This was such a brilliantly crafted tangled web of lies. It has been a while since I read a James Patterson novel, but when I saw J.D. Barker attached, I couldn't pass this one up. This is one of the rare books that I feel like my brain is a jumbled mess trying to keep up with all the twists. I am not normally a fan of a lot of twists because I often feel that it goes to the extent of the author trying too hard to impress the reader, and it ends up feeling cheap. This one, though, each and every one is genius and intricately laid out. This story was flawless and written by two of the best in this genre. You can't go wrong. Any and every fan of mystery and thrillers will love and devour this one. Five stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company, for this ARC.

This book is just wow with the twists. I thought I had it figured out and then bam. Another turn. All good though. This book is one of those books that make you think. Who is playing who? Is it Declan that is being framed for real? Or what did he do so long ago? Is it the writer Denise? Is this just a book that Denise is writing and the stories didn't happen the way that they did? Did the husband really cheat? All these questions, and it still kept me guessing until the very end. And then something else happened. I really feel bad for Declan though. He went through so much and then everything that happened was like a roller coaster for his life. I would like a little novella to really end this story. Because we need to know what everyone including Harrison thought of this twisty fall out ending. I didn't even think about a certain thing at the end. But then I was like oh shit, how the hell can someone recover from that? And all the truths that came out. Such a crazy fantastic book.

"Well-orchestrated bullshit." ~ 83%

This quote perfectly describes James Patterson's newest thriller titled The Writer. Booklist recommends setting aside uninterrupted reading time. Early readers call it wild, full of twists, suspenseful and entertaining. But you're here for my opinion.

Let me tell what this story is about first. It begins with Detective Declan Shaw in the wrong place at the wrong time when he receives an order to get to a crime scene. In the affluent tower apartment, Shaw finds a woman waiting for him. She specifically asked for him by name. She's covered in blood. A knife and a body is lying dead on the floor. Shaw notices that every book in the luxurious apartment's floor-to-ceiling shelves is by the same true crime writer Denise Morrow. And now she's the number one suspect in her husband's murder.

When I say twist after twist after twist...it will make you spin! The Writer made a right turn when I for sure thought it was turning left. Patterson and Barker make a good writing duo playing off each other's strengths while maintaining a fast-paced page-turner. Well done and highly recommend!

Happy Pub Day, Patterson and Barker! The Writer is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

The Writer by James Patterson and J. D. Barker is a mystery full of intrigue and suspense. There are unexpected twists and compelling characters. Definitely a book that you hate to put down.

I cannot say enough about this book, but I can't say much except MESSY has never had a better look! This story was so well plotted with the "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed. Yea go right ahead think you know where the story is headed.....you're wrong! I won't say anything else except Read, Read, Read.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and James Patterson/J..D. Barker for the ARC. The above opinion is given freely and honestly.

Okay, James Patterson seriously nailed it with The Writer. From page one, I was utterly hooked. The short chapters made it easy to keep reading — I kept telling myself "just one more" until I realized I’d read half the book in one sitting.

The story was packed with twists I didn’t see coming, and every time I thought I had it figured out, Patterson flipped the script. If you’re into fast-paced thrillers with tons of suspense, this one’s a must-read.

This literary has undoubtedly become my favorite book of the year thus far.
Its intricate plot lines, unexpected twists, and captivating surprises keep readers engaged and eager to discover the unfolding narrative.
Each chapter propels the reader forward, propelling them through the pages with an unparalleled sense of anticipation.
I extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy .

Declan Shaw is a cop who feels he is being framed for murder. Denise Morrow is a well known author who comes home from a book signing to find her husband dead in her apartment; she requests Declan to come to the scene but he does not know why. This story had so many twists and turns and the end left me needing more!

Thank you Netgalley, the authors and publishers for the ARC!

More twists that an excited chiropractor! I've loved books by Patterson and Barker both alone but this amazing collaboration blew me away. The plot is genius and the pacing perfect, making it impossible to put down. I feel like it is destined to become a great thriller movie and I would stand in line for tickets to see it. These two authors definitely need to team up again! My thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Another fantastic book by a fantastic author..
I don’t think James Patterson can write a bad book.
Great characters, great plot and even better writing g style.
I loved it

I was hoping to love this book more than I did. I thought it was slow and it didn’t keep my attention.

Wow! Just wow. This book twists and turns and leaves the reader hanging until you're kicked into the next scenario. A huge cat and mouse game. What will happen next? How does each person fit in? I was hanging on tight, right through the last words in the book.

I have been a big fan of JD Barker since I read the 4MK Thriller series and, as well as reading all his other books, I have also read quite a few of his collaborations, including his previous with the wonderful James Patterson. All of which I have loved so it was pretty much a no brainer that I would probably love this one just as much.
And boy was this the gift that kept on giving! I lost track of the number of times throughout the book when my jaw dropped. When I gasped with shock. When I sat back and applauded the authors!
We start with pretty much an open and shut, locked door mystery. An author is found lying next to her dead husband, after having called 911.. Although the timings are kinda off a bit, there is no doubt that she must have done the deed. No one else could have. Or so NYPD Det Declan Shaw thinks. And he is determined to prove it.
And that's all you need to know going in as you really need to uncover all the truths as the authors intend. Suffice to say you need to keep your wits about you all the way through as it's all interconnected and convoluted, twisty and turny, and the secrets and lies fly at you from, well, pretty much every direction, all the way through. Suffice to say I absolutely flew through it. I really struggled to put it down when life forced me and all the time I was away, I was thinking about it, gagging to get back to find out how on earth it would all wrap up. And when we eventually got there... boy oh boy... my mind was blown...
I think this is even probably the best book I have read in a while. Definitely top of the tree for this year, out of the 67 I have already read and I fully expect it to stay there come Dec 31st.
Honestly... if this is your genre just please do yourself a favour and stop reading reviews, get your hands on this book, buckle up and just enjoy the ride... you're welcome.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #LittleBrownAndCompany for the book #TheWriter by #JamesPatterson. I absolutely loved this book full of corruption, deceit and murder. Declan Shaw has snagged a case involving a famous writer, Denise. She has been writing a book about a previous murder and now he is investigating a murder close to her. Did she kill her husband or is she being framed?

True crime novelist Denise Morrow arrives home to find her husband dead. Or so she claims. Was it a break-in gone wrong or something more sinister? Buckle up because Patterson’s latest thriller, The Writer, is one heck of a ride. I swear every time I thought I knew what was happening the story would shift and take another massive turn. Patterson has just been firing on all cylinders lately with his collaboration, and The Writer, which he wrote with J.D. Barker just might be the best one from the last several years. I stay up until three in the morning to finish this one! This is an can’t miss for mystery/thriller fans. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-writer-james-patterson/1147007172?ean=9780316570008&bvnotificationId=dbce538c-0359-11f0-a798-0afffa19d853&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/340453412

4.5 stars. This book was filled with twists and turns. There where so many things I didn’t see coming. There was a tiny slow part in the middle, but this was still an enjoyable read that kept my interest. I got an advanced readers copy for being on the James Patterson Street Team, but my review is unbiased.

Lies and deceit are the name of the game in James Patterson’s newest book: The Writer. Now anyone who has been reading Patterson for a long time, especially since he started his mass collaboration phase, knows that his collaborations can vary in quality. I’m more than thrilled to say this newest collaboration, with J.D. Barker, is absolutely top tier. Seriously, I cannot recommend this one enough. The twists, turns, and misdirections in this story are fantastic.

When David Morrow is murdered in their apartment, his wife, well known true-crime novelist Denise Morrow, becomes the police’s number one suspect. After all, she was found over him, covered in blood. But is she really the killer or is it some kind of set up? Or is it something much more twisted? This thriller is brilliantly crafted and I swear every time I thought I knew what was going, Patterson & Barker would slap me with a new twist or reveal that would leave me shaking my head and smiling with delight. This will delight longtime fans of both Patterson and Barker and will likely net them many more. 5 stars all the way. I’d like to thank Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Writer.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R29HWFPUOICXR/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

The Writer by James Patterson and J. D. Barker was one brilliant book and I loved it. I was hooked from the beginning till the very end especially as it was fully of brilliant twists and turns that will have you glued to you kindle/book. I loved this book. I just loved the way these 2 brilliant authors came together to write a superb book, that will have you guessing till the end. . . . . . The main character NYPD Detective Declan Shaw I loved him and thought he was a great character.

When Declan Shaw is a NYPD Detective and gets the call from his lieutenant at 9:42 p.m and tells him How fast can you get to 211 Central Park West? The Beresford Building?. . . . . . .

Shaw is at Apartment 18A, and his partner briefs him. The woman inside has called 911 to report a break-in and the murder of her husband. She has fired a round at first responders that came to her aid. Now, she has made a baffling demand. Nobody comes in but Detective Declan Shaw!!!!

The woman finally answers the door and is covered in blood. She appears to be in shock. A body of a male is lying dead on the floor of the luxurious living room.

Shaw walks in and spots the floor to ceiling shelves which is filled with hardcover books. He recognises the name, and she is only the bestselling true-crime author Denise Morrow. But, when he looks closer, he sees they all show the same familiar picture on the back.

“This is you?” Shaw asks. “You’re a writer?”
​
The real question Is she also a killer?

WoW. . . . . definitely a strong 5 star read and a great holiday read.

Oh my, classic Patterson and Barker!

This murder thriller did my head in. Just when the Aha! moment looks like finally coming to the fore another twist is added.
Three-card monte NYPD Detective, Declan Shaw called it. He’s right!
Just as Declan is about to take control of life he gets a call about a murder. The victim is David Morrow, the doctor husband of a highly, no strike that, a phenomenally successful true crime writer, Denise Morrow.
Think Russian dolls, interlocking pretzels, and three-card monte rolled into one, with something extra, and you might be close to working out what’s happened. As each supposed answer is clarified, it’s rolled over and something else comes on board. The end was almost an anticlimax. Almost I said! Gosh! Big surprise!!
Kept me well and truly, almost frustratingly, engaged. (My frustrated self wanted to give this 4 stars, my just and fair self said 5!)

A Little, Brown & Co ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

What a fun read! Every character has their own hidden motives, and none of them are remotely sympathetic. Declan Shaw, the cop, is so unlikable that I found myself actively rooting against him throughout the entire story. Then there’s Denise Morrow, a bestselling true crime author who’s a total enigma. When she finds her husband dead in their home, she calls 911 in a seemingly catatonic state—covered in blood and holding a gun. Did she do it? Is this a simple open-and-shut case, as the police and DA believe, or are they rushing to close it too soon?

With so many moving pieces, the story doesn’t end when you think it does. The authors keep switching things up, throwing in twists so quickly at the end that I was left dizzy trying to keep up.