HONEYMOON by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Whenever James Patterson writes a novel it is a given it is going to be a best seller. It is not so assured of what the quality of the writing is going to be. Some of his books are better than others, especially when he has a collaborator. HONEYMOON is his latest novel and his collaborator on this one is Howard Roughan. The two men mesh their styles perfectly and produce a solidly entertaining thriller.
Norah Sinclair is the focus of the book and what a deadly character she is. Her modus operandi is to attract successful and wealthy men and then kill them. She gets their money and makes a clean getaway. She has no conscience about the killings and sees her rewards as her just desserts.
After her latest murder a man named Craig comes calling. He is an insurance investigator and tells Norah that her last deceased lover left a huge insurance policy with her as beneficiary. She is thrilled, until Craig says there is going to be an investigation. That gives her pause.
Unknown to Norah, Craig is really an FBI agent who suspects Norah of her deadly deeds, but can't prove it. Things get really complicated when Craig finds himself falling for the lethal lovely. Getting involved with Norah can only lead to a bad end.
Patterson and Roughan write in a staccato like manner keeping their chapters short and to the point. There is no access of adjectives or adverbs in their style but somehow they manage to keep the atmosphere of the story going and create characters who are believable.
This is a book you can pick up on early a sunny afternoon and have it completed before the clock strikes midnight. It is so well written and so intense that the pages almost pull you along. Also included in the drama of the story is a good bit of humor. The character of Craig is a smart-mouth and pops off one liners with ease.
James Patterson appears to belong to the Book A Month Club in that he writes a new one every month. At least it seems that way lately. Still as long as they stay as exciting and readable as HONEYMOON, his prolific ways can continue.
HONEYMOON is published by Little, Brown and Company. It contains 390 pages and sells for $27.95.