THE QUICKIE by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
"Quick" seems to be the descriptive word for James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge's new novel THE QUICKIE. The pace of the book is certainly quick with the readers searching for some part of the story where they can catch a breath. The chapters are so quick and short that the readers are also searching for some area of the novel that provides some depth. But quick and fast are the tone and tempo of this story and before you know it the whole thing is over.
So how does this quickness affect the enjoyment and readability of the story? It isn't a plus factor, that's for sure. The story concerns Lauren Stillwell. She thinks her husband is cheating on her so she decides to cheat on him. Later she sees her husband kill her lover, but instead of turning him in she works to keep his guilt protected. That makes for some pretty involved plotting and also some pretty unbelievable events.
To thoroughly enjoy this story you have to be rooting for Lauren from start to finish and most readers won't be. Lauren comes off as a little too gullible when it comes to her husband, and a little too easily able to circumvent the law. She also is provided with an uncanny knack for escaping difficult situations.
Everything about THE QUICKIE is surface. You never get to know the total background or mindsets of the characters. You just have to accept them as they are in the present. Without the background history the ability of readers to accept and identify with the characters is compromised. There is suspense in the story but you never care enough to feel real concern.
Patterson and Ledwidge write seamlessly together. They know how to provide a story with twists and turns, and there are more than a few in this book. Patterson has always been famous for his short chapters but in this book he is brief to the point of senselessness. He is writing to a staccato beat and the words come out in short blasts that blister the pages.
There is some fun to be had in reading such a fast paced story but the desire for depth and understanding of the characters outweighs it. The quickness of it all makes THE QUICKIE a brief foray into a crime story that is ultimately unsatisfying and disappointing. Patterson usually delivers the goods but in this one he just sent a synopsis.
THE QUICKIE is published by Little, Brown and Company. It contains 357 pages and sells for $27.99.