The Coast-to-Coast Murders, by James Patterson & JD Barker

Are you wearing a seatbelt? Because you need to buckle up for the ride that is The Coast-to-Coast Murders! I haven’t reviewed a James Patterson book in AGES, because we were on a bit of a break. After hearing good things about this book though, I figured I needed to give James another chance.

What is The Coast-to-Coast Murders about?

Michael and Megan Fitzgerald are siblings who share a terrifying past. Both adopted, and now grown — Michael is a long-haul truck driver, Megan a college student majoring in psychology — they trust each other before anyone else. They’ve had to. Their parents are public intellectuals, an Ivy League clinical psychologist and a renowned psychiatrist, and they brought up their adopted children in a rarefied, experimental environment. It sheltered them from the world’s harsh realities, but it also forced secrets upon them, secrets they keep at all costs.

In Los Angeles, Detective Garrett Dobbs and FBI Agent Jessica Gimble have joined forces to work a murder that seems like a dead cinch. Their chief suspect is quickly identified and apprehended –but then there’s another killing just like the one they’ve been investigating. And another. And not just in Los Angeles — the spree spreads across the country. The Fitzgerald family comes to the investigators’ attention, but Dobbs and Gimble are at a loss — if one of the four is involved, which Fitzgerald might it be?

From coastal California to upstate New York, Dobbs and Gimble race against time and across state lines to stop an ingenious and deeply deranged killer — one whose dark and twisted appetites put them outside the range of logic or experience.

My Review

Characters and Story line

The book starts off immediately with Michael discovering a body in his apartment and calling the police. Michael to me, seems innocent of this crime. He swears he does not know the victim, but how then is he in photos with her? How are his clothes in her apartment? We’ve seen this story done before right? Somebody finds a body, they swear they are innocent. Been there, done that. Many times! It is however a story I am very interested in…..whodunnit? What’s different this time?

Megan is Michael’s sister and they are each other’s rock. Michael calls on Megan when the body is discovered, and being his sister….she wants to help. In any way that she can….because that’s what siblings do, right?

We meet some other characters as well…Dobbs and Gimble are the LAPD and FBI agents on Michael’s tail. There’s also Dr Bart and Dr Rose, the adoptive parents of Michael and Megan. The book is told from the POV of Michael, Dobbs, Gimble, Dr Rose and Megan’s. I found Megan’s POV most interesting as hers is done in the format of a sworn statement. So her chapters are a recap of events, at the end, but during the book. Makes sense right?

My Thoughts

I have reviewed so many James Patterson books and I just felt nothing was impressing me anymore. However, JD Barker really brought his voice to this book and I am here for it! The books starts out of the gate, being really punchy and interesting. The shorter chapters allow for that feeling of: Just one more chapter! One more chapter! Then before I knew it, I had read over 500 pages in one sitting!

This was so easy to read….I loved that there are no unnecessarily long descriptions of trees and roads. The Coast-to-Coast Murders was a rollercoaster ride! One I did not want to get off of. There were some confusing bits, where things were a bit chaotic, and the ending had me going WTF just happened…..but in a good way. I really just enjoyed this book so much. Easy to read, thrilling, a page turner….everything you want from a thriller.

My Rating

The Coast-to-Coast Murders has a Goodreads rating of 3.9 stars, which is pretty accurate. This may be my highest JP rating yet, I’m giving this book 4.5 stars! I did find some of it to be a bit chaotic and unbelievable….so I am a bit torn w.r.t just giving it 5 stars, but I really enjoyed this one! It’s pretty close to 5 stars for me.

Want to know which other James Patterson Books I’ve enjoyed? 

Unsolved, by James Patterson {Book Review}

Target: Alex Cross by James Patterson {Book Review}

Disclaimer: The Coast-to-Coast Murders was sent to me by Penguin Random House SA in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.