The Knight

Yes, these books have some flaws (stereotypical characters, annoying daughter) but are a really fun read. This author knows how to write a fast-paced story, one that is difficult to put down. He likes to write about depraved, soulless human beings, and does it well. Patrick Bowers is absolutely brilliant and flawless, something that the author occasionally pokes fun at, which is a relief: he, too, knows that his main character is a bit over-the-top at times. I discovered his first book as a free Kindle book, then bought the next two, with no regrets. By the way, I keep seeing Steven James referred to as a Christian author because he has apparently written some Christian books. This book is in no way, shape, or form for someone hoping for a warm and fuzzy Christian experience. This is a gritty, sometimes-disturbing, fun book for those who like a good thriller. Those of you who, like me, have no interest in Christian fiction shouldn't be scared off by that label.

Since discovering Steven James' writing a few years back, I've eagerly anticipated each new title. I love tightly spun mysteries. I love gritty thrillers. I love great characters and twists. Welcome to the chessboard of James' storytelling. "The Knight" takes us once again into the world of Patrick Bowers, an FBI agent with a keen mind. Not only does he have a resume of catching notorious criminals, but he's a forerunner in the field of geoprofiling--pinpointing his targets by using geographical elements from their killing patterns. (It's more complicated than that, but I'll leave it to Bowers to explain.) This time, Bowers is dealing with some ethical quandaries from a conviction years ago, with the continued questions of his step-daughter's past and parentage, and, most pressingly, with the demented new crimes being carried out by a man who calls himself John/Giovanni. The origin of the name and its connections to each of the killings to come unfolds in superlative fashion, with the tension tightening and the pace quickening with each successive chapter, leading to a surprise ending. Along the way, Pat and his daughter both grow in their understanding of each other, and Pat wrestles with his own romantic inclinations toward women he's worked with. Although some of the romantic aspects seem a bit forced to carry on into another book, I still enjoyed them. More enjoyable is the maturing relationship between step-father and step-daughter. Tessa is an intelligent, brooding teen who provides a human element often missing from this genre. Once again, James has given us a rip-snorting thriller with a beating heart, a calculating cat-and-mouse game of chess, and a satisfying ending that nevertheless leaves a lot more to be explored in "The Bishop," due out next year. He has joined Harlan Coben, James Lee Burke, and Tim Downs as one of my favorite mystery/thriller writers out there.

Whoa! If ever there was a book written that is just itching to be made into a movie - it is definitely "The Knight" by Steven James. Without even reading books #1 and #2 in the Patrick Bowers Thriller series I would say that this could be the next great trilogy of movies! I am literally sitting on the edge of my bed, my eyes skimming the pages as fast as possible because the writing is so tight and intense that I fear I'm going to miss something! Is the killer going to succeed before Pat gets there? The amazing thing is that at no time can you just assume as a reader that Pat will stop the killer, he has killed so many times already that no body is sacred and anyone could die at anytime. I was actually holding my breath! I will absolutely not giveaway anything that would spoil a moment of this book for any of you readers out there so I will not talk plot line at all, I will only emphasize that this is one of the single best suspense thrillers I have ever read. Do you love Brandilyn Collins? You'll love Steven James. Do you enjoy Colleen Coble? You'll love Steven James. Does Ted Dekker bring you to the edge of your seat? Add Steven James to your keeper shelf right next to Ted Dekker, he totally deserves to be there!

The Knight by Steven James is the third book is the exciting Patrick Bowers series. FBI Agent Bowers uses his unique geographic profiling skills to track down the most violent of criminals. He'll have to use all of his abilities to find a sadistic murderer who is killing people for a twisted story before Bowers and his stepdaughter Tessa become the next victims. This riveting thriller never lets up for a second. From tense courtroom drama to intense action scenes, every page zips by. I love how James has given Bowers an unusual ability, making him stand out from the overloaded FBI action genre. Bowers relies more on his brain than his brawn to outwit criminals, but he's a bit clueless about matters of the heart in interactions with Tessa and new love interest Cheyenne. If you're going through withdrawal this summer because of repeats on Criminal Minds, Numbers,CSI, etc, Patrick Bowers will satisfy your need for a smart and scary suspenseful thriller.

"'Why didn't you save me, Patrick?' She mouthed the words, but in the dream I [Patrick] heard them as if she spoke them aloud." Haunted by past `failures', facing the retrial of a notorious serial killer, and on the trail of an elusive, dangerous killer, the next part of FBI Agent Patrick Bowers story unfolds. Smart, connected, and thorough, the Day Four Killer, has brutally tortured and murdered 7 people in less than a week and left virtually no clues behind. He always seems to be one step ahead and as the mystery unfolds, they begin to realize the grotesque murders mirror a Renaissance story of love and death, suffering and grief. There are few books I read that have the `wow' effect. The Knight is one of the few. It's an amazingly intense story with a mystery that was virtually impossible to unravel. So many suspects, yet so few definites. Lots of mystery, action, and suspense. A phenomenal story from an author's who's already produced two top notch novels. Though the main plot is superb, equally enjoyable was Tessa's story. She has become an awesome character that adds an immense depth to the Patrick Bowers series. She's hard to truly understand. One moment she's brash and cold, the next soft and hurting. She's a mixture of emotions and this part of her story was just as mysterious and suspenseful as the main plot. James tackled some tough questions in The Knight. Save a killer from certain death? Lie and keep a killer behind bars or tell the truth and risk setting him free? What does the Bible teach about truth? Is it alright to lie to protect the innocent? Some difficult questions to answer, but wonderfully used throughout the story. I'm not a squimish person, but at times, The Knight pushed my comfort zone. There was a healthy amount of blood shed, however, it was the detailed descriptions of torture and pain that made sections difficult to read. It's not gratuitous, but it's certainly intense. I loved it. Thought it made for a more realistic, psychological thriller. The Knight was truly excellent. From the plot to the characters to the execution of the story, it was a superb thriller. It leaves a couple of the plot lines dangling, which means summer 2010 can't get here soon enough. Great job. James wrote a gem this time.