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Sail

James Patterson & Howard Roughan
Little, Brown and Company (2008)
ISBN 9780316018708
Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for RebeccasReads (4/08)

James Patterson is an institution by himself. I mean this, both literally and figuratively. With at least one fresh Patterson title coming in print every third month, it’s now an open secret that James Patterson does not always write these novels. But as the author himself pointed out in an interview, he just gives the idea for the stories; the words are put in by his writer/collaborators. Thus, James Patterson is no longer an author; he is a brand name.

With that said, did I enjoy the book? Did I find “Sail” as engrossing and enthralling as previous James Patterson titles? And, the answer is yes--I absolutely, fantabulously loved and enjoyed “Sail.”

The third outing of Patterson and Roughan, who previously collaborated with “Honeymoon” and “You’ve Been Warned,” has all the sizzles and chills usually associated with a Patterson thriller. The Dunne family is on the brink of breakup. Three years after her husband died, Katherine Dunne finds herself in a mess. True, she has achieved stupendous success as a surgeon, but on the home front it’s disaster to the core. With a suicidal teenage daughter and a pot-addict son, Katherine is on the verge of a nervous breakdown; and the only saving grace is her younger son Ernie. The only thing Katherine can think of to bring her dysfunctional family back together is a trip in their luxury yacht, The Family Dunne. They are joined by Katherine’s brother-in- law Jake, and together the four set sail across the Caribbean. But disaster strikes from day one, and it’s not a natural disaster. Someone out there is all set to kill Katherine and her children. The initial few attempts fail due to the rugged and fighting spirit of Jake. But when the whole family is shipwrecked following an explosion, Katherine finds herself knowing more about her children. And finally, in the midst of disaster, the family is back to normal.
          
But who is behind the blast? Who wants Kathy and the children dead?  Is it lawyer Peter Carlyle, the second husband of Katherine, who will inherit everything if something nasty happened to the kids and his wife….or is there something more than what meets the eye?
What follows is suspense at its Pattersonish best and one that would keep the fans of this institution quite happy.

Nothing more, nothing less-- what we always demand and get from Patterson.  “Sail” is recommended for James Patterson fans, and all lovers of suspense mysteries. And I just can’t wait to get my hands on the July Patterson novel, “Dangerous Days of Daniel X.”

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