BAFFLING BINGO DAY, PART TWO: REVIEW AND BONUS ENTRIES

WELCOME TO
"BAFFLING BINGO DAY"
GIVEAWAY ENDED
DON'T BLINK

BY JAMES PATTERSON
and HOWARD ROUGHAN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

MY REVIEW:

James Patterson and Howard Roughan pair up again to give readers DON’T BLINK, a new Patterson thriller, that starts out with a bang, or I should say, an “eye opener”. Touted as “the scariest Mafia thriller since The Godfather”, DON’T BLINK is indeed an action packed, intriguing crime novel. However, while it is traditional Patterson with the short chapters, twists and turns, likable characters, including abhorrent but captivating villains, I think one would have to think twice before comparing it to Mario Puzo’s masterpiece. I am a huge James Patterson fan and never miss a book, and indeed thoroughly enjoyed this one, but still have to back away from the comparison to Puzo’s classic that so many fans hold in such high esteem, myself included. That said, DON’T BLINK, told from the central character’s point of view, was appropriately titled as I didn’t blink, or put the book down, but read it straight through, and enjoyed every minute of it!

With reporter Nick Daniels, readers meet an agreeably likable narrator who just happens to attract trouble without really trying. He is portrayed as an easygoing guy, as well as being written as a genuinely nice person readers can easily relate to. Just doing his job as a reporter, he is trying to interview a former famous pitcher for the NY Yankees, Dwayne Robinson, who has been a recluse since he dropped out of baseball and shunned by fans for basically walking out on one of the teams most important games by just not showing up. Bouts with panic attacks and alcohol kept Robinson from speaking out about what happened but now that he is ready to talk, he has called on Nick Daniels to be THE ONE to handle his reentry into society.

Unfortunately, Nick’s meeting with Robinson is set at Lombardo’s Steakhouse, a famous restaurant where one goes to see and be seen, on the same day that a hired killer, Bruno Torenzi, assassinates Vincent Marcozza, the lawyer, or consigliore, of Mafia Don Eddie “The Prince” Pinero. Seated at the next table, Nick unknowingly, at first, picks up on his interview tape recorder, what Torenzi says to the victim before he violently kills him. This “smoking gun”, or recorder, makes Nick Daniels a prime witness and focus of the investigation by the police, FBI, DA (who is also about to announce his candidacy for mayor as well as dating Nick’s ex), and of course, any and all local crime families!

When Nick begins to do his own investigation, he realizes that although all outward signs point to Pinero getting revenge, since Marcozza botched his trial and thus got Pinero convicted, there is something more to this. As Patterson’s trademark chapters click off, and Nick’s roller coaster ride begins, readers will probably have a lot of suspicions as to the real person behind the murder, probably changing their minds as fast as the pages turn and the theories vary. But there is one fact in all this that remains constant. Nick is still working for a magazine whose Editor, Courtney, just happens to be Nick’s true love. Unfortunately, she is currently engaged to the owner of the magazine, the wealthy, obnoxious cad, who Nick can see right through. Courtney and Nick have a one time romantic encounter and that not only makes Nick more and more positive of his feelings for her, but also starts to eat away at her resolve about her engagement. Their chemistry is enchanting as you find yourself rooting for Nick in this situation as well. Nick becomes even more likeable when you see him with his widowed older sister and his niece, fourteen-year-old, Elizabeth, who also happens to be blind. Elizabeth is a scene stealer and allows another part of Nick to be revealed as he is a tender protector and friend to this lovely young teen.

As Nick, and those he loves, all find themselves in danger, and the violence escalates and the bodies start to add up, Nick finds he literally has no place to hide and so as much as he’d like to avoid it, he finds he must take matters into his own hands to get this mystery solved. He is given valuable evidence but has no time to even look at it before his friend who gave it to him is also brutally murdered. Now Nick really has what everyone wants and how he tries to get out of this, is what makes the story move so quickly and keep your interest. The story has all you could want in a thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read a few reviews that didn’t like the story and commented on certain literary aspects about the characters and plot line which has to make me laugh. This is JAMES PATTERSON!…. and along with Howard Roughan, they give readers what they expect to find when reading one of his mysteries. The action and fun, the entertainment and mystery, the characters and locales, all add up to the reason Patterson is THE best-selling author there is. Enjoy the book, and get over yourself, I say, as this is what an enjoyable read is all about.

REMEMBER TO GO TO TODAY'S
EARLIER PREVIEW POST HERE,
FOR MORE INFORMATION
AND FOR MORE ENTRIES
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO BRAD AND MY FRIENDS
AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE THREE COPIES OF THIS
EXCITING NEW MYSTERY
TO GIVE AWAY!



--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY


HOW TO ENTER:
BONUS ENTRIES

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT MY REVIEW AND PERHAPS SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING IN IT

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON HOW YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN PUT THEM ALL AND AS LONG AS YOU LIST THEM SEPARATELY, THEY WILL EACH COUNT AS SEPARATE ENTRIES

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON JAMES PATTERSON'S VIDEO ABOVE AFTER LISTENING TO IT. THERE ARE A FEW PARTS TO IT WITH PAUSES IN BETWEEN SO KEEP LISTENING

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO JAMES PATTERSON'S WEBSITE HERE AND COMMENT ON SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING YOU FIND AT HIS SITE. PERHAPS, YOU WILL EVEN FIND ANOTHER CONTEST TO ENTER WHILE YOU ARE THERE!

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 27!