I didn’t know you could put so many twists in one book! I was constantly saying ‘I didn’t see that coming’! Despite it being very early in the year, I’m already picking this for my top book of the year. It kept me riveted to the pages, consistently surprised me with each new turn of events and satisfied all my criteria for a great thriller. The characters drew me into their lives and entertained me. Anytime a plot completely fools me it’s a winner. One of the best murder mystery I’ve read in a very long time. I loved, loved, loved this book! You must get your copy immediately. Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown and Company Hachette Book Group (via NetGalley) for providing an Advance Reader Copy of “The Writer” by James Patterson and J. D. Barker, publication expected 03/17/2025. These are my own personal honest thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation

You can't go wrong with a James Patterson book and this one is co-written by J.D. Barker, one of my favorite writers. I was ready for a great thriller when I picked this up and I was not disappointed!

Description:
NYPD Detective Declan Shaw gets a How fast can you get to the Beresford building on Central Park West?
In the tower apartment, Shaw finds a woman waiting for him. She’s covered in blood. A body is lying dead on the floor of the luxurious living room.
Every book in the apartment’s floor-to-ceiling shelves is by the same bestselling true-crime writer Denise Morrow.
"This is you?" Shaw asks the woman. "You're a writer?"
Only one person knows the ending to this story. Is it the victim or the killer?

My Thoughts:
This one is complex in a good way. It was fast-paced and kept my attention throughout. I couldn't put it down. The story is shocking and full of unexpected twists and turns. The result was a total surprise to me. I didn't come close to figuring it out. Loved it! I would highly recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller. Five glowing stars!

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Just when you think you have the murder(s) solved --- shocker!! The book begins with a transcript of an old murder case, and then quickly moves to a call to come to a murder scene. Denise Morrow, writer of true-crime books, comes home to her upscale apartment to find her husband stabbed to death. Detectives are told to handle this murder investigation with kid gloves. But Detectives Shaw and Cordova know that to solve the crime - they need to dig into everything. And the more digging they do - the more intricate the murder becomes. Especially since Mrs. Morrow has accused Shaw, in writing, that he had previously planted evidence in an old murder case in order to convict a man of the murder of a young woman. And how and why could these two murders be entwined?? The details that are uncovered, and the suspicions that are cast on different characters lead the reader on a topsy-turvy investigation that goes from one "aha" moment to another..... and another! And while we think we know what's coming? Don't get comfortable in your conclusions until the last page!! Will definitely recommend this book to others. The details, teamwork, and steps taken to solve the murder of a young woman made this a very interesting read. Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheWriter

This was such a good mystery. The reveals left me stunned. Best last scene ever! Run to read this book. I challenge you to tell me you saw everything coming.

This was one of the best Patterson collaborations I have read to date. No doubt the extraordinary J. D. Barker had something to do with that!

Ordinarily the books I read have characters asking "who can you believe" and in this one you'll be saying, "I don't believe any of you" because that's how many red herrings there are in this book! Denise Morrow is a mystery writer and a good one at that. Did she kill her husband? The evidence just isn't adding up, and worse, it's looking like someone is trying to frame Declan Shaw, the detective investigating the case. But the lawyer is a little too involved, so is he in on the frame up of Declan? Nothing is adding up, and it's starting to look like any investigation or prosecution is a nonstarter. No matter what you think you know, no you don't!

Thank you to NetGalley and the James Patterson Street Team for this intricately woven and well written thriller that's full of suspense, twists, and surprises!

4.5 stars

The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker is murder mystery about a NYPD Detective, a famous author, and her dead husband.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Little, Brown and Company and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Special thanks to J.D. Barker for sending me a widget.  All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
NYPD Detective Declan Shaw is called to the prestigious home of Denise Morrow, who sits beside the body of her dead husband David, a gifted cardiologist.  She is covered in blood.  Declan is, apparently, the only one she wants near her.  She says the killer is still in the apartment.  

Denise Morrow is a famous author, who writes true crime novels that delve deep into the minds of both the defence and prosecution.  She seems to see things that others do not.  Right now she is writing about one of Declan's cases, and is sure that Declan is a dirty cop, that he framed a man for a murder he did not commit.   So why did she insist on Declan to come to her husband's murder scene?


My Opinions:
First, if I had realized that this was a "frame the cop" book, I would have passed.  They are always so predictable.  I am so glad that I didn't know.   This ended up being very different. No way could I say this was predictable.

There was a major twist around the 60% mark, and another one at around 80%.  Then there was the one right at the end.  Yes, it seemed the first half of the book moved slowly, until it didn't.  It was a rather slow build, and yet I couldn't put it down.  Those characters were just too interesting, to deep, and becoming too devious.  Then, that first twist.  Those twists made up for all of my misgivings.

Again, these two authors collaborate really well.  I feel that Barker may have contributed a little more to this one, as his books are generally a little longer, a little deeper, and a little more "twisted" than those of Patterson, who probably provided the overall idea.   Just speculating here.  It doesn't really matter, this book ended up being one of those, "OMG, what's going to happen next" books.  You just had to keep turning those pages.

Once the first twist comes, you don't know who to trust, so I just held on, and enjoyed the ride.

Oh, and I loved the ending.

I have devoured all things Patterson for many years and this one just might top the list. An investigator is checking out a murder and the evidence starts pointing to him. A known mystery writer is the wife of the deceased and her background in writing has her checking out another case that the investigator was working on. So many twists and turns right up to the end of the book. When this one is released, run to get it. Thanks to #NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC. I cannot recommend this one enough.

Ka-pow! This one packs a punch. That last chapter will be forever etched in my brain.

Picture, if you will, one of NYPD's finest perched on the edge of the platform at a notorious station on the Upper West side. His phone rings. Declan Shaw has been personally summoned to a murder in a tower apartment nearby. The victim's widow sits by her husband's side, drenched in blood, with the suspected murder weapon in between. Looks like an open-and-shut case with Denise Morrow, a successful true-crime writer, getting charged with murder.

Not so fast. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

If you are like me, you will tear through this book in a New York minute. The ground beneath will continually shift until you finally reach the momentous conclusion. Don't bet on the outcome. Odds are you will be wrong.

My favorite character = Quimby the cat with mad skills in busting intruders.

A big thank you to Little, Brown and Co and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. J.D. Barker, you have my attention!

This had so many twists that just kept coming and surprising me. Everyone was dropping like flies. The cat cam wow! Brilliant.
A true crime book seller named Denise Morrow comes home to find her husband dead. When she calls 911, she reports it as a brake in and keeps asking for Declan shaw a detective. When detective Declan and his partner Jarod arrive, she's in shock and covered in blood. It's a never-ending guessing game from there. This book will not disappoint.

This is one of the best police procedurals I have read in a long time. The twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down.

No one is above suspicion in this one, and the more you read the guiltier everyone looks. But are they really? Was this all one person’s masterful plan or are multiple people involved?

Every time I thought I had a handle on the good guys and the bad guys I was proved wrong. From the first words to the very last, this book had me and wouldn’t let me go.

This book was outstanding and I hope we see more from this duo. WOW!

Thank you Little Brown for the copy of this book. All views are my own.

Reader: be ready for a rollercoaster. You’ll be questioning every characters’ motives and trustworthiness. As always, JD Barker’s writing is so very smooth. It never feels like reading to me-I just get deeply lost in the fictional world he creates. The twist at around 60% threw me off good. Initially I didn’t really like it (I think I said, “WHAT?! No. Way. Seriously, what?!” out loud), but I was desperate to find out how the twist came to be and how it would play out during the second half of the book. I finally felt comfortable and accepting of the direction the story was taking. Then the twist at 80% had me shocked and, again, totally lost as to how this could possibly come together. The twists kept coming out of left field and then slowly got sewn in to make total sense. This smartly written thriller was exciting and gripping. Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Mar 17 2025

This book has to be the most twisted and entertaining Patterson book that I have ever read! The twists start from the beginning and they just keep coming until I had trouble telling the difference between truth and lies. The lawyer was lying…maybe? The policemen was crooked…maybe? The writer was telling the truth…maybe? And the guy in prison, well, he was definitely, maybe lying. I was totally engrossed in the murder mystery and held captive by all of the false trails and gotcha moments in this book. I don’t want to give too much away because I want everyone to read it and be amazed at the end of the sheer creative genius that made this story come all together. A body in a park, a body in a swanky apartment, and a few more thrown in for good measure. Plus the killer twist at the ending! I literally gasped at the ending and read it again, just to make sure I hadn’t missed out on something. The characters are believable, all equally as likable as untrustworthy narrators can be and the plot runs at breakneck speed off a cliff. This book is not to be missed and then probably to be read again to catch all the clues you missed the first time. This one blew my mind with its skillful misdirection and intense and compelling plot.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Mic drop 🎤 I mean seriously this book was off the hook amazing! Simply Brilliant! Addictive, gripping, hard to put down, and shocking!!!! James Patterson and J.D. Barker have outdone themselves with The Writer!!!!! This writing duo can do no wrong in my book!

Bestselling true-crime author Denise Morrow finds herself at the center of a shocking crime when she calls 911 to report that her husband has been murdered after a break in. Declan Shaw and Jarod Cordova are on the case and learn that the woman who is in shock and covered in blood, is a writer. Could she also be a killer??????

Clever, clever, clever!!!!! Just when I thought I had everything figured out, this dynamic writing duo threw a twist into the mix, and everything changed on a dime! Whew! My head is still spinning, and my pulse is still pounding. This book was pure genius! There is a lot going on in this book and it becomes evident at the beginning of this book that this is going to be a mysterious thrill ride on the way to the truth while skirting obstacles along the way.

This whodunit murder mystery kept me on my toes, fulling invested, pointing my finger here and there all while being left with my jaw hanging open at the end of the book. Holy Crap!!!!!!

Highly Recommend!!!!

With James Patterson and JD Barker co-authoring this, it was exactly what I hoped for! It flies by at lightning speed, and it's full of twists that really clever and completely surprising. There was one twist in particular that was so unexpected, I absolutely couldn't believe it had happened.
*
Also the fact that the cat played a big role just made me happy :)
*
Definitely recommend this for a quick, fun thriller!

Bestselling true-crime author Denise Morrow's husband is murdered in their apartment. NYPD Detective Declan Shaw is called to the scene and discovers that Morrow is the prime suspect. Shaw must unravel the mystery and determine if Morrow is not only a victim but also a killer.

When two incredible authors come together to collaborate on a book, you know it's going to be a hit! The anticipation is through the roof! I'm already a huge fan of JD Barker's writing style, but I must admit I haven't delved into James Patterson's work as much as I should have - until now! This collaboration is a game-changer!

The book is everything you could hope for - it's clever, fast-paced, and full of unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The character development is top-notch, and the plot twists are so well-executed that I couldn't predict what was coming next. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down!

If you're a fan of thrilling suspense that keeps you guessing and leaves you craving more, this book is must-read. The collaboration between these two authors is a match made in literary heaven, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next! Get ready to be blown away!

Thank you, Little Brown and Company, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I lost count of how many times my eyeballs almost popped out of my head. Have mercy! Reading this book was like being on a merry go round that went too fast. When you got off, you were disoriented and realized you were going in the wrong direction. James Patterson and J. D. Barker will lead you down one path after another. Them bam - there is another twist, another misdirection. Throw everything out the window that you thought you knew and start over because you will be blown away time after time, chapter after chapter.

I believe this might be one of the most unpredictable stories I have ever read by this author. Misleading does even begin to describe the chilling game being played. It is a chess game, and you will not see that last move coming until it is too late. No matter how much blood, motive or evidence you think you have compiled, throw it away and forget about it. I am still sitting here stunned. Do yourself a favor and read this one as soon as you can.

Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

The Writer was a rollercoaster ride of mysteries and secrets that you could not and do not want to get off of! So many fun twists and surprises along the way that keep you on the edge of your seat. Declan was a great lead character, bringing you into the story right alongside him. The Writer was another home run from Patterson and I can’t wait for the next Patterson story!

A complex, fascinating murder mystery with unexpected bad people doing unexpected bad things. Lots of surprising twists definitely keep the reader guessing as to what the heck is going on. Who is actually guilty and who is being framed? What’s real and what’s a big act? Another excellent collaboration between Patterson and Barker and their exciting trademark suspense.

The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker is the most incredible thriller I have read in a long time. I mean WOW, I read this book in 1 day.

Admittedly, I am a huge FAN James Patterson and The Writer holds on to you and doesn't let go.

Expertly and cleverly written, this crime thriller had me flipping the pages.

Detective Declan Shaw is on the verge of taking his own life when he gets a call to come to a crime scene. Reluctantly he goes and joins fellow officer Jarod Cardova.

He finds a dead body and his wife; bestselling crime author Denise Morrow is covered in blood.

Seems like it could be a clear-cut case. NOT SO MUCH!

This thriller has so many twists, so well written. The secrets, lies and surprises do not stop!

Highly recommend!

NYPD Detective, Declan Shaw, receives a call to respond to a crime scene where he has been requested by name. When he arrives at the apartment a woman sits, covered in blood, next to a body with a bloody knife between them. The woman is bestselling true-crime writer Denise Morrow, the victim her husband. What appears as an open and shut case soon turns into a seemingly unsolvable case.

The Writer is a non-stop thrill ride that will have you guessing right up to the last page. This was one of those books that was hard to put down. Every time I thought I had an idea of what was happening the plot twist would have me re-evaluating everything I thought I knew. That ending was so surprising. This was one of the best books I have read so far this year…a must read for whodunnit fans!