The Beach House

I used to read quite a bit of James Patterson years ago but it's been a while since I read one of his books. The Beach House was a good one to choose as it reminded me of the amount of intrigue and suspense that James Patterson manages to get into his books. With short, punchy chapters - most chapters only 2 or 3 pages long, you constantly promise yourself 'just one more chapter' until suddenly the book is finished and you find that you've read it in one sitting.

Jack Mullen is a law student who returns home when his 21 year old brother, Peter, is found dead in suspicious circumstances. The inquest rules accidental death or suicide but with all of the witnesses having been threatened or bought, Jack knows that isn't the true story of show more Peter's death. As Jack starts to look into Peter's life, it all leads to billionaire Barry Neubauer's annual party at his beach house in The Hamptons. Jack and his friends have a plan to get justice for Peter and to manoeuvre Barry Neubauer into a position that his money can't buy him out of.

The Beach House is such a quick read as it is so addictive that you can't put it down once you pick it up. Not simply a battle of good versus evil (I spotted the Empire Strikes Back reference) but more a reassurance that money can't buy you everything. You might be able to buy the law but you can't buy the truth, I said as I fist bumped the air.

I absolutely loved The Beach House; it firmly reminded me why James Patterson is a bestselling author and with the addition of Peter De Jonge, he has written an outstanding, fast-paced, unique legal thriller. show less

Why do I keep reading James Patterson? Is it because I keep hoping that among the books of his I get in hand me downs or from Little Free Libraries, there will be one decent book?

Ok. This was one of his better books... but not by much. There's the usual Patterson style with short, choppy chapters, and a ending that is quickly wrapped up. One thing I really had to wonder here, given what was revealed at the ending, is how the main character didn't end up with HIV. For real, given how long the main antagonist had had HIV, it didn't take me long to connect the dots.

How does Patterson do it? How does he never let me down?

I needed to read a book set on a beach for my summer reading challenge, and I happened to have this one on the shelf. I started it in the morning and didn't put it down until I had read the last word at almost midnight. I did very little the rest of the day. I even shooed my husband away when he came to sit next to me on the sofa.

The tale of rich vs working-class hits right on the nose, with feelings of the hit TV series "Revenge" throughout. You can see the smug, self-satisfied looks on the rich faces as they know their sins will not catch up with them; you can feel the defeat and frustration of the blue-collar population who realize the law is NOT on their side.

And when justice show more finally DOES prevail, it is sweet, indeed. This is a page-turner, very fast-paced and intriguing. Recommended. show less

Let me preface this by saying that as exalted an author James Patterson is, his books just are not for me. My husband- yes, and he is the one who suggested i give this one a whirl. Fast paced and full of hold -your-breath moments BEACH HOUSE is an attention grabber! The loyalty of brothers.....the adoration and acceptance of one another and one hell of a bizarre murder. Proof that the acquisition of money doesn't make any single person better than another. This book is full of suspicions , friendships, loyalties and manipulations! How far would YOU go to delve into the actual truth of a loved ones death?????

Wow I needed that after reading "I never played the game". I just sat here and read it straight through in a few hours. It was a quick, easy, compelling read. Patterson is a heck of an author. He writes great characters, protagonists you love to love and villains who are very easy to hate. I wouldn't call it a literary classic, but it was a fun easy read quite contrasted to my previously mentioned previous read.

This was an easy read about a young man’s immediate struggle to believe his brother’s death was a suicide. As he fights for the truth he learns harsh truths regarding his brother. This battle becomes quite large. There is a unique setup in this story that rallies many. I found myself thinking “ wish this would happen in reality”!

Wow I needed that after reading "I never played the game". I just sat here and read it straight through in a few hours. It was a quick, easy, compelling read. Patterson is a heck of an author. He writes great characters, protagonists you love to love and villains who are very easy to hate. I wouldn't call it a literary classic, but it was a fun easy read quite contrasted to my previously mentioned previous read.