Check It Out
by BOB STRAUB
In this novel, the authors revisit Mike Bennett, one of their characters from previous novels. Mike Bennett is an NYPD detective who had worked for the FBI as an anti-terrorism specialist. He is a widower with ten kids who are being cared for by a live-in housekeeper and by Mike’s grandfather, a priest named Seamus. Mike is informed by headquarters that a wealthy person’s college-aged son has been abducted. Emily Parker, an FBI abduction specialist, is called to assist Detective Bennett in finding out who kidnapped Jacob Dunning and what the demands for his release are. They are told that Jacob will be returned unharmed if he passes a simple test and are told where to find him. Upon arriving, they find that he has been killed.
Obviously, Jacob failed the test.
Within 24 hours, Mike and Emily are notified about the abduction of another college-aged son of a wealthy industrialist. The search ends with the same result. The kidnapper has been in a dialog with Bennett and expressed that he is upset with the privileges young people have without knowing the plight of the needy in the world.
A few twists and turns occur as another kidnapping takes place; however, this time the kidnapper makes a ransom demand, which had not been done in the prior two kidnappings. Also, the demands and instructions were communicated by e-mail instead of orally. Both Bennett and Parker become suspicious.
Another teenager is abducted; however, she passes the kidnapper’s test and is released unharmed. Although she is able to describe her abductor, the description is not helpful. The exasperated detectives search for clues, during which time Bennett and Parker discover they have feelings for each other. Finally, there is a break in the case, and the kidnapper is unmasked. A race ensues to prevent him from his final goal.
Fans of Patterson know his endings are always suspenseful, and this book will not disappoint you. I highly recommend Worst Case and look forward to many more novels by Patterson.
Bob Straub, a frequent patron of the Kyle Community Library, invites you to stop by and check it out!
