This is unbelievably my first ever James Patterson book. I don't know why I haven't picked one up before.
I loved the different points of views in the chapters and also that the chapters are short.
This is a fast paced, multiple case mystery thriller.
Really enjoyed finding out a little bit about the main characters as you read on.
Overall an interesting read, thoroughly enjoyed it.

4.5⭐

James Patterson teams up with Brian Sitts to deliver a new series featuring three Private Investigators Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe. Who you wouldn't necessarily put together. 

But together they make a formidable team and even though they are all very different like their namesakes literary icons Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple and author Edgar Allan Poe these guys can think out of the box. And are full of unorthodox methods and skills.

And after a successful case sees them annoy the police commissioner and garner press attention. The mayor secretly sends NYPD Homicide detective lieutenant Helene Grey to request that they personally deal with one of New York's wealthiest residents. When billionaire Huntley Bain has some precious art stolen in impossible fashion.  

But they quickly find they have more than one case to deal with. As the trio receives a call about a potential kidnapping and Helene returns asking for help when skeletal remains are found in an abandoned subway station.

And whilst Detective Grey is keen to see what these three come up with after impressing her with their first public case. She's also keen to learn more about them particularly as the trio are rather intriguing characters. With backgrounds as elusive as the people they hunt for a living.

And with James Patterson's signature short chapters, really likable characters. Not to mention plenty of banter, mystery, and action as the story reaches its conclusion. Holmes, Margaret and Poe was a really entertaining mystery. That reminded me of multiple episodes of Castle all combined together to make one memorable read, and I would happily recommend it to all.

My thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Holmes, Margaret and Poe. 😊

I'm usually a huge fan of James Patterson. But this just didn't grab me like I thought it would. Maybe because it's the first book in the series they tried to cram too much in. I know other's have loved it but sorry not for me.

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe run the most in-demand private investigation agency in New York City.

The three detectives make a formidable team, solving a series of seemingly impossible crimes which expose the dark underbelly of the city - from a priceless art theft, high-stakes kidnapping and a decades-old unsolved murder, to a gruesome subterranean prison and corruption and bribery at the highest levels of power.

But it's not long before their headline-grabbing breakthroughs, unconventional methods - and untraceable pasts - attract the attention of the NYPD and the FBI.

After all, it's no surprise that there's a mystery or two to unravel in the city that never sleeps . . . not least, who really are Holmes, Margaret and Poe.

I loved this latest offering from Patterson. Holmes, Marple and Poe are a quirky, intelligent and entertaining trio to get to know. I really enjoyed getting to know them, seeing the links to their literary counterparts and wondering what the truth of them really is.
On a positive side, I really hope this is the start of a new series. The characters were brilliant and the plot offered promise. However, I did think there were far too many plot threads throughout this and as a result, time could not be dedicated to all of them and some felt rushed, some were only given a couple of pages in the whole book. I think it was done to allow for all of the detectives individual talents to shine through but I hope it does not continue as 1 possibly 2 strong plot threads would have been more than enough.
This is in Patterson's usual style with short, punchy chapters and an electric plot. These characters are brilliant and I hope for more from them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy.

I have read the odd Patterson book before and enjoyed them. When I saw this one I knew it was one I wanted to read, I mean having three characters named after some of classic literature's famous names, who would not want to give it a go?

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe. As the synopsis shows, they are unique in their own field of enquiry. They are also a fun bunch to get to know. There are some quirks and traits that you will recognise and these add to the charm of the characters.

With one case being solved and put in the spotlight, although well-staged, they now appear to have made a name for themselves and the cases are starting to come in. They do have a Detective that comes to their side and they soon find themselves in need of someone to organise them and their office.

With missing art, remains and other intriguing mysteries to solve they have their work cut out, not only keeping their reputation going but also keeping one another on the straight and narrow!

This was a really fun book to read, while I did think it was going to be a crime thriller, it is also quite a quick read and I really enjoyed it. It didn't feel like it was a serious crime thriller but it was definitely entertaining and would suit readers who don't like their crime and mystery books to be too bloody or gory.

The chemistry between the characters is good, they each have their own characteristics and they have their own sense of purpose as well as being part of a team. I would like to see more of these characters so it will be interesting to see if this does indeed become a series.

Ideal for fans of crime and mystery books and one that I would definitely recommend.

EXCERPT: Grey polished off her vodka in a gulp. She leaned in close to Marple. 'There is one mystery about this building that I'm dying to work out,' she said.
'What's that?'
How three people were able to get New York State PI licenses without leaving any of their fingerprints on file. Almost as if they were trying to conceal their true identities.'
'Well, I try not to make a thing out of it,' said Marple, 'but we are very good at what we do.'
'Right,' said Grey. 'Whoever you are.'
Marple smiled. 'Yes,' she said. 'Whoever we are.'

ABOUT 'HOLMES, MARGARET AND POE': Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe run the most in-demand private investigation agency in New York City.

The three detectives make a formidable team, solving a series of seemingly impossible crimes which expose the dark underbelly of the city - from a priceless art theft, high-stakes kidnapping and a decades-old unsolved murder, to a gruesome subterranean prison and corruption and bribery at the highest levels of power.

But it's not long before their headline-grabbing breakthroughs, unconventional methods - and untraceable pasts - attract the attention of the NYPD and the FBI.

After all, it's no surprise that there's a mystery or two to unravel in the city that never sleeps . . . not least, who really are Holmes, Margaret and Poe?

MY THOUGHTS: I loved this - it's a lot of fun.

I run hot and cold on James Patterson's books, but Holmes, Margaret and Poe is definitely a winner. I read it in a little less than twenty-four hours and am hoping that this is the beginning of a series. I was left with the feeling that there is a lot more to be revealed.

Holmes bears many of the characteristics of his namesake, plus he is hyperosmiac - i.e. he has extraordinary olfactory senses. Marple has extraordinary powers of observation and is an extremely quick thinker. She also enjoys a good sherry. Poe likes to live on the edge, as evidenced by his love of fast cars and an addiction. NYPD detective Helene Grey is both attracted by the trio and wary of them - they seem to be ghosts, people with no past.

After solving a very high profile case the trio's services in demand and they find themselves working multiple cases at once.

Holmes, Margaret and Poe is fast-paced and exciting. It doesn't take itself seriously - there are plenty of humorous moments that I enjoyed. One of my favorites was when Poe meets ME Verna Crown. Although we meet her very briefly, she is a wonderful character.

A definite recommendation and my fingers remain crossed that we are going to read more of this trio.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#HolmesMarpleandPoe #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: James Patterson has donated more than one million books to students, focusing on some of the most under-resourced schools and youth programs in the country.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Holmes, Margaret and Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A private detective company, run by three extraordinary detectives with names to match.
They are high profile, taking on all kinds of cases. From murder, art theft and kidnapping and myriad of other crimes.
They soon get a reputation for their brilliant work that catches the eye of law enforcement and questions are being asked.
Who are these very talented group of people and where did they come from?
This is probably one of James Patterson’s best novels to date.
It’s smartly written, with characters that intrigue and fascinate.
I found myself reading this in a day and was riveted throughout. A uniquely brilliant piece of work that I’d highly recommend.

I requested a copy of this book because of the title and author and it did not disappoint. What a wonderful PI agency. The characters are so much fun to get to know and of course there’s mystery!
Really enjoyed the story.

Holmes . Marple and Poe are private investigators and their methods bring amazing results .
The three of them harbour their own secrets , but what are they ? Are they really who they portray themselves to be?
This book is fast paced and kept me turning the pages late into the night .
I do hope this is the first book of a new series for James Patterson it makes for an enjoyable and satisfying read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK.

As a lover of both Holmes and Marple stories, the title of this book immediately leaped out at me, particularly when twinned with the Patterson name. But this story is as confusing as sticking the 3 titled characters together at all. Firstly, things repeatedly happen and then are immediately solved with no rhyme or reason as to why they’re mentioned at all. It’s like a series of novellas that just don’t hang together and you can’t quite work out why they’re even grouped into the same book. The characters are mysterious but yet there’s no real explanation of who they are really are (as we quickly realise the surnames are pulled from the novels they love). It’s just one mishap after another and nothing is really explained or gels. It had great potential as a concept but just doesn’t work for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

This private investigation trio are quite different to the Private series, also by JP. Initially I wasn’t completely sure but soon got into it and would look forward to reading more with these characters. More mystery than thriller read, not as high paced as others, but a definite should read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this intriguing book

well after reading this collaboration i am still unsure of it..... it was great to be back in the world of holmes, marple and poe and at times it felt right with the technology of today

but there was so much happening and so many cases though they were all wrapped up rather well but i do like the idea of these three characters working together in a mish mash sort of way

it was an enjoyable read though and look forward to seeing if these two authors write more stories together about these three characters

Oh this was so much fun... please say it's the start of a new series!
Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe together make up a private investigation firm, operating in New York City... well, with names like that, what else are they going to do?
They are well respected and highly sort after too. They live and work in an old bakery in Brooklyn which has it's own murder mystery to boot, that of a young girl, murdered back in 1954. But I digress. It is in the present that our focus should be on. With the disappearance of an attorney front and centre in their case list. Something that is currently baffling the authorities. We also have a troubling case of art theft which is also quite baffling on first inspection. And more delightful cases adding to the mix along the way...
As you can imagine, the three investigators do indeed live up to their namesakes, and deliciously so. But it's so much more than just personality as the prose is also peppered with literary references which delighted me all the more. We also have their origin stories which are yet to be fully revealed...
The cases they are tasked with a doozies and had me flummoxed for the main part and then kicking myself at some of the reveals. Spoilers prevent me from explaining further but they are quite clever in execution.
With short punchy chapters (mostly) and a fast flowing storyline, the book gets on with itself very well indeed and I read start to finish in just one day.
And, as I said in my opener, I really, really want this to be a new series. The groundwork has been cemented in this book and the characters, I believe, have so much more to give... I'll be first in line for the follow up...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I'm a big fan of James Patterson already so to get the opportunity to read a new stand-alone novel was a very exciting prospect. Holmes, Margaret and Poe run a successful private investigating firm in New York City, and it's not just their names that draw attention. With their unique skills and personality traits (some very familiar from their namesakes), they waste no time in solving various crimes across the city. From a missing teenager to missing artwork, there's no stone left unturned, and plenty of feathers ruffled.

Like Patterson's other novels, Holmes, Margaret and Poe is fast paced, with short, sharp chapters and plenty of action. There's plenty of depth to the characters already, which is hopefully setting up for more books in the series!

Each character of Holmes, Margaret and Poe has their own distinct style. When they come together to investigate mysteries, they complement each other.
These main characters become the biggest mystery in the book.
All the mysteries are connected in some way this keeps you enthralled throughout.
You hope to revisit these characters in future stories.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I just couldn’t put it down! I thought the way it started was just brilliant and loved our main characters instantly. I really enjoyed learning more about them and their quirks as the story went on. I also liked that fact that we had detective Grey as our main police character alongside Holmes, Marple & Poe and thought that the four of them made a great team.

I thought that the storylines were great and loved how our trio of PI’s managed to get the upper hand investigating each one. Even though there were multiple cases that were being worked it never became messy or confusing to read which was perfect.

There was one point when I thought that a couple of scenes in the book had been forgotten about however, I was wrong and that was wrapped up and this also cleared up another little mystery too. Again, I thought the way that this was brought in was brilliant and very well written, the stories did just seem to flow seamlessly even though they were not related.

I am, however, very intrigued by our trio and I do hope that we get to hear more from them and learn more about them as clearly everything is not as it seems with them. They clearly want to do good and help people but I’m also wanting to know what they are hiding. I must say that I am impressed with the friends and contacts they have, and they do work well together with their differing skill sets.

I'm not entirely sure what I expected from this book as it's not the usual James Patterson read.
But who am I kidding? This is one of Patterson's best reads of the year.
When three PI's open a new office in Brooklyn, they can't wait to start 9n their first case together.
Each character gives you an insight to the three main characters:
Brendan Holmes
Margaret Marble
Auguste Poe.
A complete wild ride that will have you wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

James Patterson and his co writers never disappoint. He's the master.

As a lover of crime fiction, this was a new slant on the genre and a promising start to what I hope will be a new series. I enjoyed the fact that there were several crimes featured at the same time and the hint of the back stories of the three main characters left me wanting more!

Holmes, Margaret and Poe by James Patterson

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Century and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Crime! Murder! Who are you going to call?

In New York City, three intriguing, smart, and stylish private investigators open Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. Who are these detectives with famous names and mysterious, untraceable pasts?

Brendan Holmes—The Brain: Identifies suspects via deduction and logic.

Margaret Marple—The Eyes: Possesses powers of observation too often underestimated.

Auguste Poe—The Muscle: Chases down every lead no matter how dangerous or dark.

The agency’s daring methodology and headline-making solves attract the attention of NYPD Detective Helene Grey. Her solo investigation into her three unknowable competitors rivals the best mysteries of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Edgar Allan Poe.

My Opinion

Of course the title jumped out at me and I had to jump on this book. This is a fun book to read and three detectives very quickly feel like familiar characters. There are different cases taking place through this book so the reader doesn't get time to feel bored. It is full of twists and turns. A highly entertaining read.

Rating 4/5