Swimsuit by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
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Book Reviews of Swimsuit
Book Review: Murder, She (and He) Wrote
Summary: 4 Stars
Quite possibly, you'll see this book next to a towel and sunscreen. You'll see someone on a chaise lounge with a cold drink nearby. And they'll be reading this book at poolside or on a stretch of beach.
They'll be reading about Henri Benoit, master of disguise and master of disaster, one of the most sinister characters in contemporary fiction. He murders people due to a vicious inner compulsion and for the big bucks his super-rich clients pay him. These clients enjoy watching people who are brutalized and murdered. Henri films his murders and disseminates the film via the Internet.
The book has a lot of graphically described lust. A lot of graphically described violence. There's crude language. The authors, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, set much of the story in exclusive hotels. Fine wine, fine food; and, often, rotten people.
The plot spins off of the kidnapping of a beautiful young swimsuit model who has journeyed to Hawaii for a photo shoot. Her fate and the frantic fears of her parents launch the tale.
It's certainly a quick read. The prose flows very well, particularly the bit set in the trailer in the middle of the forbidding Joshua Tree National Park. It took me about ten hours of fairly concentrated reading to finish the novel.
Some of it is goofy. Much of it doesn't make a lot of sense: an L.A. Times reporter/failing novelist/fired cop is coerced to put together a soulless killer's autobiography. Sure....
But I don't think people will buy this book because they want a scholarly treatise on the criminal mind. People who buy this book are not looking for airtight logic. They want a little escape. Readers get to go to Hawaii, Paris, Amsterdam, and the Swiss Alps. Eat exotic food with names they can't pronounce. That sort of thing.
Book Review: For your enjoyable listening pleasure
Summary: 4 Stars
Famous model Kim McDaniels has been kidnapped from a photo shoot in Maui. She wakes to find herself in the truck of a car. At first she thought it was her boyfriend Doug, playing a joke on her but she soon realizes that her kidnapper is not Doug. Unfortunately, Kim won't be able to model her way out of the predicament she has now found herself in.
Kim's parents receive a phone call notifying them that their daughter has been kidnapped and to come down to Hawaii immediately. They get the first flight out that they can.
Ben Hawkins is a former cop. He now works as a reporter for the L.A. Times. He scores the assignment of Kim McDaniels's kidnapping. Ben thought he could become the hero and swoop in and save the day. In doing so he hoped to get an exclusive rights to include in a novel he would like to write from this experience. Ben's investigating leads him down a dark, sinister path of betrayal, lust, and double crossing.
First, I have to admit that I have tried reading Mr. Patterson's work and it does nothing for me. I decided to try audio books. What I discovered is that I can get into these stories better when I am listening to them. Have said that, the reason for this has to do with the narrator. He really brought this story to life. The last book I listened to by Mr. Patterson was Run for your Life. Now that one was just ok but Swimsuit really cranked up the suspense. This story is way dark, gruesome, twisted, and fast-paced. Just the way I like my mystery thrillers. If you have never tried James Patterson then you should try this book. It is a stand alone novel.
Book Review: One of Patterson's Better Novels
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been a fan of Patterson for about 7 years now and I anxiously wait for his next novel. The wait isn't that long because he teams up with others and releases at least 5 novels a year. Some have been great, many have been good reads, and some were just terrible.
After finishing Swimsuit in a day, I'd have to say that this falls somewhere between good and great. The writing technique hasn't changed a bit and for me that's a good thing because I always get done with Patterson's books really quickly. The story isn't told like it normally it because the book is actually a manuscript written by the main character, Ben Hawkins. This idea certainly isn't new but I thought it was nice to see something different in a Patterson novel. As other reviewers have said, and by that I mean the ones that have actually reviewed the book and not the price, there is a lot more violence but the effect it might have on you depends on your imagination. I didn't really mind the violence as I was flying through the book, but for others it might be too much. As for the story, I thought it was a pretty good mystery and I definitely didn't get bored of it. Of course there are some moments that elements of the story that seem completely impossible but then again remember that it's a book meant to entertain.
Anyway, I thought it was the perfect summer mystery read and I would definitely recommend this if you're a Patterson fan.
Oh and I hope that Amazon will remove the other whiny reviews.
Just my two cents worth.
4/5
Book Review: Fast-paced quick read
Summary: 4 Stars
Recently, I read James Patterson's Swimsuit. I could not put the book down.
I loved that the novel is written as a non-fiction account of contract serial killer Henri Benoit. Several times throughout the book, I had to remind myself that the book is fiction.
The story begins with mysterious abduction of swimsuit model Kim McDaniels. Ben Hawkins, a former cop turned crime reporter for the L.A. Times, is sent to Hawaii to cover the story.
Hawkins has no idea that while he has been covering the McDaniels' story, he has been with the killer the entire time.
An interesting twist of fate or did Benoit plan this the entire time?
Giving Hawkins a "deal he can't refuse," Benoit forces Hawkins to ghost write his biography.
Throughout their time together. Hawkins discovers the disturbing, numerous murders through the sick mind of psychopath. Benoit shares his story as a contract serial killer for "the peepers" and his desire for the unimaginable.
The chapters are very short; three to five pages in length. Because it is written in this manner, it has hard to put the book down. It is a very easy, entertaining, quick read (for 416 pages).
Not for the faint of heart, but for those who love thrillers.
Book Review: Is Everybody Happy?
Summary: 4 Stars
Reading some of the other reviews it doesn't appear as if everyone was happy. But, I have to say I was happy after finishing Patterson's new book Swimsuit.
It was a quick, entertaining, "escape the stresses of my life" read for me. As with most Patterson books, the chapters were short (3-4 pages), the type font large, the verbage in common everyday language, and the descriptions of people and places keep to the appropriate minimum.
What this book lacked was mystery...there certainly was murder...but, you knew "who dun it" and why he did it...you really even kind of knew what he was going to do...so, no real mystery at all...just a plain old good story.