|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
James Patterson takes a break from writing another Alex Cross novel to collaborate on a different type of mystery novel. With the assistance of Peter De Jonge, writer for the New Yorker and the New York Times Magazine, Patterson takes us to the Hamptons. It is a place where the rich gather, lots of posh parties, many wannabes, and those that are. Peter Mullen is a young man who enjoys life and works as a valet at those parties. One day things do not turn out well and he is found dead. His brother, Jack wants to know the truth about the alleged suicide of his brother and gets stonewalled. Everyone is telling him to let it go, and accept the suicide story. What he will learn is that power and money buys anything in this rich culture. In order to win, he is going to have to break the rules and if it involves performing a crime. So be it. This novel is a clichÈ that does not provide anything new that cannot be found in a Susan Isaacsís novel, Wolfeís Bonfire of the Vanities, or even on Vanity Fire magazine. The rich are power hungry, the movie actors are complete airheads and the police are on the take. It is a complete stereotype. Jack Mullen manages to perform the impossible and in the end everyone gets theirs. The only thing that helps distinguish this book from other Patterson novels is the short chapters and all the white space. Not even Gil Bellows (The Agency and Ally McBeal), the reader of the unabridged audio book can save this novel. Every time he finishes a chapter the cue for the music start and a Law & Order ëkha-khaní separates each chapter. We are talking over a hundred and twenty chapters. Once you finish reading the book, one thing will pop into your head ñ Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt. The Beach House is not worth the effort to pick up.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, February 2003
This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
