The Postcard Killers
Paris іѕ stunning іn thе summer
NYPD detective Jacob Kanon іѕ οn a tour οf Europe’s mοѕt gοrgеουѕ cities. Bυt thе sights aren’t whаt draw hіm–hе sees each museum, each cathedral, аnd each cafe through thе eyes οf hіѕ daughter’s killer.
Thе kіllіng іѕ simply marvelous
Kanon’s daughter, Kimmy, аnd hеr boyfriend wеrе murdered whіlе οn vacation іn Rome. Sіnсе thеn, young couples іn Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, аnd Stockholm hаνе bееn found dead. Lіttlе connects thе murders, οthеr thаn a postcard tο thе local newspaper thаt precedes each nеw victim.
Wish уου wеrе here
Now Kanon teams up wіth thе Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson, whο hаѕ јυѕt received a postcard іn Stockholm–аnd thеу thіnk thеу know whеrе thе next victims wіll bе. Wіth relentless logic аnd unstoppable action, Thе Postcard Killers mау bе James Patterson’s mοѕt vivid аnd compelling thriller уеt.
Thе Postcard Killers
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Review by Woody Davis for The Postcard Killers
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I am a 62 year old professional who has been an avid reader all my life. I enjoy reading the works of both great writers (i.e. Hemingway and Fitzgerald) and storytellers. For many years James Patterson was one of my favorite storytellers. The early Alex Cross and his other pieces were great escapes and delights. They were well written, suspenseful and enjoyable. But recently, Patterson has become a whore to the almighty dollar and as despicable as many of his antagonists. He has sold his name and reputations to others, some of whom could have maybe achieved prestige with a little patience and practice. This mode of operation is a threat to the encouragement of budding authors. I would encourage all other avid readers of good fiction to find alternatives of Mr. Patterson’s “works” and hope that he will return to writing his own stories.
Review by Alla S. for The Postcard Killers
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In the “Postcard Killers,” Patterson teams up with popular Swedish crime writer Liza Marklund to write a serial murder mystery set in some beautiful European settings. The book starts with Sylvia and Mac seducing an English couple they met in a museum. In a short time, the couple turns up dead. Soon we learn that this is not an isolated incident, but similar, seemingly random murders of young couples gave been sprouting up all over Europe. The only clue to these grotesque murders is a postcard sent to the local paper where the future murder will take place.
This is how we meet Swedish crime columnist Dessie Larsson, who has just received a similar postcard. Enter Jacob Kannon, an NYPD detective whose daughter was murdered on her honeymoon, and who has obsessively been following the murders as they occur–finding out about Dessie’s postcard and traveling to Sweden to meet with her. The sub-plot becomes Dessie’s and Jacob’s complicated relationship. Dessie can’t stand Jacob and doesn’t understand why the killers chose to address the postcard to her. Jacob is hurt by Dessie’s indifferent behavior and vows to do anything to catch the killers.
While Jacob and Dessie try to figure out the killers’ motive, the murders continue to occur until they become an international journalism sensation–with the killers referred to as the “postcard killers.” What further complicates the murders is that the victims are arranged into strange poses following their murders, which leads Dessie to a nagging suspicion that the killers are trying to send some kind of message.
As are all Patterson’s books, it was a quick read with really short chapters. I find it’s much easier to turn the page when the chapter is a page and a half as opposed to ten pages. The plot itself is not a “whodunnit,” as Patterson and Marklund devote chapters that dissect the circumstances of the murders, but more of a how-do-we-catch-the-villains. The international settings and the controversial biography of the villains add an interesting dimension to the straightforward plot. Overall, an entertaining story.
Review by Ronald Pavlovich for The Postcard Killers
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I am a bit split on this book, the first 200 pages or so had me riveted, but the second half I thought a bit too drawn out. The conclusion I did not find that satisfying. The story follows New York Homicide detective Jacob Kanon on a journey to capture the monsters who have murdered his college age daughter while she is vacationing in Rome. The killers are known as the post card killers as they send a post card to newspaper reporters in the City they intend to take their next victim from. The story does move at a rapid pace, with adult themes and some pretty heavy violence. If you enjoy this type of story I highly recommend the thriller “A Tourist In The Yucatan”.
Review by A. Roberts for The Postcard Killers
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I finished “Postcard Killers” last night and it was a chore. Actually after I got to the incestuous relationship I lost any interest in the book. That was just disgusting. I’m not a prude when reading novels and expect some profanity and even sexual scenes, however, the incest just lost it for me. I did skim quit a bit from then on and read the last chapters but when I finished there were no characters who really grabbed me or that I would want to know more about. Many times when I finish a book there will be characters that have interesed me and think I would like to know what happens to them or maybe even hope for a sequel-not so here. I had empathy with Jacob for the loss of his daughter but yet just couldn’t get interested in his character-he seemed out of control a lot of the time and seemed to me that he could have accomplished more with a little more control. Essie didn’t seem terribly interesting either. First she’s married for 4 years-then is in a realtionship with a woman for awhile then back to men. Since the co-author I gather is Swedish perhaps the whole style of the book is more European-I don’t know!!
Even the victims for the most part who were seduced by the killers-why would their actions not raise red flags to someone. IT would seem that when Sylvia hit on the guy, the lover or wife would say. “Let’s get out of here!” And you would allow a stranger to stand and watch you put in your pin # when purchasing something. There just seemed so many things that didn’t ring true.
The book moves along at a quick pace most of the time and I could have seen possilbiites for this particular storyline. It’s a scenario that’s been used before but most storylines have been used. I think it could have worked without the Incest-because after that it was just creepy to me. Some liked the book so guess that didn’t bother them and perhaps they see something worthy in it I didn’t.
I enjoy a good mystery/thriller but this one just had too many things that didn’t work for me. Would I try another James Patterson with or without a co-author-of course-just wouldn’t buy it. Maybe try getting it at the library first! Then I’ve lost nothing except some time. I have liked many of Mr. Patterson’s books so won’t give up that easily.
Review by Robert Brooks for The Postcard Killers
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When I read the “free preview” of this book (you can see my old review below) I gave this book four stars. The free preview provided the first 100 or so pages; what turned out to be the most interesting part of the book. The quality of the writing, and the suspense, ebbs and flows substantially throughout the book.
The premise of the book is quite interesting: a couple is traveling through Europe murdering a couple in famous cities. Before they commit each murder they send a post-card to a local crime reporter, and after the murder is completed they send pictures of the murder to that same reporter. This is how the authors bring in one of the two main characters: Dessie. Dessie is the crime reporter who receives the post-card in Sweden, thus bringing her in to the center of the action. However, Dessie is not a common crime beat reporter: she is writing her Ph.D. on the social ramifications and systems of petty thieves, which assists her throughout the book. The second main character is Jacob Kannon, who has has personal reasons for chasing the murderers, and will go to almost any extent to find them.
The book is entertaining, however, it is horribly cliched. I don’t want to give away any of the substantial elements of the plot, but you have the rough and dirty cop, willing to do anything to achieve his ways (who, of course, is a better cop than anyone else around him); the inevitable tension that arises between the main male character and the main female character; and the “I’ll have to do it on my own” mentality of the hero. The only original portion of the story is the motivation of the killers, which is indeed quite interesting and alone keeps the book (and the reader) moving along. There is substantially more, but I would have to reveal actual events to relate those cliches. Not only is the plot itself cliched, and frankly very formulaic, but the dialogue is often cliched and juvenile. Take this quote from a moderately intense emotional moment:
“You’re pretty cool,” he said in a quiet voice.
“You’re pretty weird,” she said. “Do you know that?”
Much of the dialogue is similarly formulaic and un-lifelike. However, despite the formulaic nature and some of the more stilted writing, the book is pretty entertaining. The book would be fun to read by the beach of pool on a Saturday, finishing off the remainder too late at night to discover the ending.
A note to Kindle owners: The price is awfully high for the kindle edition, and I probably would not have purchased this book if I had not been hooked by the free preview that is available.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Review of Free Preview Below++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Elevator,” Sylvia said. “I’m tired. Murder is hard work, darling.”
And so begins the latest thriller from James Patterson. This preview contains, roughly, the first 100 pages of the book, introducing the reader to all the main characters: Jacob Kannon, a NYPD Detective chasing two international killers through Europe for personal reasons. Dessie, a small time crime reporter who is suddenly and unexpectedly thrown in to the middle of the case on the arrival of a mysterious post-card. And, of course, the killers, who travel from European country to European country, seeking out new victims.
The book is fast-paced, entertaining, and makes for a good “stay up too late trying to finish just one more chapter” book. It is certainly not sophisticated literature or Agatha Christie-style mystery, but I certainly enjoyed the thus-revealed story. As long as you are just looking for a “fun-read,” this book should suffice.
I found the characters compelling for the most part. The killers motives have yet to be revealed in this preview, and so at times it is difficult to understand the premise for any of their actions; but, I suppose, this is true of most killers!
This preview has certainly done its job: I eagerly await the full release of the book in 10 days.