[Review] — James Patterson's "MISSING PERSONS" is a Paperback Rack Fluff

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I'm a bit confused about how many books are in the "Private" series by James Patterson. I have seen 22 books listed as part of the series, but the latest one published in the US is "MISSING PERSONS." This book is listed as #16 in the series, even though it was originally published as "Private Rogue" in the UK by Century in 2021. (Note: Fantastic Fiction lists nineteen books in the Private series.)

I don't remember the title of the last "Private" novel, but I know it's been a while since I read one. The co-author of "MISSING PERSONS" with Patterson is Adam Hamdy, who has written a few other books with Patterson. I remember that the series centers on Jack Morgan, a former Marine helicopter pilot who runs an international private investigation company.

"MISSING PERSONS" feels less like a typical James Patterson thriller and more like a Jack Reacher novel. Lee Child even has a quote on the back cover, saying, "No one gets this big without natural storytelling talent—that is what Jim has, in spades." The storytelling is fast-paced, which may be due to Adam Hamdy's influence. However, the characters in the book are two-dimensional at best. The plotline is interesting: a mother and her young children go missing, and it's up to Jack and his team of experts to locate them. But there's a twist: the man who hired Jack's team is not who he seems, and his intentions with the missing family are not what they appear. After this revelation, I became more invested in the story and read the book in one sitting.

While "MISSING PERSONS" is not a classic, it's still a decent thriller with twists and turns that engage the reader. I would classify it as "paperback rack fluff," but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I had fun reading it, and I might even read it again, which is rare for me. ╌★★★★✰

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