The Writer

Author: James Patterson & JD Barter
Genre: Crime Thriller
400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2025

Synopsis
NYPD Detective Declan Shaw gets the call from his lieutenant at 9:42 p.m. How fast can you get to 211 Central Park West? The Beresford Building.

At Apartment 18A, Shaw’s partner briefs him. The woman inside called 911 to report a break-in—and the murder of her husband. She fired a round at first responders, then made a baffling demand. Nobody comes in but Detective Declan Shaw.

The woman answers, covered in blood. She appears to be in shock. A body is lying dead on the floor of the luxurious living room. 

Shaw walks in and spots floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with hardcover books. He recognizes the name—bestselling true-crime author Denise Morrow. When he looks closer, he sees they all show the same familiar picture on the back. 

“This is you?” Shaw asks. “You’re a writer?” The real question Is she also a killer?

My review
The Writer by James Patterson and JD Barker is a fast-paced, twisty crime thriller that keeps the tension high from start to finish. This was my first Patterson novel, but since I’m a big fan of JD Barker’s 4MK series, I couldn’t wait to see how this collaboration compared. While it doesn’t quite match the complexity, character depth, or suspense of the 4MK series, I still found it to be a fun and entertaining read. The pacing is quick, with no slow moments, and the twists just kept coming. Every time I thought I’d hit the big reveal, another twist popped up and I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter.

I had to suspend disbelief throughout most of the narrative and overlook a few plot holes, but that didn’t take away from how much fun I had reading this novel. The pages flew by, and I was never bored. The Writer isn’t your typical gritty, realistic police procedural or a character-driven story. Instead, it’s a clever, twist-filled thriller that’s both highly entertaining and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend an afternoon.

The Writer had me completely engrossed from start to finish. . . . and the ending was absolutely perfect!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson and JD Barker for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

My recommendation: definitely worth the read if you’re looking for an entertaining afternoon escape!