Maggie was hiding in the crawl space under her house, tightly holding her baby girl Jennie close. The cold was gradually seeping in, and the terror seemed to be all-encompassing. She made every effort to keep Jennie quiet while listening to her husband, Phillip, yelling, shouting, and ranting loudly above their heads. Maggie knew deep in her heart that he was going to kill them, but the crucial thing was that he had to find them first.

Maggie Bradford was a talented singer-songwriter, a well-loved and adored star. Her beloved Jennie and her and Patrick’s son, Allie, were the very reasons she lived for. They even affectionately called themselves JAM – Jennie, Allie, Maggie. However, currently, Maggie was incarcerated in jail, awaiting trial for murder. She was certain of her own innocence, but the big question was how to convince everyone else that she didn't murder Will Shephard – a husband, athlete, actor, and a liar and psychopath.

"Hide and Seek" by James Patterson is an incredibly chilling thriller that completely took me by surprise at the end. The twist was something I simply did not anticipate! And what a remarkable twist it was!! I have owned this book for a long time – in fact, since August 2011. I'm extremely glad that I've finally read it as the gritty yet snappy chapters kept me engrossed in reading well into the night. Although it is a long-published edition from 1997, it is definitely well worth the read. Highly recommended.

This book was just okay.

Its main issue was that the initial two-thirds of it consisted solely of a woman narrating her life, specifically her love life, over the past decade or so. This was rather dull as I don't pick up a James Patterson book to listen to a woman describe how beautiful her wedding was and how each new man in her life made her feel so special. (Actually, I don't read Patterson at all; I only listen to his works on audiobooks.)

However, the redeeming features of the book are that the premise of the story is that the main character is a pop star on trial for murdering her husband. She had also killed a former husband earlier in life, but that was a clear case of self-defense.

The end of the book is more characteristic of Patterson, with some good action, mystery, and twists. The book reads as if Nicholas Sparks wrote the first half, while the woman is reminiscing about her life, and then Patterson takes over for the trial and the subsequent action.

It's not one of his better or more exciting books from start to finish, but the ending will probably make you forget how tedious the beginning was.

This is not my kind of thing.

The story mainly focuses on the biography of Maggie Bradford, the singer. It begins with her miserable first marriage and then delves into her later years. This part is narrated in the first person, which I generally don't prefer in books, and I don't like it here either.

Another significant portion of the book is dedicated to the biography of Will Shephard, the famous football player and Maggie's second husband. This part is even more difficult to read as Will has a rather disturbing character and personality.

Maggie is accused of killing Will in the same way she killed her first husband. However, for more than 75% of the book, we mostly read about the biographies of Maggie and Will. The last quarter of the story centers on the trial, and this is the part that I finally found interesting.

I admit to skipping through some of the biographical parts, but the final suspense, which revolves around the questions of what really happened and whether Maggie killed Will, is what I quite enjoyed. In fact, I liked it enough to consider increasing my rating to 3 stars. I wish the entire book was like this, with the actual suspense part being more developed.

Here, we have an interesting but still a biography of the miserable life of a fictional singer, mostly presented by herself. Unfortunately, the suspense is only a minor part of the book.

Also, the story reminds me a great deal of Public Secrets by Nora Roberts. If you liked Hide and Seek, Public Secrets might be to your liking.

James Patterson is a well-known author, but here's the dilemma. Mr. Patterson has a prolific output, perhaps even too many books.

From what I've gathered, he made a whopping $77 million last year, which means he has more than enough money and doesn't have to worry about going hungry.

Given this financial security, I believe he should be more selective in what he publishes. I, for one, lost interest in Mr. Patterson's writing after a valiant attempt at reading "Hide and Seek." It was one of the rare few books that I simply did not want to finish.

His books seem to lack the depth and quality that I expect from a great author. I understand that he has a large fan base and a successful business model, but I think it's time for him to focus on the quality of his work rather than the quantity.

Maybe he could take more time to develop his characters and plotlines, or collaborate with other talented authors to bring something new and exciting to the table.

In conclusion, while James Patterson may be a successful author, I hope he will consider being more selective in his future publications and strive to produce works that are both engaging and thought-provoking.

A Holiday Book

A holiday book can be a wonderful companion during your vacations. It has the power to transport you to different worlds, introduce you to new ideas, and provide entertainment and relaxation. Whether you prefer a thrilling mystery, a heartwarming romance, an informative non-fiction piece, or a collection of short stories, there is a holiday book out there for everyone. You can curl up on a beach chair, by the poolside, or in front of a cozy fireplace and lose yourself in the pages of a good book. It allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in a different reality. A holiday book can also be a great way to learn something new or gain a different perspective. So, the next time you plan a holiday, don't forget to pack a good book along with your sunscreen and swimsuit. It will surely enhance your holiday experience and make it even more memorable.

James Patterson is a renowned author who has penned numerous best-selling novels. One of his works stands out as an excellent stand-alone novel. This particular book is characterized by its short chapters, which give the story a fast-paced feel. The action-packed narrative keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The concept of short chapters and a fast pace might sound familiar to many Patterson fans, as he is known for his ability to craft engaging and thrilling stories in this style. This stand-alone novel is no exception, offering a captivating read that will satisfy both new and longtime readers of Patterson's work.

I absolutely loved James Patterson's Hide and Seek.

From the very beginning, it had me completely hooked. The story was so engaging and filled with suspense that I simply didn't want to put it down.

James Patterson has once again proven himself to be a master storyteller. The way he weaves the plot and creates such vivid characters is truly remarkable.

Hide and Seek takes you on a thrilling journey, full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Whether you're a fan of mystery novels or just looking for a great read, this book is definitely worth checking out.

I can't wait to see what else James Patterson has in store for us.

This book simply wasn't to my taste.

Although it provided a departure from the Alex Cross series, it wasn't the kind of break I desired. Maggie Bradford struck me as a rather dull character. Perhaps my perception is influenced by the fact that I can't identify with her circumstances.

I believe Patterson placed an excessive emphasis on Maggie's daily life and how she lived, while neglecting her marriage to Will Shepard and the gradual breakdown of their relationship.

The book seemed long-winded and failed to truly engage my attention.

Finally, I felt that the ending lacked both cleverness and realism. Given the clear evidence of abuse in her first husband's shooting, which was obviously in self-defense, and her second husband's death by heart attack after beating her up and then being shot again, I find it difficult to believe that a woman in such a situation could ever be regarded as a murderer.

I can understand that this book might appeal to some people, but for me, it's one that I regret spending my time reading.

P.S. This is my very first post! I'm looking forward to sharing many more reviews in the future!

I was actually occupied with another book. However, we embarked on a motorbike weekend adventure, and that other book was far too heavy to lug around. So, I simply picked up this one. :)

It turned out to be a rapid read, and oh my goodness - it was so suspenseful! It was extremely difficult to put down.

Even though I derived some enjoyment from it, it's not truly to my taste. I have a penchant for historical fiction. But, I do like to experiment with something distinct from time to time. Well, at least now I can claim that I've read a James Patterson. :)

This experience of reading this particular book during the motorbike weekend was quite interesting. It added a different flavor to the trip. Although it didn't fully satisfy my literary preferences, it was still a worthwhile read. It made me realize that it's good to step out of my comfort zone and explore different genres. Maybe in the future, I'll discover more hidden gems among various types of literature.

Maggie Bradford's journey in romance has been filled with hardships.

She had to take the extreme step of killing her abusive husband. Later, while sailing with her older and rich lover, he suffered a heart attack and passed away. The situation worsened when she met soccer star Will Shepherd, who resembled David Beckham.

Will, known as the Golden Arrow on the field, was also a ladies' man. He had no difficulty finding romance, but for most of the women he dated, things didn't work out well. In fact, as time passed, their experiences became progressively worse and more gruesome.

When Will and Maggie started seeing each other, he tried to put aside his past. Maggie had recovered from the loss of her lover and used her personal history to write several wonderful songs. Her voice and these songs catapulted her to superstardom. In many ways, they seemed made for each other, and the tabloids were quick to cover this new glam couple.

However, their marriage led to a rocky road and a murder trial that took an unexpected turn, in a way only Patterson could envision. Will and Maggie both played starring roles in the story, with Maggie's perspective presented in the first person and Will's in the third person. Ironically, although the reader knew what was going on in their minds, they were still completely surprised by the ending.

This may not be one of Patterson's best works, but he still managed to create an engaging read with this novel.

This was truly very good early Patterson. The mystery presented was solid, although it did have a slightly disjointed feel to it at times.

Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read that kept the reader engaged from start to finish. Patterson really put Maggie through the wringer, subjecting her to a series of intense and harrowing experiences.

Moreover, he wrote a true madman of a villain, a character so twisted and unpredictable that he added an extra layer of excitement and danger to the story.

The combination of a complex mystery, a beleaguered protagonist, and a menacing villain made this early work of Patterson's a memorable one. It展示了他作为一名作家的才华和创造力，即使在早期就能够写出引人入胜的故事。

Overall, it was a great read that fans of mystery and thriller novels are sure to enjoy.

Spoilers !!!!

This thriller has way too many open ends. It's actually quite frustrating.

For one thing, how could the police not realize that the body was not Will's? It seems like a major oversight.

Also, on what basis did they let Maggie go free? There was a body in the house, and after just 47 days, they simply said "he probably killed himself." This doesn't make much sense.

It would be great if someone could explain these things. Maybe there are some details that I missed, but as it stands, these plot holes are really bothering me.

I hope the filmmakers or the writers have some plans to address these issues in a future installment or explanation. Otherwise, it's going to leave a lot of viewers dissatisfied.