The House Next Door

Save your money. I wish I'd done the same. Something keeps making me buy James Patterson novels. I guess wishful thinking, a good one will pop up. It's not here!
The House Next Door- A cross between a really bad romance, and a detective case. What planet was the main character, "Laura" living on?! A smile, and an absurd request, and she risks everything.
The Second story- equally ridiculous! A seasoned detective, acting like a first year rookie. And getting arrested for murder!
Reads like desperation!

This book was not a book. It was 3 stories. Not what I expected- my own fault for just clicking the purchase button without reading the reviews. It was like Mr Patterson had an idea for a story, and this is his draft. One book with three stories should not show the title for the first story only on its cover. It’s rather deceptive. As for the first story, I felt like I had read it before? I wonder if it was published earlier?

James Patterson did not deliver on these stories. Did not know there were three stories in one book. I would have never purchased this book.

I was very disappointed with this book. I was misled by the rave reviews! This is actually 3-books-in-one.

I loved the first and third stories the very best . The first one blew me away and so did the last one . The middle story was a good but not great . I still recommend this book and don't understand why there are so many poor ratings . James Patterson is still one of the best mystery writers alive . I recommend this book . You won't regret buying it

This anthology contains three stories by James Patterson: The House Next Door, and The Killer's Wife by Patterson and Max DiLallo, and We Are Not Alone by Patterson and Tim Arnold. Patterson's stories tend to be in the genre of Mystery & Suspense, or Thrillers that deal with a murder. I'll focus on the first story, "The House Next Door" as it's my favorite story. The story revolves around the life and daily activities of a middle class housewife who has a husband and 3 children. The story is told from her perspective. She meets the "perfect guy" ... Vinney, who has moved into the house next door with his son. He makes a point of calling her to ask her for a favor, to pick up his son from school the next afternoon. She doesn't know him at all, of course, or his son. He does mention that his wife has suddenly "fallen ill" and he makes the excuse that he has to look after her, so he needs somebody to pick his kid up from school. The story moves along is a rather predictable way. Knowing the author's style and stories as I do, I suspected Vince killed his wife. His son behaves oddly, depressed...afraid. Over time, Vince draws in the housewife (I don't recall her name ever being directly mentioned), until she is compromised by him ... and then he draws her husband her son in on an illegal drug distribution scheme that is eventually discovered by the police. Ultimately, Vince goes to jail, and the housewife suffers from the consequences of her acquaintance with him, as does her husband and son. Vince is, basically, bad news on a grand scale. While the story is not one that I have never seen or heard before, but James Patterson tells an excellent story, one that draws you right in, both intellectually and emotionally. I felt bad for the housewife, and her husband and son when the story ended. The other two stories have different themes, but in classic Patterson style, they are filled with suspenseful encounters and mystery. Each story is sufficiently long to make the book worth reading over 3 or 4 days. Most enjoyable.

Ridiculous stories and characters. Wish I could get my money back. So bad that it's actually insulting to the reader.

HAS ANYONE READ THE BOOK BY JAMES PATTERSON, NOT JAMES HILTON! Your reviews continue for THE WRONG AUTHOR

If I had known that this was 3 Short Stories I'm not sure I would have purchased it. I usually don't like short stories I prefer a book I can get lost in, become a part of but all 3 stories were really good.

Different story and wasn't sure where it was going but ended up liking it. Very light quick read.