Been a while since I read a James Patterson book & this did not disappoint. First book I’ve read in this series after being a massive Alex cross & woman’s murder club fan. I will defiantly be going back to the start of this series. Highly recommend. Another amazing book by this author.

This is my first foray into the world of PRIVATE and i have to admit i loved it from the outset. Excellent plot, plenty of action, chase sequences, punch ups and even the odd assassination here and there. What more could you possibly want!

Really Gripping Stuff!

I have read several of the Private novels and this one was just a bit more unbelievable in parts. It was well written, fast paced and action packed. Just an ok read for me.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

Jim Morgan is at the New York Stock Exchange with his former marine flight instructor Karl Parker, now a very successful business man when Karl is assassinated. Meanwhile in Moscow Yana Petrova is killed in an explosion at a restaurant. Maxim Yenen, an oligarch, hires Private Moscow headed by Dinara Orlova ex FSB and Leonid Boykov ex Moscow police to investigate why. Do these seemingly random events link in some way? The story takes us from the USA to Russia and back again in this high octane thriller.

Well, this is an exhilarating and exhausting read, akin to the written version of watching a Tom Cruise action movie and just as exciting. It starts at high speed and at times we’re at MACH 2 the pace is so fast. The plot is clever, the perpetrators are deviously one step ahead of Jack and Dinara’s investigation. I love the Russian setting for much of the storyline which is a perfect backdrop to this dark and intense tale. It has the works, from conspiracy theories, to adrenaline packed chases, fights, bullets whizzing every which way, numerous smokescreens of confusing deception and double crossing, we have the espionage of the security services, agents, agencies, sleeper agents, hit squads, special forces - in other words the kitchen sink!!! What emerges is a tense, suspenseful thriller with accusations and allegations against Jack and Dinara which puts them in tremendous danger especially from one elusive assassin. There’s plenty of menace and villainy and at times it’s hard to work out who the villains actually are which keeps you gripped. When the truth emerges it takes Jack to the highest level of US security in a very dramatic conclusion. Far fetched? Possibly but not beyond the realms either. Entertaining? Absolutely.

Overall, a very enjoyable, high speed, gripping thriller with the momentum barely letting up so you can catch your breath which is just the way I like them! Highly recommended.

4-5 stars rounded up for sheer entertainment!

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC.

Having read a few James Patterson novels, including a number in the "Private" series, I don't rate this as one of his best. The plot is rather far fetched and I kept wondering how old Jack Morgan is now supposed to be. In most ways this can be taken as a stand-alone book, which may be an advantage to those new to JP. His fans will probably lap it up.

A roller-coaster of a read. A return to the excellence. Fast paced and you become invested in the characters and plot. Set in Moscow as the name implies, the plot could happen in real life.. Short snappy chapter that are the style of James Patterson. Hard to see where the next book will go to now.

An action packed, fast paced spy thriller, the type we have come to expect from James Patterson plus co writers. I had no idea that this was a part of a series of 'Private' books. It was a good stand alone story. I will probably catch up on others I have missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this book

This was not one of my favourite books written by James Patterson. It took me a long time to get into it. I don't really enjoy Russian spy novels. The book was fast moving and towards the end I started to enjoy it a bit more.

This series of books by James Patterson and now with Adam Hamdy just get better and better. It's been a while since the last Private novel that I had read (Private Delhi), so I was delighted to get this from NetGalley, prior to publication.

What a real thriller of a read, fast paced, with all the usual characters, this time moving to Russia! Jack Morgan is invited by his best friend Karl to the launching of his Company on Wall Street Stock Exchange. But just before the bell rings, Karl is assassinated and in the aftermath his wife hires Private to find his killer. The investigation leads to Moscow and a situation that would have global consequences, if allowed to proceed. So it is up to Jack and his team to stop this and at the same time find out who murdered his friend.

A fast paced thriller, a great addition to the series, a must read for fans of Private and Jack Morgan.

The assassination of of a long time Marine buddy sees Jack Morgan pick up the clue’s his friend has left him leading to a previous cold war plot and resulting in a kick to his Private’s. Private, the world wide investigation agency he heads up, piece together a link between his friends death and several other seemingly unrelated deaths which subsequently track back to Moscow. There the action hots up amidst a freezing back drop and the true scale of the plot becomes apparent, as does the lengths his opponents will go to stop him. This book drags you in so much you can almost taste the solyanka - a cracking read.

Written with good pace. I found I was invested in the plot. Shows the intrigue, lies and thuggery that is behind the American/Russian struggle for power. We have no idea what truly happens within politics and with technological developments.

The short chapters and fast moving action keep you hooked from page one.

A great book with all the characteristics we've come to expect from a classic Patterson book.

I loved it and look forward to the next one.

Karl Parker is murdered as he is about to open the stock exchange. Jack Morgan the owner of Private is with him at the time and thoroughly shocked. Karl's widow hires Jack to track down who has killed her husband despite a group called the ninety nine claiming responsibility.
Meanwhile, Dinara Orlov the head of Private Moscow is hired to investigate the murder of Yana Petrov an office worker.
Jacks investigation soon leads to a potential victim at the American Embassy in Russia. So Jack heads to Moscow where Dinara and himself start to uncover things.
A fast moving book. Very easy to read and enjoyable characters. I particularly liked Leonid Boykov an ex-cop who is Dinara's driver and side kick.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review

Absolutely gripping book that keeps you enthralled and wondering just how it is going to end up! Thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish.

This was an ARC via NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. I've read a few of the Private series now, and as each one's set in a different city, you have to quickly get to know the characters (in the local office). If I'm honest, this one did detour a bit into "suspend all belief" territory - lots of fights where your eyes glaze over a bit, and a few utterly unbelievable moments (like Jack breaking the zip tie around his hands, or how easily they seemingly break into a place). But overall, a decent storyline underneath it, if you can look past the "seriously?!" of some bits.

Jack Morgan Head of Private, is in New York to see his friend's company float on the stock market. Karl had called Jack after not speaking for years but before they can speak, Karl is assassinated.

Meanwhile in Moscow, two people after meeting online arrange to meet at a restaurant, but the place is blown to pieces, surely the two cases can't be connected.....

Absolutely action packed, maybe not the most original story, but was told really well with good pace.

Recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for giving me the chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a long time fan of Alex Cross and have clearly not kept up with James Patterson's other works as I had no idea about the "Private" series.
A great set of characters with plenty of intrigue and drama both in the States and in Moscow...the new faces did not disappoint and I look forward to catching up with all of the other books I have missed!

Massive James Patterson fan here! 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 14 books. These books are full of action and adventure, plenty of shoot outs and car chases. James Patterson can really write a page turner,.

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 couldn’t have serious political implications.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone Century for my advanced copy of this book to read. Private Moscow’s is out September 3rd.

This is a pacey, twisty conspiracy with lots to recommend it to the reader. I was drawn in to the story quickly, and thought the settings were well researched and realised. This is an international thriller with a focus on the dark forces unleashed after the fall of Communism, moving seamlessly between the US and Russia.

Karl Parker, a former Marine and African-American telecoms specialist is murdered in public and in front of his family. Jack Morgan, an old friend, is drawn into finding out the truth about his death after being hired by Park'er's wife. At the same time a young woman is murdered in Moscow. Morgan and his team Private, an international private detective firm, dig into what connects the two murders. Morgan flies to Moscow to investigate with Russian co-workers - at great cost to all of them.

This is a punchy book, full of action sequences, impeccably plotted and with good characterisation. One of the best Patterson series out there.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is book 15 in the series. I haven't read the other 14 ... Whoops. But it genuinely doesn't matter because, as I found at when I read it, it works perfectly well as a standalone, and you get detailed enough recaps on who the main players are in order to be able to fall right into the middle of the action and get swept away by it all. I certainly was. Maybe it is because it is a series that has been co-authored, where the second chair changes consistently as it means that while the central characters may remain, the story is always fresh.

I do love a good action thriller and, for me, Private Moscow had it all. Plenty of chases, short, fast paced chapters, brilliant characters you both loved and hated (although not at the same time) and an intricate and carefully constructed plot which keeps you guessing right to the very end. Jack Morgan is the owner of Private, a global chain of Private Investigation firms who handle some very complex cases for their clients. This time around though, Jack isn;t just investigating the case - he is part of it. Right at the very beginning of the book, Jack is thrown into action as his close friend and mentor is assassinated in front of him. From that point on this case is personal, although no-one can tell just how personal it will become for Jack and the rest of his team. The action takes us from the streets (and trading floors) of New York, to the cold streets of Moscow, with a case of corruption and conspiracy that will push Jack to the limit. And I loved it.

As I said before, the pacing of this book is spot on. The authors give you just enough to keep you on tenterhooks, the chapters short but full of action, leaving you with that just one more chapter feel that you really do need from an action thriller. I found myself left with loads of questions at each turn of the page, wondering just where and how they plot threads would pull back together. You can slowly see a picture emerging but as soon as you think you know what is really going on, another bombshell is dropped and you have to quickly rewind your thinking. It's the kind of story tat left me with a smile of satisfaction, and a sense of sadness, but only because I now know what a treat I have missed not reading the first fourteen books. Guess what I'll be asking Santa for this christmas!

The characters in this book are brilliant. Each voice is unique and the way in which they speak and act feels truly authentic. From the very start of the book I found myself warming to Jack Morgan,even though I knew little about him. Perhaps because a large portion of the book is told from first person POV with Jack as the main focus, but I really did feel that trust and that sense that this was a person I would gladly go on an adventure with. It is great to see a wealth of strong female characters throughout the book too, so well crafted that they could easily carry the story on their own which, in the case of Dinara Orlova, head of the Moscow Private office, was vital as she had to carry half of the story focus on her shoulder. Well hers and her colleague Leonid. Old school, gruff, not in the least bit politically correct (although perhaps he was by Russian standards), I really liked Leonid too. He was the kind of character who could wind you up with his actions, but whose loyalties and morales were all set in the right place. Dinara was work focused, strong, determined, but very human - perfectly balanced as a character and a joy to get to know.

Setting is all important in these kinds of novels and whether it was New York, Long Beach or Moscow, you really got a sense of where you were and of the differing politics and cultures that surrounded each location. Add to that the authors' skill in creating tension and you have the perfect action thriller combo. I was actually sad when the book finished, and it is the first book in a while that I have torn through without finding myself distracted. Do I recommend it? Well if you like action thrillers, or fast paced, mystery and intrigue laden novels with brilliant characters then absolutely. I can't compare it to what came before in the series, but I can tell you that this is one hell of a story that grabs you from the beginning and won't let go.