private berlin

private berlin
private #5
james patterson & mark sullivan
suspense/thriller
little brown & co.
published 2013

Chris Schneider is a superstar agent at Private Berlin, Germany headquarters for the world's most powerful investigation firm. He keeps his methods secret as he tackles Private's most high-profile cases-and when Chris suddenly disappears, he becomes Private Berlin's most dangerous investigation yet.

Mattie Engel is another top agent at Private Berlin, gorgeous and ruthlessly determined-and she's also Chris's ex. Mattie throws herself headfirst into finding Chris, following leads to the three people Chris was investigating when he vanished: a billionaire suspected of cheating on his wife, a soccer star accused of throwing games, and a nightclub owner with ties to the Russian mob. Any one of them would surely want Chris gone-and one of them is evil enough to want him dead.

Mattie's chase takes her into Berlin's most guarded, hidden, and treacherous places, revealing secrets from Chris's past that she'd never dreamed of in the time they were lovers. On the brink of a terrifying discovery, Mattie holds on to her belief in Chris-in the face of a horror that could force all of Europe to the edge of destruction and chaos.

Another new branch of Private and another set of characters to get to know.  I liked Mattie right off.  She's no nonsense & tough, but she wasn't afraid to be vulnerable or show her emotions.  Everyone was truly just background characters.  Jack Morgan makes an appearance, but his case was boring and completely unnecessary to the story despite the author trying to make it fit.

The one major thing I didn't like about the book is something that I noticed was kind of annoying and over-the-top in Private Games.  Makes sense since it was co-authored by the same author.  He writes these chapters here and there in the killer's voice.  1st person.  I suppose it's supposed to be creepy, but it's just annoying.  And I can't figure out how a person makes a clicking noise in their throat.

I read this one in a couple of hours so it's a definite quick read.  There's another part of this book that's a replica of Private Games, but I won't give it away since it would spoil the ending somewhat!  I guess on my list of James Patterson co-authors, Mark Sullivan's kind of low.