Jack Mullen and his younger brother Peter grew up within spitting distance of the Hamptons in New York. Jack was no stranger to the multi-million-dollar homes of millionaires who had vacation houses on the ocean. His girlfriend's father owned one in Amagansett worth over $40 million and threw an annual get-together for friends and close associates to the tune of $200,000 a pop.
Jack and Peter knew the area, including the house, intimately. Jack dated the owner's daughter. Peter worked as a temporary for the valet service and parked cars for the parties, among other odd jobs.
It wasn't until Peter's battered and bruised body washed ashore the morning after the latest party that both of their lives took a drastic change. Jack lost his only brother, and Peter -- well, Peter was dead. The police called it an accidental drowning. Jack's and Peter's friends soon figured out otherwise. They knew it was murder, no matter what the police ruled. By the time the law got around to an inquest, money and threats of murder had intervened as well.
Only the foolish would go up against the wealth, power and influence of the upper crust involved in this incident. Only the fearless would tackle the police who were the pawns of those who held the true power. Only a bright young law student like Jack and his cronies, who believed in justice and fairness, would set out to accomplish the impossible.
James Patterson's unique writing style has been described as a "rapid-fire, in-your-face, you-better-keep-reading-or-else format."
"The Beach House" is precisely that.
Patterson ranks so high on contemporary best-seller lists that it has been estimated he earns royalties on one out of every 15 hardcover books published in the United States. He's that popular. He does stick to a proven formula in his writing, and he works with collaborators in order to turn out as many books each year as he does. His chapters are short. So are his paragraphs, sentences and words. Nevertheless, his books keep readers and listeners coming back for more.
When it comes to book collaborator Peter De Jonge, who worked with Patterson on "The Beach House," Patterson has called De Jongue a "much better wordsmith" than he is.
James Patterson and Peter de Jonge are the authors of "Beach Road" in addition to "The Beach House." De Jongue previously worked for the Associated Press and was a contributing reporter for the New York Times Magazine.
"Jack arrives at the station for the weekend at home on Long Island and is greeted by a crowd telling him his younger brother is dead. He knows it was murder, but it's being covered up as an accident or suicide. Another book I couldn't put down until finished.
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Nana (5 out of 5 stars)