Step On a Crack (A Michael Bennett Thriller, 1)

Great detective

Patterson has done it again in this fast-paced thriller. Michael Bennett is one of my favorite characters, and I love the way Patterson blends his family life with a live, dangerous pace. Step on a Crack will leave you wanting more Michael Bennett!!!

Love a book that draws me into the story. Tears, smiles, laughter and frustration of Michael Bennett as he deals with daily life, loss and his job. Wonderfully written, James Patterson is a writer of unparalleled magic.

A new cop is introduced in this book, Senior Detective Michael Bennett, Homicide Department of the NYPD. Bennett and his dying wife, Maeve, had ten children all of which were adopted from various areas of the world, had had a fantastic life together as a family. Maeve had untreatable cancer and it hurt Bennett so deep watching his Maeve slowly slip away from life. Michael was called into a case after the wife of the ex-president of the United States had a horrible attack while eating in their favorite restaurant that ended in death. It was discovered that she had been allergic to peanuts and somehow, a peanut product was placed in her food. At first thought an accident, there were too many things pointing otherwise. Bennett spread his time between the hospital visiting his wife, keeping tabs on all the children, and working this case connected with the death of the President's wife. During the funeral service for the President's wife in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, a group of strange ski-masked men appeared in the cathedral, loaded with guns and weapons of many types and taking over the inside of St. Patrick's. They sealed all the doors and turned the funeral service into a shambles. Eventually most were released but all the famous people that had come to bid farewell to the President's wife were kept under guns and ski-masked eyes. All the NYPD and other resources were on the scene quickly. Eventually Bennett was placed in charge of negotiations, a job he did not want since for years he had not been involved with any negotiation, but he was the only one that those inside the cathedral would deal with. Negotiations went on and on with several attempts by the authorities were made to find ways into the cathedral without success. Other negotiators joined Bennett but the head gunman, Jack, would still only deal with Bennett. During the breaks when things calmed down for a while he would leave and visit his wife in the hospital and his children at home. Maeve's mother had hired an au pair named Mary Catherine who took over the children much to Bennett's distress, but eventually calmness, with the way she handled the children and the home, let Bennett accept her. During the negotiations several of the famous were killed and sent out through the front door of the cathedral so the authorities would know this was serious and they meant what they said. They wanted money from all these people and many millions was to be transferred to a special account. While all of this was proceeding, or in some ways going backwards, the authorities worked on the transfer of money with the cooperation of the victims families. The very ugly situation became uglier since this all occurred around Christmas time and the slowness of money transfer did not make the killers happy so they continued to kill a few more. Step On A Crack is a very fast moving story that is well told by the authors. Patterson and his co-writers usually come u

Former President Stephen Hopkins and his wife Ann are out celebrating Christmas as they do every year, having dinner at L'Arene, a trendy New York restaurant, when Ann falls unconscious. She had been poisoned by the Neat Man, a character who knows she has a peanut allergy and takes advantage of this for his own nefarious reason by doctoring her fois gras. The former first lady dies. The rich, famous and powerful come from all over the world to her funeral at St. Patrick's and some hooded monks take them all hostage. They weren't monks at all and they take their orders from the Neat Man. What do they want? Ransom, of course, lots of it. NYPD detective Michael Bennett has some problems. His wife is dying of cancer and she's about to leave him with ten adopted children to raise alone. He needs to be by her side, but the hostages need him to negotiate them out of St. Pat's. To say he's conflicted would be an understatement. Who is the Neat Man? Can Bennett get the hostages out alive? Will some die? All will be answered if you pick up this fast-paced thriller. Again Patterson is writing with another. He just keeps churning them out and I keep reading them. Are his books over the top? Sure, but this one, like his others, is just oh so much fun. Reviewed by Vesta Irene

Patterson at his best! A new character for us to love, admire, and sympathy for. Some people found the having ten kids not so believable, but I was fine with that. The story was told, and unfolds with intense actions and twist famously embetted in most of Patterson's work. However, his stories always wind up surprising me. I look forward to more stories with this character. It was also heartbreaking to read this tale of a cop trying to solve a near impossible crime, while his wife was dying of cancer. Truly realistic, and fantastic.

I'm a fan of James Patterson. Step On A Crack is one of his best stories ever. Loved it from beginning to end. Patterson truly is the best story teller in the world. You will not be disappointed.

For anyone familiar with Patterson's writing, you will be pleased! I normally stick to reading his "Alex Cross" novels, and just took a chance on this one. I was hooked in right off the bat. His fast paced writing and clever story line will keep you from wanting to put the book down.