The Writer by James Patterson and J. D. Barker is a very highly recommended twisty procedural/thriller. Wow! This is an excellent, suspenseful, twisty roller coaster ride of a novel and it left me dizzy from the twists and turns.

NYPD Detective Declan Shaw is planning to jump in front of a subway train when he gets a call from his investigative partner, Jarod Cordova. He wants to know how fast Shaw can get to the Beresford building on Central Park West. A woman returned home to the tower apartment there and found her husband dead. She is asking for Shaw by name.

Once there Shaw sees bestselling true-crime writer Denise Morrow, covered in blood, sitting next to her dead husband. It seems a clear-cut case, but Denise has an alibi and it becomes even more complicated. Searching the apartment it is also discovered that she is writing a book casting doubt on a case that Shaw and Cordova worked on in 2018 that involved the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl in Central Park.

That's all you need to know - once you start reading you will be hooked almost from the start. There are chapters presented from Now and Then (2018) and also excerpts from police transcripts along the way.

The writing is absolutely exceptional, the pace is fast, and the plot is clever and intelligent. There are so many complications and layers of deception in this unpredictable procedural. What you can expect are several stunning revelations and absolutely jaw-dropping twists along the way in this truly addictive, un-put-downable novel.

As for the characters, you won't know who to trust or believe. The whole narrative is one shrewd complicated cat and mouse game where the roles keep changing and then another switch appears to shake it all up again. I'm not saying anything else but read this novel!

The Writer is a perfect choice for readers who love procedurals with plenty of twists. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Amazing! 4.5 stars ⭐️ Many twists and turns throughout this entire story - I was completely enthralled! 🤩

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

The cover sold me, but the inside hooked me until the very last word. This is a whodunit like no other, with layers of deception that leave you questioning who's good and who's bad. I felt like every chapter was my favorite, with each new secret more intense than the last—an absolutely gripping read.

This book is heavily plot-driven, with every page turn revealing more secrets and truths. If you're searching for a novel where you'll fall in love with the characters, this might not be it. Although the characters are interesting and dynamic, there's not really anyone to fall in love with—well, maybe just one! Definitely a book worth re-reading time and again.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker, published by Little, Brown and Company

Absolutely fantastic book! Everything about this was great from the storyline to the characters and the twists and mystery of it all. I loved following this story of who killed who and when and for what reason. It was so twisted and even though I following along, I still didn't guess who dunnit. The characters and story were brilliantly crafted and written.
I think this is one of the first books I've read by wither of these authors, will definitely follow them and read more
I really didn't want this novel to end! I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could

More Twists and Turns Than The Gordian Knot

NYPD Detective Declan Shaw is recording Maggie Marshall's crime scene for later transcription. She went missing two and a half days ago. It looks like she put up a struggle. A handprint on her throat with petechial in one eye strongly suggests strangulation as the cause of death. She has a bruise on her stomach that appears as if the murderer held her down with his knee. Because of the rain and her most likely thrashing around, there may not be much evidence under the fingernails. From the footprint evidence, he believes that the murderer returned to the scene. A crime scene tech says that he found a cigarette butt and is told to bag it. A watch with "Lucky" inscribed on the back was found. The head of Park Services thinks it may belong to a park worker, as one worker goes by Lucky. From this start, the twistiest novel that I have ever read starts.

This novel has two threads: the murder investigations and the perpetrators. Quickly apparent is that the evidence is entirely inconsistent. This thread has many twists, with one being quite significant. I describe it at the tsunami level, as my entire understanding was swept away after it occurred. This is also true in the perpetrator's thread, except there are two. As for trying to follow a very complex investigation, there was an adequate discussion between Shaw and his partner, Jarod Cordova, which helped me understand the nuances of the evidence's inconsistencies and the meaning of any breakthroughs. Working through the evidentiary problems and anticipating how all the murders are solved did not let me put this novel down.

Declan Shaw is a troubled character, as shown in the subway scene early in the novel. Although his father is dead, they continue conversations. He has a strong relationship with his partner. At the start, I thought I knew this character, but as the novel progressed, he wasn’t the character I thought. New issues emerged. This aspect of the novel enhanced my reading enjoyment,

One of the aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading is present in this novel. It is the level of vulgar and rude language. Their level was one of the highest in the novels I have read. The level of impious language is not far behind. Even at this level, it is consistent with the events occurring in the novel. There were no intimate scenes, and violence was described after the fact except for one death. This is a standalone novel, so no events from the previous novel should concern the reader.

I only found one issue where, by all appearances, a good cop would easily offer to falsify a police report to take the spotlight off his partner. As minor as it may seem, it is the worst thing I found. What I especially liked was the ending. It was a surprise, but it provided enough information that all wrongdoers did or would face the consequences of their acts. I was also impressed that all the loose ends produced by all the twists and turns were tied up by the end and not as is common in the last few chapters.

This is the third novel I have read by these authors in collaboration. I have also purchased another, which is now on my to-be-read list. J.D. Barker is one of my Must-Read authors, and this collaboration only strengthens my assessment when Petterson is added. If you enjoy an intriguingly complex novel, consider this one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I rate it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Little Brown & Company. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Little Brown & Company, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while. The story is filled with thrills and chills. I couldn't put this one down. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read one of the best books of this year.

I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of The Writer from NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, and I have to say this book was a wild ride. Chapter 2, which I consider the real opening chapter, is hands down the greatest opening chapter I’ve ever read. It pulled me in instantly, delivering a level of excitement I haven't felt in a long time while reading.

Patterson masterfully builds suspense throughout the novel, keeping the twists sharp and the pacing relentless. The story unfolds with high stakes, compelling characters, and the kind of thriller intensity that makes it hard to put down. It was shaping up to be a solid five star read, but the very end didn’t quite stick the landing for me. While still a satisfying conclusion, it didn’t match the brilliance of the rest of the book, which is why I’m giving it four stars instead of five.

Overall, The Writer is a phenomenal read that delivers everything you’d want from a thriller just be prepared for an ending that may leave you wanting a little more.

Multiple murders and way too many suspects make this a twisty, heart stopping, thrill ride of a book!

I thought I had it all figured out - then realized I was only half way through and knew "The Writers" wouldn't let that happen! Even the ending left you with unanswered questions! Probably one of his best!

In James Patterson's latest book, NYPD Detective Declan Shaw gets a call: How fast can you get to the Beresford building on Central Park West?

In the tower apartment, Shaw finds a woman waiting for him, and she’s covered in blood. A body is lying dead on the floor of the living room.

Every book in the apartment’s floor-to-ceiling shelves is by the same author: bestselling true-crime writer Denise Morrow.

Declan is more involved with this crime than meets the eye, so is the writer innocent or guilty?
​
Great read!

I enjoyed this book. It had a lot of twists and turns to it. That is why I always look forward to reading books by James Patterson. The ending wasn't what I expected, it was better. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

The twists, turns, angles, accelerations and decelerations in the plot literally gave me whiplash, That is not a complaint as it was one heck of a ride. The Writer has what I would term a mundane title but that is the only thing dull about this story that starts off with a suicide attempt and a dead body. A best selling true crime writer, living in an upscale apartment building on Central Park West, dials 911 and repeatedly asks for NYPD Detective Declan Shaw, whom she supposedly does not know personally and has never met. Shaw’s partner, Jarod Cordova, notifies Shaw who at that moment is both contemplating and attempting suicide. Yes, you read that correctly. Shaw and Cordova rush to the scene of the supposed break-in (most assumptions and assertions in this tale are believed to be the case until the case is solved), and murder. Shooting off her gun at the first responders, the writer will only allow Shaw to enter the apartment. It is the writer’’s husband who has been murdered and she is found kneeling by his body, covered in blood with a knife lying between her and the victim.
Each of the events that take place from that point on take the solving of the murder one step forward and one step backward. No one is really whom they seem to be. It is the ultimate whodunit. Is the writer a victim or a suspect? Why did she specifically ask for Declan Shaw? How well does Cordova know his partner? Why would Shaw want to die? A murderer with a steadfast profession of innocence who was apprehended by Shaw, an avaricious and duplicitous writer who might have new evidence in the case, several dead bodies, various motives, lies and coverups all make for exciting reading. And of course there is that TaDa! moment when you think you have everything figured out and then one of the characters simply enters a room and everything changes.
Multi-dimensional and flawed characters, fast pacing, and well timed surprises allow the reader to just stand on the sidelines and watch the escalating events very much like watching a juggler tossing balls in the air.
This clever crime thriller mystery will serve as an excelllent gauge by which I will judge my future reads in the genre.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of James’ Patterson’s and J.D.Barker’s novel, The Writer, and the opportunity to offer an honest review of the book.

Any book of James Patterson will always be a comfort read for me.

This was a fun, twisty,turny read. The Writer had so many twists and turns. This is a dual pov between Detective Declan Shaw in the present and Maggie in 2018.
Detective Shaw is ready to end his life when he gets called out to a household for a homicide at Central Park west because the cake will only speak to him. When he arrives, the best-selling author Denise Morrow is covered in what he thought was her dead husbands blood, and her husband dead on the floor. Denise has an alibi, but she's covered in blood. The blood isn't her husbands. There's a knife that has blood on it, but it's not his. There's so many questions without answers. Of course, Detective Shaw and his partner Jarod are suspicious of Denise for the obvious reasons that she was covered in blood and she would only talk to Declan, which was rather odd since they don't know each other.
As they begin to investigate, they realize that Denise was writing a book about an old murder case that Declan had worked. Maggie was murdered in 2018, and Declan had put the guy away, right? It seems Denise might have evidence that says otherwise.

This book had me turning the pages as fast as I could. I was bringing my kindle in the kitchen with me while I cooked. I even gasped it off a couple of times.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publication date March 17, 2025

"The Writer" by James Patterson and J.D. Barker is a thrilling, fast-paced ride that had me second-guessing every assumption I made. The twists are relentless, and just when I thought I had it figured out, the plot veered in an entirely unexpected direction. Patterson and Barker masterfully blend mystery, suspense, and psychological depth, making this an unputdownable read. If you love a thriller that keeps you on edge until the very last page, this is a must-read—five stars!

NYPD Detective Declan Shaw gets a call to report immediately to the scene of a murder in a penthouse apartment. When he arrives, he finds a body, a man with multiple stab wounds. Next to him sits the man's wife, covered in blood and with a knife between them. She appears to be in shock. As the crime is investigated, the police discover that the blood covering the wife is not the victim's and the knife lying between them is not the murder weapon. Not only is Detective Shaw trying to uncover a murderer, he is also having to defend himself against accusations of being a dirty cop.

I finished this book breathless with my head spinning! The book was well-paced with many twists and turns and unexpected connections leading to surprise evidence. It is impossible to figure out who are the good guys and who are bad, all the way up to the stunning conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

James Patterson always does a fantastic job.

You can not go wrong with one of his books.

Give yourself plenty of time to Devour it!

Highly recommend.

A jaw dropping, twisty thriller until the very last page.

The author of true crime novels, a detective and a defense attorney are entangled in the perfect crime.

Just when you think you have it figured out, you turn the page to find you don’t. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

The best thriller I’ve ever read with an ending that only the brilliant mind of James Patterson can create.

Title: The Writer
Author: James Patterson| & J.D. Barker
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: March 17, 2025
My Rating: 3.5 Stars! – Hmmm perhaps I should have rounded up!!
Pages: 400

Story is told Then and Now
Then ~2018 Central Park -Maggie Marshall a fourteen year old girl is brutally assaulted and murdered.
Now ~ NYPD Declan Shaw at a subway station getting ready to jump and end his life (this is
his fourth attempt- needless to say, he is not a happy man. However as the train is approaching he gets a call from his partner Jarod Cordova to get over to an apartment complex. When they arrive they find true crime writer Denise Morrow sitting next to her dead husband’s body covered in blood with a bloody knife.
The story continues to go back and forth with Then and Now sections. Is there a connection? Yes!

When I finished I stared into space and asked ~What did I just read?

I have read many of JP stories probably over a hundred.
Have a “Book Crush” on Michael Bennett, love Alex Cross, and the Women’s Murder Club is still my favorite. JP’s stories are always great usually fast and easy. This one wasn’t an easy read. I found most of characters unlikeable but I was curious.
JP stories have changed over the years. The profanity has increased a lot over the years. I understand that it fits the situation but still am not a fan.
This story did keep me reading!

Want to thank NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for this early uncorrected proof.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 17, 2025.

What did I just read! Hands down the most twisty turny read ever. I could predict nothing in this plot! You think you know what’s going on and then it wildly twists. I have never read anything like this in my life. Crazy well done characters and a plot that’s wild. My mind is still blown. The ending … my jaw was just hanging. Phenomenal start to freaking finish. This is a must read. It is AWESOME!

Just when he's on the edge of ending it all, Detective Declan Shaw is called to a murder scene at the home of a true crime author and her husband. What happens in their apartment will change his career and life in the following days in ways he could never imagine.

The characters evolve throughout the story as the pages keep turning. The Writer is classic James Patterson. A fast paced read full of drama, humor and of course, the twist at the end. The Writer, however, has a major twist in the end after the big twist at the end.

I always enjoy James Patterson's work but this one was a head scratcher, whodunnit and how did they do it until the last word. I highly recommend The Writer to all mystery lovers.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, James Patterson, J.D. Barker, and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Back for another great collaboration between James Patterson and J.D. Barker, I was excited to see what they created. Their masterful creations tend to pull the reader into the middle of the action and leave them to wonder what awaits around the corner. A murder that seems straightforward has NYPD detectives baffled, sending one suspect into custody and a previous case into question. Nothing adds up, but there is truth somewhere to be found. It will take dedication and determination, at some revealing truths. Patterson and Barker leave the reader energised and curious in equal measure!

When NYPD Detective Declan Shaw receives a call to attend a crime scene, he cannot help but wonder what’s going on. His lieutenant is adamant that he rush to 211 Central Park West, where a woman has been the victim of a break-in and the murder of her husband. While shooting at first responders, she refuses entry to anyone, save Detective Declan Shaw.

When Shaw gets her to open the door, Denise Morrow is covered in blood and her husband is dead on the floor. Shaw begins piecing things together, learning that Denise is a bestselling author and one of the most notable true crimes writers in America. She has an alibi and yet no clear understanding who might have been targeting her or her husband.

As Shaw and his partner investigate, they are thrust into the middle of a past case, a child abduction, which is the latest story about which Denise Morrow has been writing. Shaw begins to wonder if the case was rushed to judgment, especially as things begin to unravel and evidence is questioned anew. The Morrow killing also seems scattered, as evidence does not add up and seems jilted. Detective Shaw will have to find truth amongst all the mess and determine if Denise Morrow the writer could also be a cold-hearted killer. Patterson and Barker deliver a strong story that keeps the reader hooked with each turn of the page!

While James Patterson has made collaborative writing his go-to of late, one can never be sure of the quality it will yield. Some will prove fruitful and other times show that collaboration is less impactful. The work alongside J.D. Barker has always been superior and keeps the reader on edge. The narrative flow of this book shows great promise and keeps the reader wondering, while short chapters—a Patterson staple—creates added momentum for the reader to push forward. Great characters, developed as best they can in short order, help add depth and intrigue to the larger story. Plot points help add a sense of electricity to the piece, as is typical with this collaborative group, though I did not feel it was as edgy as some of their past work. Duplicity and twistiness are ever-present, keeping things less than predictable! I am eager to see where Patterson and Barker take things in the future.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Barker, for another winning novel.