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 Group takes over St. Patrick's Cathedral to hold hostages November 6, 2008
Cy B. Hilterman (Cherry Tree, PA United States)
A new cop is introduced in this book, Senior Detective Michael Bennett, Homicide Department of the NYPD. Bennett and his dying wife, Maeve, had ten children all of which were adopted from various areas of the world, had had a fantastic life together as a family. Maeve had untreatable cancer and it hurt Bennett so deep watching his Maeve slowly slip away from life.
Michael was called into a case after the wife of the ex-president of the United States had a horrible attack while eating in their favorite restaurant that ended in death. It was discovered that she had been allergic to peanuts and somehow, a peanut product was placed in her food. At first thought an accident, there were too many things pointing otherwise. Bennett spread his time between the hospital visiting his wife, keeping tabs on all the children, and working this case connected with the death of the President's wife.
During the funeral service for the President's wife in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, a group of strange ski-masked men appeared in the cathedral, loaded with guns and weapons of many types and taking over the inside of St. Patrick's. They sealed all the doors and turned the funeral service into a shambles. Eventually most were released but all the famous people that had come to bid farewell to the President's wife were kept under guns and ski-masked eyes.
All the NYPD and other resources were on the scene quickly. Eventually Bennett was placed in charge of negotiations, a job he did not want since for years he had not been involved with any negotiation, but he was the only one that those inside the cathedral would deal with. Negotiations went on and on with several attempts by the authorities were made to find ways into the cathedral without success. Other negotiators joined Bennett but the head gunman, Jack, would still only deal with Bennett. During the breaks when things calmed down for a while he would leave and visit his wife in the hospital and his children at home. Maeve's mother had hired an au pair named Mary Catherine who took over the children much to Bennett's distress, but eventually calmness, with the way she handled the children and the home, let Bennett accept her.
During the negotiations several of the famous were killed and sent out through the front door of the cathedral so the authorities would know this was serious and they meant what they said. They wanted money from all these people and many millions was to be transferred to a special account. While all of this was proceeding, or in some ways going backwards, the authorities worked on the transfer of money with the cooperation of the victims families. The very ugly situation became uglier since this all occurred around Christmas time and the slowness of money transfer did not make the killers happy so they continued to kill a few more.
Step On A Crack is a very fast moving story that is well told by the authors. Patterson and his co-writers usually come up with a great story. This one is one of the best. I know I have said that before but once in a while a book stands out and this one did to me. Keep them coming and keep Michael Bennett in your plots. He and his family is a great asset to any story.
 Step On A Crack October 9, 2008
Angela M. Hooper (USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I will grit my teeth and give this novel a 2 star based on the rules of reviewing. However, the story is unbelievable and not too compelling.
Patterson introduces his new detective, Michael Bennett with 10 children. Ouch. Plus, his wife is sick and dying of cancer and this is the most "moving" part of the book. The story seems real here and is touching.
I was disappointed because I saw the ending before it was revealed, one of my pet peeves. Placing my opinion to the side, you have a funeral for the former First Lady. This is part of a terrorist plot. The terrorists uses the death of the former First Lady to carry out their plot to extort lots of money from the rich. They hold the richer celebs hostage, releasing the somewhat less richer celebs.
It's obvious that the terroists will make a perfect escape, leaving you nowhere to turn to wonder. Michael Bennett sure does take a lot of breaks while a serious hostage situation is taking place, but...he does have to go see his wife. It's unbelievable that he would be able to leave the crime scene at the particular times that he does though.
Patterson introduces the "Neat Man." I am shocked to think that this is the only name he can come up with, but, this is what the man is revealed as. It's obvious that the "Neat Man" is a cop and helping and the terrorists, but poor Michael Bennett has not figured this out yet.
After a long, drawn out process, the terrorists do in fact escape. This leads to a chase and in the end, guess what? Michael Bennett gets the man and the "Neat Man." This is very predictable in Patterson's novels and I would like to see for once - that maybe some of the bad guys could get away. Leaving more room for more series and plus, leaving the reader shocked a little.
 Awful! October 1, 2008
B. Thomas (flyover country)
I picked this book from the bookshelf of an apartment we were renting in Europe because it was the only one in English and I was out of reading material.
What dreck! People actually read this kind of stuff and consider it to be good writing? Short chapters and very simplistic writing - perhaps sixth-grade level.
In my future travels, I will throw an extra book or two into my luggage so I am never this desperate again...
 thin, anaemic, malnourished, under-developed etc October 1, 2008
Max Power (Perth, Australia)
The title sums it up. It shows some promise as an idea but the plot, characters, conflict and resolution are all massively under-developed. It all seems to happen so quickly that nothing is examined in any detail and its all over almost before it has begun. As others have mentioned, it seems to read a bit like a screenplay. There are really two stories interwoven, one intensely personal, the other all business, but neither is very well developed which makes the personal story seem tacked on, unnecessary and a cheap manipulative move. The aspect that is least satisfying however is that the solution comes all too easily. Perhaps this is what happens in most police-work (and thank goodness for that) but after the set-up where the baddies are supposed to be super organised and smart, planning every detail, it seems all too simple.
In all, it is an interesting idea and a quick, easy read - but it leaves the reader unsatisfied and with a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste.
I Liked It, But.... September 26, 2008
William H. Gallagher (Orange County NY)
I Thought There Was Alot Of Excitement In This Book And I Went Through It With Ease. It Is Kind Of Hard To Believe That A Man, Micheal Bennett, With 10 Kids And A Dying Wife Would Be Working Such A High Powered Situation. But I'll Grant That One To Mr. Pattersons Sensationalism. The Story Of The First Ladys Murder And The Taking Of Hostages At Her Funeral Was Interesting. The High Profile Hostages Rivaled Alot Of Current Stars. Being A Retired NYS Corrections Officer At Sing Sing Correctional I Am Flattered That The Hostage Takers Were NYS Correction Officers. But I Do Have A Few Facts To Add, There Is No Such Thing As A Shift Foreman. Police Special Units Would Not Be Utilized To Quell A Disturbance In A NYS Prison, Anybody Remember Attica? Corrections Has CERT(Corrections Emergency Response Team) For That. The Setup Of A Block(The Most Populated Housing Block In The World) Is Incorrect. However I Did Like The Book And Look Forward To Another With Micheal Bennett.
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