The police can’t help you …
Former Marine helicopter pilot Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily—and his staff of investigators uses the world’s most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.
The press will destroy you …
Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multimillion dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of eighteen schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend’s wife, Jack’s former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private’s resources to tracking down her killer.
Only one place to turn: Private …
But Jack doesn’t have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson’s sleekest, most exciting thriller ever.
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"I really enjoy a quick read with exceptionally short chapters. This one is full of great characters and exciting action. One of my favorite lines is, "He was holding a weapon that could turn a person into a colander in seconds." You don't want to mess with that guy."
— Mick (4 out of 5 stars)
“The prolific Patterson seems unstoppable.”
— USA Today, praise for the author“James Patterson knows how to sell thrills and suspense in clean, unwavering prose.”
— People, praise for the author“America’s #1 storyteller.”
— Forbes, praise for the author“Private mixes action, mystery, and personal drama…Patterson and Paetro may well be on their way to rivaling—and possibly surpassing—the popularity of their Women’s Murder Club series.”
— BookReporter.com" Not what I've come to expect from a James Patterson novel. The storyline was lackluster and the ending was uneventful. However, the story was compelling enough to keep reading to the end. "
— Jonathan, 2/14/2014" Blah, quick read on a plane ride without another book to turn to and abandon this pulp mill tragedy. Kinda guilty read, a comfortable story line, no complications between good and evil and a flawed but likable lead character. I'm very happy this book was free. "
— Howie, 2/13/2014" thrilling, just the way it should be "
— Vincent, 2/10/2014" Glad this was a fast read because it didn't have the "old James Patterson" feel to it at all. Jack's given 15 million dollars from his father (who's in prison) from an offshore account. He opens "Private Investigations" for famous wealthy clients. He & his employees deal with a 2 yr investigation of the serial murders of high school girls, a NFL scandal and the death of his best friends wife. Of course the Mob is involved in the stories too! "
— Dixie, 2/1/2014" Great book! Patterson has so many twists and turns in his stories that I never know what to expect. "
— Lydia, 1/30/2014" I stopped reading it. Just not my cup of tea. Too much happening, too fast, two or three page chapters, characters that I really don't care about..... "
— Karen, 1/12/2014" This is a good read - there are good guys and bad guys - there are several mysteries that need to be solved and there are friendships that are put to the test. The pace of this book is well done. "
— Johnnie, 1/11/2014" Interesting read. Believe this is the first in a series. Characters were interesting and hopefully there will be more books to go further into character development. 3 different mysteries were covered at the same time. "
— Sandra, 1/11/2014" i actually listened to this and it was very entertaining. "
— Angie, 1/9/2014" I obviously like James Patterson, period! "
— Vicki, 12/19/2013" Could be the start of another good series for James Patterson "
— Jason, 12/13/2013" This was a decent read -- not great, but ok. I guess I prefer original Patterson, before he started collaborating with other writers. "
— Irene, 11/12/2013" I enjoyed the character development, and interactions of the characters. Will continue to read the series. I like this Jack Morgan dude. "
— Marilee, 11/9/2013" Fast read........little bit of goofy ending. "
— Terry, 11/6/2013" same as the rest of the series, i'm just not thrilled with this set. "
— John, 4/30/2013" I don't think James Patterson wrote any part of this. I could be wrong but it just doesn't seem to be the writing I've come to expect from him. "
— Bookloverdojc, 12/20/2012" Okay. Just think far too many books are being churned out by James Patterson with similar predicable formula. Prefer the earlier Alex Cross books. "
— Dawn, 10/13/2012" Maxine Paetro does a good imitation of Patterson's concised style, but she is not quite there yet. An okay read. "
— big, 10/3/2012" Entertaining and quick good summer read. "
— Tyra, 5/1/2012" PI Jack Morgan working on 3 cases. Best friends wife was murdered, Uncles NFL team threatened by crooked ref's and a group killing school girls. "
— Joyce, 2/22/2012" a good book i like all his books "
— Serena, 1/21/2012" I liked how this book mixed the present with the past and how it jumped from case to case as the Private team solved three differant cases at once. "
— Roni, 11/13/2011" Not a good one at all. I usually don't report such a negative review, but it was just blah. I did not even finish it. That hurts when a kindle book cost about $12.99 and you don't even want to finish it "
— Renee, 8/1/2011" I have read some of the scathing reviews and I can see their point. It was difficult to like and I have enjoyed other Patterson books but, not this one. Also, I listened to this book and the narrator, Horrible! Anyway, I don't think I will continue on with this series. "
— Zachary, 7/17/2011" Pleasant vacation read! Fast plot and glad the psychos were caught in the end! "
— Jodi, 7/13/2011" Can never go wrong with a James Patterson! "
— Honeybee, 5/23/2011" As always just love James Patterson, grat fast moving novel. "
— Faye, 5/23/2011" Quick read after two "heavy" books "
— Donni, 5/20/2011" Loved this book. So easy to read. Looking forward to the next instalment in this mini series. "
— Claire, 5/20/2011" It seems as if there is a new series on the horizon. It was slower paced than the standard Patterson series, but I think it's character / story line establishment for a new rolling series. I look forward to future installments. "
— Angela, 5/10/2011" Loved it. A great start to new series. I liked how there were multiple cases at the same time. "
— Stacey, 5/3/2011" This book was good. But a lot to keep up and follow and a lot of characters . But as always James Patterson has written a great book "
— Gina, 4/24/2011" Not really very good. I couldn't connect with the characters. They were all rich... and flat. There was no suspense. I finished the book because it was a quick read and really just because I felt like I "should". "
— Stacy, 4/20/2011" Yet another new series for super prolific author James Patterson. Definitely different than Cross, and not just because of location, but still a good, fun read. "
— Sarah, 4/18/2011" A private investigation company Private is run by Jack Morgan ....they take on three cases to solve and with his staff of investigators they solve them all. A very quick read. "
— Betty, 4/15/2011" I liked this new character and story line. "
— Kathy, 4/13/2011" I liked this book and it was the perfect vacation read as the story kept my mind off having to wait forever and waste away my time. I read it in one setting only to discover it is the beginning of a series, just what I need. <br/> "
— Swanbender2001, 4/11/2011" Fast easy read. Very normal for James Patterson "
— Molly, 4/11/2011James 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 Effing Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Princess Diana, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson, and received an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Maxine Paetro is the author of several novels and works of nonfiction and the coauthor of numerous books with James Patterson. She lives in New York with her husband.
Peter Hermann is an American actor and writer. He is fluent in four languages and has appeared in numerous films and television shows. He is married to actress Mariska Hargitay, who he met when he appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. They have three children.