I feel as if I have read countless James Patterson books, and yet, I have just discovered this one featuring Michael Benneth, a homicide detective from New York. Where on earth have I been!?!?

This insane story is set in the vibrant city of New York. A former president and his wife go out for dinner, and unfortunately, his wife succumbs to peanut oil poisoning. And it's no accident. On the day of the funeral, thousands of people gather and fill St Patrick's Cathedral. Suddenly, a group of armed 'priests' take everyone hostage. They release the ordinary people but keep the movie stars, TV stars, politicians, and others for ransom.

Meanwhile, we get to know more about Mike Benneth. His wife is battling cancer, and to make matters even more challenging, he has ten (yes, ten!!!) adopted children. He is called in as a backup hostage negotiator and must quickly figure out the motive of these deranged men when they start randomly killing hostages without any warning.

This was an extremely good and fast-paced story. As always, it features a crazy lunatic that Michael attempts to negotiate with. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

When I started this reading, I confess that I didn't expect much. If I remember correctly, I decided to read it because I found a reference to James Patterson (a famous author in this literary genre) in Sr. Mercedes (a book that I liked, but not very much...).

I expected to find here an action-packed police story, constructed with the "usual formula", a quick entertainment book like so many others that are commonly called "summer books" or "airport books" (where I also include Stephen King's Sr. Mercedes).

And that's exactly what I found, but with a difference, one that was a bit more unexpected: I really liked it a lot!

This book is truly terrible on multiple fronts!

The First Lady meets her untimely demise in a prominent restaurant, and then all the famous individuals attending her funeral at St. Patrick Cathedral are taken hostage. This includes the NY mayor and even the president. A NY policeman bravely steps forward to negotiate. At one point, he has the idea of checking the restaurant to inquire about who could have possibly killed the president's wife. The rude and ignorant Maître d' reveals that the line cook came and went, and they didn't even ask for his résumé as he is likely undocumented. At least the first family has good taste in restaurants, one might think.

The brave policeman contemplates blowing up the cathedral, but the janitor objects, citing the expensive windows. Meanwhile, the FBI and Delta forces are mentioned, but they seem unavailable.

Then the terrorist announces that they will kill another hostage at midnight. So, Michael, the only policeman capable of handling the situation, goes home to spend time with his 10 adoptive and seemingly perfect children and returns to work at 10 pm. Surprisingly, the terrorists deviate from their schedule and kill a hostage two hours earlier than promised. If only Michael had known, he could have come back two hours earlier.

The FBI and Delta force are mentioned again, but they are probably still on their way. Christmas passes, and after the holidays, all the occupants of the cathedral pile into 11 SUVs and speed towards the Hudson River. They hit the partition, fly into the water, and miraculously, all the hostages are well and alive! Happily, they drift to the surface of the river on a wintery day, but the terrorists are nowhere to be found.

It turns out that the terrorists had hidden oxygen tanks in the middle of the river at the exact spot where they crashed. Being extremely clever, they decide to lie low before departing for Costa Rica and instead go straight to work as prison guards. There, they are finally apprehended by Michael, who decides not to wait for the FBI and Delta force after all. This is just a small portion of the nonsensical plot that this book contains.

Bom!

James Patterson is a well-known author, but it's a fact that he doesn't write the majority of the books he publishes. However, the writers who work with him are truly very good.

I really enjoyed this reading, despite the plot being highly implausible. The story is about a super-busy detective with 10 adopted children. His wife is terminally ill, and he is about to be left alone. Then, on Christmas Eve, he is called in to solve a kidnapping case.

The book has short chapters and an intense rhythm, making it difficult to stop reading. And then there is an abrupt ending and an unexpected twist at the end.

I would rate this book 4.5 stars.

This excellent thriller is truly a masterpiece that encompasses all the intense action one could desire in a top-notch police drama.

It doesn't stop there, as it also weaves in a significant amount of family drama and tender love stories.

The complex web of relationships and the high-stakes situations presented in the story are bound to tug at your heartstrings.

You will, without a doubt, find yourself on the verge of shedding a tear or two.

It's not just a thrilling ride but also an emotional journey that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

The combination of action, family, and love makes this thriller a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good drama that can make them feel a whole range of emotions.

So, sit back, relax, and get ready to be captivated by this amazing thriller.

Puntaje: 4.4

Finally, I read the first book of the Michael Bennett series. A couple of years ago, I discovered this series with the sixth or seventh book of this series, and from that moment, I was hooked.

I already knew a few details about a character (about his future), but I didn't know what would happen in the first book! It has everything I like about Patterson: fast pacing, short chapters, and the characters I like.

The only "but" I found, and the reason why it doesn't have 5 stars, is that the villains were bad just because. At least for most of the book. At the end, they explain the reasons, but it wasn't good enough.

Putting that aside, I loved the story. A typical action book by James Patterson, and I can't wait to discover the next one!

"Step On A Crack" is the initial installment in the Michael Bennett series penned by James Patterson. Regrettably for me, I have perused some of these books out of sequence. I truly wish I had begun with this one. It delves into Michael's wife and her tragic passing, which significantly impacts the emotional tone of the subsequent books. Additionally, it marks the introduction of Mary Catherine.

I must admit that the numerous children can be rather irksome at times. However, this story is exceptionally robust. It contains elements of violence, yet it boasts a captivating plot and a twist that completely took me by surprise. Michael's private life is highly emotional, and I believe it was handled with great sensitivity.

The quick-paced, concise chapters make for easy reading, and before you know it, you've breezed through the entire story.

While I do have a preference for the Alex Cross series and the standalone thrillers co-written by Patterson, I will most definitely continue to read this series. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to others.

Hmmmmmm.

Where should I begin my critique? Maybe with the shallow character descriptions? Early on, we are introduced to "The Neat Man". However, we later find no real reason for his nickname other than an obsession with baby wipes. In my naivety, I wondered how he got that way. But the answer was considered irrelevant, so let's not dwell on it. In fact, it's best not to dwell on anything for too long, after all, the author didn't.

The book consists of a measly 70,000 words or so, yet it has a whopping one hundred and sixteen chapters. The sparsity of content is generously spread around. After a standard cops and kidnappers escapade, there is an impossible escape scene in Chapter 97, which is described in just 600 words. Then, a secondary kidnap scene is instigated and resolved in Chapter 112, taking 650 words. The resolution is initiated "when something completely unexpected happened" - oh really? In the next chapter, "it turned out" (yes, those exact words were used) that two of the baddies had done something else implausible. And finally, just when I thought things couldn't be explained in a more dismissive manner, in Chapter 116 we learn that "we still needed to figure out exactly how they stored [something..] in the [somewhere..], not that it really mattered." Yes, once again, those were the exact words: not that it really mattered.

Certainly, it doesn't matter to me - I won't be reading any more tosh like this again.

I truly enjoyed the main character and his kids. Their interactions added a layer of warmth and authenticity to the story. The mystery aspect was also quite engaging, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.

However, I have to admit that I didn't like the part where his wife died. Reading about such a tragic event was quite difficult and it took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I was really in it for the mystery, not for the emotional roller coaster that came with the death of a spouse.

If it wasn't for that one aspect, I would have definitely given the book more stars. It had so much potential and the mystery was well-written, but the emotional impact of the wife's death was a bit too much for me to handle.

Overall, I still found the book to be an interesting read, but it could have been even better without that particular storyline.

This is an excellent first book in the series.

It has truly captivated my attention from the very beginning.

The story is engaging and full of interesting characters and plot twists.

I found myself completely immersed in the world that the author has created.

The writing style is流畅 and easy to follow, making it a pleasure to read.

I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next installment.

I'm sure it will be just as exciting and full of surprises.

This series has the potential to be a real hit, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure or mystery.

It's a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Against my better judgement, I kinda liked it.

The Michael Bennett character and the celebrity hostage plot are both fairly under-baked. However, it's almost admirable how the book just barrels forward regardless. It has this 'you're either along for the ride or you're gonna hate every page of this' attitude.

While part of me wishes there was a bit more nuance and complexity, another part of me feels that this would defeat the purpose of the book. It would also underestimate the value in its scaled-down A-to-B linearity.

It's easy to overlook the simple pleasures of a straightforward scenario that is filled with characters who are openly expressing their melodramatic emotions without any regard for a higher calling.

This book may not be a masterpiece in terms of depth and sophistication, but it has its own charm and entertainment value. It offers a quick and easy read that can be enjoyed for what it is.

Sometimes, it's nice to just let go and go along for the ride, even if it's a bit of a wild one. And that's exactly what this book offers.

So, despite its flaws, I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would.

This was truly a great beginning to a series.

The story had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed and engaging, and the plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I loved how the author set the stage for what is sure to be an exciting and action-packed adventure.

I will definitely be reading some more of this series. I can't wait to see what happens next and how the characters will grow and change.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story with great characters and an exciting plot.

I highly recommend it.