Swimsuit

Crime Fiction maestro James Patterson s immensely popular Alex Cross series was perhaps in need of a shot in the arm, as even his aficionados admitted. A new, non-Alex Cross series seemed to recharge the author s batteries, with Lindsay Boxer, the sole woman homicide inspector in San Francisco, making a mark as a strong new Patterson protagonist. But the real reason for Patterson s continuing ability to keep himself both inventive and productive has been his impressive marshalling of a cadre of co-writers with whom he works on keeping the army of Patterson admirers happy by a jaw-dropping output. Swimsuit is the latest such portmanteau outing, with Maxine Paetro melding her own style invisibly with that of her better-known writing companion. The result is one of the most striking novels to bear the Patterson imprimatur.

A strikingly attractive swimsuit model, Kim McDaniels, goes missing at a photoshoot with the backdrop of an upscale hotel in Hawaii. Shortly after she vanishes, her distressed parents receive a shocking phone call one that forces them to take the next available flight to Hawaii in a frantic effort to find their missing daughter. LA Times reporter Ben Hawkins is assigned to the case, and finds himself drawing on his experience as an ex-cop particularly as the futile efforts of the local police are proving distinctly underwhelming. Ben may have his biggest scoop but will it be at the expense of a young woman's life?

As always with James Patterson (solo or with co-author), the page-turning expertise is calculated to take the breath away as is the narrative itself. Fasten your safety belts --Barry Forshaw