So many twists and turns!

It's truly a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. From the very beginning, there are unexpected plot developments that make it impossible to predict what will happen next. The characters are complex and engaging, each with their own motives and secrets. As the story unfolds, you find yourself completely immersed in their world, rooting for them and feeling their emotions. The writing is so vivid that you can almost see the scenes playing out in front of your eyes. It's one of those rare books that you just can't put down, even when you know you should. You keep turning the pages, eager to find out what will happen in the end. And when you finally reach the conclusion, you're left with a sense of satisfaction and a longing for more. This is a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

A classic quick pace story unfolds.

Just when you think you have a firm grip on what's happening, you realize you don't. It's like a thrilling rollercoaster ride of emotions and surprises.

James Patterson, a master storyteller, has crafted a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

His words dance across the page, drawing you in deeper with each turn of the plot.

You find yourself completely immersed in the world he has created, unable to put the book down.

With every new revelation, you question your assumptions and wonder what will happen next.

It's a reading experience that leaves you breathless and craving more.

James Patterson's ability to keep you guessing and engaged is truly remarkable.

His stories are a testament to his talent and creativity, and they continue to captivate readers around the world.

So, if you're looking for a fast-paced, exciting read that will keep you on your toes, look no further than the works of James Patterson.

The title truly suits the content. This book was an extremely quick read. I believe I finished it in just a few hours. While it was enjoyable, it lacked depth and wasn't particularly memorable. I have to concur with other reviewers who noted that whenever Patterson attaches his name to a book co-written with another author, the quality seems to be watered down. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the format and feel were similar to that of the latest one I read from him, "Sail", which wasn't overly impressive. I know the man is capable of writing well. I'm currently making my way through the Alex Cross novels, and being on the fourth book of that series, I'm completely blown away by how excellent they are; they are very insightful, deep, and intriguing. Having said that, I will still read the works he co-writes, but I think those books would be best borrowed from the library. That way, I can enjoy them without feeling like I wasted any money. When people pay for a bad book, they seem to despise it even more.

Lauren Stillwell senses that something is amiss in her marriage. Her passionate life with her husband Paul is gradually fading away. Their once great friendship and exciting bedroom life have withered to a barely tolerable state of acceptance, and she is deeply saddened until she suspects she's being betrayed. Without knowing all the facts, she decides to get even with him and acts on her flirtatious relationship with her coworker Scott. The sweet revenge appears to be going smoothly until she witnesses something that makes her blood run cold. Someone who looks like her husband is outside Scott's home, and when the two men collide, one clearly emerges victorious. Thrown into a deep well of dread, she is assigned to solve something she is aware of, but she knows that revealing the truth to her coworkers, who are all cops, isn't going to work in her favor, even though she didn't do anything. When things seem complicated enough, Lauren discovers more about her husband's real life and who he truly is. Her friend and lover is more of a stranger than she could have ever imagined.

I was astonished at how irrational Lauren behaved, especially considering how sad she was about the state of her marriage. She chose to let flirting with other men temporarily heal her wounds instead of addressing the problem directly. If you have a cavity, you have to get it drilled, not ignore it or eat candy all day! If the relationship is bad, then walk away; don't try to live in two worlds simultaneously. I mean, no one can be perfect, but some of her choices left her with no other option but to experience pain. Overall, this was a decent light read, but as I mentioned earlier, it wasn't the best book I've ever read.

SO FREAKING GOOD.

This book is an absolute page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails and praying up until the very end. Patterson truly outdid himself with this one, as he surprised me with a plot twist that I never saw coming. It was like a bolt from the blue that completely changed the direction of the story and left me in awe.

His writing style is another aspect that I absolutely loved. The short chapters and cliffhangers every other page kept me hooked and made it impossible for me to put the book down. I found myself constantly eager to find out what would happen next.

What also impressed me was the way Patterson forms the characters. He manages to create fully developed and complex characters in such a short time, and then he completely changes your perspective of them with just a simple sentence. It's a masterful stroke of writing that adds depth and complexity to the story.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller. It's a must-read that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Lauren Stillwell, a homicide detective from New York, is living a seemingly happy life married to a handsome finance advisor, Paul. One fateful day, she decides to surprise her husband at work during lunchtime. To her shock, she sees Paul leaving with an unknown, tall, slim blonde and they enter the posh St Regis hotel. This incident makes Lauren reevaluate her marriage and her life from a whole new perspective, that of a cheated and ageing wife. She comes to some significant conclusions. She realizes that Paul has stopped caring about her some time ago, and she, being so busy with work, hardly noticed. The second conclusion is that she needs some entertainment to boost her mood, perhaps a quickie or a one-night stand.

That same evening, Lauren pretends she has missed her plane and invites a handsome bike-riding colleague from another department, Scott Thayer, to have a late dinner with her. Scott, who calls himself the most eligible bachelor on the whole NYPD, has been flirting with Lauren at work for some time, clearly smitten by her looks and not afraid to show his admiration. Although Lauren hesitates until the last possible moment, the evening ends with them both going to bed at his friends' flat. However, things take a complicated turn when Lauren's husband appears outside. Lauren watches as both men have a fight on the street and then disappear in Paul's Toyota.

The next day, Scott's battered body is found in a Bronx fountain. The entire NY homicide department is on the hunt for the culprit, and Lauren is made the main investigator. To her dismay, she discovers that 'the most eligible bachelor' was actually married and had three kids, one of them a tiny infant. Then, she finds his gun and badge in her garden shed. Everything seems to point to Paul, who knew about their flirt and killed Scott in a fit of jealous rage. But why doesn't he admit it and keeps lying to his wife?

Lauren feels terrible about her role in the whole situation, especially after visiting the young widow and seeing her grief. She is so depressed that she contemplates telling the truth to her partner, exposing both Paul and herself, which would end her career in shame and perhaps even lead to her committing suicide. But then, her investigation takes an unexpected turn. She finds a large stash of banknotes hidden in Scott's locker and a DVD labeled 'insurance' glued underneath his desk at his house. It seems that Scott, the rising star of the Anti-Drug Task Force, had more secrets than anyone could have imagined. Lauren makes another fateful decision - to stand by her husband and cover for him until the bitter end, no matter what. But will she succeed? Will she ever be able to talk to him about the whole event? And will the truth ever set her free in any sense?

Overall, this book is not a classic whodunit or a classic cop novel. However, it is very well-written and engaging. The pace of the narration keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, while also giving them some breathing room from time to time. Lauren is a great character - she is funny, stubborn, and has a lot of backbone, even when she is disgusted with herself. I also liked the fact that none of the characters are perfect and the reality around them is constantly changing, just like in real life. The ending is satisfying, although bittersweet, and the amount of secrets and twists that Lauren discovers during her investigation is truly mind-boggling.

On the downside, after reading this book, you might think twice before trusting any man. Also, some of the twists in the story did seem a bit far-fetched. Additionally, I didn't like the cover of the book. It seems more appropriate for erotica and might mislead potential customers. But despite these flaws, I still enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to fans of both cops and mystery novels, as well as those who are looking for something different.

This is a truly great suspenseful book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

It is filled with numerous twists and turns that will constantly surprise and shock you.

The author has masterfully crafted a story that is both engaging and thrilling, with a plot that is full of unexpected developments.

You will find yourself guessing and second-guessing as you try to figure out what is going to happen next.

The characters are well-developed and the writing is excellent, making this book a must-read for any fan of the suspense genre.

Whether you are looking for a thrilling escape or a thought-provoking mystery, this book has something for everyone.

So, if you are in the mood for a great read that will keep you guessing until the very end, then look no further than this amazing suspenseful book.

I have had a profound love for almost every single book that I have had the pleasure of reading by the renowned author James Patterson. And this particular book was no different, captivating me from the very first page.

While I don't necessarily believe that it reached the same level of greatness as his Cross books, it was still an absolute page-turner that I simply could not put down.

What I really liked about this book was the fact that the protagonist was directly implicated in the murder and was actively trying to cover it up. This departure from the typical thriller formula, where someone is usually trying to find the murderer, added an extra layer of intrigue and excitement.

I also have a soft spot for Patterson's writing style, especially the really small chapters. They create a sense of urgency and make me constantly want to read 'just one more'. However, in this book, I did feel that the chapters were perhaps a little too short. Most of them were only two pages long, which sometimes made the story feel a bit fragmented.

The twists at the end of the book were completely unexpected. I had formulated a theory in my mind, but it turned out to be completely wrong. I absolutely love it when that happens, as it keeps me on my toes and makes the reading experience all the more thrilling.

In conclusion, this is yet another unputdownable novel from James Patterson. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and would highly recommend it to any thriller lover.

The Quickie is composed of extremely short chapters, which makes it a quick read.

I was captivated in the initial part of the book. However, as the story progressed and "covering up" became overly effortless for the protagonist, I started to feel a bit bored.

Towards the conclusion of the book, a new twist was introduced. Nevertheless, it was not truly developed, leaving the reader really struggling to piece everything together. It seemed as if Patterson came up with an additional plot at the end of the novel and attempted to integrate it into the existing murder mystery.

For me, there were several inconsistencies, particularly in character development, which truly spoiled the overall plot. Although it was a decent book, I personally felt that the falling action and conclusion did not align with the main ideas of the plot.

Despite its flaws, The Quickie still has some redeeming qualities. The short chapters make it accessible and easy to pick up and put down.

The initial hook is engaging, and the idea of a quick and easy cover-up is an interesting premise.

However, the lack of development in certain areas and the inconsistent characterizations prevent the book from reaching its full potential.

Overall, The Quickie is an average read that may appeal to some readers but will leave others wanting more.

3.5 - Engaging, with a good pacing. It has a sufficient number of plot twists, but nothing that is too deep or revelatory. Truly, it's a ~quickie~.

This assessment indicates that the work in question manages to hold the reader's attention and maintain a steady rhythm. The plot twists add an element of excitement and keep the story from becoming too predictable. However, they don't delve into profound themes or offer major revelations.

The note to self serves as a reminder that it's best to avoid reading reviews before experiencing the work itself. Had the unmarked spoilers not spoiled the surprise, there might have been a higher shock value. This highlights the importance of approaching a new piece of literature or media with an open mind and allowing oneself to be fully immersed in the story without prior knowledge of its twists and turns.

Overall, while the work may not be a masterpiece in terms of depth and complexity, it still provides an enjoyable and engaging reading experience.

My mom recommended this book to me, and I have to admit that it wasn't terrible. LOL. To be honest, I don't usually find James Patterson's books all that intriguing. However, I thought I would give this one a try because it was a "mom recommendation."

As I started reading, I did notice that a lot of parts were quite slow, especially in the middle. It felt like the story was dragging a bit. But on the other hand, I really loved the short chapters. They made it easy to read in short bursts and kept me engaged.

Surprisingly, there were also parts that really kept me on my toes. The mystery element was well-developed, and I found myself constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Overall, I would say that this is a solid mystery. It may not be the most exciting book I've ever read, but it definitely held my attention and kept me entertained.

Wow, what an amazing read! I couldn't put this down and finished it in one go.

Lauren Stillwell suspects her husband Paul of having an affair, so she takes drastic action and sleeps with a co-worker she barely knows, Scott Thayer.

Things take a dramatic turn when Paul shows up at Scott's house. A fight erupts outside, and Lauren, secretly inside, watches as her husband brutally clubs Scott to the point of near death and then bundles him into his car. Shocked and thinking Paul has found out about the affair, Lauren races around the hospitals, believing Paul has taken Scott for help and regretting his crime of passion.

But when the police department where she works calls Lauren in to investigate a homicide, she is horrified to discover that the body is that of Scott. So, did Paul take him away to finish the job? Was it, as she thought, the discovery of her night of passion with Scott that caused Paul to turn violent, or was it something more sinister altogether, totally unconnected with the affair?

In fear, Lauren tries to save Paul and her marriage by covering any tracks that lead to him. However, she doesn't count on small bits of evidence turning up that not only make the police suspicious but also Lauren herself of Paul and even the mysterious Scott, who is leading a secret double life that Lauren uncovers during the investigation.

Terrified and in fear for her life due to her inside knowledge, it's a cat and mouse game for Lauren as she struggles with her decisions and the consequences of the lies and deceit she uncovers. Her whole life tumbles down around her. Can she save herself, the shattered remains of her life, and the unexpected baby she is carrying, or are those closest to her even more deadly than she realized?

3.5 Stars

This book is a real page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It's a relatively quick read, which is great for those who don't have a lot of time but still want to enjoy a good story. The plot is full of twists and turns that constantly kept me guessing. I found myself trying to figure out what was going to happen next, only to be surprised by the actual outcome. The characters are well-developed and interesting, adding depth and authenticity to the story. The writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining and thought-provoking read. It may not be a five-star masterpiece, but it's definitely a solid 3.5 stars that will keep you entertained until the very end.