Friday, August 3, 2018

Book Review: Instinct by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Instinct (previously published as Murder Games) by James Patterson (Author) and Howard Roughan (Author)


My Rating: * out of *****


File Size: 1922 KB
Print Length: 369 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0316273961
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 26, 2017)
Publication Date: June 26, 2017
Sold by: Hachette Book Group
Language: English
ASIN: B01M0CDHMG

insert your own standard disclaimer along with the caveat that your mileage may vary

The writing is exceptionally poor, characters are two dimensional and never develop, the plot has no rational reason to support it, and old, conservative white men are stereotyped and vilified once per chapter. 

The first thing that we (the ripped off readers) learn is that the protagonist is a faggot.  In the very next scene our tender little pansy and his la-la partner are discriminated against by an old, nasty tempered, corpulent female from Children's Services, who takes one look at these two effeminate joy boys and pronounces them unfit to care for an orphan they want to adopt - a poor, malnourished native boy from South Africa, no surprise.  Our tinkerbelles are white and upper middle class.  Upper, upper middle class.

You now know why the book was written.

In the first part of the book the authors, editors, and proofreaders all offer conclusive proof that their collective knowledge about guns, hunting, and hunters wouldn't crowd the head of a pin.

In the second part we're given equally solid evidence about their knowledge of motorcycles and the people who ride them - which is none.

In the boring conclusion, the protagonist wins and doesn't deserve his victory, the villain is dispatched via suicide so as to alleviate any possible blame or feelings of guilt, and the final showdown is just bad writing, no more, no less.

This is the last James Patterson book I'll ever spend my money on.

7 comments:

CWMartin said...

He used to be good... but I quit reading novels a while back...

Unknown said...

I see where he and Bill Clinton have writ one was that hard up for money.ten a "mystery". I didn't know either

Unknown said...

Ok, let's try this without wifely interruption.
I see where he and Clinton have written a "mystery" together. I didn't know either one was that hard up for money.

Ed Bonderenka said...

Same here.

Glen Filthie said...

The vast majority of the publishing industry is about culture war now, and I am on the wrong side. It's all like that now.

Old NFO said...

That's sad... He once was somebody I'd buy as soon as his books hit!

Mad Jack said...

CW: I should have quit when you did.
James: Wifely interruption? :) I saw that one as well, and took a pass on it.
Glen: You got that right, although Baen publishing is one exception.
Old NFO: Just like you, I'd buy one sight unseen. I can't understand why he'd sell out like this.