The Red Book by James Patterson is a fast-paced crime thriller that follows Detective Billy Harney as he navigates corruption and murder in Chicago. This is the second book in the Black Book series, and Patterson delivers another solid story with plenty of action.

Harney, a flawed but determined detective, is drawn into a complex investigation involving a series of brutal murders. Alongside his partner, Detective Kate Fenton, Harney works to uncover the truth in a city riddled with crime and corruption. Their dynamic, filled with tension and moments of humor, adds depth to the story.

The novel’s short chapters keep the pace quick, making it an easy, engaging read. Patterson builds suspense effectively, keeping readers hooked as Harney and Fenton uncover secrets that lead to powerful enemies. While some twists may be predictable for frequent thriller readers, the overall plot remains strong and full of tension.

Patterson captures the atmosphere of Chicago well, using the city's gritty nature to enhance the story’s setting. The corruption and violence in the city become central to the plot, and the procedural elements of the investigation are well done.

Though The Red Book includes some familiar tropes—such as a hardened detective and political corruption—Patterson's skillful storytelling makes it a satisfying and entertaining read. Fans of crime fiction and detective stories will enjoy this latest entry in the series.

James Patterson and David Ellis have once again delivered a gripping and intense thriller in their second installment of the Billy Harney series, “The Red Book.” From the very first page, readers are plunged into a world of corruption, danger, and moral ambiguity that will leave them breathless.

Plot Summary:

Detective Billy Harney, a seasoned cop with a tormented past, finds himself at the center of a high-stakes investigation. When a drive-by shooting in Chicago’s notorious K-Town claims the life of a young girl, Harney is assigned to the Special Operations Section (SOS) to quell the escalating gang violence. His new partner, Detective Carla Griffin, is as enigmatic as she is intriguing. Together, they uncover a web of deceit that reaches far beyond the city’s streets.

Characterization:

Patterson and Ellis excel at creating complex characters. Billy Harney is a flawed hero, haunted by personal tragedies and fueled by an unwavering commitment to justice. His twin sister, Patti, provides a much-needed anchor in his tumultuous life. The chemistry between Harney and Griffin crackles with tension, as they navigate treacherous waters while battling their own demons.

Atmosphere and Setting:

Chicago comes alive in vivid detail—the gritty neighborhoods, the political machinations, and the simmering tension. The authors paint a city teetering on the edge, where alliances shift, and danger lurks around every corner. The reader feels the pulse of the streets, the weight of history, and the urgency of solving a case that threatens to ignite a powder keg.

Themes:

“The Red Book” delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. Harney’s relentless pursuit of truth forces him to confront uncomfortable truths about his colleagues, his family, and himself. The novel raises questions about morality, sacrifice, and the lengths one will go to protect what matters most.

Writing Style:

Patterson and Ellis maintain a breakneck pace throughout. Short chapters, snappy dialogue, and unexpected twists keep readers turning pages late into the night. The prose is sharp, efficient, and unapologetically gritty. Every sentence serves a purpose, propelling the story forward with precision.

Emotional Impact:

Prepare to be emotionally invested. “The Red Book” doesn’t shy away from the raw emotions that come with loss, betrayal, and redemption. Harney’s internal struggle resonates, and readers will find themselves rooting for him even when the odds seem insurmountable.

Verdict:

In a genre flooded with police procedurals, “The Red Book” stands out. It’s a rollercoaster ride of suspense, with heart-pounding action, unexpected alliances, and a climax that will leave you gasping. James Patterson and David Ellis have crafted a masterpiece—a thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go until the final page.

So, if you’re looking for a pulse-pounding read that combines razor-sharp writing with unforgettable characters, pick up “The Red Book.” You won’t regret it.

The Red Book is the second in a new series by James Patterson & David Ellis. The first, The Black Book, from which the series takes its name introduces Billy Harney, a detective with the Chicago police department. I read The Black Book first just in-case it was necessary; I really enjoyed it, but both could be read as stand alones. The series, so far, is set around Billy's work uncovering bent cops in the Chicago PD & the politicians above them. This time, Billy, and his new partner, Carla Griffin are under pressure, from the city, to solve a quadruple murder, in which, a little girl, was accidentally killed in a drive-by shooting. At first it looks like the start of a turf war between rival drug gangs but the investigation takes an unexpected turn, which sees a huge human trafficking organization, protected by bad cops, being taken down.
Billy is a really likeable character; we really get to know him, his family, and learn how the tragedies he has experienced have ultimately made him a better detective.
Even with the story taking many a complicated twist and turn, it was an easy, enjoyable read, which has left me itching to read the next installment. It's a good four out of five stars.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

The Red Book has an interesting narrative behind it, but I found the suspension of disbelief requirement a difficult hurdle to cross and too many of the characters were thinly written. Maybe I'm missing something through not having read the first novel in the series, but honestly I'm not interested enough to pick it up to find out.

The novel begins with a drive-by shooting. One which would probably have never made the news and been presumed as gangland mortality or black-on-black shooting. Only a small child gets caught in the cross-fire and the streets are ready to riot. Enter Detective Harney, who is only just back on duty after some serious medical leave. Only, things don't seem to be as tidy as everyone would like to make out. And Harney is about to make a fair few enemies sniffing out the real motives and the corruption behind it.

This is a book with a lot of characters and a lot of threads and many of them really aren't developed as well as they could be. Because there are so many characters, very few are properly fleshed out. Even Harney - the key character - seemed two dimensional at points and there were moments that were just pointless to boot, like his 'comedy night' stands where you get pages of stupid gags aimed at other minor bit characters. The bad guys aren't much better; stereotypical and cliched with little meat on the bones.

The same is true of narrative threads. Things get mentioned, discarded and then picked up randomly two hundred pages later for a 'twist', but because there's been no build up or investment in them they fail to land. Alternatively, threads are just dropped entirely; the little baby girl's death that started the whole thing is important for the first few chapters and then virtually never mentioned again.

You get to see events through at least three or four perspectives on both sides of the fence. So the reader is never in any doubt as to the corruption and dark underbelly of events. There's very little mystery to the narrative, just the tension of whether Harney will figure it out in time. The problem is that this is clearly a series based around Harney, so it's unlikely he'll be killed off, so it's a logical supposition from page one that yes, indeed he figures it out on time. There's no tension at all at that point.

And the suspension of disbelief... maybe I'm naïve, but I really can't see the corruption on this scale managing to slide under the radar in a Western country. There are certainly places where the drug, prostitution and trafficking rings have fingers in every pie, but the Chicago police wouldn't be my first choice for one of them. And it's way too overt interference. Too many people are involved and the whole damn thing would have been busted long ago.

This is my first Patterson... and it might well be my last. That said, I have picked up in other reviews that his early works are different and works where he has not been in collaboration with another author are also different. So maybe I'll pick up something else of his... but it won't be book one or three of this series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.

Patterson clearly has a formula and one review from me I'm sure won't make any difference to him or his readership, It is clearly a formula that works and is quite readable with a clever plot but this has neither beautiful writing or interesting characters in my mind.

thanks to netGalley

The Red Book is a multilayered thriller that takes us into the murky world of gangs, drugs, organised crime and sex trafficking. Clever characterisation with Billy as the lead, he has a good depth and colour. Carla is another good character even though it takes a while to learn who she really is. A page turner with twist and violence. It won’t be for everyone but it’s definitely an entertaining read from James Patterson.

i have read many of James Pattersons' books and although this was a great read I felt I was missing something, not having read the previous book in the series. An enjoyable read nonetheless.

My first book, that I have read by this author, absolutely brilliant! Highly recommended, and I will definitely read others written by this author!

I hadn’t read the first one in this series but it didn’t matter. This was an excellent book, fast paced and an easy read, I’m looking forward to the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for a review. I will be putting this on Amazon too.

Second in the series but gives enough information that you know what is happening without having read the first.

Great read - and the audio is even better! Lots of plot twists, just as you think you know who someone is it turns out they are on the other side. very clever.

James Patterson is a worldwide phenomen for a reason, he never fails to disappoint. This book is a win!
The sequel to The Black book we see Billy Harney returns to work in the SOS team for Chicago PD. I was thrilled to have him back as I loved the first book and if you havent read it yet I highly reccommend you read the first one before this one to give context.

Billy is trying to put his life back together and the book starts when he is called to the scene of a drive-by shooting along with his new partner, a woman who is not quite what she seems. As Billy and the team get to work investigating they discover that the shooting is just the tip of the iceberg.

In his usual style Patterson delivers a thriller story at breakneck speed and if youre a fan of hte author you should definitely read this one!

What a great read!

Another fantastic book by James Patterson, fast paced from the get go, had me completely hooked from the first couple of pages. Corruption in the Chicago police force, sex trafficking, drugs, addiction, blackmail, you name it, this book has it all and brilliantly portrayed.

Billy Harney is a fantastic character, tormented by the death of his wife, teamed up with a new partner, who is also a brilliant character, addicted to drugs after going deep, deep, deep undercover and now paying the price.

Highly recommend this one!

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I thoroughly enjoy The Red Book.
Although a little slow to start with, it soon increased in pace.

Well developed, believable characters.
Another good read from James Patterson.

I love James Patterson's books and this one did not disappoint. A fast paced gripping read that I did not want to put down. A brilliant plot with interesting characters.

Chicago PD.Billy Harney gets reallocated to Special Ops team where he investigates a drive by shooting - convinced it is not just hand related but May have a political slant to it he delved further into the background of those involved.
Billy’s family including father and sister are cops and all of the characters add something to the storyline.
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns - this is one of my favourite JP book series.
4 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

A slow start but keep with it as it does not disappoint. Billy Harney returns from sick leave to find himself assigned to SOS (Special Operations Section). But his first case is not straight forward. Billy is on a journey to find out about himself. Well done James Patterson another great book.

A classic James Patterson that keeps you turning the page. Billy Harney has returned to duty and has been assigned to the new SOS department in the Chicago police. His first case is high profile when a young girl is killed in what seems to be a drug gang related drive by shooting but as Billy investigates things are not what they seem & it brings back memories Billy would rather forget. He has to battle his demons while not knowing who he can fully trust. Can he get to the truth & survive the journey? Great read with the usual final twist that I certainly didn’t see coming.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Black Book and was looking forward to reading this novel . It certainly didn't disappoint
As usual this author always delivers. With a clever plot, twists and turns, this is a real page turner.
I cannot recommend this book enough

Now everyone has a couple of go to authors, ones they know without a doubt will knock the ball out if the park every single time without doubt! James Patterson is mine and once again he hasn't let me down.

The Red Book is the sequel to The Black Book. A story of gang violence, corruption within the police department and a Detective who follows his own rules.

As any JP fan comes to expect it's full if action, fast paced without a dull second, gritty and full of subtle twists that leave you stuck to your seat turning pages swiftly.

Told over three parts we see Detective Bill Harney return to work in the Soecial Operations Section of the Chicago PD after being shot in the head (The Black Book) but in the new High Profile Unit, looking like he's been set up to fail... or has he?

A new partner, a new unit, a new case... the story will unfold with twists and turns at every corner.

Huge thank you to netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.