Eight stars
Another instalment of the Private series kept me on my toes, with another collaborative work that James Patterson and Adam Hamdy present. They toss Jack Morgan into the heart of Rome, where nothing is as it seems. Attending the busy city to open another Private office, Jack is excited to enjoy the festivities. However, things soon turn sour for his new local station chief, pushing Jack into the middle of a crime scene. He's trying to work the case and dodge the Italian police, who are tight-lipped with their own findings. As Jack tries to solve the case and protect a colleague, he discovers that he is the target of a larger plot. Patterson and Hamdy deliver a great story that has all the elements for a superior thriller.
The celebrations are on as Jack Morgan arrives in Rome. He's here to help open the newest Private office, where a friend and fellow surveillance specialist is at the helm. However, the party atmosphere is dampened when the party takes a deadly turn. Matteo Ricci, the new head of Private Rome, is found standing over a dead priest with a gun in hand.
Ricci vows that nothing is as it seems and that he did not kill the priest, though no one is ready to believe it. Jack is pushed to help Ricci, if only to save the Private name. The local authorities are sure they have their man and begin closing the investigation, ignoring Jack's pleas for help. This could be the end of Private in the Italian capital before things get started.
Jack soon finds himself ensconced in a larger conspiracy, one in which Ricci was but a pawn. The heart of the matter lies within the Vatican, where power and control are protected by a religious veil. Jack will have to uncover it all in time, proving that Matteo Ricci is innocent of the crime, as more priests turn up dead. A story that does not slow things down at any point, Patterson and Hamdy spin a tale like no other in this Private story.
I have followed the Private series from its inception, primarily due to its worldwide thrillers. Patterson has engaged with numerous collaborators to bring these to life, Adam Hamdy has been the latest co-author and shows his mettle once more. They develop a solid story with a narrative foundation that is able to withstand the various twists on offer. As with most Private novels, the action prevents any rest for the attentive reader, filling short chapters with development and many twists. The characters are flavoured with local perspectives and keep the reader feeling as though they are in the middle of it all. The story offers so many moments of uncertainty that the reader dare not blink or risk losing key elements.
Plot points in a Private novel tend to keep things moving without regard for common expectations. With an international setting, there is more of a chance for surprise, as nothing is predictable outside the reader's comfort zone. Readers are faced with twists at every turn and provide a stellar pathway towards a curious ending that many likely would not expect. Patterson and Hamdy shed light on something well worth the reader's time and effort.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Hamdy, for a story rich in history and thrilling drama.
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