The Shake: A Novel of Crime

The Shake is a wonderful read. I loved the behind-the-scenes sports stuff. I read it in two sittings last week and I'm still smiling and shaking my head over some of his characters. Some were so despicable, I hope Patton follows them in future books.

This is the third novel by Patton that I have read and it hits the mark! Patton's blend of professional athletes, media, law, hero worship, and dysfunctional, irresponsible human behavior produce a truely unique and exciting tale. Patton has smoothly transitioned from sportswriter to crime novelist. I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve for the next one.-KC

This book reveals the real world of professional basketball, the seamy side that the NBA's publicists and all the players' agents hope you never find out about. Patton really got under the skin here. Plus, as a crime mystery, this book is a real page-turner.

The Shake is a fast-paced, rollicking crime story that, for better or worse, rings true. Patton offers up a rogues' gallery of low-life characters, each one worse than the next. His depiction of these professional athletes' shenanigans is as deft as it is realistic. But you don't have to be a basketball fan to appreciate the strong writing, colorful three-dimensional characters, and natural dialogue. I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing what this author comes out with next.

"The Shake" is a very real, true-to-life look at the professional athlete of today, while at the same time being a very original, creative fictional mystery story. The style and the variation of viewpoints is very original, while the hip-hop African American "gangsta" language is very true-to-life. Patton definitely did his research on how black basketball players from "the ghetto" really talk to each other. Being an avid NBA fan myself, this was the perfect combination of basketball and crime mystery. Very original and enjoyable to read! Hopefully he will do this with other sports!