I have a number of James Patterson books in my collection
and this was the latest one I have read. I read this one as I am currently
taking part in a ‘read the alphabet of books’ challenge and needed one which
started with ‘Z’. (I now need to find one starting with ‘X’ – does a book called
Xylophone murders exist?).
Patterson does work with a number of different authors for
some of his books and this one was written with Michael Ledwidge.
Basic Plot:
Something is wrong, something is very wrong. Animals,
including the most loyal sweet and gentle dog are beginning to unite against
the common enemy – humans….
Jackson Oz has spotted this and has been researching it for
some years but scientists and most of the country think that he not only has a
screw loose but a whole Meccano set has fallen apart in there…
Can the human race be saved or is it already too late….?
What I thought of it:
In general this was a well written novel and Patterson is
still, in my opinion, towards the top of the tree in this genre of novels. The
main plot with some sub plots woven in does work well but one or two of the sub
plots do seem as if they have been added to get the page numbers up as they
appear to have little link to the rest of the story and they contain characters
which are only mentioned in these bits. Whilst Patterson’s books are fairly
easy to read this does not detract away from his skill as a thriller writer.
The main characters are well developed and even the more minor ones are better developed than they usually are by lesser authors. The setting takes place in a variety of different places and the use of the African safari works well as it helps to underline the main plot and show just how big the problem is. The settings are well described and as the novel goes on shows just how life is having to change to cope with the danger developing.
The suspense in the novel is built then allowed to taper off
before building it again. There is, at times, a real sense of danger for the
main characters as well as the well described frustration that those in power
do not like to be told they are wrong. There is also a bit which make me think
of a line in an episode of ‘Yes Prime Minister’ where someone high up in the
army describes the air force as ‘only interested in flying around and dropping
things on people’. Now I do have a degree in chemistry and using that as the
basis of my scientific knowledge I think that the plot actually coming true is
less likely than the Vatican electing a female Pope but that does not detract
from the novel in any way, it is after all a work of fiction. However, that
being said, The way human nature is depicted in the novel and how we react to
things in some way holds up a mirror to the current covid-19 situation as in
some way so does this novel in general.
The ending is perhaps not as good as I was hoping for
particularly as the build up to it was so good. I do feel it was done to allow
for the possibility of a sequel, which was written as a short story.
The chapters are rather short and the novel is split into
four ‘books’ as well as a prologue and epilogue. The short chapters do allow
the reader to put the book down for the night – if you can that is. I read this
in a few evenings but I was not able to read some every night. Had I been on a
long train journey I could have read it in one go.
There is, however, one continuity error. The character of Dr.
Groh is described as having received a number of injuries a few years ago and
is a wheelchair user in the first half of the novel. You then get to a section
described as ‘five years later’ and you are told his injuries happened three
years ago – so in the intervening time period. Now I will put this down to the joint authorship
being to blame for this but if I spotted it I’m sure other readers have as
well.
Conclusion:
A well written novel with a solid plotline with tension and suspense
well used throughout.
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