James Patterson has always been one of my favorite authors, but this book was my first to read with Candice Fox as his co-writer. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the two intertwined stories of the crime boss and the drama with Nick Jones and his past. As always, this book was easy to read with short chapters that kept me coming back for more.

I also appreciated the short story at the end of the book, Black & Blue. This was my first introduction to Harriet Blue, and now I can't wait to read more!

Title: The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox
Genre: Crime Thriller
Pub Date: April 16, 2024

Drug Operation
Kingpin Druglord
Multiple POV
Cover-Ups

This book begins and Afghanistan with a misson gone terribly wrong, resulting in a family murdered and requiring a cover up. We bounce back and forth between modern day and the past, as well as different POV. There's so much going on in this book. The vet (Nick) with PTSD and guilt for his part in the murder of the family, a sheriff who owns an inn where Nick resides, a drug operation and ruthless drug lord, a woman on the run because her cop husband was part of some very unsavory dealings... I can't say the book was boring but it was sometimes difficult to follow and felt like a little too much. I think the main reason I didn't love the book is because it's just not my preferred genre.

⭐️ 3.5

Thank you so much NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the digital review copy! ❣️

James Patterson and Candice Fox co-author a gripping murder mystery based in Massachusetts. Bill Robinson has retired and purchased an inn. Occupants can stay as long as they need. This inn is meant to be a place for refuge from the world for anyone who needs it. One of the occupants is the Sheriff, Clayton Spears. Both men are determined to keep peace and tranquility in their town. Shattering this peace are the deaths of several local criminals, mysterious new guests at the inn, and an unusual company replacing asbestos siding. Are these events interconnected or coincidental? Robinson and Spears will need to help each other unravel the events.

This isn't a sleepy little town with a local inn. There are far more nefarious elements working to corrupt this town. The dedication and devotion of the inn residents save the town from becoming the seat of a new crime boss's empire. In doing so there will be some violence, death, and destruction. The authors take care to be descriptive yet not graphic. The characters are not well-developed. The motivations and backstories lack depth. More time needs to be spent developing the friendships of the residents. This lack of depth makes the story seem superficial and more like a beach read.

Bill Robinson is a former Boston PD detective that’s started a new life on the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. He’s bought and refinished an Inn that has accumulated an eclectic variety of residents, a second family almost, with the occasional short timer.

There are a few different plot lines happening but they all tie in beautifully with each other. Bill’s relationship with his former co-workers along with his current Inn residents makes for a tense and action-packed read. I loved the quirkiness of some of the characters, Bill’s kindness and sense of responsibility towards those he cares about, and the interweaving story.

This is the second book in a series, which I wasn’t aware of, so I read the first book The Inn, immediately after finishing The Murder Inn. In my opinion, each can be read as a standalone but I wish I’d read The Inn first so that I knew Bill’s history a bit better. Even so, this is a compelling and engaging story that I thoroughly enjoyed!