This is the first novel in a new series for James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. A former Marine helicopter pilot, Jack Morgan, is the protagonist. In this initial installment, we learn that Jack suffers nightmares and struggles to re-create the missing memory from a military conflict where most of the soldiers on his helicopter were killed, but he survived and was decorated as a hero. We learn that Private Investigations, the successful detective agency of his father, was recently reopened by Jack when his imprisoned father gave him the resources to do so. We also find that Jack has a strained relationship with his twin brother, a romantic relationship with his assistant Colleen, and a romantic history with Justine, one of the key investigators in his detective agency. He also works with good friend, Rick Del Rio, who served with him in Afghanistan.
Private Investigations takes on cases involving Jack’s best friend (who’s suspected of murdering his wife), possible game tampering in the NFL (through his uncle), and a series of series of brutal murders of young girls in the LA area that they are helping the local police solve in a pro bono status.
I liked this book and found it a very enjoyable read. I found the characters very interesting and the storyline fast paced. If anything, there was too much going on, however. Rather than focusing on a single investigation, or for that matter, one or two of Jack's personal relationships or difficulties, this book covered a lot of different issues and switched constantly between them. Nonetheless, "Private" held my interest and made me want to keep reading it. When the next episode of this series is published, I plan to read it.
