What a great suspense book! Truly hooked me from the very start and the plot never slowed down. Lots of strong well developed characters, the plot had lots of moving parts which somehow all made sense and worked together effortlessly, and enough twists and turns to make the story interesting. Highly recommend for those looking for a fast paced, suspense worth a Billion Dollars!!!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book begins fast from the first page. I’ve enjoyed numerous books by James Patterson, and this is a good one. The story is told in short chapters from various perspectives, and is a page turner (Just one more chapter!). This book features likable characters, and many unsavory characters. Recommended!

Five members of a very wealthy family get kidnapped simultaneously from three different locations. It all happens quickly and there are no witnesses. Single mom and FBI Agent Nicky Gordon teams up with LAPD Detective Mike Hardy and other law enforcement personnel to solve the crime and get the individuals returned safely.

There are twists, turns, tension, edge-of-your-seat nonstop action, secrets, and things just not adding up. Nicky suspects there’s a mole among them because the kidnappers seem to know too much about police procedures. And there are many times where she feels they’re all being led on a wild goose chase.

An excellent book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love it. Fast pace with short chapters Couldn't figure it out which made me want to read each chapter faster.
While the ending might feel a bit far fetched, still was great 4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy

Wow, I was back and forth trying to figure out which character or characters were involved in this intricate plot. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

Billion-Dollar Ransom by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski is a very good thriller that hooked me from the start. The story revolves around a billionaire’s family, all kidnapped simultaneously, creating a high-stakes scenario that kept me invested in the story. The clever intertwining of multiple locations and characters added depth to the narrative, making it a fast-paced and engaging read.

What I loved most about this book is the strong character of Special Agent Nicky Gordon. Her determination and unwavering stance bring an intriguing dynamic to the story. The tension between the FBI’s mission to save the hostages and the pressure to negotiate for their release creates a good conflict. I also really, really enjoyed her daughter. She was funny and bright and brought a nice element to the storyline.

Patterson and Swierczynski expertly build suspense throughout the novel with unexpected twists and turns. Overall, Billion-Dollar Ransom is a must-read for fans of suspense and crime fiction. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and ultimately satisfying. This book is a reminder of what happens when greed meets desperation, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I would recommend this book.

#NetGalley @littlebrown

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like any other James Patterson book, you won't be left bored. Very fast- paced, told from multiple perspective, filled with action, secrets and betrayal, very fun to read.

Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.


“It would take a perfect plan to collect a billion-dollar ransom. So here’s the plan.
Five members of a billionaire’s family.
In different locations.
All kidnapped at the same moment.
Two children taken from a private-school bus.
A film producer and a movie star grabbed at a hideaway resort.
A beautiful wife whisked off the streets of Beverly Hills.
A patriarch wants his family back.
The cash, gold, jewels, are crypto are all ready.
There’s only one problem: a brilliant, very stubborn FBI agent.
Special Agent Nicky Gordon doesn’t want to pay the kidnappers.
Not a dime.”

I really enjoy many of James Patterson’s thrillers, and this was another really good book. There are so many things that I love about this book, from the action to the characters. This is another book that will hopefully be a hit with fans of James Patterson’s other works. This was another great read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, James Patterson, Duane Swierczynski, and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Eager to see what James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski have in collaboration, I gladly accepted this ARC. It is another great piece of police procedural magic, with intense storylines and decent character development for the attentive reader. When five kidnappers strike in multiple locations simultaneously, the authorities are taken off guard. All are related to a billionaire, though the motive is not clear from the outset. The lead on the investigation is a well-established Los Angeles-based FBI special agent with her eyes on a larger prize, but will first focus all her attention here. When a massive ransom demand comes in, no one knows how to synthesise it, but the trend is not to pay it and wait. How well with that plan work in the long run? Patterson and Swierczynski impress with this piece.

In a coordinated strike, five members of the Schraeder family are kidnapped in three locations simultaneously. The kidnappers use only code names and ensure they cannot be traced to one another. Panic is minimal, as no one is aware of the other abductions, but it is sure to reach the headlines before long.

Enter FBI Special Agent Nicky Gordon, who has her eyes set on climbing the ladder and out of her Los Angeles posting. She is given responsibility for the abduction and ensuring all five family members end up alive. She has few leads, but makes sure that her team provides anything they garner to her as swiftly as possible. When the ransom demand comes in—one BILLION dollars—everyone is on edge, as this is by no means chump change. Special Agent Gordon knows that they are either working with professionals who know the man at the top can pay, or a collection of naive individuals who are shooting for the stars.

As time passes and something comes together, Special Agent Gordon realises that there might be something to these kidnappers that she could not have suspected. Rather than hungry criminals, these might be people with a plan, orchestrated from the top. While she scrambles for answers, one thing is clear; Special Agent Nicky Gordon has no interest in paying the ransom at all! A great thriller that keeps the reader hooked, Patterson and Swierczynski offer up a quick read that has all the elements for success.

While I can sometimes be leery of James Patterson and his writing, he surrounds himself with a number of collaborators who make the reads more worthwhile. That can easily be said of Duane Swierczynski, who ups the calibre of these stories. The narrative lays the groundwork from the outset and keeps the reader on track as things begin to take place. The momentum increases to a fever pitch and soon the reader is ensconced in all that is taking place, worried only that they will lose track of time. Characters work to complement the story and enrich the reading experience, showing the story from all angles and interest points. The plot, while not vastly unique, works well and is able to pivot when needed. Using Patterson's trademark short chapters, the surprises keep coming in cliffhangers that push the reader to keep flipping pages until all is done. A great collaborative effort in this piece!

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Swierczynski, for an exciting read!

get ready for a wild ride who is behind the kidnapping with a cast of characters with no redeeming qualities except two innocent children swept up in the plot it's a fun read with the good guys coming out ahead

Thank you to NetGalley Little, Brown and Company and James Patterson for this ARC. Five different family members of a billionaire are kidnapped. When the ransom is finally called in, they are asking for 1 Billion dollars in a variety of currencies. Nicky Gordon was just handed the case that will make or break her career. Can she find the family members before the ransom is paid or they are killed? The ending was well played out!!! #BillionDollarRansom #JamesPatterson #DuaneSwierczynski #LittleBrownandCompany #Sept2025

Patterson and Swiercynski deliver a fast-paced, suspense thriller in this multi-person kidnapping of an elite family. There are numerous twists and turns that keep the reader wanting more. Thank you #NetGalley for my ARC; this review is my honest opinion.

Another Patterson page turning and full throttle ride to the very last page! Thanks for another Patterson ARC!

This was such a fun, fast read! So many theories on who/why/how the kidnapping occurred. The characters, story, mystery flow was planned and laid out wonderfully from beginning to the very end! I am very thankful to Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I freely offer my honest review of this book.

What a thriller! So many stories to follow in this book. When multiple members of the same family all get kidnapped at the exact same time, you have to pay attention! I was glued to this book and it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for a digital arc of this title.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

This was such a wild ride! I had a blast going along with this story of an elite family having multiple people kidnapped. I thought that was a really interesting concept because usually it’s just one spoiled rich kid or wife that they’re looking to rescue so to have multiple storylines within the large story was really cool. I loved the characters, loved how fast paced this was. Another excellent read from Patterson!

“The Billion Dollar Ransom” by James Patterson & Duane Swierczynski is a thriller that follows the title of the book. Five members of a billionaire’s family are all kidnapped at exactly the same time from very different locations. He wants his family back at all costs, and is willing to pay the staggering sum of one billion dollars. A very smart and capable female FBI agent is determined to outmaneuver the kidnappers., not pay the ransom and bring his family home.
With the typical short chapter style and some unexpected twists the mystery ends pretty much as anticipated. The characters are bland and the ending somewhat predictable.

I am a big fan of Mr. Patterson and he has come out with some fantastic books recently, this one at least for me was not up there with my favorites.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this latest James Patterson book, five members of a billionaire’s family. In different locations are all kidnapped at the same moment.
Two children taken from a private-school bus; a film producer and a movie star grabbed at a hideaway resort; and a beautiful wife whisked off the streets of Beverly Hills. The patriarch wants his family back and has the cash, gold, jewels, are crypto are all ready.
But: a brilliant, very stubborn FBI agent special agent Nicky Gordon doesn’t want to pay the kidnappers. This is not a one of my favorite Patterson stories.

Billion-Dollar Ransom by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski.

This thriller involves three kidnappings at all the same time, which is very intense and gripping.

It is a fast-paced story that just keeps on going. It involves a billionaire’s family, the FBI and is full of twists and turns.

This one will keep you guessing right to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Authors James Patterson; Duane Swierczynski, and Little Brown and Company for my advanced copy to read and review

Billion Dollar Ransom was a fun and action packed book. It is fast paced which keeps you interested and has short chapters. There are a lot of characters and POVs, due to this you never really get to know any of them or make a connection. The story line is filled with twists and finger pointing trying to figure out who to trust.

This was so good. So much better than I was expecting (and I was expecting a lot! You will be glued to this book until the very last page.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!