Princess: A Private Novel

PRIVATE is advertised as being top seed security. Yet this story devolved into poor operating protocols. Rank amateurs may have avoided the errors made in personal security. It was disappointing because of the lack of situational awareness of trained operatives which led to serious injuries.

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PRIVATE is advertised as being top seed security. Yet this story devolved into poor operating protocols. Rank amateurs may have avoided the errors made in personal security. It was disappointing because of the lack of situational awareness of trained operatives which led to serious injuries.

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This is not up to the usual James Patterson standard. Poorly written and boring. I liked the first few of his Private novels, but not the last couple of them. I won't be buying others in the future. The Private series has the potential of being exciting and interesting. They're missing an opportunity.

Patterson should read each book he places his name on.The person who wrote this story wrote with the finesse of a tenth grade student. The worst written piece of trash under the Patterson name. Get better people to do your work. Never Patterson again. All washed up.

My favorite series- Jack Morgan run Private - a worldwide high-tech security service. He gets called to London to work on yet another top secret case, but could this be his last case? Could this be a trap? One thing is for sure, this is a true page turner and a perfect summer read.

With all the media chatter regarding American actress Meghan Markle marrying one of Princess Diana’s sons, I thought the latest James Patterson book, “Princess” would be a good selection. I decided to make this a twofer review by leading with an apt quote of Princess Diana:

What must it be like for a little boy to read that daddy never loved mummy? - Princess Diana

Demakis, Joseph. The Ultimate Book of Quotations (p. 151). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

As to whether this offering by, perhaps, the most prolific living author was worth my investment in money or time, I invite you to read on…

Patterson is prolific indeed. Writing for adults and for children, even toddlers. The only downside with such a writer is that not everything he writes is enjoyable, at least for me. Sometimes, though, the writing fails to interest, but the movies or mini-series that appears on television is great fun, so I almost always get the books.

BLUSH FACTOR As with many of this writer’s adult content, this is a book with a moderate use of street language, including the f-word. While most readers will expect such talk, I mention it only for those not familiar with this author. As for myself, I might have been offended to not find such words. Otherwise, this story is fit for teens through elderly.

EXCERPTS

Excerpt 1

Early in the book, Patterson gives us this overly descriptive drama:

‘…The hunter-killer turned his eyes up to the sky. Rain was beginning to fall, bouncing from the thick green leaves of summer. The hunter-killer welcomed it. It was his ally. It would cover him as he slid and crept his way closer to his target. Closer to justice.

He could see his prize now, and the proximity caused his heart to beat against his scarred chest, endorphins flooding his body as he pictured his kill and the satisfaction it would bring.

It had been a long stalk, but the prize would justify the suffering and the cost. This kill would come at a price—a great price—but he would not shirk it. The butcher’s bill would be paid in full, and then there would be justice.

Fifty yards away now, and the hunter-killer begged his heart to still, despite the thrill of what was only moments away. Wet branches pulled at him as he moved forward, checking his pace. He forced himself to slow, too close now to fail.

He looked down at the pistol in his hand, checking it for dirt. There was none, as he knew there wouldn’t be. Inside the weapon in his hand, a bullet rested snugly in the chamber, ready to shatter on impact, and to tear out a great chunk of flesh in the body of his prize.

The hunter-killer smiled as he pictured that carnage.

Then he brought the pistol up into the aim, and centered its sights on the back of his target. A target that had caused pain and misery and suffering. With a smile on his face, the hunter-killer pulled the trigger.”

Patterson, James. Princess: A Private Novel (Kindle Locations 136-148). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.

My difficulty with the above writing is that it seemed to be so over-the-top that I found myself wondering if this was actually written by so seasoned a writer as James Patterson. Reminded my more of a Buntline type of dime novel. Then again, perhaps the purpose is to hype the coming violence?

Excerpt 2

Patterson later gives this:

‘…Morgan held his tongue. The kitchen was quiet but for the sound of the bacon frying.

“Do you still want the job?” Caroline asked eventually.

Morgan was taken aback. Despite the danger, he had not for one second thought about backing away from the mission. “Of course.”

Caroline appeared relieved. “Then I’m sending Lewis to work with you. She’s a Welsh speaker, Jack, and that could be useful. She can also legally carry a firearm.”

After last night’s attack, a firearm on Morgan’s side could be more than useful.

“How do you like your eggs?” she asked.

“Scrambled,” Morgan answered, before pulling the conversation back on course. “Your Highness, somebody fired seventeen bullets into my room last night.”

“The police are investigating,” she assured him quickly.

“I’m sure they are, but people don’t get shot at because they’re out looking for a young woman who liked to party a little too much—even if she is the friend of a princess.”

He let the statement hang in the air, and with it the implied question—what wasn’t he being told?

The Princess broke her eyes from the American and turned back to the cooker top. For a few quiet minutes she stirred eggs in a pot, then slid the bacon and eggs onto a plate, which she placed on the breakfast bar in front of…’

Patterson, James. Princess: A Private Novel (Kindle Locations 596-608). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.

The challenge with this segment is more of a nit-pick, I guess. What I mean is, I’ve eaten British cooking. It may not rise to the French perfection, but it’s pretty tasty. Anybody who cooks and stirs scrambled eggs for one or two people “for a few quiet minutes” is not going to please any normal egg eater, I can assure you.

Otherwise, though, the writing is much tighter in this segment than in the prologue.

BOTTOM LINE

I’m tempted to give it just three stars, for the writing isn’t up to Patterson’s better stuff. Perhaps the reason I’m giving it more stars is because I switched over to listening to the Audible version, wherein the narrator keeps me listening despite my reservations.

Four stars out of five.

For those who may find my review redundant, I apologize in advance. I just don’t know how to provide a shorter introduction to a work such as this. After all, readers are being asked to plunk a pretty penny for this novel, so they deserve a more comprehensive review than a simple, “Loved it” or “Hated it.”

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I am a fan of the Private series. Princess delivers with a lot of chases, twists and turns. From the first page, the reader is into the book. It is a sad one but a good read. There is quite a bit of soul searching in the book. Enjoy the ride.