This story reads like a film. The reader feels like they are in a cinema and not leaving until the credits roll. With so many books in this series, there's always the wonder that the style and series will dry up and become less entertaining. This is clearly not the case here, as this trip between the USA and Russia proves that entertainment is high on the list.
With over 100 short chapters there is always the need to keep turning pages and move along. I enjoy short chapters because it gives me a chance for a tea break or any excuse to complete a quick job. This fast paced film style writing keeps you moving from chapter to chapter and no time for tea.
The research feels good, as though the writers know Moscow and everywhere they visit in the book. The realism rings true throughout (not that I've been a private eye in Moscow with gun slingers and drug runners as friends).
The writers kill off a main character, but not when the reader expects, so the element of surprise works well.
This is a master writing expedition and makes me want to get the next in this series as soon as possible.
Who knew that a team of old soldiers and police officers would come to the rescue? Patterson knows how to work the veterans well, maintain the emotions running high and rekindles a love match that may go further one day...

I have read all of the Private books and have to say that it is one of my favourite series of his. Jack Morgan is a fantastic character and will stop at nothing to get the job done. These books can easily be read as a stand alone so don’t worry if you haven’t read the other books. These books are full of action and adventure, plenty of shoot outs and car chases.
Jack Morgan is with his friend and former Marine, Karl Parker at the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate his company going public. They are about to ring the bell when Karl is shot dead by an assasin. Karl’s wife hires Private to find his killer. When a female office worker is murdered in Moscow Jack sees links to his case and jumps on a plane to Russia. This is the beginning of a wild and crazy ride that could have serious political implications. Recommended.

It's action all the way with Private Moscow, a thriller by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy .
The assasination of Jack Morgan's best friend, a former US Marine, causes Jack to bring to bear the resources of his investigation company in searching for the killer and the reason why he was so cruelly gunned down at the very pinnacle of his career. They are soon on the trail of a string of similar assasinations seemingly by the same man. The trail eventually leads to Moscow (hence the title) where it is discovered that there is a common thread amongst those murdered. Apparently it's all to do with lifetime sleepers. This is where the story lacks originality, there have been films and books written about this possibility. Sadly, as soon as the thread linking the murders to a programme of deep infiltration was discovered, the rationale for the killings was all too obvious. The book was an exciting read with hardly a dull moment. It lacked a degree of depth but the pace countered that. The lack of originality caused me to knock a star off. The chapters were short making it an ideal, dip in and out of type of novel.

Jack Morgan has come to watch his friend and former US Marine comrade ring the famous bell at the New York Stock Exchange, but just as the bell is about to be rung, Jack’s friend is assassinated and all hell breaks loose. Jack and his company ‘Private’ are hired by the widow to find the killer at all costs.
‘Private’ get to work, and not long after, other deaths are linked and leads point to Moscow. Jack arrives in Russia and things go from bad to worse when a discovery is made that could change the world. Morgan must use all his skills to thwart his enemies but time is ticking. Can he and ‘Private’ stop a plot of epic proportions before disaster strikes?
James Patterson and Adam Hamdy have taken the ‘Private’ books to a whole new level with this novel. With a great storyline and action packed scenes from start to finish and with more twists than a helter skelter. My favourite in the series so far.
Just brilliant.

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Jack Morgan, who owns a highly successful private detective agency with offices around the world, is invited to New York by an old friend, Karl Parker, who is then assassinated at the New York Stock Exchange. Jack knows that Karl had been trying to tell him something and promises his dead friend's wife that he will find the killer. After following a trail of breadcrumbs left for him by Parker, Jack finds himself travelling to Russia where he works with his Moscow office and uncovers a plot that could get himself killed.

First off, I want to say that I have not read the rest of the series. In fact, I did not know that this was even part of a series until after I had read it. I am, however, an avid reader of the Alex Cross books so I am used to Patterson's style of writing, and one thing he does well is create tension, especially during car chases and other such high pressure scenes.

The other thing that Patterson does (which I really dislike) is create characters that have problems with relationships. I know that being a police officer or private detective means a lot of committment to their jobs but come on, not everyone is the FBI, or similar job roles, is unlucky in love. I imagine Patterson creates these flawed characters to make the story interesting but honestly, it's boring.

Another thing James Patterson does is change from 1st to third person depending on the chapter. The main character, Jack, will be written from the first person perspective, but any other characters will be written in third person, and it can take some getting used to.

All in all, I really enjoyed the story and was kept on the edge of my seat for the duration. Despite being the fifteenth book in a series I found it extremely easy to read and didn't feel like any back story not provided would have been necessary, but I do think I would like to read more.

A fast paced thriller from beginning to end and very worthy of 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Private Moscow is another page-turner and high-octane action thriller by James Patterson.

Karl Parker is murdered on the stock exchange floor as he is about to ring the opening bell. Jack Morgan, there to celebrate his friends’ success, immediately springs into action, chasing the murderer through the snowy streets of New York City, relentless in his pursuit to find out who killed his mentor and why. A mysterious group calling themselves the 99 claim responsibility and continue their killing spree, declaring to have targeted wealthy individuals (the 1%), because of wealth inequality. But Jack Morgan suspects the 99 group has a different motive altogether.
Karl Parker’s widow hires Private, Jack Morgan's multi city detective agency to find the killer. Soon the case interlaces with a very different murder in a different city: Moscow! Here, Dinara Orlova and ex-KGB agent Leonid Boykov run Private's Moscow office, desperate for a new case. When an oligarch asks them to investigate the murder of a local woman and Jack Morgan arrives in Moscow, Dinara and Jack realise their cases are connected. Together, they hunt the orchestrators of the killings, leading them into the underbelly of Moscow.

In true Patterson fashion, the book is incredibly fast-paced and keeps the action going until the very end. The plot is at times far fetched, but definitely very enjoyable. Characters are well-developed. As with all Patterson books, it was very well-written and the plot flowed.

The chases around NYC were fun to follow on the map and brought back fond NYC memories.
I didn't know any of the characters, but not having read any of the previous books in the series was not a problem and the plot was easy to follow.

This was the first book of the private series that I read - mostly to tie me over until the next Alex Cross book, but after reading this book, I will definitely pick up more books from the Private series.

Jack Morgan is invited to meet an old friend who he hasn’t seen in years. As his friend begins an announcement to share news of his company being launched into the market, he is assassinated.

As Jack begins to investigate the truth behind his friend’s murder, he starts to question if he ever really knew him at all. From New York to Moscow, James Patterson takes us on a page turning ride.

Although it is number 15 in the Private series, it can be read alone. Each book is set somewhere different and he has written this series with a number of different writers so I’d be interested to read some others to see if this change of writers affects the style and voice of the books.

This book brought about the usual elements in an action/thriller/crime book. We have Jack Morgan, our ex-marine main character, a murder, a criminal gang and a little bit of a love interest. Think along the lines of books and movies like Jack Reacher, Mission Impossible, James Bond (without the martinis and suits) and you’ll have a rough idea of what’s in store here.
If you read that and thought, ‘yes, I love those series,’’ then you’ll probably quite enjoy this one.

This isthe first book in the private series that I have read but it won’t be the last.
What a book that from the very first page draws you in and then you are caught. It is a whirl wind of a thriller and five stars all the way
Can’t recommend it enough

I have always loved reading James Patterson books and this one didn’t disappoint. Loved all the action and drama from the beginning and loved the spy aspect to the story!

Private Moscow is the fifteenth instalment in the Private series and provided you can suspend your disbelief at some of the happenings, you are in for a wildly entertaining and dangerous high stakes thriller. Karl Parker, a former Marine and noted African-American telecoms magnate, is killed during an attempted kidnapping that goes badly wrong. His wife, Victoria, hires Jack Morgan, an old comrade and friend, to get to the truth. In Moscow, Yana Petrov, an unassuming office worker, is brutally murdered in what looks like a gangland execution. Dinara Orlov, the head of Private Moscow, is made an offer she can’t refuse and agrees to investigate Petrov’s death. Battling against the odds and compelled to face difficult truths, Jack and Dinara uncover old secrets and a geopolitical conspiracy that will permanently change the balance of global power.

Right from the off, like the master storyteller he has proven to be, Patterson had me invested in the characters and in the compulsive, addictive and fast paced action. One of the aspects of these books that keep you reading is the short, snappy chapters allowing you to read just one more before sleep. Also, there is action in every single chapter which makes it difficult to put down. There is a tonne of mystery and intrigue in this thoroughly entertaining, heart-thumping espionage thriller and the suspense and tension is slowly and expertly ratcheted up over the course of the novel. What worked very well to build atmosphere was the setting — the frigid conditions of a Russian winter and the general political and social situation in Putin's Russia add an extra enigmatic air to it all. It builds to an explosive, high-octane conclusion which drew the story to a close perfectly. Many thanks to Century for an ARC.

Private Moscow by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy is book 15 in the Private series and a 5 star read.
Head of the world’s largest detective agency, Jack Morgan heads to New York to visit his best friend, but he sees him murdered in front of his eyes, Jack sets out to find the murderer and this takes him to Moscow where not everything is as it seems.
This is a fast paced thriller with a gripping storyline, it’s just what I’ve come to expect from a James Patterson book.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

Jack Morgan is back in this next instalment of the Private series.
Jack is visiting a old friend in New York where he is launching his new business deal.
What happens next shocks Jack to the core a murder right in front of him.
Jack goes of to Moscow to hunt for the killer but will he make it out alive?

A fast paced thriller with lots of action. The short chapters add to the suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

An excellent thriller, fast paced and action packed. It's highly entertaining and gripping, a page turner I couldn't put down.
I liked the world building, the characters and the storytelling.
It's like one of those action movie that requires a lot of suspension of belief but you love because they're a lot of fun.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. The story was fast paced but for me lacked that little something that has gripped me with Patterson’s other books. There were bits I skim read (fight scenes that were written in some detail) as I don’t find those interesting. The last section of the book moved quickly and the conclusion was a satisfying one. General synopsis - A man who runs an international a Private detective agency sees his best friend shot by an assassin, he attempts to track down said assassin and uncovers a deep rooted agency programme instigated by the Russians. Would I read anymore of what looks to be the beginning of a series, yes if they were freebies, but I’m not sure that I’d buy them.

It is a while since I have read any books by James Patterson and this one most certainly did not disappoint. Action from start to finish, a little unbelievable but who cares! I presume that partnering with Adam Hamdy made Patterson move onto a spy thriller. This book was well written and most definitely a page turner.

I've read several of the Private series books - but not all 15!!
If you've read one before, you know exactly what you'll be getting. The usual quick paced, short-chapter, thriller with a plot to just accept and enjoy and not think about it too much... Equivalent of the midern film action blockbuster.
It doesn't disappoint in this regard and another one I enjoyed if nothing ground-breaking.
James Patterson and the co-authors have hit a winning formula and are continuing to run with it.
Roll on number 16.

Many thanks for the preview arc.

I received a free copy from Netgalley to review, here is the blurb:

"An invitation from an old friend draws Jack Morgan into a deadly conspiracy

On a cold January morning, Jack Morgan stands on a podium inside the New York Stock Exchange alongside his friend and former US Marine comrade whose company is being launched onto the market. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the moment the opening bell rings. But that moment never arrives. An assassin’s bullet rips through the air and finds its mark.

In the aftermath of the murder, Jack is approached by the victim’s wife. She needs him to find the killer. As the head of Private, Jack has at his disposal the world’s largest investigation agency. He accepts the case, but what Jack will discover will shake him to his core.

Jack identifies another murder in Moscow that appears to be linked. So he heads to Russia, and begins to uncover a conspiracy that could have global consequences.

With powerful forces plotting against him, will Jack Morgan make it out alive?"

When I received the download, I soon realised that the book was actually book 15 in the series regarding the Private detective agency' which has agencies all over the world. At this point my heart sank as I thought that the book would be hard to follow without prior knowledge of the other books or the characters. To be honest, this did not affect my enjoyment of the book and I didn't feel I had missed out on the history of the characters.. The book was ok, didn't particularly grip me but based on the high reviews of the other Private books this was a 'me' issue as they are clearly very popular. The character I liked best was Leonid and I warmed to him instantly. I found the other characters a bit cliche. Basically, don't be worried about not reading the other books in the series, it won't spoil it for you and if you have enjoyed the other Private books you will probably enjoy this one..

I haven't read any of the Private series before, but I have read lots f James Patterson books before. They're a bit of a guilty pleasure - short chapters, lots of action and quite often implausible stories. However, they're great fun and this is no exception. Jack Morgan's friend Karl is assassinated in front of him, and the more he looks into his friends death, the deeper down the rabbit hole he goes. As you can probably guess by the name of the book, he ends up in Moscow following the trail. I don't want to say much ore about the story as I fear I'll give spoilers away. Worth a read, and I will go and seek out others in the series after having read this.

In an ideal world I would give this book 3.5 stars. 3 stars feels a tad mean so I am upping it to 4.
I read the first two books in the Private series many years ago and had forgotten about them.. When I got this as an ARC I hadn't realised that it would be the latest in the series.
James Patterson (and fellow co-writers) have clearly hit on a winning formula that brings in the dosh, the all important dosh. The book is very formulaic with our "dashing good at everything" hero, his trusty "gorgeous, super intelligent, martial arts genius" female sidekick together with a "wise, been there, bought the T-Shirt, craggy faced old timer" at his side. Good old "boys own stuff" How long can we spend writing about fights/car chases? . The book is fast paced, short chapters, standard phrases. The plot is completely unbelievable with the villains at the end doing a good job of impersonating Rasputin.
Having said all that, it is an entertaining , enjoyable yarn and would make the sort of film that one sees all the time- "Blockbuster starring mostly incredibly handsome people while the ugly ones play Russian grunt parts". If you take this book by the pool with you on hols you might just forget to swim

I'm assuming that typos/grammar errors etc will be corrected in final edition