Review - NYPD Red 3 by James Patterson & Marshall Karp - Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

NYPD Red 3
by James Patterson & Marshall Karp
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Pub. Date: March 16, 2015
ISBN: 978-0316406994
Pages: 416
Buy Links: Hardback, Kindle

Review:

It's definitely difficult to keep up with all the new James Patterson's books as there is practically a new title (sometimes two) being released every month. I came across Patterson's titles about twelve years ago when my late grandmother wanted me to read one of his books (I don't recall the title) as she had just became a fan of works. I started buying every new Patterson book, even the young adult titles, and gave each one to her. After my grandmother's death in December 2009, I continued buying each new release, but my heart just wasn't in the mood to read them. However, I recently started reading Patterson's books again, including his middle grade ones.

Arriving this week in bookstores is NYPD Red 3 by James Patterson & Marshall Karp, the exciting third entry in the police procedural series. Little, Brown & Company was nice enough to send me an advanced copy to review a few weeks ago.

NYPD Red is an elite task force that is assigned to protect the rich and famous. The third installment centers on Detective Zach Jordan and his partner Kylie MacDonald, whom just happens to be an ex-girlfriend he had back in police academy. While it has been an awkward beginning working with Kylie, Zach is trying his best to adjust to everything. His personal life has improved as he's now in a relationship with NYPD psychologist Cheryl Robinson, but his New Year getaway with her comes to a complete halt when a bizarre crime occurs.

The decapitated body of Peter Chevalier, the chauffeur for the billionaire businessman Hunter Alden Jr., is found in a limousine in a parking lot, but his head is nowhere to be found. Of course, Zach & Kylie check into Peter's background and besides from a few parking violations, he had no criminal history. While the detectives don't have any leads, they do suspect that Hunter Alden Jr. is hiding something.

Hunter was more than aware of Peter's death as he was the one that found his decapitated head in the garage inside his son's camera bag. A note with five words was left near the scene, "There's money to be made." It seems someone has kidnapped his teenage son, Tripp, and is demanding a hefty ransom. Hunter would rather not bring in the police as he suspects that his past sins have come back to haunt him.

Mr. Patterson's collaboration with Marshall Karp works great in this intriguing kidnapping tale. While I was reading it, I kept thinking that the plot would be a great fit in an episode of ABC's Castle! The problem I have with police procedural novels is that it sometimes feel like I've already read the book before, but that isn't the case here as the plot feels a bit fresher with unique characters. Overall, NYPD Red 3 is a fast-paced, intense thrill-ride from start to finish.