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Michael Bennett #1
Step on a Crack
Patterson and Ledwidge introduce a new hero in an exciting thriller set in the heart of Manhattan. NYPD detective Michael Bennett is concentrating on getting his family through a particularly difficult Christmas: he and his 10 adopted children are facing the loss to cancer of his brave wife, Maeve. But a major crisis calls him away: the funeral of a former First Lady at St. Patrick's Cathedral goes horribly awry when men storm the church and take hundreds of attendees hostage. Michael is asked to try to reason with a sinister man named Jack. Jack releases all but the most famous people, and makes his demands: he wants several million dollars from each celebrity hostage, including the mayor, a popular comedic actor, a beloved talk show host, and a pop starlet. Once Jack starts killing, Michael realizes he's up against a truly diabolical foe. Patterson has a knack for creating genuinely likable heroes, and Michael fits the bill. As readers rapidly turn the pages to learn how the tense hostage drama plays out, they will also be sympathizing with Michael as he faces the agonizing loss of his wife. Totally gripping and downright impossible to put down, this is a promising start to a potential new series.
383 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2007
4,814 people are currently reading
21.1k people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
1,160books352kfollowersJames 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 Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,403 reviews
May 5, 2016
writes good books and he writes very good books and this is one of the latter. I really enjoyed meeting Michael Bennett and his large family and was very happy indeed to find that this is the first in quite a long series! Many people criticise the author for his short chapters but I find that they bring a sense of urgency to the book which is quite in keeping with the genre. I also feel that short, choppy chapters make reading easy and speedy. is written as a police procedural and I like the way everyone, including the main character, does their job in the proper way and no one rushes blindly into a dangerous situation. Very enjoyable indeed and I will be working my way through the the whole series in due course?
December 14, 2021
This is an excellent introduction to a new character and a great start to a new series.
Michael Bennett, NYPD officer, has his hands full with his wife terminally ill in a cancer hospice and their ten adorable adopted children to care for, when he is called in as a hostage negotiator for a high profile kidnapping. A funeral for an ex-first lady in the city's cathedral has attracted a lot of celebrities and politicians. They suddenly find themselves hostages when a group of armed men dressed as monks appear and seal up the cathedral. The men are well organised and ruthless and its clear they are not leaving until they get what they're asking for. Bennett is puzzled as to how they expect to leave and make a clean getaway with New York's finest surrounding the cathedral and all exit roads. It makes for a tense thriller with a great ending.
Michael Bennett, NYPD officer, has his hands full with his wife terminally ill in a cancer hospice and their ten adorable adopted children to care for, when he is called in as a hostage negotiator for a high profile kidnapping. A funeral for an ex-first lady in the city's cathedral has attracted a lot of celebrities and politicians. They suddenly find themselves hostages when a group of armed men dressed as monks appear and seal up the cathedral. The men are well organised and ruthless and its clear they are not leaving until they get what they're asking for. Bennett is puzzled as to how they expect to leave and make a clean getaway with New York's finest surrounding the cathedral and all exit roads. It makes for a tense thriller with a great ending.
November 27, 2012
James Patterson introduces us to a new character with STEP ON A CRACK, NYPD Homicide Detective Michael Bennett. A former hostage negotiator, Bennett finds himself once again dealing with psychopaths when the celebrities attending former First Lady Caroline Hopkins' funeral are held hostage.
I have to say that the actual meat of the story, the hijacking of St. Patrick's church and its funeral-attending creme de la creme of society, was an intriguing storyline. What weighed the story down, at least for me, was that fact that Michael Bennett wasn't a character I could easily relate to.
It isn't the fact that his wife, Maeve, is dying of cancer, or even that they have ten adopted children. It's not Maeve's seemingly long-lost cousin, Mary Catherine, who shows up out of the blue to serve as the couple's au pair. It's not even Michael's grandfather, the crusty yet heart-of-gold Irish priest. No, the problem is that all of these characters, who could have made the story emotional and heartbreaking, seem to do nothing more than serve as filler.
The ten children are interchangeable. Mary Catherine could be nominated for the sainthood. And Seamus, the grandfather, could be any number of wise-cracking old codgers from one of today's sitcoms.
I'll read the next Bennett book when it comes out, mostly out of the hope that the secondary storyline will be as compelling as the main plot. We'll have to see. For fans of Patterson, this is one you'll want to read, but I'd advise checking it out from the library before plunking down the cold hard cash to purchase it in hardcover.
I have to say that the actual meat of the story, the hijacking of St. Patrick's church and its funeral-attending creme de la creme of society, was an intriguing storyline. What weighed the story down, at least for me, was that fact that Michael Bennett wasn't a character I could easily relate to.
It isn't the fact that his wife, Maeve, is dying of cancer, or even that they have ten adopted children. It's not Maeve's seemingly long-lost cousin, Mary Catherine, who shows up out of the blue to serve as the couple's au pair. It's not even Michael's grandfather, the crusty yet heart-of-gold Irish priest. No, the problem is that all of these characters, who could have made the story emotional and heartbreaking, seem to do nothing more than serve as filler.
The ten children are interchangeable. Mary Catherine could be nominated for the sainthood. And Seamus, the grandfather, could be any number of wise-cracking old codgers from one of today's sitcoms.
I'll read the next Bennett book when it comes out, mostly out of the hope that the secondary storyline will be as compelling as the main plot. We'll have to see. For fans of Patterson, this is one you'll want to read, but I'd advise checking it out from the library before plunking down the cold hard cash to purchase it in hardcover.
March 14, 2009
I found this book to be highly unbelievable. What busy detective is going to have ten adopted children!? How odd that the former first lady is murdered and at her funeral terrorists see this as an opportunity to strike. And at the same time his wife loses her battle with a deadly disease, leaving him with all the children and a high-profile case. This story is too cliché and predictable. We barely get into the depth of the characters and there seem to be plot holes.
The insanely short chapters made me feel like I was reading a play rather than a novel. It seems to me that the strain of producing so many books a year is causing Mr. Patterson to be lazy in his work. Simply churning out books for profit, rather than genuine storytelling.
I’ve not given up on James Patterson though, as I have been told his Experiment novels are much better than this crime dramas. Perhaps I will have better luck there, but I’m sure this is the last of his murder mysteries I will read. Die-hard Patterson fans will no doubt love this, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
The insanely short chapters made me feel like I was reading a play rather than a novel. It seems to me that the strain of producing so many books a year is causing Mr. Patterson to be lazy in his work. Simply churning out books for profit, rather than genuine storytelling.
I’ve not given up on James Patterson though, as I have been told his Experiment novels are much better than this crime dramas. Perhaps I will have better luck there, but I’m sure this is the last of his murder mysteries I will read. Die-hard Patterson fans will no doubt love this, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
January 19, 2018
Loved it! So glad to have started this series. The story was so intriguing. I couldn't not have been more thrilled with the opening book to this series. I loved the characters, the plots were entertaining, and the emotional ramifications of Michael and Maeve were beautifully devastating.
My quick and simple overall: stayed up until after 3 am to finish it in one sitting because it was so good!
My quick and simple overall: stayed up until after 3 am to finish it in one sitting because it was so good!
August 12, 2015
This was a fast moving crime thriller with a tender backstory. A large group of VIP's are taken hostage during the funeral of an ex president's wife. Mike is a police negotiator who's wife is seriously ill and in the hospital with Cancer. When no one else is available he is ordered by his superior to hadle the kidnappers demands. Each of the hostages are terrorized into revealing all of their financial information. Millions are to be transferred to an account that can't be followed, but Mike's big question is, why they think there is any possibility of escape.
An interesting premiss with very relatable characters and solid, smart writing. John Slattery and Reg Rogers do an excellent job narrating. Both of their voices were perfect for the characters. A great Daily Deal.
An interesting premiss with very relatable characters and solid, smart writing. John Slattery and Reg Rogers do an excellent job narrating. Both of their voices were perfect for the characters. A great Daily Deal.
June 7, 2021
Uma leitura rápida com um protagonista simpático. Uma história de ação e de bons e maus. Entreteve.
#circulalivros
Obrigada, Cristina! 😊
#circulalivros
Obrigada, Cristina! 😊
December 1, 2024
Okay, so the schmaltz is real in this book. Patterson must love old black and white Christmas movies. The ones with Irish priests who are fun loving saints, and all the boy needs is a girl, and big families, and carols and glittering Christmas trees. That kind of stuff. The Irish Catholic theme is over the top: Irish wife (Maeve of course) who dedicates her life to others and dies young, 10 kids, Irish mother in law who sends over a young Irish nanny (who’s name is Mary Catherine), kindly curmudgeon of a Grampa (Seamus!) who became a priest after his wife of many decades died (yes you read that right). I mean, wow.
And the over the top action plot! Whoooooooeeeeee! I won’t give it away, but it gives Die Hard a run for the money.
However, if you are looking for pure feel good entertainment (and I am) then you found it.
And the over the top action plot! Whoooooooeeeeee! I won’t give it away, but it gives Die Hard a run for the money.
However, if you are looking for pure feel good entertainment (and I am) then you found it.
April 22, 2018
This is James Patterson's and Michael Ledwidge's first book in the Michael Bennett Series. I'm famous for getting books out of order as my library rarely has them in order. This is a very touching book, and a tough one as the case he is working on is a very hard one, and his wife Maeve is dying of cancer. SNIFF SNIFF.
So as Bennett is pursuing his most diabolical criminal ever to terrify New York City. During a State funeral for a former First Lady in New York City's largest cathedral, the unthinkable occurs. Armed men disguised as monks seize the church and seal themselves inside, along with over one hundred of he most powerful people in America. The captives include world leaders, actors, TV stars, athletes, and politicians. The kidnappers are armed with enough explosives to blow a crater in the middle of Manhattan. NYPD officer Michael Bennett is pulled into the standoff as lead negotiator. Despite the escalating danger, Michael faces an even more terrifying crises at home.
I think this book touched me extra hard, as Maeve dies, and Mike and their 10 kids, his grandfather Shamus, and their new oppare (sp) Mary Catherine from Ireland, I also put my cat down a couple days ago. So I'm sitting here bawling and bawling as I am touched by both stories and experiences so much.
This is a very good way to start this series. I'm hooked and highly recommend.
So as Bennett is pursuing his most diabolical criminal ever to terrify New York City. During a State funeral for a former First Lady in New York City's largest cathedral, the unthinkable occurs. Armed men disguised as monks seize the church and seal themselves inside, along with over one hundred of he most powerful people in America. The captives include world leaders, actors, TV stars, athletes, and politicians. The kidnappers are armed with enough explosives to blow a crater in the middle of Manhattan. NYPD officer Michael Bennett is pulled into the standoff as lead negotiator. Despite the escalating danger, Michael faces an even more terrifying crises at home.
I think this book touched me extra hard, as Maeve dies, and Mike and their 10 kids, his grandfather Shamus, and their new oppare (sp) Mary Catherine from Ireland, I also put my cat down a couple days ago. So I'm sitting here bawling and bawling as I am touched by both stories and experiences so much.
This is a very good way to start this series. I'm hooked and highly recommend.
June 8, 2021
Quando comecei esta leitura, confesso que não esperava grande coisa. Se bem me recordo, decidi lê-lo porque encontrei uma referência a James Patterson (um autor afamado neste género literário) no (livro que gostei, mas não muito...)
Esperava encontrar aqui um policial de acção, construído com a "fórmula habitual", um livro de entretenimento rápido como tantos outros a que se costumam chamar "livros de verão" ou "de aeroporto"(onde incluo também o Sr. Mercedes do Stephen King).
E foi exactamente isso que encontrei, mas com uma diferença, essa um pouco mais inesperada: a de ter gostado bastante! 😁
Achei o enredo bem imaginado e bem conseguido, evidenciando um forte conhecimento sobre Nova Iorque e o seu departamento de polícia, o famoso NYPD.
Achei a escrita muito simples mas muito competente e adequada, que me incutiu enquanto leitora um óptimo ritmo de leitura.
Mas o que realmente gostei mais e aquilo que fez a "fórmula" resultar comigo desta vez, foi a dimensão humana e familiar do protagonista desta história. Essa parte da história, para minha própria "vergonha" e estupefação fez-me mesmo chorar, coisa que é bem raro acontecer-me com livros! Emocionar-me sim, mas chegar mesmo à lágrima foi... enfim, no mínimo constrangedor com este livro 😂.
Enfim a minha vida de leitora tem destas dissonâncias por vezes...faz parte, mas agora com um pouco de distância (uma vez que já foi lido no ano passado) se for bem ao cerne da questão, não será também assim tão dificil de entender. A doença falada neste livro tem atingido cada vez mais pessoas que conheço, e na altura em que o li estava a fazer dois anos que tinha perdido uma amiga próxima para esta doença. Assim, o que o livro despoletou foram também essas emoções e não apenas uma reacção emocional ao seu conteúdo.
Apesar de ter gostado e de ter passado alguns bons, maus (e pelos vistos catárticos 😁) momentos a lê-lo, não fiquei com vontade de continuar a ler esta série ou de regressar à leitura regular deste género literário.
Esperava encontrar aqui um policial de acção, construído com a "fórmula habitual", um livro de entretenimento rápido como tantos outros a que se costumam chamar "livros de verão" ou "de aeroporto"(onde incluo também o Sr. Mercedes do Stephen King).
E foi exactamente isso que encontrei, mas com uma diferença, essa um pouco mais inesperada: a de ter gostado bastante! 😁
Achei o enredo bem imaginado e bem conseguido, evidenciando um forte conhecimento sobre Nova Iorque e o seu departamento de polícia, o famoso NYPD.
Achei a escrita muito simples mas muito competente e adequada, que me incutiu enquanto leitora um óptimo ritmo de leitura.
Mas o que realmente gostei mais e aquilo que fez a "fórmula" resultar comigo desta vez, foi a dimensão humana e familiar do protagonista desta história. Essa parte da história, para minha própria "vergonha" e estupefação fez-me mesmo chorar, coisa que é bem raro acontecer-me com livros! Emocionar-me sim, mas chegar mesmo à lágrima foi... enfim, no mínimo constrangedor com este livro 😂.
Enfim a minha vida de leitora tem destas dissonâncias por vezes...faz parte, mas agora com um pouco de distância (uma vez que já foi lido no ano passado) se for bem ao cerne da questão, não será também assim tão dificil de entender. A doença falada neste livro tem atingido cada vez mais pessoas que conheço, e na altura em que o li estava a fazer dois anos que tinha perdido uma amiga próxima para esta doença. Assim, o que o livro despoletou foram também essas emoções e não apenas uma reacção emocional ao seu conteúdo.
Apesar de ter gostado e de ter passado alguns bons, maus (e pelos vistos catárticos 😁) momentos a lê-lo, não fiquei com vontade de continuar a ler esta série ou de regressar à leitura regular deste género literário.
April 30, 2015
Interior da Catedral de St. Patrick (Nova Iorque)
O Natal está próximo.
Mike Bennett é um detective da polícia de Nova Iorque que tem a sua amada mulher Maeve num hospital a lutar contra um cancro em fase terminal.
Bennett tem que cuidar dos seus dez filhos adoptivos e de Socky "uma gata branca e cinzenta, arisca que Maeve recolhera do caixote do lixo ao lado do nosso prédio na Avenida West End. A minha mulher tinha obviamente um fraquinho por desgraçados e vadios. O facto de ter casado comigo provou-o há muito tempo."
Um acontecimento inesperado � a morte da ex-Primeira-Dama � por envenenamento?
A missa fúnebre decorre na sumptuosa Catedral de St. Patrick, Nova Iorque e estão presentes metade de Hollywood, Wall Street e Washington; mas o “Impecável�, “Jack� e uma dúzia de homens com coletes à prova de bala, pistolas Smith & Wesson de 9 mm, armas paralisantes e espingardas de motim, envergando fatos de monge, com capuzes e máscaras, têm outras intenções � um sequestro de proporções inimagináveis.
Bennett é chamado para liderar a equipa de investigação - mas há muitas questões sem resposta: Quem o teria feito? Quem era capaz de tanta genialidade e brutalidade? Homens com muita determinação, para começar, deduzir; e homens sem medo de recorrer a uma violência extrema como meio para um fim egoísta.� (Pág. 238) ou “Como é que os sequestradores percebiam tanto de tácticas de cerco? E como é que pareciam saber o que nós íamos fazer a seguir?� (Pág. 241)
A dupla James Patterson e Michael Ledwidge escreve um excelente policial com o detective Bennett, que tem que enfrentar dois inimigos implacáveis � a inevitabilidade da perda da sua amada mulher Maeve e Jack, o líder dos sequestradores � num enredo credível, com capítulos curtos, entre uma e três páginas, com excelentes personagens, com diálogos simples e directos, doseando exemplarmente o choque e a crueldade de alguma sequências, o que acaba por conferir uma autenticidade suplementar à narrativa e ao suspense.
June 16, 2019
Epic fail. The best thing that could be said about this book is that it could serve as an invaluable tool for writing teachers demonstrating to their students how NOT to write a novel. It breaks every rule for good writing imaginable; not to mention that everything about Step on a Crack is shallow and unconvincing. The plot. The characters. The drama. The action. The romance. The comedic relief. Everything. How sad that Patterson gets paid by the boatload to pen such dreck. The story comes across as an ill-advised combination of Cheaper By the Dozen and Dog Day Afternoon, as written by a high school kid. Better to stick with Patterson's previous Ledwidge collaboration, The Quickie, which actually gets a few things right and is reasonably entertaining to boot. I give it two stars instead of one simply because at least a few of its 116 chapters were somewhat amusing, and it's a very quick read.
August 13, 2019
Against my better judgement, I kinda liked it. Both the Michael Bennett character and the celebrity hostage plot are fairly under-baked but it's almost admirable how the book just plows forward regardless, sporting this 'you're either along for the ride or you're gonna hate every page of this' attitude. While part of me wishes there was a bit more nuance and complexity here, another part of me feels like that defeats the purpose of the book and underestimates the value in its scaled-down A-to-B linearity. It's easy to overlook the simple pleasures of a straightforward scenario stockpiled with characters brandishing their melodramatic emotions without any regard toward a higher calling.
August 3, 2011
Hmmmmmm. Where to begin? The shallow character descriptions? Early on we are introduced to "The Neat Man", but then we find no reason for his nickname other than an obsession for baby wipes. How did he get that way, I wondered in my naivety? The answer was deemed irrelevant so not let's dwell on it. In fact best not to dwell on anything too long, after all the author didn't. A measly 70,000 words or so and a whopping one hundred and sixteen chapters. The sparcity was generously spread around. Following a standard cops and kidnappers escapade, there is an impossible escape scene in Chapter 97, which is described in 600 words. A secondary kidnap scene is instigated, and then resolved, in Chapter 112 and takes 650 words - the resolution is initiated "when something completely unexpected happened" - oh really? In the next chapter "it turned out" (yes those exact words were used) that two of the baddies had done something else implausible. And finally, just when I thought that things couldn't be explained in a more dismissive manner, in Chapter 116 we learn that "we still needed to figure out exactly how they stored [something..] in the [somewhere..], not that it really mattered." Yes, once again those were the exact words: not that it really mattered. Certainly it doesn't matter to me - I won't be reading any more tosh like this again.
August 29, 2008
Well, once again another James Patterson book, but not belonging to any series. Amazing how a detective in downtown NYC can still solve a major mystery involving a hostage situation over Christmas, with a dying wife and 10 kids can hold it together. I'd like to get some advice from this character, since I feel like I can barely handle my stay at home life with four kids.....
August 16, 2024
A first-rate suspense! Not many writers keep readers on the edge of our seats. The character, Michael Bennett, is compelling and swashbuckling as any reader will find. A highly recommended novel.
January 20, 2012
The first of the series pertaining to top Nypd detective Michael Bennett. I had read Tick Tock prior to this and found out whilst reading the inner book cover that it was the latest in a series featuring Bennett. I'm so glad i took a chance with purchasing my first Patterson novel 'Toys' as this guy is now in my list of top fave authors. I wonder in amazement how this guy can bang out as many books as he does and they are all so freakin good? Step On A Crack is no different as i was on the edge of my seat throughout this very intriguing page turner. Top Nypd detective Michael Bennett is introduced here along with his ailing wife Maeve who is hospitalized due to termanal cancer and their 10 adopted children from various nationalities. The Christmas hilidays are here and as all the citizens of N.Y. rush home with their gifts and prepare for their indivdual festivities, the Bennetts are struggling to keep happy faces as their mother is in hospital with not very much time to live. Michael whilst dealing with this personal trauma gets pulled into a hijacking/hostage scenerio as some very bad individuals during the first lady's funeral take over St Patrick's Cathedral that is packed with the whose who of the weathiest of people from all forms of employment. Actors, politicians and various other wealthy individuals. We watch as Bennett who has been name the chief negotiator to this case can balance all this and his home life without blowing everything.
A great page turner that i accomplished in no less then 3 days as i usually do with all of Patterson's reads. Even though his works are immense i am now working my way rapidly through the collection and cannot wait till the next read.>>>
A great page turner that i accomplished in no less then 3 days as i usually do with all of Patterson's reads. Even though his works are immense i am now working my way rapidly through the collection and cannot wait till the next read.>>>
May 7, 2020
Another formulaic page turning thriller, introducing James Patterson's Michael Bennett, a hostage negotiator, who is tasked with going to the dramatic hostage taking of celebrities, the rich and the famous at the funeral of the very recently killed, First Lady! A good drama and interesting premise, but the final resolution is very much a let-down. 5 out of 12
November 13, 2016
"Step On A Crack" is the first in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson. Unfortunately for me I have read some of these out of order and wish I had read this one first as it covers Michaels wife and her death, which features strongly emotionally in the future books, and the introduction of Mary Catherine. I do find the many children rather irritating, but this story is very strong, sometimes violent but with a good plot and a twist I didn't see coming. Michaels private life was very emotional and I felt it was handled very sympathetically. I find the quick paced, short chapters easy to read and you end up flying through the the story.
I do prefer the Alex Cross series and the standalone thrillers written with co writers but I will continue to read this series and would highly recommend this book.
I do prefer the Alex Cross series and the standalone thrillers written with co writers but I will continue to read this series and would highly recommend this book.
September 24, 2023
3.75 stars
May 20, 2022
Lê-se num sopro. Capítulos curtos, acção rápida apesar de intercalar com a vida familiar do personagem principal. Óptimo para tirar de um slump.
April 21, 2019
Ο Μάικλ Μπένετ, αστυνομικός της Νέας Υόρκης που δουλεύει στο Τμήμα Ανθρωποκτονιών, καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει μια πρωτοφανή υπόθεση ομηρείας: στην κηδεία της Πρώτης Κυρίας των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών παρέστησαν πλούσιοι, διάσημοι και ισχυροί καλεσμένοι, που όλοι τώρα κρατούνται όμηροι στην εκκλησία του Αγίου Πατρικίου. Ποιος έχει οργανώσει αυτό το ασύλληπτο σε μέγεθος σχέδιο και τι ζητάει; Θα καταφέρει ο Μπένετ να σώσει τους ομήρους, ξέροντας πως η κοινή γνώμη αλλά και οι ανώτεροί του περιμένουν ένα του λάθος για να τον κατασπαράξουν; Πώς θα μπορέσει να εξισορροπήσει την επαγγελματική με την προσωπική του ζωή, όταν η σύζυγός του αργοπεθαίνει από καρκίνο;
Το «Παιχνίδι με τη φωτιά» («Step on a crack» όπως είναι ο πρωτότυπος τίτλος) είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς με ήρωα τον Μάικλ Μπένετ, έναν άνθρωπο που ξεκίνησε ως διαπραγματευτής απελευθέρωσης ομήρων και στη συνέχεια μετατέθηκε στο Ανθρωποκτονιών. Είναι παντρεμένος με τη Μέιβ κι έχουν υιοθετήσει ούτε λίγο ούτε πολύ δέκα παιδιά! Στην πρώτη του υπόθεση λοιπόν βλέπουμε αυτό το αρχικά ευτυχισμένο εν όψει των Χριστουγέννων οικογενειακό περιβάλλον με τις δυσκολίες και τα προβλήματα της καθημερινότητας ενώ ταυτόχρονα υπάρχουν καταιγιστικές εξελίξεις στο περιστατικό της ομηρείας. Δεν έχουμε κάτι άλλο πέρα από μια συναρπαστική περιπέτεια με ανατροπές, καλά οργανωμένο σχέδιο και ανθρωποκυνηγητό, όχι φυσικά χωρίς ενστάσεις από μεριάς μου, με έναν καλά δομημένο πρωταγωνιστικό χαρακτήρα και ένα ερωτηματικό ως προς την πραγματική ταυτότητα του «εγκεφάλου» της ομηρείας να μας κρατά σε αγωνία ως το τέλος. Η όλη ιστορία δείχνει στους αναγνώστες πόσο εύκολα μπορούν να ταπεινωθούν άνθρωποι κατ� επίφασιν ισχυροί, πάμπλουτοι, κακομαθημένοι, απρόσιτοι και να απεκδυθούν απ� τη λάμψη που τους χαρίζει το σταριλίκι. Οι σκηνές με τους ομήρους μέσα στην εκκλησία δείχνουν ακριβώς αυτό, την ταπείνωση που υφίστανται και πώς άλλαξε ο απρόσβλητος κόσμος τους μέσα σε δευτερόλεπτα.
Σε προσωπικό επίπεδο, ξεπέρασα σχετικά γρήγορα την έκπληξη που μου προξένησε ο υπερβολικός αριθμός των παιδιών του Μπένετ, μιας και το καθένα ανέλαβε έναν ρόλο μέσα στην οικογένεια όσο νοσηλεύεται η μητέρα τους. Οι αγκαλιές, τα χαμόγελα, οι ώρες αγωνίας για το αν θα επιζήσει η μητέρα καταγράφονταν αρκετά συχνά, θυμίζοντάς μου τις ίδιες στιγμές που ζούσε και ο Άλεξ Κρος με τα δικά του παιδιά στην άλλη επιτυχημένη σειρά βιβλίων του James Patterson, επομένως τις σελίδες τις προσπέρναγα χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη. Τα πράγματα χειροτέρευαν όσο πλησιάζανε τα Χριστούγεννα και πραγματικά αναρωτιέμαι γιατί δεν κατάφεραν οι συγγραφείς να με κρατήσουν κοντά στην τραγωδία που ζούσαν τα μέλη της οικογένειας Μπένετ.
Ως προς τον κύριο κορμό της ιστορίας, μου άρεσε το σχέδιο ομηρείας, ο ναός του Αγίου Πατρικίου κατεγράφη σχεδόν σε όλες του τις λεπτομέρειες και κάθε γωνιά του χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την πλοκή, υπήρξαν ανατροπές στη διαδικασία, συγκεντρώθηκε ένα τεράστιο χρηματικό ποσόν που κ��τατέθηκε μέσω εταιρειών-φαντάσματα σε απομακρυσμένους λογαριασμούς και φυσικά μια περιπετειώδη σκηνή καταδίωξης. Δε μου άρεσαν όμως τα εξής: όταν πέφτει στη θάλασσα ένα αμάξι, οι πόρτες δεν ανοίγουν όση δύναμη κι αν βάλεις λόγω της πίεσης του νερού (εδώ όμως οι πόρτες άνοιγαν πανεύκολα), δεν είναι δυνατόν να βασανίζεις τον εαυτό σου καίγοντας τα δακτυλικά σου αποτυπώματα για να μη σε αναγνωρίσουν χωρίς να ξέρεις πως τα μαλλιά σου μια χαρά δουλειά κάνουν και τέλος που όλα οδηγήθηκαν στη λύση και την αποκάλυψη μέσα από μια τυχαία πληροφορία!
Το «Παιχνίδι με τη φωτιά» είναι μια ανατρεπτική περιπέτεια απαγωγής και καταδίωξης που μας συστήνει έναν νέο ήρωα από το σύμπαν του James Patterson, τον Μάικλ Μπένετ, με τη δική του οικογενειακή τραγωδία.
Το «Παιχνίδι με τη φωτιά» («Step on a crack» όπως είναι ο πρωτότυπος τίτλος) είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς με ήρωα τον Μάικλ Μπένετ, έναν άνθρωπο που ξεκίνησε ως διαπραγματευτής απελευθέρωσης ομήρων και στη συνέχεια μετατέθηκε στο Ανθρωποκτονιών. Είναι παντρεμένος με τη Μέιβ κι έχουν υιοθετήσει ούτε λίγο ούτε πολύ δέκα παιδιά! Στην πρώτη του υπόθεση λοιπόν βλέπουμε αυτό το αρχικά ευτυχισμένο εν όψει των Χριστουγέννων οικογενειακό περιβάλλον με τις δυσκολίες και τα προβλήματα της καθημερινότητας ενώ ταυτόχρονα υπάρχουν καταιγιστικές εξελίξεις στο περιστατικό της ομηρείας. Δεν έχουμε κάτι άλλο πέρα από μια συναρπαστική περιπέτεια με ανατροπές, καλά οργανωμένο σχέδιο και ανθρωποκυνηγητό, όχι φυσικά χωρίς ενστάσεις από μεριάς μου, με έναν καλά δομημένο πρωταγωνιστικό χαρακτήρα και ένα ερωτηματικό ως προς την πραγματική ταυτότητα του «εγκεφάλου» της ομηρείας να μας κρατά σε αγωνία ως το τέλος. Η όλη ιστορία δείχνει στους αναγνώστες πόσο εύκολα μπορούν να ταπεινωθούν άνθρωποι κατ� επίφασιν ισχυροί, πάμπλουτοι, κακομαθημένοι, απρόσιτοι και να απεκδυθούν απ� τη λάμψη που τους χαρίζει το σταριλίκι. Οι σκηνές με τους ομήρους μέσα στην εκκλησία δείχνουν ακριβώς αυτό, την ταπείνωση που υφίστανται και πώς άλλαξε ο απρόσβλητος κόσμος τους μέσα σε δευτερόλεπτα.
Σε προσωπικό επίπεδο, ξεπέρασα σχετικά γρήγορα την έκπληξη που μου προξένησε ο υπερβολικός αριθμός των παιδιών του Μπένετ, μιας και το καθένα ανέλαβε έναν ρόλο μέσα στην οικογένεια όσο νοσηλεύεται η μητέρα τους. Οι αγκαλιές, τα χαμόγελα, οι ώρες αγωνίας για το αν θα επιζήσει η μητέρα καταγράφονταν αρκετά συχνά, θυμίζοντάς μου τις ίδιες στιγμές που ζούσε και ο Άλεξ Κρος με τα δικά του παιδιά στην άλλη επιτυχημένη σειρά βιβλίων του James Patterson, επομένως τις σελίδες τις προσπέρναγα χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη. Τα πράγματα χειροτέρευαν όσο πλησιάζανε τα Χριστούγεννα και πραγματικά αναρωτιέμαι γιατί δεν κατάφεραν οι συγγραφείς να με κρατήσουν κοντά στην τραγωδία που ζούσαν τα μέλη της οικογένειας Μπένετ.
Ως προς τον κύριο κορμό της ιστορίας, μου άρεσε το σχέδιο ομηρείας, ο ναός του Αγίου Πατρικίου κατεγράφη σχεδόν σε όλες του τις λεπτομέρειες και κάθε γωνιά του χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την πλοκή, υπήρξαν ανατροπές στη διαδικασία, συγκεντρώθηκε ένα τεράστιο χρηματικό ποσόν που κ��τατέθηκε μέσω εταιρειών-φαντάσματα σε απομακρυσμένους λογαριασμούς και φυσικά μια περιπετειώδη σκηνή καταδίωξης. Δε μου άρεσαν όμως τα εξής: όταν πέφτει στη θάλασσα ένα αμάξι, οι πόρτες δεν ανοίγουν όση δύναμη κι αν βάλεις λόγω της πίεσης του νερού (εδώ όμως οι πόρτες άνοιγαν πανεύκολα), δεν είναι δυνατόν να βασανίζεις τον εαυτό σου καίγοντας τα δακτυλικά σου αποτυπώματα για να μη σε αναγνωρίσουν χωρίς να ξέρεις πως τα μαλλιά σου μια χαρά δουλειά κάνουν και τέλος που όλα οδηγήθηκαν στη λύση και την αποκάλυψη μέσα από μια τυχαία πληροφορία!
Το «Παιχνίδι με τη φωτιά» είναι μια ανατρεπτική περιπέτεια απαγωγής και καταδίωξης που μας συστήνει έναν νέο ήρωα από το σύμπαν του James Patterson, τον Μάικλ Μπένετ, με τη δική του οικογενειακή τραγωδία.
November 15, 2017
There’s nothing more upsetting than realizing the people committing the crime may be someone you know very well. This story was heart wrenching because Detective Bennett had a major personal life crisis going on at home but had to deal with a hostage situation at his job.
Michael Bennett is a warm, charismatic, down-to-earth guy who is also a detective for the NYPD and very good at his job. At home he’s the father of 10 kids and a loving husband and let’s not forget his Irish brogue grandfather, Shamus.
The plot thickens each time you turn the page. The cynical but witty communication between Detective Bennett and the kidnapper is composed excellently. The skills to show him as a tough cop as well as a loving husband and father was welll scripted. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together slowly is what pulls the reader into the story and exceptionally inputting the kidnappers into the story never revealing anything about them until near the end of the story; amazed and flabbergasted.
Michael Bennett is a warm, charismatic, down-to-earth guy who is also a detective for the NYPD and very good at his job. At home he’s the father of 10 kids and a loving husband and let’s not forget his Irish brogue grandfather, Shamus.
The plot thickens each time you turn the page. The cynical but witty communication between Detective Bennett and the kidnapper is composed excellently. The skills to show him as a tough cop as well as a loving husband and father was welll scripted. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together slowly is what pulls the reader into the story and exceptionally inputting the kidnappers into the story never revealing anything about them until near the end of the story; amazed and flabbergasted.
May 26, 2010
This was pretty far fetched... I usually like Patterson's books a lot, and I am not going to say this wasn't entertaining. It was. However, for the same New York homicide cop to do everything for such a high profile case didn't seem remotely plausible. He did all the hostage negotiations, he was in the group that tried to break in and stop the kidnapping, he was the one to run out and see the bodies when the kidnappers threw them out of the church, he was in the helicopter following the get away cars, and he was the one in the water helping save the victims? Really? All of course in his wife's last few days on earth as she died of cancer.
The story was good, you didn't know what was coming next, and the 'bad guys' were not obvious to figure out. It would have been a much better read if it had been grounded a bit more in reality for the main character.
The story was good, you didn't know what was coming next, and the 'bad guys' were not obvious to figure out. It would have been a much better read if it had been grounded a bit more in reality for the main character.
January 16, 2018
What a book, never in a million years the kidnappers were who they were. It also had me in tears on the sad side hope Mike gets done good luck in the books.
September 25, 2023
Loved this book!! First Patterson crime book I’ve read. I will read more. Suspenseful from beginning to end. I had to force myself to put the book down and sleep. Books that do that are amazing. Kinda pissed I didn’t give Patterson a chance earlier. Oh well. Live and learn. Five stars!!
January 5, 2020
Sanki Die Hard'ın seyretmediğim bir bölümünü okur gibiydim, o kadar heyecanlıydı. Sadece sonu çok kolay çözüldü. Biraz daha karmaşık birşeyler bekliyordum.
November 26, 2024
Πιο πολύ δυόμισι...
Τίμιο θριλεράκι και αρχή της σειράς με τον Michael Bennett από τον Πάτερσον, της εποχής που σταμάτησε να μπορεί να γράψει κεφάλαιο με πάνω από 4 σελίδες. Τι να κάνουμε, τον αγαπάμε κι έτσι.
Η σύζυγος του πρώην προέδρου πεθαίνει σε ένα εστιατόριο (τι "ποιου πρώην προέδρου;", ξυπνάτε, ΗΠΑ και ξερό ψωμί) και της κάνουν μια κηδεία μούρλια. Όλο το τζετ σετ μαζώχνεται στην εκκλησάρα της Νιου Γιορκ, πολιτικοί, πίζνεσμεν, παπάδες, τραγουδιάρες, ρηαλιτζούδες, τα φάντα όλα. Και φυσικά ισχυρή αστυνομική προστασία, επειδή νιου γιορκ.
Και τότε ένα μάτσο παπάδες παίρνουν όμηρο το άπαν σύμπαν εντός εκκλησίας και ζητάνε λύτρα. Κάπου εκεί μπαίνει στην υπόθεση ο Μπένετ ως διαπραγματευτής.
Θα πέσει λίγο λεπίδι εκατέρωθεν πριν διαφύγουν οι δράστες με τα λύτρα και στο τέλος ο Μπένετ θα λύσει το αίνιγμα της ταυτότητάς τους, ενώ παράλληλα θα δεχτεί και ένα ισχυρό πλήγμα στην οικογενειακή του ζωή.
Γενικά, είναι αν μη τι άλλο ανεκτό, δεν έχει τραγικές ανατροπές, ματσίλες, σουπερμανιές, σερλοκχολμιές ή μεγαλοστομίες, σέβεται τον εαυτό του και είναι ευχάριστο στην ανάγνωση. Παραλία, μπίρα, ξάπλα και 3 σελίδες το κεφάλαιο, για μπορείς να το αφήσεις ανά πάσα στιγμή στην άκρη και να τσεκάρεις κάνα κορμί στην άμμο, χωρίς να φοβάσαι ότι άφησες κάτι στη μέση.
Κάτι που με προβληματίζει τώρα που το σκέφτομαι. Δε θυμάμαι τι κάνανε το πτώμα της κυρίας προέδρου... Αλήθεια, το άφησαν εκεί;;;
Τίμιο θριλεράκι και αρχή της σειράς με τον Michael Bennett από τον Πάτερσον, της εποχής που σταμάτησε να μπορεί να γράψει κεφάλαιο με πάνω από 4 σελίδες. Τι να κάνουμε, τον αγαπάμε κι έτσι.
Η σύζυγος του πρώην προέδρου πεθαίνει σε ένα εστιατόριο (τι "ποιου πρώην προέδρου;", ξυπνάτε, ΗΠΑ και ξερό ψωμί) και της κάνουν μια κηδεία μούρλια. Όλο το τζετ σετ μαζώχνεται στην εκκλησάρα της Νιου Γιορκ, πολιτικοί, πίζνεσμεν, παπάδες, τραγουδιάρες, ρηαλιτζούδες, τα φάντα όλα. Και φυσικά ισχυρή αστυνομική προστασία, επειδή νιου γιορκ.
Και τότε ένα μάτσο παπάδες παίρνουν όμηρο το άπαν σύμπαν εντός εκκλησίας και ζητάνε λύτρα. Κάπου εκεί μπαίνει στην υπόθεση ο Μπένετ ως διαπραγματευτής.
Θα πέσει λίγο λεπίδι εκατέρωθεν πριν διαφύγουν οι δράστες με τα λύτρα και στο τέλος ο Μπένετ θα λύσει το αίνιγμα της ταυτότητάς τους, ενώ παράλληλα θα δεχτεί και ένα ισχυρό πλήγμα στην οικογενειακή του ζωή.
Γενικά, είναι αν μη τι άλλο ανεκτό, δεν έχει τραγικές ανατροπές, ματσίλες, σουπερμανιές, σερλοκχολμιές ή μεγαλοστομίες, σέβεται τον εαυτό του και είναι ευχάριστο στην ανάγνωση. Παραλία, μπίρα, ξάπλα και 3 σελίδες το κεφάλαιο, για μπορείς να το αφήσεις ανά πάσα στιγμή στην άκρη και να τσεκάρεις κάνα κορμί στην άμμο, χωρίς να φοβάσαι ότι άφησες κάτι στη μέση.
Κάτι που με προβληματίζει τώρα που το σκέφτομαι. Δε θυμάμαι τι κάνανε το πτώμα της κυρίας προέδρου... Αλήθεια, το άφησαν εκεί;;;
December 14, 2014
Meet Michael Bennett; father to 10, husband to a dying wife, hostage negotiator, and son to an ever smart-mouth Irish man.
The story: Definitely worth reading if you like Patterson's way of telling a story.
It was hard at first for me to get into Step on a Crack since I've been on an Alex Cross kick for a while now.
The Cast: Plenty of them.
The secondary characters were wonderful and I hope we learn more about them as they play a huge role in the Bennett household and in this book they were kind of like stand-ins, filling in voids until Michael would get home.
The Job: Stop mad men from killing the elite.
I have to admit Michael didn't seem to be very good at his job even though he was called in on this one. At one point earlier in the story Michael even said there had to be someone on the outside. I thought "we're finally getting somewhere" and then he never followed through only to say the exact same thing later in the book and then it finally hits home and the search is on.
Will try book two.
The story: Definitely worth reading if you like Patterson's way of telling a story.
It was hard at first for me to get into Step on a Crack since I've been on an Alex Cross kick for a while now.
The Cast: Plenty of them.
The secondary characters were wonderful and I hope we learn more about them as they play a huge role in the Bennett household and in this book they were kind of like stand-ins, filling in voids until Michael would get home.
The Job: Stop mad men from killing the elite.
I have to admit Michael didn't seem to be very good at his job even though he was called in on this one. At one point earlier in the story Michael even said there had to be someone on the outside. I thought "we're finally getting somewhere" and then he never followed through only to say the exact same thing later in the book and then it finally hits home and the search is on.
Will try book two.
June 13, 2021
3.8 stars
This read like an episode of Criminal Minds. So entertaining!
This read like an episode of Criminal Minds. So entertaining!
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