Worst Case by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

This is the 3rd book in the series featuring NYPD Detective Michael Bennett.  He and his wife had adopted 10 children of various ethnic origins during their marriage and in the first book of this series Step On A Crack, she dies after a battle with cancer.  Now he has his grandfather, who is an actual Father (a minister) and a nanny his wife's family sent to help after her death to keep things in order on the home front, but things are always out of control for Bennett at work. 

The case in this edition is a tough one, someone is kidnapping children of high profile parents but he doesn't want money, he wants to teach a lesson.  He gives each kidnap victim a test they can't pass and the grade for failing is death.  With each death more pressure is put on the NYPD from the press, the mayor and the public.  FBI agent Emily Parker, a top Abduction Specialist  is brought in the help close the case, but the mastermind behind the kidnapping changes his routine and asks for money.  This changes everything and all of New York could be at risk.

 

I read all three books in the series last week, albeit in the wrong order, (read book 2 before book 1) but it didn't matter, these books are thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, with loving family moments interspersed, and a little romantic tension thrown in.  I often wonder how two writers collaborate together, but in this series I feel one must be writing the crime part and the other the family chapters, and they are blended seamlessly together.  James Patterson is one of my favorite authors and he never disappoints. I can't believe I let the first two books sit in my To-Be-Read pile so long, that was a "crime".


 FTC Disclosure:  All three books were from by personal collection.