James Patterson's is acknowledged as one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His NYPD Red series is co-written by Marshall Karp and the sixth book in this series - NYPD Red 6 – continues its value as an excellent read.
The main characters are NYPD Red detectives Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan who have a strong working relationship. At one time, they also had a romantic relationship of several years before Kylie broke it up when she thought she would get a chance to go back to her estranged husband, but this never happened.
This mutual understanding means Kylie and Zach operate well as a team and the challenges they face in this story demand both their individual skills.
It starts with a wedding. Erin Easton is a major media personality and the event, which is attended by top members of New York society, is televised by a well-known TV company.
However, a brazen kidnapper has been working behind the scenes to achieve his goal in making the bride of his dreams disappear so he can have her all to himself.
After the ceremonials, Erin decides that she will do a few cabaret numbers in honour of her new husband and disappears to her dressing room to change. She never emerges and the dressing room is later broken into to be found vacant except for a blood-spattered wedding dress.
So starts Kylie and Zach’s search to find out the “who” and “why” of the situation and whether Erin is actually alive. The fact that Erin’s husband is the son of the owner of one of the top modeling agencies on the planet adds a major motive.
Then a complication sets in as they are instructed to investigate another situation – old ladies with attendant care-nurses are being robbed by bogus ambulance men. So who is behind this all and are the situations connected?
There are many characters involved, most of them part of the police department, but every character is well-written and believable and one follows what is a fairly complicated story with ease. The chapters are short and don’t belabour the point.
When I had finished reading the book and was about to write the review, I quickly referred back to the first chapter and, before I knew it, I was caught up in the story. This time knowing the full extent of the plot and the perpetrators. I continued to read, being continually impressed at how skillfully the story had been put together. I read the entire book once again – which is why this review has taken longer than usual for me to publish it!
So, if you want a doubly fascinating read, read this book again so that you can appreciate the authors’ creations and twists of the novel now that you know the final outcome and how the plots were hatched!
The book also provides a sneak peek of the next blockbuster from James Patterson, this time written with Bill Clinton – The President’s Daughter - which looks equally intriguing!
NYPD Red 6 is published by Penguin RandomHouse. ISBN 978-1-5291-3546-6 – Caroline Smart
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