See How They Run

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Outside New York City, the palatial home of Dr. David Strauss's parents is attacked by gunmen during a glittering party. As he watches helplessly, his wife is murdered. In Los Angeles, Strauss's brother is killed during the Academy Award ceremonies. In Manhattan, his past sweetheart, Alix Rothchild, is running for her life. Dr. David Strauss is soon obsessed with finding the explosive secret behind the murders of his family members. His dangerous odyssey takes him across Europe, and finally to the Olympics, where one of the most shattering surprises in suspense fiction will take place.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27,1979

About the author

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JIMMY Patterson Books
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
34(34%)
4 stars
32(32%)
3 stars
34(34%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
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100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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This is not your typical James Patterson book.

It seemed to skip around a little, and at times, it was hard for me to follow.

The story didn't flow in a traditional linear manner, which made it a bit of a challenge to keep up with the plot.

There were sudden jumps in time and setting, and I found myself having to go back and reread certain sections to fully understand what was happening.

However, despite these difficulties, there were still some aspects of the book that I enjoyed.

The characters were well-developed, and I was able to connect with them on an emotional level.

The writing was also engaging, and Patterson's signature style was still present.

Overall, while this may not be one of his best works, it was still an interesting read that kept me entertained.
July 15,2025
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Why is this rated so highly? It was a complete slog.

I really don't understand the high ratings this thing has received. From my perspective, it was an absolute struggle to get through.

Every step of the way felt like a chore. There was nothing particularly engaging or exciting about it.

It seemed to drag on and on, and I found myself constantly looking for an excuse to stop.

Maybe I'm missing something, but as far as I'm concerned, this doesn't deserve the high praise it's been getting.

I would not recommend it to anyone based on my own experience.

It's a mystery to me why others have rated it so highly.

July 15,2025
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I had a really difficult time when it came to coming up with a rating for this book.

On one hand, it's quite evident that it's not his best work. There are certain aspects that don't quite shine as brightly as in his previous masterpieces. But on the other hand, it isn't bad either. In fact, I was thoroughly entertained for most of the book. The story had a certain charm and kept me engaged.

However, it's not till the last third of the book that I began having a problem with it. The climactic scene, in particular, is what really brought this book down a little bit for me. I just had a hard time believing how it all was resolved. It felt a bit too rushed and perhaps not as well thought out as it could have been.

Nevertheless, I do give it an extra point or two for the epilogue. It added a nice touch and gave a bit of closure to the story. Overall, after much consideration, my final rating for this book is 3.8.
July 15,2025
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I did not finish the book - I just didn't like it.

The story failed to capture my interest from the very beginning. The characters seemed flat and uninteresting, lacking any depth or complexity that would make me care about their fates.

The plot was also rather dull and predictable, with nothing to surprise or engage me. I found myself constantly losing focus and having to force myself to read on.

Moreover, the writing style was not to my taste. It was too simplistic and lacked the elegance and sophistication that I look for in a good book.

In the end, I decided to give up on the book and move on to something else. Life is too short to waste on books that don't bring us joy or satisfaction.
July 15,2025
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Chilling, thrilling, and stunning.

Outside New York City, the magnificent home of Dr. David Strauss's parents becomes the target of a brutal attack by gunmen during a glamorous party. As he stands there, powerless to do anything, he witnesses the murder of his beloved wife. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Strauss's brother meets a tragic end during the Academy Award ceremonies. In Manhattan, his former sweetheart, Alix Rothchild, is in a desperate race for her life.

Dr. David Strauss quickly becomes consumed by the need to uncover the explosive secret that lies behind the murders of his family members. His perilous journey takes him across Europe, filled with countless twists and turns. Finally, it leads him to the Olympics, where he is about to encounter one of the most shocking surprises in the history of suspense fiction. The story unfolds with heart-pounding action and nail-biting suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
July 15,2025
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James Patterson has once again crafted a thrilling adventure.

However, this time around, the excitement fails to reach the same heights as his previous endeavors. The story is filled with numerous electrifying plot twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat.

Several times, my mouth actually flew wide open in shock! Despite the massive build-up to the ending, which was pulse-pounding and full of anticipation, the conclusion itself left a lot to be desired.

Adding to this, there are some confusing settings and time jumps that make it a bit challenging to follow at times.

As a result, this novel doesn't rank among Patterson's most polished works. Nevertheless, it is still a good read.

The subject matter is very real and thought-provoking, making it an interesting choice for lovers of historical fiction and thrillers.

If you fall into either of these categories, this book is definitely worth checking out!
July 15,2025
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One of his earlier novels,

although it wasn't as fast flowing as the more recent ones,

was still an excellent read.

The addition of history to the story made it a bit more thought provoking.

It allowed the readers to explore different eras and understand how they influenced the characters and the plot.

The slower pace of the earlier novel gave the readers more time to soak in the details and develop a deeper connection with the story and the characters.

Despite not being as action-packed as some of the later works,

it had its own charm and吸引力 that kept the readers engaged from start to finish.

Overall,

it was a great example of the author's writing skills and his ability to create a captivating story that would stay with the readers long after they had finished reading.
July 15,2025
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This started out as one of the most promising James Patterson novels to date. It feels so atypical from the rest of his body of work. I don't know how much more of his formulaic serial killer stuff I can take.

SEE HOW THEY RUN was originally published back in 1979. At that time, Patterson was still finding himself as a writer and experimenting with various styles. It's obvious that by writing this particular novel, he was hoping to pass himself off as the next Robert Ludlum. Even the book's original title, THE JERICHO COMMANDMENT (which was insipidly renamed to fit in with Patterson's typical nursery rhyme schema), is as Ludlum-esque as you can get.

However, there are a couple of reasons why SEE HOW THEY RUN is ultimately a big disappointment. First, Patterson gives his lead characters very little to do, apart from flirting with each other and commiserating on past traumas. And nobody writes flirty dialog as poorly as James Patterson. Anytime he tries to be cute or touchingly romantic, the book practically bursts into flames. All the interesting stuff is done by faceless characters in the background. These characters never get properly developed and feel interchangeable. The plot drags so badly during the book's middle section that no amount of fireworks at the end can redeem it.

The second problem is Patterson's terrible dialog, which makes his characters sound phony and dumb. He also tries for the occasional awkward "literary" description, which, in Patterson's case, typically consists of total gibberish masquerading as artistic flair.

As hard as I am on this book, it does have its good points. The basic story concept is solid, if rather farfetched, and Patterson obviously did a large amount of research in putting it together. By cutting out much of the middle section and editing down the cringe-worthy dialog, SEE HOW THEY RUN could be fashioned into a great little novella.

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