I have read everything these 2 guys have written together. I put my life on hold so that I can sit down and read. They always write a book that I can't put down and this was no exception.

I loved the characters (even the really unlikable ones) and the story just blew me away. I escaped the frigid weather outside losing myself in this story and had a fabulous time.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I started reading the Alex Cross books as they were published in the 90’s (I spent much of the early to mid 1990’s recuperating from (14) surgeries after being hit by a speeding car as a pedestrian. I was in the hospital or at home and I’ve never been overmuch for tv shows, napping doesn’t work for me, so I spent a lot of time reading.

I hadn’t read many of Patterson’s collaborations however, so I was really happy to receive an early copy of The Writer (thank you so much Little, Brown and Company!) and wow, I was immediately pulled into the story and it held me rapt! The Writer was a highly enjoyable read and kept me turning the pages, eager to find out more - I didn’t want to stop reading this one.

*police procedural
*so very twisty
*the pacing
*kept me guessing

I hadn’t read J.D. Barker’s writing before, but I enjoyed this so much that I will definitely be reading more of his work 🙂

An absolute recommendation!



Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the DRC

James Patterson and J. D. Barker brings us the story of intrigue when Detective Shaw is called to the scene of a crime. He finds the wife hovering over her dead husband's body covered in blood. The only problem is that it is not his blood and she was nowhere near the scene of the crime when it happened. She was at a bookstore giving a talk as a true crime writer to an audience. Detective Shaw, his partner, and the entire department must figure out what really happened that ended with the death of this man and how his wife may be connected. Will he figure things out in time or will it be too late and the killer gets away with murder?

James Patterson and J. D. Barker brings us a story with many twists and turns as you try to figure out what really happened. You get to meet all the players and find things out as they uncover clues as they try to piece them altogether. You keep turning the page to see what happens and then want to slow down as you get towards the end but still wanting to know more. It is an exciting adventure you get to go on in the comfort of your own bed as you follow along and try to figure things out before they do. Will this mystery actually get solved? Will they figure it out in time? Will they get the right person or just the one that seems to be right? Read to find out.

I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this privilege.

Wow, absolutely loved this book. See what happens when a famous writer.. Is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. That is until others come up dead. Two determined police officers try and solve this case. Only to realize all is definitely not what it seems.

I continue to be amazed by this writing duo. I'd love to know how they do it. If you know their secret formula, please share it!

Meanwhile, back to the book. "The Writer" is the latest offering from this pair. Like the novels they teamed up on previously, it is very well written. But this one has more curves, twists, turns, and flip-flops than any of its predecessors.

As soon as you're confident you've got the mystery solved, a new fact is tossed in the mix. This is truly an "I can't wait to find out what happens next" kind of novel. The characters are developed extremely well. The details are precise. The clues are everywhere, if you know where to look. (I didn't)

This one has to get five stars. The story alone is worth five stars. Read it!

What did I just read??? Sooo many twists and a killer ending! This was so good. If you like psychological thrillers, read this!!!

I've long been a fan of James Patterson and have always enjoyed his novels. The description of this novel intrigued me from the start.
The characters are written so well. You understand their motivations, thoughts and why they act the way they act. The novel grabs you from the get-go and I honestly did not put it down until it was finished. There are twists and turns, surprises and unexpected moments throughout. You are kept guessing on how it will end. And honestly, you probably will never guess the ending.
Reminiscent of a Steve Cavanagh novel with the twists throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to telling everyone about it.

If you’re looking for an addictive thriller that will have you ignoring all of your daily tasks then The Writer needs to be your next read. Thrilling, edge of your seat with a chilling murderer POV. This is thriller writing at its finest. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out BAM they hit you with THAT ending!! Add this James Patterson & J..D. Barker standalone to your TBR list and you won’t be disappointed!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC. What a roller coaster ride that was. Many twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout the whole book. Well done gentlemen!

A famous crime writer's husband is dead. Detective Declan Shaw is called to a murder scene. He finds a woman waiting for him covered in blood standing next to the victim. The room is filled with books that she has written. She swears she did not kill her husband. Is that true or is she the next victim? A very quick engaging read.

“The Writer” by James Patterson; J. D. Barker is a dark, twisty mystery thriller that will keep you fully immersed till you read the very last word! The story opens with a young cop contemplating suicide and a famous true crime writer sitting next to her dead husband’s body covered in blood denying her involvement.
The fun ride to find the killer will keep your head spinning as a new OMG moment happens in every chapter. I can’t say more as I don’t want to spoil the addictive and thrilling whodunnit, but I must add that the book is awesome and it’s a must read!

Than you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my gosh, where do I even start? This book was such a whirlwind! Like, it had all the makings of a juicy thriller—murders, secrets, and plot twists that totally made my head spin. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, boom, another curveball. It’s like the story was playing a game of “gotcha” with me the entire time.

The pacing? Perfect. The suspense? Through the roof. The characters? Okay, they weren’t exactly people I’d want to hang out with, but they were totally fascinating to watch unravel. And let’s talk about the ending—it was satisfying, but not in the “tie it all up with a bow” way. More like the “drop the mic and walk away” vibe. If you’re into detective stories with a side of “wait, what just happened?” moments, you’ll probably devour this one like I did.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! Patterson and Barker did not disappoint with this one. The levels of deciet by so many in this book kept me changing my thoughts on the guilty part throughout the book. The characters were developed well and while there were many twists and turns all of it was conceivable. I highly recommend this book!!

A new stand alone novel by James Patterson and J.D. Barker, The Writer is a wild rollercoaster of a read. The intricacies of the twists and turns of the plot make this a tough one to put down. Red herrings abound and the ending is totally unpredictable.. A fast paced read that will linger in the reader’s thoughts well beyond the last page.

I’ve been reading James Patterson for well over 20 years, and while his earlier books are definitely my favorites, any book of his is sure to send you on a wild ride! Definitely give this one a try if you like his other work.

Wow! I love James Patterson and I read all the Alex Cross and Women’Murder Club books. This is a stand alone book and it is actually one of my favorite books from the authors. It starts out with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. There are so many twists and turns that just when you think you have it all figured out, you find out you were wrong, and I don’t want to give away any of the surprises. Please pick this book up and enjoy the ride. You will not be disappointed.

The Writer by James Patterson & JD Barker
James Patterson books rarely disappoint and this one definitely did not. I started and finished it in one day. Lots of twists and turns and that ending will blow you away.
NYPD cop Declan Shaw is thinking of ending his life in front of a train when his partner calls him to a crime scene involving a famous true crime author. Denise Morrow finds her husband murdered when she returns home after a book signing. She asks for Declan Shaw, which is odd especially since her soon to be released book doesn’t paint him in a very good picture. This book will reel you in and keep you hooked wondering how the heck this is all gonna fit together.

JD Barker does it again, another 5 star read. This book had me shouting "WHAT?!" out loud several times. Great page turner, great plot and overall just great writing.

Some critiques:
-I constantly mixed up the characters of Harrison and Hoffman, I wish the names were way different than each other. I honestly just finished the book in the middle of the night last night and unsure if those are even the right names.
-I found several spelling and grammatical errors which I reported to Kindle, but I don't even know if those are validated.

I would never want to get into the mind of JD Barker because he has to be the most clever author I've come across. Because this book was so great, I am now inclined to read all of his joint books with Patterson. I've honestly never been a Patterson reader but boy I am now!

5/5 and will recommend to all my reader friends.

**SPOILER ZONE BELOW, DONT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK**



-The T-shirt that Denise was wearing.... Cordova figured that out at Declan's apartment?! Come on! How many people own blue Oxford shirts? I think if there was a lipstick stain or grease stain from the bacon she was cooking, it would've been WAY more believable.
-The Quimby Cam of it all... HAHAHAHAHAHA When the group was cheering to that "company," I thought it was a plot hole, but the END!!! Boy oh boy that was great. I love an abrupt ending when all ends are tied up.

Review Copy

Patterson and Barker did it again! Those two work together like peanut butter and chocolate. THE WRITER was such an intensely fast paced, tightly crafted novel that I read most of it in one sitting. Then after crashing for the night I woke up and finished it.

It's the story of a true crime writer - a very successful one - and her family and the NYPD.

I don't think thrillers get any better than this, but who am I to say? Luckily for us, both authors have more books coming out this year. Make sure you preorder this before you forget.

Thia is a very highly recommended 5 star read.

The Writer by James Patterson and JD Barker is a fast-paced, twisty crime thriller that keeps the tension high from start to finish. This was my first Patterson novel, but since I’m a big fan of JD Barker’s 4MK series, I couldn’t wait to see how this collaboration compared. While it doesn’t quite match the complexity, character depth, or suspense of the 4MK series, I still found it to be a fun and entertaining read. The pacing is quick, with no slow moments, and the twists just kept coming. Every time I thought I'd hit the big reveal, another twist popped up and I couldn't wait to read the next chapter.

I had to suspend disbelief throughout most of the narrative and overlook a few plot holes, but that didn’t take away from how much fun I had reading this novel. The pages flew by, and I was never bored. The Writer isn’t your typical gritty, realistic police procedural or a character-driven story. Instead, it’s a clever, twist-filled thriller that’s both highly entertaining and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend an afternoon.

The Writer had me completely engrossed from start to finish. . . . and the ending was absolutely perfect!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson and JD Barker for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!