Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: not bad but not the best Review: I felt like I was reading a Sidney Shelton book. I have to admit it started very Shelton-ish but became Patterson towards the end. The "mystery" was back. This book wasn't as good as the usual Alex Cross series but I enjoyed reading it. The only big complaint I have is it kind of dragged. I thought it was too long for a simple story like this. This book is not the best but not the worst either. I would recommend it if you're truly bored.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Like Another Person Said, Not The Best Patterson. Review: This book was REALLY draggy until the "Trial and Error" section. That was the part when the book turned into true Patterson work. But overall, it was a wonderful read. It was kind of like one of those movies that takes FOREVER to get to the point, but when it finally does, you realize that all those boring parts were necessary to make the movie, or book in this case, what it is...
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: You won't put it down until you're finished! Review: Peekaboo! I killed you...or did I? This was the question in James Patterson's novel, Hide and Seek. Did Maggie Bradford kill her second husband, Will Shepherd? Even the suspect herself doesn't know. The answer isn't revealed until the end of the story, which makes for a suspense-filled page-turner. Similar to Patterson's other novels, he keeps the audience guessing until the end with surprise twists all throughout that throw off any conclusions the reader may have made. The story starts out with the heroine hiding with her young daughter from her crazed husband, Phillip. As it turns out, Maggie Bradford does kill her first husband, but in self-defense. Then the novel jumps to the present time where Maggie is being held in a prison cell for the supposed murder of her second husband. She wonders, 'Am I a murderer? Did I kill not one, but two of my husbands?' Suddenly, the reader is taken back to the past. Maggie has becomes an in-demand songwriter for popular singers, and a singer herself. Will Shepherd, an ex-soccer star turned actor, insinuates himself in her life, and soon, they are married. As Maggie narrates from the present about her life with Will, the reader is slowly exposed to the other side of Will. The side not shown to the rest of the world: 'the werewolf.' Gradually, her story of the past merges with the present time, her trial for the murder of Will Shepherd. Hide and Seek is a skillfully written novel with an exciting plot. Patterson's style of excerpts from Maggie in the present-day commenting on the past allows for a unique perspective of the story. His vivid descriptions and colorful vocabulary bring the characters to life. The reader is pulled into the story as if you are watching the action happen. Once you start reading, you won't want to put the book down until you are finished. Anyone with a taste for an action-filled thriller will enjoy this novel immensely.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: shallow,but entertaining enough Review: James Patterson seems to have mastered the craft of fairly entertaining,mindless pageturners quite brilliantly.As a matter of fact,in you're in a market for a quick read,that will touch neither your heart,nor your mind,but will surely kill time,this is a book for you.The characters are all too stereotypical and predictable,however the plot does throw in a curveball or two.he writing style is average at best and quite devoid of charm or humor in itself.To sum up,the waters are only ankle deep,but warm enough to enjoy.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Ummm... no Review: The first book I ever read by James Patterson was "Cat & Mouse," which many consider to be his best book yet. "Hide & Seek" was the second. I was pretty disappointed."Hide & Seek" switches back and forth between two characters and two time periods. The story revolves around Maggie Bradford, a world-famous singer (the first song she wrote was eventually sung by Barbara Streisand), and her husbands. When the story is set in the present tense, Maggie is telling it from jail. She's there for the murder of her husband Will Sheperd, the other main character. Maggie tells the tale of her first abusive husband, whom she shot in self-defense, her first REAL love, who dies of a heart attack, and her second REAL love, Will Sheperd, who turns out to be just as abusive as her first husband. The story jumps around constantly from past to present, from character to character. The beginning is slow, but it picks up around the middle. The ending is very predictable, and not worth going through the rest of the book. James Patterson is a masterful author. I've since read other books of his that are amazing, so I think this one could be chalked up to inexperience.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Hooked by a Thriller Review: This was the first book by James Patterson that I have read and well, HE HOOKED ME. In the beginning it was a slow book and I felt I should return it to the shelf. But then as the book went on I just could not put it down. The characters were great and the suspense was a killer. I was not extrememly impressed by the book but if this is one of his worst then i can't wait to read his best. ALL AND ALL I ENJOYED READING IT.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Readable Review: I like HIDE AND SEEK (For anyone interested, I just dropped a cheese-laden alfredo noodle on my keyboard), but interestingly I despise the characters, their lives, and all of their family. Maggie, the famous gee-whiz supermom singer, is a joke. Will, the Stone Barrington, bigger and better looking than a Backstreet boy soccer star, is an even sicker joke. Paper thin throw-aways. The plot, chock full of cliche and melodrama, strains its way toward the end of the book, ocasionally dragging severly. It is the incidents are the star of this novel. Incident after incident after incident. I read it in one sitting, and guess what? I don't regret it. Patterson turns the right screws at important times and gets away the with the rest of the crap. What a lucky guy! I'll tell you one more thing about Maggie. I was nauseated by her and her children. They actually called themselves JAM. The first initials of Maggie, Jennie, and Allie. How replusive.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Not the best James Patterson book Review: I am a huge fan of James Patterson...I am now trying to read some of his earlier books. I picked up Hide and Seek expecting great things - after all, his Alex Cross series is great; I loved 1st to Die; and thought Suzanne's Diary for Nicolas was a brave move into general fiction. Well, I was disappointed! The book is about Maggie Bradford and her past loves. Within several chapters you find out she has 'murdered' several past husbands and lovers. The book flips between her in jail, her past husbands and their background, her past, and what has happened to get her arrested for murder. This book is not written well. It jumps back and forth so much between current day and past as well as various characters that it is hard to keep up with what's going on. The characters are not well developed - they are one dimensional and flat. The story is predictable and boring. I only stuck with the book hoping it would get better - it didn't. Since this is an early James Patterson, perhaps we can chalk this book up to inexperience. Luckily he has learned from his mistakes and is now producing great books.... Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend this book to others...unless you want to compare his earlier work to his current masterpieces of mystery/suspense.
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: Two Thumbs down for Patterson! Review: Very disappointing. I became a big fan of James Patterson suspense novels when I first read Kiss the Girls. I have just finished Hide and Seek and I am very disappointed! Could this be the same Patterson who wrote Along came a Spider and Kiss the Girls? First of all, the language is so un-patterson! The main character, Maggie is portrayed as a total bimbo and the plot was totally predictable. Hasn't the woman learned her lesson?Nevertheless, I managed to finish the book because I wanted to find out whether there were more twists and surprises and there were none. Hide and Seek must have been one of Mr. Patterson's earlier works and it could have been written by any C-Grade writers. It does not have the suspense and personal touches that are characteristic of Patterson. Don't waste your time on this one.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: I Enjoyed Listening to the Tape Review: I have read a few of James Patterson's books but his was the first one I listened to on tape. I must say that had I read the book instead of listened to two professional actors read the book to me I might not have liked the story as much. This was not the best Patterson book I have read. Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were very suspenseful stories. I really didn't like When the Wind Blows. Since others have written reviews on the story itself, I will comment on the tape experience, with some reference to the story. What I liked most about the tape was the use of two actors. A female actress read the chapters that came from Maggie Bradford's perspective (the unfortunate superstar) while a male actor reads Will's side (the evil soccer star). As a result, the notion that you are in the character's head is further felt. I have listen to other books where the actor actually takes away from the story. In this case, both actors do a great job. As for the story, I enjoyed this book very much but I do have two complaints. First of all, the Will character is just too much. Does he have to be the greatest soccer player in the world? Couldn't he have an ounce of goodness in him? The story would have been better if Will wasn't so evil. I like a suspense story better if I have just a little compassion for the bad guy. Second, the story was a bit predictable. I certainly didn't predict the whole ending but you have a pretty good idea where the story is going by page 50 (or in my case: cassette one, side one). All in all, I liked Hide and Seek. I liked the Maggie Bradford character. While the suspense level was not up to some of Patterson's other books, it'll keep you up at night.
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