“NYPD Red 2” by James Patterson and Marshall Karp – A Theater of Death

The NYPD Red is about as elite as a police task force can get; all of its members’ physical and mental capabilities are second to none, and they wouldn’t have it any other way for their mission is to protect the most powerful, influential and wealthy citizens out there.

In NYPD Red 2, by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, we are once again plunged into the lives of Zach and Kylie, the top NYPD Red agents, as they are dragged into a most horrific case.

The gruesomely-violated body of a young woman is found on display, wearing a hazmat suit, attached to a spinning carousel repainted into a nightmare, right in the heart of Central Park.

What’s worse, this murder is quickly linked to three other recent ones, with the killer obviously trying to send some sort of message, each crime being very carefully and meticulously crafted.

If you’ve already read Patterson’s detective works before, then you know precisely what to expect here: a very solid and thrilling mystery with plenty of intelligent twists and turns, written in a rather simple but concise and elegant style, allowing you to read through the whole book like a breeze.

Though most of the characters aren’t exactly developed very deeply, the protagonists are given the attention they deserve, with one of the story’s main dynamics even being a big secret kept by one of them.

They aren’t cardboard cutouts, they have their own thoughts, mindsets and worldviews, and it really feels as if you are witnessing real people working on a case, rather than reading about a bunch of fictional people.

I have to say that the mystery itself is right up there with some of the more solid detective works out there. The killer has very clearly-defined and delineated motivations, intentions and a chain of logic which won’t exactly make you side with him, but will probably make him a fascinating character (at least in my opinion).

This isn’t just a hunt for a psychopath… in addition to that, it is also an exploration of a deranged and depraved mind, one which helps to make this villain feel real, and even larger-than-life in certain regards.

All things considered, though NYPD Red 2 may not exactly break through into uncharted territory, it does deliver a powerful, captivating and entertaining story that will hook you in from the very start.

If you are a fan of Patterson’s style and/or are looking for a detective story that is well-developed and complete in every regard, then I am certain you’ll be finishing it before you know it.

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	James B. Patterson Personal site James Patterson is an American writer who has dedicated a large part of his literary career to writing murder-related thrillers, inventing in the process two memorable character-based series in Alex Cross and Michael Bennett. His most prominent works include Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.
	Marshall Karp Personal site Marshall Karp has been a writer his entire life, creating scripts for commercials, plays, sitcoms, and even a movie. Now, he has dedicate himself to being a full-time author. After five years of effort, he managed to publish his first book, The Rabbit Factory, which turned out to a be a real success.