Granted, I'm emotional as it is being pregnant.

However, when he started walking again and had the desire to walk once more after he met Sarah, and managed to walk to her with the assistance of a walker against all odds, I couldn't help but tear up.

Even at the end, when he shook his partner's hand and they hugged it out after he shot the killer, it was truly an amazing moment.

I loved this book so very much because of how distinct it was.

Ordinarily, Patterson writes solely murder mysteries, but this one delved into the realm of organized crime. It was so refreshingly different.

He's truly brilliant, and as usual, he completely nailed it!

There's a reason he's my book husband.

He has this unique ability to draw readers in and keep them on the edge of their seats throughout the entire story.

This book is a prime example of his outstanding talent and creativity.

I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

The Midnight Club isn't anything like the other Patterson novels I've read.

Instead of the action-packed, movie-like pacing that I'm used to, we have a slow and detailed storytelling here.

Even the chapters in this book are quite a bit longer, which takes away that sense of urgency to squeeze in another chapter before putting the book down.

This book wasn't bad per se, but it's just not really my cup of tea.

I'm a fan of Patterson books that are always turned up to 11, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire reading experience.

This one, however, didn't have that intense excitement. It was much more of a slow burn, and looking back, not a whole lot seemed to have happened.

Nevertheless, I did manage to enjoy some parts of this book.

But I think if I wasn't reading it to pass the time at work, I might have been tempted to give up on it.

All in all, while it has its merits, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me like some of Patterson's other works.

I'm being generous here simply because it was in the early stage of Patterson's career.

The characters in this particular work were quite likable, and in fact, they held the potential to be developed further in another book. However, the story itself fell short.

It never really took off in the way it could have.

I have to admit that I didn't have a great impression of the first Cross book, but I've found myself loving most of the others that followed.

This one, unfortunately, should have been better.

Nevertheless, I'm still determined to read all of his adult books.

Unless you share the same level of determination as I do, I would suggest skipping this particular title.

It might not offer the same level of enjoyment and satisfaction as some of his other works.

But who knows, maybe upon a second reading or with a different perspective, it could reveal hidden gems that I missed the first time around.

Only time will tell if this early work of Patterson will grow on me or remain a bit of a disappointment.

This book is not on my list of favorite Patterson books. Perhaps it's because it was in the early stage of his writing career. His more recent books are crisper, with more defined plots and a higher degree of realism. I didn't find this book to possess any of those qualities.

The story revolved around a group of gangsters from all over the world who came together to form a large mafia-type conglomerate.

The main character, John Stefanovitch, whom I actually do like, is a detective determined to take down the kingpin, Alexandre St-Germain. The takedown results in Stefanovitch being left in a wheelchair and a widow. Understandably, he takes this very personally and sets out on a mission to get this guy.

It was an easy read, but it was a little too strange and unbelievable to be highly liked. There were aspects of the story that seemed far-fetched and didn't quite resonate with me. While the concept had potential, it didn't fully deliver in terms of believability and overall enjoyment.

Maybe as Patterson's writing has evolved, his later works have overcome some of the shortcomings present in this earlier book. However, for now, this one just didn't make the cut as one of my favorites.

In this remarkable book, Patterson has truly discovered his unique literary voice. The novels that preceded this one had their own characteristics, but in this particular work, the reader can clearly perceive the distinct voice that would come to define his subsequent novels. As is the trademark of Patterson, especially in this captivating story, he has a penchant for the sensational and a tendency to swing dramatically from one extreme to the other. It makes for an exciting and thrilling ride that the reader can breeze through quickly. It is highly recommended reading for all devoted Patterson fans.

This book offers a fresh perspective on Patterson's writing style and showcases his growth as an author. The vivid descriptions and engaging plot keep the reader hooked from start to finish. Whether you are a long-time fan or new to Patterson's works, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to experience Patterson's latest masterpiece and join the countless readers who have been enthralled by his storytelling prowess.

Dulu sepertinya pernah baca salah satu buku James Patterson, tapi lupa ceritanya. Tapi ada beberapa yg difilmkan, misalnya Along Came Spider. Genrenya adalah kriminal, dengan karakter utamanya detektif kepolisian.

Cerita dibuka dengan John Stefanovitch, seorang detektif NYPD yang memburu Alexandre St Germain, bos sindikat mafia yang disegani. Usaha mereka mengalami kegagalan, dan mereka masuk perangkap. Stef mengalami beberapa luka tembak, dan mesti duduk di kursi roda, sementara istrinya dibunuh oleh St Germain.

Beberapa bulan kemudian, St Germain didapati tewas terbunuh di suatu klub malam. Penyelidikan Stef membawanya pada nama Midnight Club, yaitu sindikat kriminal internasional dimana St Germain adalah salah satu anggotanya. Kematian St Germain disusul oleh dua kematian bos mafia lain setelahnya, dan puncaknya di Atlantic City, beberapa anggota Club dibantai. Siapa pelakunya?

Ternyata ada semacam kelompok death squad di kepolisian, salah satunya Isiah Parker. Mereka lah yg bertanggung jawab atas pembunuhan St Germain dan dua bos mafia lain. Tapi kejadian Atlantic City bukan perbuatan mereka. Lalu apa yg sebenarnya terjadi?

Kemudian hal yang mengejutkan terjadi. St Germain muncul dalam keadaan sehat, setelah dikira mati. Rupanya memalsukan kematiannya. Diketahui bahwa dialah yang sudah mengatur pembunuhan atas saingan2nya di Club, atau yg disebutnya orang2 berpikiran kuno. Kembalinya St Germain sekaligus untuk membawa Midnight Club berkembang, yg tadinya sindikat kriminal, menjadi perusahaan bisnis internasional yang hendak mengendalikan perekonomian di seluruh dunia, dengan beranggotakan orang2 penting di posisi2 strategis.

Stefanovitch, bersama dengan Sarah McGinnis (jurnalis yg sedang menulis topik Midnight Club), dan Isiah Parker, mesti mencari jalan untuk menghancurkan Midnight Club.

--O--

Setelah selesai membaca, ada dua hal yang masih mengganjal buat saya. Pertama, bagaimana St Germain bisa memalsukan kematiannya ketika sepertinya terbunuh di klub. Bukankah kejadiannya direkam oleh kamera tersembunyi? Kedua, bagaimana bisa satuan gabungan yg dibentuk Stef bisa menggerebek Midnight Club yg sedang rapat? Padahal sebelumnya Sarah masih dalam kondisi trauma setelah anaknya diculik, dan Stef masih di rumah sakit. Harusnya dikasih penjelasan yg bisa menjembatani bagaimana bisa seperti itu. Karena jadinya terkesan masalahnya tiba2 selesai dengan lancar.

John Stefanovitch is a police officer in New York. He has dedicated years to pursuing one of the world's biggest drug lords, Alexander St. Germain. However, one night his world collapses due to an ambush.

Years later, with the help of a famous investigator and writer and a police officer seeking vengeance for the death of his brother, he tries to catch "the bad guys" grouped in the Midnight Club.

The book starts out very entertaining, but towards the middle it becomes slower and slower, and the characters lose their strength.

It seems that as the story progresses, the pacing becomes a bit of a drawback. The initial excitement and anticipation start to wane as the narrative slows down. The development of the characters also seems to stall, making it harder for the reader to remain fully engaged.

Despite this, the premise of the story is still quite interesting, and there is potential for a more thrilling conclusion if the author can pick up the pace and bring the characters back to life.

I have to say that this is probably the best Patterson mystery that I have read.

I am always a sucker for stories that are told from multiple perspectives, especially mysteries. It adds depth and complexity to the plot, making it more engaging and exciting.

However, there was one issue that really bothered me and that was the very first murder. I don't want to put a huge spoiler into this review because it was a major part of this novel, but it was never really explained. How did he pull it off? The room was being video tapped, did he make sure it wasn't that night? Who was in on it? Everything about it was just left so vague and it was such a big part of the novel that it bothered me.

Still, it was a good mystery and a rather fast read. I liked the characters, found them interesting and likable. They had their own unique personalities and motives, which made them feel real and believable.

Though everyone was a little too happy at the end, it didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery.

I have a deep affection for the concept of a mysterious organization that engages in organized crime on a global scale. This idea truly intrigues me and it vividly reminds me of a group that I fabricated in one of my own books. The action within the story is simply outstanding. Isaiah, without a doubt, is perhaps my most cherished character. The final showdown between him and St. Germaine is nothing short of fantastic. It is filled with great heart-pounding action and nail-biting suspense. I absolutely adored it. I have already read it five times and there is a high probability that I will read it a hundred times more. Each time I read it, I discover new details and nuances that add to the overall enjoyment of the story.

Amazing! The execution at the end was truly beautiful. It was like a work of art coming to life. The way it was done was so precise and flawless. Every detail was taken into account, and the result was simply breathtaking. Lol, it made me smile from ear to ear. It was one of those moments that you just can't forget. The beauty and elegance of it all were just overwhelming. I'm still in awe of how well it was executed. It's definitely something that will stay with me for a long time.

The only thing that I found interesting or exciting about this book, which was written a while ago, is that the world-wide crime syndicate leaders had their conference on the 19th floor (it should have been the 17th for the QAnon folks!) of Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

At this conference, they were all murdered by a secret police group that was determined to take justice into their own hands. Nevertheless, it has a happy ending, just like all good Patterson books do.

This was my second James Patterson book, and it should be my last. I understand those who like his work, but it's just not for me.

Perhaps his writing style doesn't resonate with me, or maybe the stories don't hold my interest as much as I would like.

However, I can appreciate that he has a large following and has written many successful books.

It's just that for me, there are other authors and genres that I find more engaging and enjoyable.

This is an outstanding stand-alone book that would serve as an excellent beginning to a new detective series. Indeed, that's a gentle nudge to Mr. Patterson!

It is a relatively brisk-paced narrative that is unrelentingly gritty from start to finish. The settings the story traverses are all vividly described, and the characters are masterfully created, integrating seamlessly with one another, and the story progresses smoothly along with them. The storyline is ingeniously constructed and, for the most part, not too far removed from the realities we encounter in daily headlines.

However, as I mentioned, it is a very gritty read, containing some coarse language and a fair amount of violence, so it's not for the faint of heart. Otherwise, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who relishes a thrilling and exciting read!

I am the proud owner of a hardback copy of this book.