Michael Bennett, a New York City police officer who works in the Homicide Department, is called to handle a unique hostage situation: in the funeral of the First Lady of the United States, wealthy, famous, and powerful guests have been taken hostage in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Who has organized this unprecedentedly large-scale plan and what do they want? Will Bennett be able to save the hostages, knowing that public opinion and his superiors are waiting for him to make a mistake to bring him down? How will he be able to balance his professional and personal life when his wife is dying of cancer?

"Step on a Crack" is the first book in the series featuring Michael Bennett, a man who started as a hostage negotiator and then moved to Homicide. He is married to Maeve and they have adopted no fewer than ten children! In his first case, then, we see this initially happy, pre-Christmas family environment with the difficulties and problems of daily life, while at the same time there are stormy developments in the hostage situation. We have nothing but a thrilling adventure with twists, a well-organized plan, and a manhunt, not without objections from my side, with a well-structured protagonist and a question mark regarding the true identity of the "brains" behind the hostage-taking to keep us on the edge of our seats until the end. The entire story shows readers how easily people who are ostensibly powerful, wealthy, ill-mannered, and inaccessible can be humiliated and stripped of the shine that the spotlight gives them. The scenes with the hostages inside the cathedral show exactly this, the humiliation they are suffering and how their inaccessible world has changed in an instant.

On a personal level, I quickly got over the surprise caused by the excessive number of Bennett's children, since each one took on a role within the family as their mother was ill. The hugs, the smiles, the hours of agony over whether the mother would survive were written about quite often, reminding me of the same moments that Alex Cross lived with his own children in the other successful series of books by James Patterson, so I turned the pages without a second thought. Things got worse as Christmas approached and I really wonder why the authors couldn't keep me close to the tragedy that the Bennett family members were living.

As for the main body of the story, I liked the hostage-taking plan, St. Patrick's Cathedral was described in almost all its details and every corner of it was used for the plot, there were twists in the process, a huge sum of money was collected and deposited through shell companies into offshore accounts, and of course a thrilling chase scene. However, I didn't like the following: when a car falls into the sea, the doors don't open no matter how much force you apply because of the water pressure (but here the doors opened very easily), it is not possible to torture yourself by burning your fingerprints so that you are not recognized without knowing that your hair is doing a great job, and finally that everything led to the solution and the revelation through a random piece of information!

"Step on a Crack" is a thrilling adventure of abduction and pursuit that introduces us to a new hero from the world of James Patterson, Michael Bennett, with his own family tragedy.

Love James Patterson.

He has once again delivered a great start to a series that I am sure to love. Patterson is a master storyteller, and his ability to create engaging characters and thrilling plots is truly remarkable.

The beginning of this new series has already hooked me, and I can't wait to see where the story takes me. The characters are well-developed and interesting, and I feel like I can really connect with them.

The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I have no doubt that this series is going to be another hit for Patterson, and I will be eagerly anticipating each new installment.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good thriller or mystery. Patterson never disappoints, and this series is no exception.

I really liked our detective and his family.

He is not one of those heavy-duty police officers. Instead, he has a fluent language that is easy to read.

The story of the detective and his family is full of interesting details and emotions.

We can see how they interact with each other and how they face various challenges in their lives.

The author's writing style makes the story come alive, and we can't help but be drawn into the world of the detective and his family.

Overall, it's a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys detective stories or family dramas.

Now I am completely hooked.

This was truly such an outstanding, effortless, and highly creative book. From the very first page, I was irresistibly drawn in.

The characters within the story were not only easy to develop a deep affection for but also extremely simple to follow, making the entire reading experience a seamless one. The author has an incredible talent for painting such clear and vivid mental images of the surroundings, which in turn makes the actions of the characters feel astonishingly real.

I would without a doubt highly recommend both this author and this particular book to anyone in search of a captivating and engaging read. It is truly a literary gem that is not to be missed.

I had the thought that this could potentially be a rather good palate cleanser kind of book.

It is the sort of thriller that moves at a brisk pace, which is quite engaging. However, it does feel a bit dated in certain aspects.

The audio version, unfortunately, had its drawbacks. At times, the added soundscape made it seem a bit cheesy, detracting from the overall experience.

Nonetheless, despite these flaws, it still managed to hold my attention and provide a certain level of entertainment.

I found myself getting caught up in the story, even though I was aware of its limitations.

Overall, it was an okay read/listen, but not something that I would highly recommend.

It served its purpose as a palate cleanser, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

Perhaps for those who enjoy older-style thrillers and don't mind a bit of cheesiness in the audio, it could be a decent choice.

But for me, it was just an average experience.

The best book I have read in a long time is truly remarkable.

It's so nice to know that I am only on my 3rd James Patterson book, and there are another 90+ to choose from.

This means that my reading journey is just beginning, and there are countless exciting stories and adventures waiting for me.

James Patterson is such a talented author, and his books always keep me on the edge of my seat.

With each turn of the page, I am drawn deeper into the story, unable to put the book down.

Life is indeed good when there are so many great books to read and enjoy.

I can't wait to explore more of James Patterson's works and discover new favorites along the way.

It's like having a never-ending treasure trove of literary gems at my disposal.

So, here's to many more hours of reading and getting lost in the wonderful worlds created by James Patterson.

It's not a literary masterpiece, but I really like these books.

The chapters are extremely short. Some might only be 2 - 3 pages. This unique style makes it very accessible and easy to pick up and put down. He never goes too deep into any one character, except, of course, the main guy. This simplicity in character development might seem like a drawback to some. In fact, a lot of people hate this and criticize him for it. They might argue that the lack of in-depth exploration of secondary characters makes the story less rich and complex.

However, I really like it. I appreciate the straightforwardness and the fact that the focus remains on the main plot and the main character. It allows for a quick and enjoyable read. These books are very nice easy reads!!! They don't require a lot of mental effort or deep analysis, but still manage to tell an engaging story. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a light and entertaining read.

James Patterson is undeniably one of the most renowned authors that come to my mind. Given his reputation, I thought it would be a great idea to pick up one of his books and give it a read. So, I randomly selected this particular one.

However, I must admit that I was not overly impressed with this novel, especially considering that the author has his own master class. The character building, to be honest, was rather lackluster at best. I simply didn't develop any real emotional connection with any of the characters. As another reviewer astutely pointed out, the main character's 10 kids were essentially interchangeable, lacking distinct personalities.

The only redeeming factor for me was the ending. It was here that we finally discovered who the hijackers were and the motives behind their actions. Additionally, the concept of how they planned to obtain their ransom money was quite interesting.

All in all, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book. It was just okay, failing to live up to the high expectations I had set based on the author's reputation.

This is an extremely ingenious hostage mystery that revolves around a celebrity funeral held at St. Patricks in the vibrant city of New York.

The wife of the former President unfortunately passes away, and the planned funeral becomes a magnet for a diverse collection of VIPs. Their healthy bank accounts prove to be an irresistible temptation for a meticulously planned takeover.

The lead detective in this case, Michael Bennett, is not only facing the complex task of solving the hostage situation but also dealing with the heart-wrenching terminal illness of his wife and the demanding care of his 10 children.

I have a profound love for this book and can wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend it to all mystery fans. The surprise ending truly clinched it for me, leaving me in awe and admiration. It keeps the readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page, making it an absolute must-read for those who enjoy a thrilling and captivating mystery.

This is the first book in the Michael Bennett Series by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

I have a reputation for reading books out of order since my library seldom has them in the correct sequence. This particular book is extremely touching and also quite tough. The case that Bennett is working on is extremely difficult, and to make matters worse, his wife Maeve is battling terminal cancer. SNIFF SNIFF.

As Bennett is in pursuit of the most diabolical criminal who has ever terrorized New York City, the unthinkable happens during a State funeral for a former First Lady in New York City's largest cathedral. Armed men, disguised as monks, storm the church and seal themselves inside, along with over one hundred of the most powerful people in America. The captives include world leaders, actors, TV stars, athletes, and politicians. The kidnappers are armed with an arsenal of explosives capable of creating a crater in the middle of Manhattan. NYPD officer Michael Bennett is drawn into the standoff as the lead negotiator. Despite the increasing danger, Michael faces an even more terrifying crisis at home.

I believe this book affected me deeply because Maeve passes away, and Mike has to deal with their 10 kids, his grandfather Shamus, and their new arrival (I think the correct word might be "aupair") Mary Catherine from Ireland. Coincidentally, I also had to put my cat down a few days ago. So here I am, crying and crying, as I am so moved by both the stories and experiences in the book and in my own life.

This is an excellent way to commence this series. I'm completely hooked and highly recommend it.

Michael Bennett is a remarkable individual. He is not only a former hostage negotiator but also a father to ten adopted children. To make matters more challenging, his wife is terminally ill with cancer.

Amidst all this, a sinister group of people murders a former first lady and then takes an entire church full of funeral attendees hostage. They use the upper crust of society as ransom, demanding money for their own freedom and lives, which these wealthy individuals are willing to pay. Michael Bennett is on the scene as part of the law enforcement team, tasked with negotiating with these particularly heartless individuals who are more than ready to be ruthless and violent if it benefits them.

Similar to most of James Patterson's books, this one is a relatively quick read. It consists of 300 pages, which are filled with numerous chapter breaks. These breaks significantly reduce the actual text volume, making it a fast and entertaining read. It's almost like an episode of a mini-series rather than a full-length movie. The story keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, with its thrilling plot and well-developed characters.

James Patterson presents us with a new character in STEP ON A CRACK, namely NYPD Homicide Detective Michael Bennett. Formerly a hostage negotiator, Bennett now finds himself once again facing off against psychopaths as the celebrities attending the funeral of former First Lady Caroline Hopkins are taken hostage.

I must admit that the core of the story, the hijacking of St. Patrick's church and the hostage situation involving the elite of society, was a captivating storyline. However, what detracted from the story, at least for me, was the fact that Michael Bennett wasn't a character with whom I could easily identify.

It's not because his wife, Maeve, is battling cancer, or that they have ten adopted children. It's not even Maeve's long-lost cousin, Mary Catherine, who suddenly appears to be their au pair. Nor is it Michael's grandfather, the tough yet kind-hearted Irish priest. No, the issue is that all of these characters, who had the potential to make the story emotional and touching, seem to merely serve as filler.

The ten children seem interchangeable. Mary Catherine could be up for sainthood. And Seamus, the grandfather, could be any one of the wise-cracking old geezers from a modern sitcom.

I will read the next Bennett book when it is released, mainly in the hope that the secondary storyline will be as engaging as the main plot. We'll have to wait and see. For Patterson fans, this is a book worth reading, but I would suggest borrowing it from the library first before shelling out the money to buy it in hardcover.