on both portraying the police as idiots, and vigilante justice being achieved instead of actual justice. Don't get me wrong, I felt for these people, but I just found the outcome problematic on a number of levels.
13-Minute Murder - James Patterson & Shan Serafin
3 stars
I really liked the main character in this one. It's hard to make a hitman personable, but it definitely happened in this book. But I found the plot a little too linear and zero surprise at the end. I kind of want to have at least SOME form of suspense, or trying to puzzle out who the guilty party is.