NYPD Red: A maniac killer targets Hollywood’s biggest stars (NYPD Red, 1)

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Wow!! What a ride! I think doing a reread of these series finally and doing the audiobooks on the Libby App, these have been like reading them again for the first time and I realized how much I didn't remember this one if I'm being honest here. But goodness I seriously loved this one like crazy. The story was good, I loved Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald, but mainly Zach even more and was reminded why I loved these characters way too much and wish they were on screen. As if that weren’t enough for the two detectives, they are drawn into a robbery at a high-stakes, private poker game. Could one of the players be involved in the heist? And are Zach’s suspicions about one of the players valid? At the same time, as the body count rises, can Zach and Kylie find the answers they need to capture the murderer and put an end to the killings? In “NYPD Red 6”, the reader is hit with two fast-moving plotlines. First, a famous reality star, Erin Easton, is starring in her own “Wedding of the Century” with Jamie Gibbs, son and heir to his mother’s multimillion-dollar international modeling agency. Their wedding and reception are being filmed by a cable network for airing to her public fans and her longtime manager has everything planned to include every crucial detail. That is until, disaster hits. When changing in her dressing room following the wedding, Erin disappears, leaving behind a bloody wedding gown and signs of a fight. The case is particularly important politically because a mayoral election is scheduled for the next week. The current mayor will lose the election if the case isn't solved before then; on the other hand, his opponent will benefit by delaying the capture of the killer.

This was structured like most of Patterson collaborations where there is a lot of fast-paced action where the leads spend most of their time running around following the clues and distractions left by the bad guys. This one had a lot of twists and turns, most of which you could see coming and a few well-placed ones that you don’t. It also includes some very coincidental, but well-delivered, character development for Zach that was a surprisingly beneficial element that strengthened the storylines. Kudos to Karp for that creative thinking. I thought these were handled pretty well. There were elements of Zach's story that seemed like pretty large coincidences, but if a reader isn't willing to accept a convenient coincidence here and there, it might be time for a new hobby. I do think that story was handled pretty well. It's been a long time since I've read a Red Alert (NYPD, #5). It was overall quite entertaining, and I felt I was among old friends.MARSHALL KARP co-created and co-authored the first six books in the #1 bestselling NYPD Red series with James Patterson. Starting with NYPD Red 7, Marshall will become the sole author of the series, which features Detectives Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan as members of an elite task force dedicated to solving crimes committed against — and sometimes by — New York City’s rich and famous. The action part of this story is pretty fast-paced. Within three days, The Chameleon is able to poison his victim, uses another actor to shoot her co-worker, and throws Molotov bomb with Ryan Seacrest as commentator. It keeps moving ahead without breaks. The same goes for the plot about Kylie's boyfriend and the shooting (and what that suggests about the ongoing story about her now-missing husband). I think this shooting, the investigation, and the resolution was actually the strongest storyline in the novel and Karp developed it well. Especially in the heightened reality of this series, this came across as pretty grounded. At first it seems like just one murder, but as the bodies pile up the NYPD Red team his overdrive to try and solve the crimes.

The first sign of trouble was when the bride, Erin Easton, didn’t return to the reception. Her dressing room was empty, even though the cop guarding the door said she’d gone inside, but her bloodied wedding dress was on the floor. Detective Kylie MacDonald was already on the scene as a guest and called her partner, Detective Zach Jordan, both of NYPD Red and the investigation was immediate. The kidnapper was smart – but could the cops be smarter? And that’s only the beginning. A network of professional assassins is on the loose in New York City. Trained by the US military, they’re on their own now, with a new unit called Kappa Omega Delta. Killers On Demand. Meanwhile, in a probably unrelated incident, Kylie's boyfriend is shot. Officially barred from investigating (and she is front-and-center on a case the media and City Hall are focused on), Kylie is mostly watching this from the sidelines—but manages to help the detectives on the case while worried about his recovery. The book is fast-paced and exciting. It has short chapters, which I adore, and two likeable main characters, even if Zach’s is a little chauvinistic.It's quite possible the serial killers were aliens, too, which is why the Doctor showed up in the first place... he just wanted to get a jump on Torchwood.) So, what is the result of Karp taking over the series? Did it make much of a difference? Let’s see… James Patterson churns out so many books throughout the year that sometimes it's hard to keep up. So far I've not managed to read any of the NYPD Red series. Overall, Karp delivered a tight thriller read that provided a very entertaining escape for two or three evenings. Truth be told, if I had read this book without knowing Patterson’s named was removed, I wouldn’t have noticed any differences. It felt just like their previous six books in the series. I am not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It just is. I am also not sure what this says about Patterson’s involvement in their writing partnership. It’s weird. Patterson steps away and I can’t tell the difference. I am going to stop talking about this now and let you form your own opinion on the matter.

The characters are well-developed; the glimpses into the lifestyles of the uber-rich are intriguing and the obsession expressed toward a celebrity is a well-defined reality. The setting is effective for the telling of the tale; the unfolding narrative takes a fair number of twists and turns before arriving at a surprising revelation that changes everything. No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' Lee Child Meanwhile, Erin and her abductor are hidden away, safe from the prying eyes of any authorities. Things appear to be wrapped in some form of fantasy, where Erin would run away with her abductor and raise children together. This outlandish narrative may be the one things that helps Erin stay alive, as long as she can bide her time and not refuse any of his demands. Still, it will take an act of great courage for Erin to toss off her restraints and return to the man she claims to truly love. I didn't mind the story but I'm not sure I like the characters. Neither of them seemed overly sympathetic and they had a real abrasive way of talking. I think (and I may be wrong) that it's just the New York accent but I'm sure that most New Yorkers don't always sound so harsh. I wanted more variety in the speech, some emotions now and again. In book one we meet a killer who is targeting those in the movie industry. From the beginning, we know who the killer is and why he is killing his victims, which he writes like a movie scene to play out in his head.Marshall Karp nails the core of a gritty on-the-streets crime thriller that couples authentic police procedural elements with an unremitting pace filled with crafty and ingenious twists and turns…NYPD Red 7: Murder Sorority is one of the most energetic and engaging thrillers of the year and it’s one you can’t miss out on. An indisputable must-read. James Patterson could not have passed down the torch to a more suited author than Karp.” Kashif Hussain, Best Thriller Books

Things are now taking a change. Starting with the current outing – “NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority” – the baton has been passed from Patterson to Karp as a solo artist, who is taking over the series as a solo writer. The book cover blurb expressing Patterson’s confidence and approval in Karp taking over the writing comes across as the marketing ploy, but I guess that should be expected.

Publication Order of NYPD Red Books

Okay so after NYPD Red 4 came out January of 2016, and after A LONG TIME of no news of a 5th book because of all the open holes, I was STOKED and so excited to read this 5th book last year when it was announced to come out last March. BUT it changed to the end of March this year and I was PISSED of course. But after waiting a year and two months PLUS an additional month in a half of being on the library hold list for this book, I can say it was worth the wait. The Murder Sorority involves assassins in NYC, the Kappa Omega Delta or K-O-D "Killers On Demand". Apparently, someone hired the KODs to do the deeds when the rich and untouchables got away with murder. When a fellow detective got shot off duty it becomes personal. NYPD Red is one of Patterson’s lesser-known mystery series about two detectives - Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald – who are a special investigative team focused on serving and protecting the rich and elite of New York city. In typical Patterson style, Zach and Kylie were also former lovers coming out of the police academy years ago and Zach has never stopped loving her, even though Kylie has sworn off ever dating a cop again. Because they work so close together, the sexual tension adds to the aura of their working relationship and is optimistically used as a tool to keep the reader’s interest. There are a number of strong secondary characters throughout the piece, including the central victim, Erin Easton. Each plays their role well to keep the story on point and moving forward. The reader is able to see, albeit superficially, how the rich live and what their lifestyles mean to them. There is also an interesting perspective from the abductor’s point of view, as his flights of fancy and long-standing obsession spill into a form of reality that is only truly understood in the latter part of the novel.