Audio Book Review and Giveaway: Don't Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Another entertaining mystery from James Patterson and co-author, Howard Roughan.
Don't Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Hachette Audio; Unabridged edition (September 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607882345
• ISBN-13: 978-1607882343

     Genre: Mystery Thriller
     My Rating:  3.75

Product Description
New York's Lombardo's Steak House is famous for three reasons--the menu, the clientele, and now, the gruesome murder of an infamous mob lawyer. Effortlessly, the assassin slips through the police's fingers, and his absence sparks a blaze of accusations about who ordered the hit.

Seated at a nearby table, reporter Nick Daniels is conducting a once-in-a-lifetime interview with a legendary baseball bad-boy. Shocked and shaken, he doesn't realize that he's accidentally captured a key piece of evidence. Ensnared in the city's most sensational crime in years, Nick investigates for a story of his own. Back off--or die--is the clear message as he closes in on the facts. Heedless, and perhaps in love, Nick endures humiliation, threats, violence, and worse in a thriller that overturns every expectation and finishes with the kind of flourish only James Patterson knows.

Review: This is a humorous and action packed mystery thriller.

The book jumps into action from the get go, introducing the likable reporter hero, Nick Daniels. You meet Nick as he races away from African gorillas shooting at the American humanitarian doctor who Nick is interviewing. After surviving his tuck and roll escape, Nick is called home to New York for a once in a lifetime interview with a baseball legend.

Nick and his hermit interview subject are at the next table during the gruesome attack and murder of a mob lawyer. Now Nick is a key witness caught in the middle of the police investigation. The police are quick to pick their suspect and aren’t interested in Nick’s “frame-up” theories.  As Nick investigates on his own he gets caught between two different mob families; he is beaten and threatened by known and unknown persons.  Add a third mob family and some corrupt officials to make for more suspense.

Meanwhile, Nick is in love with his editor boss and that adds another angle to the story.  It does present a problem that Courtney is already engaged to another man - a very wealthy and powerful man. But Nick is convinced that the fiancé is not faithful and Nick is determined to convince her to end the engagement.

The narrator did a fine job capturing Nick’s somewhat irreverent attitude even if the mob guys sound rather alike. Nick’s character also has a rather corny sense of humor that makes this fun. For example, as Nick is in a high speed chase with a mob boss and an enforcer, he describes the experience saying roughly: “We were tossed back and forth in the backseat like tossed salad.”

Some of the scenes, and Nick’s nine lives surviving threats, are a bit unbelievable but they make for a good story.  I am actually glad that not all of Patterson’s books stick with a set format, as I enjoy the variety.  I found this audio book to be fast paced and good entertainment.  My husband, who doesn’t usually like to listen to audio books, enjoyed this and thought it would make a good movie. He is even willing to listen to this a second time on our cross country drive. This is not a literary classic but if you like crime action stories, you should like this for its twisting mystery, humor, touch of romance and lots of action.

THANKS TO HACHETTE FOR PROVIDING THREE AUDIO CD BOOKS FOR GIVEAWAY.
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