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A review by the_joyful_book_club
Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first book from James Patterson and I was blown away. I am familiar with the Alex Cross novels but haven't read them. And I honestly expected this to be more of an investigative style of book (again, thinking in the vein of Alex Cross). I could not have been more wrong.
When the strange girl shows up at the local diner, she's naked and doesn't speak a word. Then the crows arrive. And slowly, everyone becomes more and more unhinged. With zero crime and only three members of law enforcement, mayhem ensues almost immediately.
This story does have alternating POVs. Partially, we read an interview transcript, and then we also see the events of this horrifying day through different characters and their experiences. The authors do an excellent job of conveying the panic and chaos that everyone is experiencing. The story is full of tension and it maintains that throughout the book.
This story isn't necessarily classified as horror, but there is violence and gore here. This story also unnerved me quite a bit. The chapters aren't super long, and this kept me feeling like I could get through just one more chapter, which would suck me into more of the madness.
I was trying to figure out why this book spooked me so much. I narrowed it down to how quickly they changed, even with their friends, kids, and spouses. One minute, everything was okay, and the next, they weren't even the same person anymore. Their irritations, rage, and true feelings came exploding out with dire consequences.
The twist at the end of this was completely unexpected. The idea of it never even crossed my mind. I always have a lot of respect if an author can "trick" me, and I was caught off-guard on this.
If you enjoy stories with a scary fall atmosphere, unexpected twists, and betrayals at every turn, you will enjoy this one from James Patterson and J.D. Barker.
When the strange girl shows up at the local diner, she's naked and doesn't speak a word. Then the crows arrive. And slowly, everyone becomes more and more unhinged. With zero crime and only three members of law enforcement, mayhem ensues almost immediately.
This story does have alternating POVs. Partially, we read an interview transcript, and then we also see the events of this horrifying day through different characters and their experiences. The authors do an excellent job of conveying the panic and chaos that everyone is experiencing. The story is full of tension and it maintains that throughout the book.
This story isn't necessarily classified as horror, but there is violence and gore here. This story also unnerved me quite a bit. The chapters aren't super long, and this kept me feeling like I could get through just one more chapter, which would suck me into more of the madness.
I was trying to figure out why this book spooked me so much. I narrowed it down to how quickly they changed, even with their friends, kids, and spouses. One minute, everything was okay, and the next, they weren't even the same person anymore. Their irritations, rage, and true feelings came exploding out with dire consequences.
The twist at the end of this was completely unexpected. The idea of it never even crossed my mind. I always have a lot of respect if an author can "trick" me, and I was caught off-guard on this.
If you enjoy stories with a scary fall atmosphere, unexpected twists, and betrayals at every turn, you will enjoy this one from James Patterson and J.D. Barker.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Blood