Rating: 
Summary: Second rate
Review: While looking for a quick and easy poolside summertime read, I picked up *Hide and Seek* at the local library. Having finished the book, I'm now soooo glad I didn't shell out any money for it, as it's one of the shoddiest novels I've read in a while. I gather that when the mood strikes him Patterson can really write, but this book is just plain second rate. The characters are one-dimensional, the writing is so plain and simplistic that a typical fifth grader could easily plow through the book in a few hours, and the story itself is unbelievably dumb. There are some twists and turns in the plot that might provide some interest, but these are so implausible as to likely generate sneering scorn rather than excitement. And what's up with writing books with a hundred or so two or three-page "chapters." Is this a comment on the contemporary U.S. attention span? It seems that in this book Patterson was aiming squarely at the lowest common denominator, while at the same time hoping, perhaps that *Hide and Seek* would provide an ideal vehicle for one of those tear-jerking made-for-tv films (which now apparently are becoming extinct, thank goodness). If this sounds like your kind of novel, then by all means pick it up and breeze through it.
Rating: 
Summary: WOAH
Review: This Patterson dude CAN write! this was nothing compared to Kiss The Girls though (my favorite) but this book was awesome at times it was "okay" but then u wanted to keep on turning the pages and not put it down
Rating: 
Summary: two thumbs down
Review: I'm probably not as qualified to judge this book as the other reviewers, because I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. This is the first time I have done this with a book that I paid for (a borrowed or stolen book does not seem to carry the same obligation). I enjoyed a James Patterson book a friend gave me, and I purchased several more. Generally, I have greatly enjoyed Mr. Patterson's Alex Cross novels. However, I am willing to bet that if an unknown author had submitted "Hide and Seek", there would be no chance of publication. I found it to be incredibly boring, and I came to loathe all of the characters by the time I quit reading in complete disgust, 276 pages in. I am guessing that this was an early failure by Mr. Patterson, which was resurrected and published after he became well known. My $.02.
Rating:
Summary: HIDE AND SEEK IS HAUNTINGLY CHILLING
Review: My first James Patterson book is HIDE AND SEEK and I have been engaged by his writing since. His style of narration is personalized and most affecting. No nuances here, but HIDE AND SEEK is extremely gripping and riveting. It tells of a singer Maggie and his 3 dead lovers, and the intense characterization saves the novel from being banal, especially when Will as the devious and debonair paycho takes centrestage. He is a tortured soul and manipulates people including his brother to satisfy his virulent passions. Murders, deception and the first few chapters on Maggie's abused past is hauntingly chilling. James Patterson writes with speed and cuts to the point with precision. He dissects the character's soul with succinct description. For a fast read, he is definitely one of the best writers around. HIDE AND SEEK is definitely at the zenith of suspense - the read will induce a primal fear that you can't hide from.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good One
Review: I have liked all books by the author thus far. I was trying for an Alex Cross featured one at the library but got this one. No regrets. Good story here with Maggie always questioning herself as to whether she's a murderess or just a victim of circumstance. Will Sheppards story was equally good. The best was when the two were together. Good side characters with Barry, Norma, Allie and Jennie. Well put together. Only exception being Maggie held in Bedford Hills C.F.(State Prison) before trial instead of Westchester County Jail. All things told, I liked the story and look forward to reading all of Mr. Patterson's work.
Rating:
Summary: Say it ain't so!
Review: I refuse to believe that "HIDE & SEEK" was written by the same guy responsible for creating the Alex Cross novels! Maybe it's that my expecatations are higher for James Patterson -- he is, after all, one of the better American mystery novelists alive. Or maybe it's because I couldn't have cared any less for the characters in "HIDE & SEEK" -- they were about as three dimensional as a piece of paper. Or maybe it's because I felt like this novel was riding on the coattails of the OJ trial. Maybe it's all the above. Had "HIDE & SEEK" been written by any other author, I may not have been so brutal in my review. But I have a feeling that this story had been tucked aside before Patterson became the suspense novelist we all now know, only to be published as a "filler" between Alex Cross novels. The plot, which revolves around a famous singer/songwriter that has been put to trial for the murder of her latest husband (making this her second or third homicide, depending on who you ask), runs pretty thin at times. Even the scenes with Barbara Streisand and Harry Conick were rediculous. At times I felt like I was reading the novel through frosted lenses because the heroine was painted as such a celebrity angel. And I won't even get started on the dialogue. Whatever the case may be, I ask James Patterson never to stop writing about Alex Cross. It's what he does best.
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars. Scary, Suspenceful!
Review: This is by far the Scariest James Patterson Book of all. It is shocking twisted, well written and very frightning. James Patterson has all the burnes cooking with this erotic thriller. A Murder, and another murder. Now a woman is in prison. The only twist they were both self defense. In a way I think this was what Double Jeopardy (movie) was based on, because it is severely twisted.
Rating:
Summary: NO DET CROSS BUT STILL EXCELLENT!
Review: Ok Ok, so this doesn't have the sensational Detective Cross, but it is still one hell of a brilliant story by James! As much as I love Cross and his band of men, I have to admit that James can still write excellent suspense novels without the help of his famous and very goodlooking(!) Alex Cross! This is a story about Maggie Bradford, a famous singer, who is in an abusive marriage - two infact - and how she deals with them. I thought that although this was not quite the fastpaced, action-packed "Kiss the Girls" or "Along Came a Spider" it was still and enjoyable book that left me wanting more. A definate plus on JP's side is the fact that he has such short chapters which makes you want to read more, and before you know it, you are off to get another JP book before you suffer from withdrawal symptoms. If you are looking for a crime novel like "Kiss the Girls" then you will be disappointed but if you are looking for something from James Patterson that is still easy to read and keeps you up all night trying to finish it, then you will love "Hide and Seek".
Rating:
Summary: Can't win 'em all
Review: I can't quite put my finger on just one reason why I do not like this novel. Perhaps it's because I read this one right after I read KISS THE GIRLS. Perhaps I was in a bad mood when I read it. Whatever the reason, HIDE & SEEK never redeemed itself in my eyes. The novel is short (my hardcover version is just over 300 pages), but it seemed to take me forever to get to the end. I was very surprised at the mediocrity of the storyline. Maggie Bradford is a survivor of an extremely abusive marriage. She flees with her daughter but not before firing away at the lout she married. Fast forward a few years and Maggie is a successful singer/songwriter on trial once again for the murder of husband #2. Did she do it? Is it coincedence? Is she the victim or the perpetrator?
To be honest, I never connected with any of the characters. I truly didn't care who did what to whom and how anyone may or may not have died. The novel has Patterson's trademark short 'n sweet chapters, but I felt it lacked his ability to build suspense and to create interesting characters. I've liked almost everything so far that I've read by Patterson. Every author has his/her clunkers; I hope that this is Patterson's only one.
Rating:
Summary: One bad apple
Review: I love James Patterson's books but this one did not live up tohis standards. I felt it jumped around a lot and was slow in some areas. It got lost in too much detail about Will. It sure was like a soap opra (who's child is who's). It was easy to figure out the end. I did like the added twist on the last few pages. If it had been written by another author I would have stopped reading it before half the book was done, but I kept thinking it would get better. I do look forward to the next book.
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