James Patterson's Alex Cross series used to be my favourite. But I
think I'm going to say it's now the Mike Bennett series. The last
couple of Alex Cross books have been overly violent in my opinion,
going for the shock and awe component.
I find the Bennett series entertaining without being
offensive.
Children of wealthy New Yorkers are being kidnapped. There is no
ransom though - instead the kidnapper gives the children a test.
Pass - you live. Fail - lights out. How high is their social
awareness of the world's plight?
The 'villain' of the last Bennett book was the Teacher - obsessed
with social niceties and politeness. This time around it's social
injustices and the state of the world.
I listened to Worst Case in audio format - as I will for all future
Bennett books. The character of Mike is read by Bobby Canavale. I
can't imagine a more perfect narrator - his voice is all New York,
it's quick, rough and expressive. The 6 disc set also features two
other readers - Orlagh Cassidy as the female Fibbie who's on the
case with Mike and John Glover as the bad guy. Glover was
particularly effective - his calm, clipped modulated voice made the
kidnapper seem even more menacing. Cassidy was a good reader as
well, but I just never warmed up to her character - I'm rooting for
M.C. - the Bennett nanny.
True to form, Worst Case is short, snappy chapters, ending with
cliffhangers, persuading you to listen to just one more chapter.
The plot isn't overly complicated and there's a fun secondary plot
involving Mike's love life. A thoroughly entertaining listen