First line: There are supermen and superwomen who walk this earth.
From the inside cover: Celebrate the glory of the Olympic Games – before a psychopathic killer extinguishes the flame forever.
ON YOUR MARK
Private, the world’s most renowned investigation firm, has been commissioned to provide security for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Its agents are the smartest, fastest, and most technologically advanced in the world, and 400 of them have been transferred to London to protect more than 10,000 competitors who represent more than 200 countries.
GET SET
The opening ceremony is hours away when Private investigator and single father of twins, Peter Knight, is called to the scene of a ruthless murder. A high-ranking member of the games’ organizing committee has been killed. It’s clear to Peter that this wasn’t a crime of passion, but one of precise calculation and execution.
DIE
Newspaper reporter Karen Pope receives a letter from a person who calls himself Cronus claiming responsibility for the murders. He promises to restore the Olympics to their ancient glory and to destroy all those who have corrupted the games with lies, corruption, and greed. Immediately, Karen hires Private to examine the letter, and she and Peter uncover a criminal genius who won’t stop until he’s completely destroyed the modern games. “America’s #1 storyteller” (Forbes) delivers an exhilarating, action-packed thriller that brings the splendor and emotion of the Olympics to a wildly powerful climax.
My thoughts: Depending on what site you look at, Private Games is either the 4th book in the Jack Morgan/Private series (per FictFact) or it’s the 2nd in the Private series (per Fantastic Fiction). Either way, it’s quite an intense story especially in light of the upcoming Olympic Games this summer in London.
There is a killer targeting Olympic athletes and others involved in the London 2012 games. He wants to eliminate all those who cheat, using performance drugs that have been undetected by drug tests. MI5, Scotland Yard and Private are all working together to stop the carnage and prevent the games from coming to a halt.
Peter Knight, a Private operative based in London is drawn into the case when his mother’s fiance and a high ranking member of the organizing committee is found murdered in the garden of his home. Reporter Karen Pope is sent a letter claiming responsibility for the crime – a crime committed because the modern day games are an insult to the Olympic spirit. Or is there another motive?
As is typical of James Patterson’s books, this one is set up with short chapters that you can’t help fly through. Add in the suspense of what is happening, with many twists and turns, and you find yourself reading just one more chapter until you are at the last page – many times in just one sitting. In this book, the chapters about the killer are told from his perspective, while the other chapters are told about the main characters, including both Peter Knight and Karen Pope – first person versus third person. The book seamlessly flows back and forth between these two styles of narration to propel the story forward.
As many of you know, I am a huge James Patterson fan and read just about all his books. I really have come to enjoy the Private series and hope this series continues for a long time.
(I purchased this book.)
Books in this series:
- Private
- Private London
- Private: #1 Suspect
- Private Games
Coincidence… I just shelved this title at the bookstore! It sounds fascinating. I think I will have to pick up a copy. Thanks for the review!
It was great!!! Hope you enjoy it!
An interesting book. I have read practically all of James Patterson's books and have enjoyed most of them. This one left me puzzled but I couldn't figure out why. The story is engaging, characters are well-developed and it moves along at a fast pace. It does take place in London but that was not the problem. I finally realized that the style of writing is not James Pattersons.