Tick Tock (A Michael Bennett Thriller, 4)

I have never reviewed a book before. This book was bought for me as a gift and having read quite a few Patterson books over the years I figured I was going to be in for a good read. I was wrong, firstly I did read the whole thing as I had a four hour layover in an airport. This is not really a novel, the font is size 16 and double spaced with wide margins, its more like a short story. The characters are absolutely ridiculous, the new york Irish cop with 10 adopted children and his father who is a priest, I'm Irish and I am cringing writing how embarrassing this book was to read.
The murders and manhunt are also awful with the big turning point in the book coming as a hunch rather than anything well planned or leaving the reader feeling they missed anything.
And this is a Sunday times best seller, I really can't believe he can get away with producing this rubbish, It was actually so bad that I didn't even bother taking it home with me and just threw it in a bin in the airport, I don't have the heart to sell this book on or give it to anyone else to read, I'm not that mean a person. You will never see me with a Paterson novel in my hand again although if I do need to steady a table or prop up a bed I know a great use for his books.

This is a below average book. I have read all of Patterson's books but I am slowly giving up. I think he and his co-authors have reached a limit. First of all this is not a big book and the overall story is weak. I know he is a popular writer but there comes a point when you say, no more money to make him richer! This book just isn't worth the money. If you must read this get it in your library. Don't buy it!

Another great James Patterson, Michael Bennett is on vacation with is assortment of adopted kids, nanny and priest father in law. But, a bomber gets him called back to work by planting a bomb in New York Public Library. Then, more killing come with a calling card to him. They take the killings to a whole new meaning of other famous killers. Copying the Son of Sam, and many others. Read, keeps you turning the pages, love interest do to for Mike. Trouble for the kids on vacation. Just Read.

Seriously? I don't know why James Patterson is even putting his name on the GARBAGE he's putting out these days? I cannot even remember the last time I was able to actually FINISH one of his novels. Up to this point, I keep being hopeful. But at some point, I have to stop and wonder WTF? Garbage. Absolute Garbage. And a waste of my money and time. I don't know if he'll ever come back. But right now, he is so awful I want to cry.

James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. I especially enjoy the Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club series. I was not impressed, however, by STEP ON A CRACK, the first novel in the Michael Bennett series, primarily because I found Bennett's 10 children to be merely a cheap prop for a poorly developed main character. After reading the free TICK TOCK chapters, I see that nothing has changed. These children are nothing more than names on a page and are never developed as individual characters. I find it unbelievable that a detective has time to take care of 10 foster children and still chase bad guys. Worse than that, these 10 children are perfect! As foster children, it's likely they've had tough lives. Yet none are on drugs, fighting with each other or exhibiting psychological problems. All are very happy and they mostly act in unison as a single character. Patterson's villains in these novels, however, are as strong and well developed as those in his other books. Do you think Patterson writes the third-person villain chapters while Ledwidge writes the first-person Bennett family chapters? If so, the result is half of a good book.

[[ASIN:B004J4VZHU Tick Tock]]
Wait, the character named Berger was so fat he couldn't leave his co-op but still managed to kill people at start of book, but then towards the end of book it was a guy named Apt, huh? And Apt so loved Berger that he chopped the head of this lady who had disssed Berger in the past...right. Anyway, after reading "Toys" which was outstanding, Tick Tock was more than disappointing. It was gross. I don't enjoy getting into the minds of serial killers anyway. That said, being so impressed with Toys, I was looking forward to a great read. I certainly don't want to read the other books in this series. The main character is more about his sex drive than his adopted kids.

Just when I thought I would give up reading James Patterson, he offered a real good read this time with his recently published book, Tick Tock. While it was very violent it also showed a loving father of 10. Michael Bennett, A NYC detective is a really good character and like Alex Cross has a wonderful family. While his parents are gone, he has a lively grandfather who is a priest - did this late in life-and 10 adopted children of various colors and nationalities. Whis his wife was unable to have children, theyd decided to adopt and didn't seem to stop. But now Maeve is gone, the victim of cancer and Michael is beginning to see the young hired nanny in a different light.

As far as this story goes, it is another example of a psychotic setting bombs and killing people. The twist is that the murderer is copying long ago murders the way they happened years ago,

While the ending was rushed and somewhat predictable, I did enjoy this book and now look forwrad to the next Michael Bennett book the way I look forward to Alex Cross books too.

I think I gave the first book of the Michael Bennett series 1-star. The terrorist plot in the church was silly and the idea of giving him ten kids and a dead wife was downright stupid. Patterson definitely has more misses than hits these days and he churns out books every other week. However, I've always liked the Cross books, and the Women's Murder Club has grown on me. The same is true with the Michael Bennett books. Patterson (and co author) create the same kind of novels with short chapters and bigger than life villains and an absence of detail.

However, TICK TOCK had me interested from page one. Bennett is on vacation with his ten kids, nanny named Mary Catherine, and his deceased wife's father, Father Seamus. A killer is killing people like crazy in NYC and Bennett is given the case. This particular killer is killing by using the methods of old New York City killers, including the Mad Bomber, Son of Sam, and Albert Fish. Berger, the killer, has unlimited resources and a plan to go out in a blaze of glory. Bennett and the NYPD are spinning their wheels and so Bennett calls in FBI agent Emily Parker to consult on the case. Bennett and Parker worked together in the last book and developed a growing friendship.

I'll be honest, the book was above average for because of the romance triangle between Bennett, Parker and Mary Catherine. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. Still, Patterson puts Bennett in the middle of two great women who obviously care about him. I had more fun reading which woman he would choose than finding out how the killer would be caught.

Patterson books are easy to criticize for the way he mass produces them and the obvious flaws many of them have. I've given several of his books one and two stars. I just think Patterson is at his best in these series books. Readers get to know the characters and are able to overlook the flaws in plot that many contain. Keep in mind about half of the one star reviews are griping about Kindle stuff and not actually about the novel.

Didn't care for this, couldn't hold my attention. I could take it or leave it, not in to fiction that much.

Finally, Patterson was able to capture some of the magic of the first novel! The mystery/thriller element of the novel is on par with the best the author has to offer, but, once again, the human side of the story is what makes this a great read. By focussing a generous amount of time on Michael Bennett and his family, Patterson has made me care for his character again. It seems that after several absolute flops, story wise, Patterson has finally regained the spark that made his early novels so enjoyable. I devoured this novel in an afternoon and can't wait to see what happens next to Detective Michael Bennett!