Don’t Blink: You Blink, You Die

James Patterson & Howard Roughan
Little, Brown and Company (2010)
ISBN 9780316036238
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (12/10) 

 

Reporter Nick Daniels is always searching for the perfect story.  Having just nearly been killed in the Sudan, he gets the offer of a lifetime--the opportunity to interview Dwayne Robinson.  Robinson was a pitcher for the New York Yankees who is credited with costing them the World Series ten years ago because of personal issues.  Since then he has refused to speak to the press.  Eager to get the interview done Nick and Dwayne meet, but things do not go quite as planned.  Rather, they witness a gruesome murder and find themselves in danger.

There is definitely a lot of action in this book.  Nick constantly finds himself in difficult situations.  Everyone from his ex-girlfriend to the mob seems to have it in for him.  When nearly everyone with whom he discusses the murder encounters some type of negative experience soon after, Nick has to step up the investigation on his own because he does not know who he can trust.  Also, falling in love with his boss, who happens to be engaged to a very wealthy man, makes it a bit more difficult for Nick to think clearly.

“Don't Blink” is an extremely appropriate title for this book.  In typical Patterson style the chapters are fairly short, but they are filled with activity.  The story moves at a good pace.  It is not until about two-thirds of the way through the book that the truth begins to become clear.  The overt use of foreshadowing at the end of almost every chapter made it hard for me to stop reading.  I could not wait to see what trouble would befall Nick next.

This is a well-written book that lives up to previous stories by James Patterson.  The way the authors used each of the characters was exceptional.  Every character played an essential part in the story; there were no unnecessary characters thrown in to try to lead the reader astray.  Adult men and women will enjoy “Don’t Blink,” especially those who enjoy action and mystery novels.  There are some surprises at the end but no one will have a hard time getting to that point.

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