Book Review: James Patterson two for the price of one: Private LA and Private India

 These James Patterson books are ‘easy reads’ - you know the sort of book you can read for ten minutes here and there like on a bus journey and not have to concentrate too hard.  Having said that, they are strangely addictive and I rarely miss them.  Definitely good Christmas pressies and nice to have around the house  or on your kindle to indulge yourself when the mood takes.

Ashwin Sanghi

Private India

This is the latest in the Private series that Patterson wrote in conjunction with Ashwin Sanghi.  Set in Mumbai it opens with a woman’s body found in a posh Mumbai hotel. (not the Taj Mahal) The killer left some tokens behind which lead the Bombay police to suspect a serial killer.  The Private India firm is in charge of the Hotel security and Santosh Vagh (drunkard, widower and eccentric head of Private India) becomes involved.  Soon the body count grows and Santosh recognises the clues left behind relate to Hindu scriptures.  I found this a welcome change from the serial killer being influenced by Christianity.

Private India takes you from the riches of high class Mumbai to the gutters of corruption, dealing with paid assassins, money lenders, fake shamen’s and Jain burial grounds.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and really liked the quirky main character Santosh Vagh

Private LA

If you like James Patterson’s fast paced, high octane crime thrillers then this is for you.  It delivers the exotic, super fit, super brave, super good looking goodies, alongside a bit of romance, corruption, depravity and, of course a sinister violent group.

It begins with the murder of four surf dudes on the beach below one of Private LA’s clients , then the mayor receives notification from a group known as No Prisoners asking for money or else they’ll murder an increasing number of people each day until their demands are met.   Then Private LA is brought in to investigate  the disappearance of two well- loved philanthropic actors and their adopted children.  Private hates being messed around and they son feel things are being withheld from them adored by the press and the world at large.  Are things really what they seem?... Private LA will certainly find out!



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