Swimsuit by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

[Murphym]

"Investigating the disappearance of a supermodel during a Hawaii photo shoot, reporter Ben Hawkins hopes to help the victim and gather material for his next best-seller but receives a shocking visit that compels him to make a dangerous deal."

Once opening this blog, a mate in work told me about Swimsuit and kind-heartedly let me borrow it and I am so happy that she did!

I read it over the weekend and although it wasn't the most appropriate hardback to read on a pleasant sunlit Sunday morning, it was truthfully astonishing and sent chills up my spine starting from the very first chapter.

Throughout the earlier parts of the book, I felt like screaming "IT'S HIM, IT'S HIM, IT'S HIM!" but clearly the McDaniel's or Hawkins couldn't hear me and my boyfriend may have thought I had officially mislaid my brains. I truthfully thought I was in a pantomime throughout the earlier chapters. I also felt a bit strange that I got excited after Benoit asked Hawkins to write his tale. I don't know what I was expecting once Hawkins decided to write Benoits story but it wasn't what was in the hardback and so was fairly dissatisfied, it was a grand idea but felt so much more could have been done with it. There were several immense twists and turns that I wasn't expecting in the first part of the book and thought it was exceptional and extremely smart that we knew who the murderer was precisely from the beginning. Near the end though I felt the book had misplaced its edge and thought it would end with a bang but instead it kind of dwindled out. Occasionally I imagine to myself what type of being Patterson is to be able to come up with this strange but luminous story, or might it be Paetro who is the brains behind the sickness!?! Either way Swimsuit is exotically frightening.

Once more a further outstanding read from Patterson and I would advise anybody who hasn't read this to do so, I am so thankful I did!

Thank you,
Michelle

[Fran]

I was a fan of James Patterson but I find since he started to collaborate the quality has seriously deteriorated & I find a great 'sameness' in his recent books. Also I am suspicious of writers who produces books with a speed which IMO is impossible if the writing is to be original.

[Maud Fitch]

I was a fan of James Patterson but I find since he started to collaborate the quality has seriously deteriorated & I find a great 'sameness' in his recent books. Also I am suspicious of writers who produces books with a speed which IMO is impossible if the writing is to be original.

Totally agree with you, Fran!