Suspense Book Annotation

Author: James Patterson

Title: Tick Tock

Genre: Suspense

Publication Date: January 2011

Number of Pages: 387 Pages

Geographical Setting: New York City and Breezy Point, New York

Time Period: Late 2000s/early 2010s

Series (If applicable):
1.        Step on a Crack
2.       Run For Your Life
3.       Worst Case
4.       Tick Tock
5.       I, Michael Bennett

Plot Summary: NYPD Detective Michael Bennett is enjoying his summer vacation with his ten adopted children when a fake bomb is discovered at the New York Public Library and Bennett is called back into action.  Although this bomb did not explode, fear spreads throughout the city as bombs do detonate in popular tourists landmarks.  In addition to the bombs, other crimes from kidnapping to murder are committed with notes from the killer to Bennett.  Bennett and his FBI partner Emily Parker discover that this killer is copying other famous New York criminals.  Can they stop him before he causes more damage? 

Subject Headings:
Detective – New York (State) – New York – Fiction
Psychopaths – Fiction
Bombings – Fiction
Bennett, Michael (Fictitious character) – Fiction
Detectives – New York (N.Y.) – Fiction
Mentally ill – Fiction

Appeal:
Fast paced
Serial killer based on historical occurrences
Writing is more dialogue based with smaller emphasis on description

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):
Similar Fiction Works –
Son of Stone by Stuart Woods
     Fast Paced
    Based in New York City
     Part of a mystery/suspense series

Ricochet by Sandra Brown
      Plot driven
      Fast Paced
      Suspense with a romantic element

The Art of Deception by Ridley Pearson
      Fast Paced
      Relationship between lead cop and co-worker
      Part of a series

Similar Non-Fiction Works –
The Mad Bomber of New York:  The Extraordinary True Story of the Manhunt that Paralyzed a City by Michael Greenburg
      New York City True Crime referred to in Tick Tock
      Mentally ill offenders
      Bombers

Son of Sam: A Biography of David Berkowitz by Paul Brody
      New York City True Crime referred to in Tick Tock
      Serial Killers
      Mentally ill offenders

From the Mouth of the Monster: The Joel Rifkin Story by Robert Mladinich
      New York City True Crime referred to in Tick Tock
      Story of serial killer and cop
     Inside perspective into the mind of a murderer  

Reader Profile

My favorite genre to read is classic literature.  I love the idea of reading books that have stood the test of time and finding value in them in today's society.  Although I have read books by Bronte, Dickens, and Austen, I prefer modern classics from early 1900s to approx 1970s.  I love Vonnegut, Bradbury, Dos Pasos, and Salinger.  I like that these authors challenged the ways in which a story should be told by using untraditional story telling.  It also provides me with the satisfaction of completely a goal when reading classic books. 

In terms of more specific genres, I enjoy mysterys/thrillers, fantasy/sci-fi, and nonfiction.  In terms of finding new books to read, I usually visit Amazon to see what books are popular and what books are highly recommended by critics.  I also find books through entertainment blogs such as the Vulture from the New York Magazine or through Entertainment Weekly magazine. 

I am usually not drawn to romance/chick lit novels or westerns.  As I do not have the chance to read as often as I like with work and school, when I do have the opportunity, I like to read books of more substance.  I do not mind romance in books, but I do not like enjoying books entirely devoted to romance, shopping, woman's relationships, etc.  I like to watch TV or movies to relax my mind rather than reading a book to.  If I do read a lighter content books, I like comedies or funny memiors (something by Sedaris or Burroughs).  My dad loves to listen to western novels in this truck, so I am excited at the opportunity to read one of his books for our assignment as I never would have prior to this course. 

Other the last few months, I finished the Tana French mystery series and all of Gillian Flynn's thriller novels  I thought all of these books were fantastic and I am excited at what these authors will be producing in the future.  I have the 4th Geogre RR Martin to read, but I am waiting to finish this upcoming series before I do so