This one was written back in 1989, when Patterson's work was still fresh and not yet commercialized.

I found it extremely difficult to believe that something like the "Midnight Club" as he describes it could actually exist. It was just too much of a stretch of the imagination for me.

The main characters also seemed a bit far-fetched. The opening scenes have Stef being carried up the stairs to a crime scene, but then, mid-way through when the unspeakable happens in the tunnel under Central Park, Stef is able to get around "unassisted" in a way that didn't quite make sense. Additionally, Sarah's reactions to what occurs regarding her family didn't ring true for me. She's supposed to be a writer/researcher, not a hardened cop, and her responses seemed out of character.

And the ending/epilogue: once again, it wasn't believable. I could see it coming from a mile away. However, I'm still giving it three stars because the action held me spellbound through most of the tale (except for those parts where the actual "Midnight Club" was involved). It had its flaws, but there was still enough excitement and intrigue to keep me engaged.

This book is not as thrilling as some of the other James Patterson novels that I have had the pleasure of reading.

Even though it features the author's trademark short and snappy chapters, it fails to truly engage and excite.

On one hand, I am inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt since it is one of his earlier works.

Perhaps he was still honing his craft and developing his unique style.

However, there is a more cynical part of me that wonders if he needed the assistance of co-writers to create a truly great book.

It makes me question whether his success is solely due to his own talent or if the contributions of others have played a significant role.

Overall, while this book may not be a total disappointment, it does not quite measure up to the high standards set by some of Patterson's other works.

I will continue to read his books in the hope of finding that next great thriller that will keep me on the edge of my seat.

James Patterson is truly a master when it comes to crafting suspense. After having delved into a couple of his books, I am well aware that whenever I spot his name on a book cover, I can anticipate an exciting and thrilling read.

The Midnight Club, in general, is a captivating story. However, there are certain aspects that left me with some doubts and questions.

For instance, Stefanovitch's condition after Long Beach is rather unclear. Also, the partner's state and the curious decision to head to an apartment instead of seeking immediate medical help seem rather odd. The antagonist's behavior is inconsistent, which makes it a bit hard to fully understand their motives. Parker's role and the subsequent consequences that unfold are not entirely fleshed out. And then there's the ending.

I was left with a series of unanswered questions. It felt as if certain elements were simply overlooked or brushed aside. Although the ending was designed to be satisfying, with a seemingly neat bow to tie up all the loose ends, I couldn't help but feel that it was somewhat unearned. There were still too many unresolved issues lingering in my mind.

A thrilling and unbelievable thriller! A plot twist! You simply can't put the book down without reading what will happen next.

PS. The only flaw in his books is that they are read literally in one go! You start reading and forget everything else...

John Stefanovitch is a remarkable detective. Just as he is on the verge of closing a career-defining case against the notorious crime lord Alexandre St-Germain, he discovers that his team has been lured into a trap. Years later, John, now confined to a wheelchair as a result of the trap, finds himself investigating the murders of the members of the Midnight Club, a secret society of ruthless criminals.

With the assistance of a journalist and a cop from Harlem, John embarks on a perilous journey to unearth the secrets of the Midnight Club. The Midnight Club is one of Patterson's earlier works, and it showcases his evolving writing style. While he may still have been in the process of finding his unique voice, this doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. In fact, it feels like a fascinating blend of the Alex Cross and Lincoln Rhyme characters from the Bone Collector series.

John Stefanovitch makes an excellent lead. Despite his physical limitations, he refuses to let them hinder his progress or wallow in self-pity. The journalist, too, is a pleasant surprise. Instead of the pushy stereotype I initially expected, she is a woman who genuinely wants to help and is not willing to sacrifice the integrity of the case for a catchy headline. In fact, all the side characters are well-developed and add depth to the story.

The plot, however, can be a bit overwhelming. It seems to expand continuously, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does require the reader to pay close attention. Nevertheless, I believe that Patterson ties up all the loose ends neatly. Overall, The Midnight Club earns a CAWPILE Rating of 6.71.

The book was just okay. There was nothing really special or spectacular about it.

If there was truly going to be a police officer in New York City in a wheelchair, it is highly likely that he or she would be assigned to a desk job. There is no way in hell that they would be out on the streets. There are simply way too many problems and legal ramifications associated with it.

Besides, consider this: if a perpetrator were to run away and start jumping fences, how on earth would a police officer in a wheelchair be able to catch them? It seems highly improbable and would present numerous logistical challenges.

Overall, while the idea might seem interesting on the surface, there are many practical and legal issues that would need to be addressed before it could ever become a reality.

To be perfectly honest, I was quite disappointed. The idea of a James Patterson novel featuring corrupt cops and mobsters really intrigued me. It seemed like it would be right up my street. However, upon reading it, I found that it failed to live up to my expectations. The story didn't have the usual Patterson charm and excitement. The characters weren't as well-developed as I had hoped, and the plot felt a bit flat. I would recommend that Patterson fans stick to his later novels, as this one is definitely a let down. It's a shame, really, because the premise had so much potential.

To put it simply, this was the best from Patterson.

However, from another perspective, I've noticed that debut novels are never really that good.

To get right down to the point, the book was highly unbelievable.

I'm under the impression Patterson has never held a gun before, let alone shot one.

As described in the opening scene, our hero Stefanovitch is shot three times with a shotgun by our villainous evildoer.

He was hit firstly in the shoulder and then in the side from 20 yards.

Once on the ground, the villain stood over him and gave him the "death" shot into the back.

Now remember that shotgun shells are filled with pellets, not a bullet in a casing unlike rifles or handguns.

Their purpose is to cover the max area of a moving target because the pellets disperse in all directions.

That is why shotguns are used often for bird hunting.

In a nutshell, from 20 yards away, if the first two shots didn't kill Stefanovitch, the third one from 3 ft away would've shattered his spine and punctured numerous organs.

Heck, if the bad guy aimed for his neck, he would've taken his entire head off.

But no, he survives but is paralyzed from the waist down.

And you'll telling me the Kupek died.

He is shot and the first thing he does is goes to Stefanovitch's house?

He didn't, I don't know, cried for help, find a payphone, etc.

For a homicide detective, he sure wasn't acting like one.

Seems a little far-fetched to me if you ask me.

Lastly, in the climax of the film, Stefanovitch is shot again, twice actually, in the side and back.

He ends up chasing the shooter on his wheelchair and is hit by a taxi.

Doctors in the "best" hospital in New York were saying if he survives and that was a strong if, he would likely be paralyzed from the neck down.

But guess what, he breaks the odds!

He survives but not only that in 9 months, he's walking with the help of a cane.

Talk about a miracle.

The unbelievability is what killed it for me.

I thought it was a decent plot with good characters and that's why I'm giving it two stars.

This won't completely hinder me from reading more from this author but this one is the dud in his writings.

I watched Die Hard over Christmas and thought, "This is just a solid action film, I love it."

Recently, I read The Midnight Club and it immediately made me think of Die Hard.

The story in The Midnight Club is simple yet really cool. It is set in 80s America, which adds a certain charm.

I found myself loving every single page of it. It's like a classic action film but in book form.

If you got into the Reacher series over the past year for similar reasons, I would highly recommend The Midnight Club to you.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so much fun and refreshingly simple.

If you have a penchant for old-fashioned solid action films, then you should definitely give this book a read. You won't be disappointed.

The book had some slower parts, but overall, I really liked the protagonist. Honestly, I was truly impressed with the way Patterson crafted the character. The story was robust and I took great pleasure in reading it. The slower sections might dissuade you from persevering, but be a hero and do it anyway. It is well worth the effort. These slower parts don't endure for an overly long time, and perhaps during the editing process, they could have been trimmed further to enhance the reader's experience. This book appears to have a slightly stronger Patterson flavor, which is quite nice.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with a caveat: push through the slower parts. Don't let them deter you from enjoying the overall engaging narrative and well-developed character. Once you get past those sections, you'll find that the story truly shines and offers a satisfying reading experience.

John Stefanovitch is the detective in this thrilling story. For 22 long months, he has been dedicated to shutting down drug lords.

Just as things seem to be coming together, a mysterious group called the Midnight Club emerges. They are eliminating the very big drug lords that Stefanovitch has been striving to catch.

Among all the drug lords, Alexander St. Germain, known as the Grave Dancer, is the worst and most sadistic. Stefanovitch realizes he needs help and turns to a writer, Sarah McGinniss.

Together, they embark on a dangerous mission to figure out who the Midnight Club is before more innocent people have to lose their lives. The race against time is on, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Will they be able to solve the mystery and stop the Midnight Club's reign of terror? Only time will tell in this gripping tale of crime and mystery.

I randomly picked up this paperback from my stack of unread books, not having any overly high expectations. I assumed it would be just a typical and foreseeable cop thriller.

However, although it felt a bit disjointed on occasion and there was a bit too much telling rather than showing, it surprisingly turned out to be an engaging read. The main character, a detective named Stefanovitch, who had ended up in a wheelchair two years before the main events unfold, is quite interesting. He is assisted in his pursuit of a major organized crime figure by a pushy yet intelligent journalist and a brave Harlem cop who is willing to do whatever it takes to avenge his deceased brother.

Overall, the writing is not bad, and it is quite short and easy to read. While the Midnight Club could have been developed in a bit more detail, it is not too bad all in all. It managed to hold my attention and keep me interested until the end.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy cop thrillers and don't mind a few minor flaws in the writing. It's a quick and entertaining read that can provide some enjoyable moments.