James Patterson’s NYPD Red series is another favourite of mine and is something different given that it focuses on police officers who are tasked with protecting New York’s elite. It’s hard to believe that this is the fifth book in the series already. It was an enjoyable read and without doubt one of my favourites in the series so far. I love Zach and Kylie and felt that the storyline here was one of the best out of the five books.

I didn't mind the story but I'm not sure I like the characters. Neither of them seemed overly sympathetic and they had a real abrasive way of talking. I think (and I may be wrong) that it's just the New York accent but I'm sure that most New Yorkers don't always sound so harsh. I wanted more variety in the speech, some emotions now and again. Per his usual style the author(s) have included several subplots that keep things moving at a rapid pace. There’s a bombing at a high profile event, the murder of a controversial filmmaker and a robbery at a high stakes poker game among other things, plenty to keep you on your toes, I can’t say I was ever bored for one minute.

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Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald return as NYPD Red. They investigate a murder at the Silver Bullet Foundation’s elite dinner where it plans to announce its new public housing project. Then they find the body of a woman filmmaker; later another of the Foundation’s founders is murdered. Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Karp, for another great addition to the series. I hope to see more in the series soon, which seemed to take a hiatus for a while.

Okay so after NYPD Red 4 came out January of 2016, and after A LONG TIME of no news of a 5th book because of all the open holes, I was STOKED and so excited to read this 5th book last year when it was announced to come out last March. BUT it changed to the end of March this year and I was PISSED of course. But after waiting a year and two months PLUS an additional month in a half of being on the library hold list for this book, I can say it was worth the wait. During their investigation, a theory begins to surface about a team of assassins operating under the name of a sorority—Kappa Omega Delta. KOD—Killers On Demand. It sounds farfetched to the partners (and their captain), but they keep running into the idea. And soon, they might start to find some actual evidence pointing to it.

James Patterson’s NYPD Red books in order:

I really like James Patterson’s novels, he writes thrillers that keep us in suspense, all with very short chapters, so you read the story in no time. So you can imagine that I was very happy to get into this new novel. The narrative flow of this series has long been one of its strongest attributes. I find the momentum of the writing is dictated by the clipped pace on offer. Karp builds on this throughout, keeping the reader attentive as they make their way through the novel. Strong characters with some decent development help add something for series fans to enjoy, as there are some key aspects discussed in this seventh novel. The plot twists and story arcs presented keep the reader engaged and ready to learn more, stopped only by the limitations of Karp’s ability to publish future pieces. I can only hope there is more to come soon, as this is one series well worth my time! Join the NYPD Red team in their most explosive case ever. The series from James Patterson and Marshall Karp has always been a must-read. But Karp's latest, NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority , tops them all, making it a must-read-now! One of the reasons I love NYPD Red as a series, is for the characters of Zach and Kylie, in ‘NYPD Red 5’ we see their personal relationship with each other and with their romantic partners change, it was nice to read and refreshing and meant we see more character development from them. It is always great to have a bit of their personal lives included as they are so likeable so it was a welcome addition. Again, Ballerini is an incredibly talented narrator, I don’t know if I would be enjoying this series as much as I have been if I was reading myself, he has an engaging voice that also demands to be heard, it’s fantastic!

The NYPD Red series is a popular book series of mystery, suspense, thriller, and detective fiction books. The series is penned by author Marshall Karp, and co-authored with James Patterson. We had our yellow barrel, and we were going to follow it…before it [the movie] ends the shark sinks Quint’s boat and eats him alive, but still, a lead is a lead.”Marshall Karp nails the core of a gritty on-the-streets crime thriller that couples authentic police procedural elements with an unremitting pace filled with crafty and ingenious twists and turns... NYPD Red 7: Murder Sorority is one of the most energetic and engaging thrillers of the year and it's one you can't miss out on. An indisputable must-read. James Patterson could not have passed down the torch to a more suited author than Karp. -- "Kashif Hussain, Best Thriller Books" I was in the mood for familiarity, wanting to choose a book from a series that I know I enjoy, so I got settled in with my favourite Patterson protagonists. There were once again two cases in this one, and while I sometimes find this concept distracting, Karp & Patterson usually pull it off well and this time was no different. The book opens right into the first of these cases, with Kylie already on the crime scene as an invited guest to the event, and the story is kept pacy throughout. Join the NYPD Red team in their most explosive case ever. The series from James Patterson and Marshall Karp has always been a must-read. But Karp's latest, NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority, tops them all, making it a must-read-now! Lower Manhattan: A sniper's bullet ends the life of a high-profile New Yorker. Five miles uptown, a second prominent victim has his throat slashed.

It is usually quite difficult to gauge a Patterson novel’s impact until the very end. The stories are good, but the delivery is sometimes a little hokey or lighter when it comes to narrative style. This book did hold my attention throughout, though I did not receive the impactful piece I had hoped to find, after a significant hiatus from the series. That being said, things flowed well and the narrative pushed things along fairly effectively. Patterson’s short chapter signature is on display here, pushing the reader to move forward just to see what awaits them. Marshall Karp surely helped shape this into a decent read, as he has done in the past with this series. Where things are headed next, I have no idea, but I am still interested to see what MacDonald and Jordan have to discover. It's the biggest professional challenge the Red team has ever faced, and before it's over, both Kylie's and Zach's personal lives will change. Forever. Lower Manhattan: A sniper’s bullet ends the life of a high-profile New Yorker. Five miles uptown, a second prominent victim has his throat slashed.Truth be told, if I had read this book without knowing Patterson’s named was removed, I wouldn’t have noticed any differences. It felt just like their previous six books in the series. I am not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It just is. I am also not sure what this says about Patterson’s involvement in their writing partnership. It’s weird. Patterson steps away and I can’t tell the difference. I am going to stop talking about this now and let you form your own opinion on the matter. NYPD Detective Kylie MacDonald is pulled into work mode immediately, having been invited to attend. When she brings her partner, Detective Zach Jordan, in to join her, they begin an intense hunt for Erin and whoever might be behind her abduction. With few leads to follow, it’s a waiting game, at least until videos begin emerging, with demands that they be broadcast live. This novel is the fifth volume of a series I didn’t know about and I must say I was curious to discover it. Zach and Kylie, two cops, are going to be put to the test trying to solve two murders: the first one, that of a young woman, a BDSM fan, who was strangled to death, and the second one, that of a man killed during a big charity gala by a bomb. Two different stories, and yet, whose truth will not be easy to find. The heightened reality of this series works well in the cases these detectives are involved with—Entertainment personalities and the super-rich. I've always liked the idea of a squad like NYPD Red (see also, The Closer's Priority Homicide), and halfway assume something like this actually exists. Given media scrutiny and politics, it makes sense for cases of this profile to be handled differently (as long as no one's ignoring other cases per Bosch's maxim). I enjoy seeing detectives work in this world as much as I do seeing them in more "everyday" settings belonging to the middle and lower class. Having worked with police officers as a police chaplain I found the descriptions of the characters very accurate and reasonable even though people might think Patterson has exaggerated them a bit.