“NYPD Red 3” by James Patterson and Marshall Karp – Snatchers in Paradise

Fast-paced detective dramas, though seldom have true depth, are still a favorite genre for many literature enthusiasts due to the sheer rush and thrill they provide, how they quench the thirst we have for quick and intense stories that reward you almost instantly.

James Patterson and Marshall Karp have established themselves as rather proficient authors in this category, and most recently cemented their place even further with NYPD Red 3, a continuation of the series in which an elite task force spearheaded by detectives Zachary Jordan and Kylie McDonald, is assigned to protecting and serving, but the rich and famous exclusively.

In this latest story we follow the two protagonists as they try to celebrate New Year's Eve, but like every single detective since the beginning of time, they find the party to be cut short by a rather dramatic happening at the home of a billionaire businessman, Hunter Alden Jr. Soon after, his teenage son, Tripps, goes missing, but curiously enough the man doesn't seem in too much of a hurry to get his son back.

Excluding the idea that Hunter simply got really tired of him and is enjoying the time apart, the detectives proceed to dig further and soon enough stumble upon a rather grizzly conspiracy that leads all the way to the top echelons of New York's high society.

As you can expect, NYPD Red 3 makes for a relatively short and intense read, with the action moving forward at a breakneck speed, taking you from twist to the next turn in the blink of an eye.

Though there is little room left for deep character development, Patterson and Karp do attempt to include a bit of it, mainly by building on the rapport Zach and Kylie have together. The way they interact with each other can be humorous at times and never feels corny or forced, an important element in detective works with two leads.

As far as the rest of the cast goes, we don't have much time to get acquainted with them but they do feel fleshed out enough to be believable... just the right amount for this kind of book.

What sort of holds the book back in my opinion is that it never manages to shed the cloak of predictability. Don't get me wrong, the story is more than enticing enough to make you flip through the pages in a frenzy and there actually are a couple of twists that were surprising.

For the most part though, it feels as though we know what is coming most of the time and though the twists and turns may be quick and sharp, they stray down the beaten path.

On the other hand, it has to be admitted that the book's quick pace does largely compensate for that, with perhaps the intention being to make the chase itself as fun as possible.

All things taken into consideration, NYPD Red 3 is most certainly a welcome and solid addition to the detective genre, and even though it has its shortcomings, when we review it as a whole, it is more than the sum of its parts and ends up being a thrilling experience, a ride that will leave some sort of impression on you.

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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.