Cover Image: The Coast-to-Coast Murders

The Coast-to-Coast Murders

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Member Reviews

Psychological Thriller Done Superbly.

This novel sits right up there with the best of the best, Red Dragon, Manchurian Candidate etc... Twisted, violent and dark. All of the things that make the genre what it is at it's best. A must read for fans of the genre and utterly unputdownable.

Straight Five Star Read

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An avid James Patterson fan here so I jumped at the chance to read this.

It didn’t disappoint; full of twists and turns and differing narrative perspectives which added to the structure of the text.

I think using this kind of approach to writing is an invaluable tool and one which keeps the pace, which is what you want with a crime thriller.

The characters were believable and I was constantly reevaluating what was happening and trying to decipher one of the main protagonists and his truth; but I was completely thrown at the end.

This is a great book. I throughly enjoyed it.

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A must read for anyone who loves a decent thriller.

A man comes home from the cinema to find a girl dead in his bathtub. When all the evidence points to him as the killer, he is forced to take matters into his own hands to clear his name. What starts out as a simple murder investigation spirals into a fast paced thriller of epic proportions.

Utterly brilliant.

For anyone who likes a fast paced thriller with a furious plot.

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Michael and Megan are the adoptive children of Dr Barton and Dr Rose Fitzgerald who are renowned in their expert fields of clinical psychiatry and psychology. Michael is estranged from his parents and is a long haul truck driver, he remains close to student Megan. He’s at a store in LA when he gets a call from a neighbour that his apartment has flooded and is damaging the building. On his return he finds the cause - running bath water with a dead girl in it. Detective Garrett Dobbs investigates and is later joined by FBI agent Jessica Gimble. Michael is now the chief suspect for multiple homicides in at least ten states across the USA. Is Michael the dangerous serial killer ‘The Birdman’ or an unwitting patsy? The story is told principally by Michael, Megan, Dobbs and Gimble.

Can I get off the crazy train now please??!! My head is completely spinning and I suspect my brains fried. Talk about messed up! Did I like it? Of course I did! Yes, it’s twisted, totally convoluted, jaw dropping, eye popping, chilling but definitely entertaining. Far fetched? Probably, but this is fiction after all although when you hear some real life craziness maybe not. Plot holes? Yes, I’m still trying to figure one or two things out which I’m not sure make sense but it may be that the fast pace means my overworked brain hasn’t caught up. However, it’s a thrill a minute, absorbing, compelling and gripping. It’s very tense at times and on more than one occasion I had my fists clenched wanting to punch the manipulative, immoral masterminds in this devious plot. It has all the ingredients that you’d expect from these authors, with excitement and high octane action and it will make a great movie. I like the short action packed chapters as they are frequently action packed which are a good match for the unfolding drama. You think you have everything sorted in your head but nope. You cannot relax for a second as it has more plot twists than many thrillers!

Overall, I think I’ve just about got my breath back but my brain is still in a bit of a spin. I might need to meditate - or medicate! This is a really good thriller which I really enjoyed.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House / Cornerstone for the ARC for an honest review.

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A fast paced psychological thriller. I enjoyed the many twist and turns. They kept me guessing and engrossed till the end. Highly recommended.

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I am a big James Patterson fan and this latest book, Coast to Coast Murders did not disappoint!! Gripping from the first page to the last , this book has it all. Full of twists and turns and what a finale!!! Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

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Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

I really struggled with this book - think it was the short chapters and the many characters and location changes. I’m still not 100% sure I grasped what was going on.

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I’m a huge James Patterson fan and can’t wait for every new book to hit the shelves. However, for me this wasn’t his best. It was intense and fast paced but i found it confusing in places and didn’t enjoy it as much as his previous books.

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“An FBI agent and a NYC homicide detective join forces in the hunt of a serial killer“.
This book is that and so, so much more! Michael and Megan were both adopted as small children. Their adoptive parents are eminent professors and it appears the 2 children had a privileged upbringing, but, was there more to it than first appears?

I’ve had very mixed views on James Patterson’s recent releases, but, this is a fabulous, edge of the seat truly psychological thriller. It’s got a fascinating, intricate storyline that wends and weaves and left me breathless.

It’s the sort of book where I was excited to get back to it, whilst, also wanting to stretch out the excellent read.

Highly recommended and what an incredible partnership. Loved it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

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Wow! An absolutely fantastic psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

James Patterson and J.D Barker have written an amazing thriller that had me captivated and second guessing throughout. I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery/thrillers. The story is told through several characters point of views which complements the fast paced plot and James Patterson’s style of short chapters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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And Patterson does it again. Seriously, the man is a creative genius. I was gripped from start to end. Even though I hope for a sequel to this one I'm guessing I will be left guessing. The only criticism I have of James Patterson is that although I read minimum 3 books a week I just can't keep up with his releases. If they were just standard I wouldn't be bothered but each is genius and I wanna read them all 😩

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It’s a long time since I read a book written by James Patterson I stopped reading his books when he started churning them out every few months, but I’m so glad I took a chance on The Coast-to-Coast Murders. The author has teamed up with JD Barker, an author whose previous books I’ve really enjoyed. What a fantastic combination they make!  This is a fast-paced, roller coaster read that takes the reader on an intense journey, as the plot twist and turns its way to a dramatic ‘OMFG’ conclusion. Serial killer, murder, misdirection, and non-stop action are just a few of the delights this book has to offer. 

All you need to know is in the book description so I won’t bore you with a rehash of the plot, but I will happily share why I enjoyed this book so much.The narrative unfolds through alternating POVs told in various formats, each voice is unique and offers much to the story as it unfolds. There were so many elements that made The Coast-To-Coast Murders such an exciting read, the pacing, the psychological elements that keep you constantly guessing, and a plethora of characters who are interesting, likeable or sometimes detestable!  Each one plays an integral role in the story’s overall success. What I wasn’t expecting was the insightful exploration of what circumstances it takes for a person to develop into a killer, something that’s always intrigued me, and made the read even more thrilling. 

The pairing of the two authors is pure genius, their distinctive writing combine creating the definition of a ‘killer thriller’. The tension increases tenfold as each brief chapter ends, urging the reader onwards. With some great twists thrown in I found this book a quick, entertaining read. There’s so much I loved about this book that I would happily recommend The Coast-to-Coast Murders to those who love an addictive and compulsive psychological thriller.

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The Coast to Coast murders is a fast paced psychological thriller with a large cast of characters. Michael and his sister Megan have had childhoods full of terror, negligence and abuse, adopted by an psychiatrist and his psychologist wife it appears their past sufferings are no better just now wrapped up in a veil of wealth and privilege.
A serial killer is on the loose and Michael is suddenly in the frame for a host of murders, with overwhelming evidence against him he is unable to convince the FBI and local police that he is completely innocent and has been set up, his sister is determined to prove them wrong and fights to uncover the truth. As the story unfolds it appears obvious who is the culprit but with all the twists and turns you’re never quite sure, the reveals at the end turn everything on its head leaving you spinning.
Despite being fast paced and much going on, for me it was a tad too long and I actually ended up skimming pages.
I haven’t read a James Patterson book for a while since he started writing with other authors, why? I wonder if they just run out of ideas and use others. Despite this the book was entertaining but for me didn’t quite hit the mark
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

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I haven’t read any James Patterson books for a few years as I had been disappointed with the storylines. This book however was very different. It reminded me of his early novels. It was quite a long read and it was quite hard to keep up with the complexity of the plot and shifts of people telling the chapters. Not a book to read if you are feeling tired as you really need to concentrate. Indeed after reading the final twists I felt like reading it again. Very good storyline and held me gripped.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

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James Patterson never fails with his crime books and this is another excellent read! Lots of twists to keep you hooked in and you really do doubt what is happening at times!

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3.5 stars

For as much as i love Alex Cross series and discovering a new to me author in J D Barker, this writing duet was a rollercoaster of emotions and twists and turns.
I enjoyed the subplot and how the "family" bond was portraited between Michael and Megan, how their tremendous childhood changed them and everything they had to endure and go through just because the adoptive family found them the perfect candidates for their researches. In a way it's just unthinkable but at the same time very believable,as you can never get to really know what happens behind closed doors in any household.
So many murders and suspects, so many questions and what ifs, all adding up for a good suspenseful story.
I have to say though , i just couldn't wrap my head around the short chapters and the different pov that we get with all the then and now events and that's why the lower star rating.


many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

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A complex story which I really enjoyed. The short chapters make it a nice quick read. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone.

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Enjoyed this book which moved at a fast pace. Caught me out at the end ! Great psychological thriller as usual.

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An unbelievable story with over the top violence, however due to the short chapters and the writing style it moves at a pace. There is so much going on in different locations it is sometimes difficult to keep up. Not totally convinced about the plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy of this book

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If you have order and structure in your life before you read The Coast-to-Coast Murders, I can almost guarantee you'll finish it confused and maybe with a headache but whatever you do, don't reach for the pills as they may not be what they appear! Yes, this is a very complex thriller and just when you get a grip on what really is going on, you realise you've been duped all along. It's a lengthy novel and if I hadn't got a massive reading list I'd possibly reread it and make notes along the way. I would give it five stars for content but I'd like to knck a star off for my state of confusion, however on this occasion I won't.

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