Book Review | The Postcard Killers - James Patterson & Liza Marklund
From Rome and Copenhagen to Frankfurt and Oslo, The Postcard Killers are making history across the continent.
James Patterson (#1 New York Times bestselling author) and Lisa Marklund (#1 bestselling author in Sweden) have combined forces to create a racy, riveting crime thriller – The Postcard Killers.
Dessie Larsson – Swedish journalist – receives a postcard in the mail.
"To be or not to be,
In Stockholm.
That is the question.
We'll be in touch."
A riddle resembling that of the Davinci code, is, in fact, the signature trademark of the latest serial killers traversing through Europe, dubbed The Postcard Killers.
Dessie becomes known to NYPD detective Jacob Kanon, a man on his own mission to track down the killers as his own daughter was an unfortunate victim to the killings. The Postcard Killers appear to be seducing young couples, enticing them into their hotel rooms, where the champagne's aplenty and the clothes come off. Oblivious to their fate of slit throats and chopped off limbs.
With another couple down, it's many more to go as the Postcard Killers voyage across Europe on their murderous spree. Meanwhile, Dessie and Jacob inch closer and closer on their hunt to justice. With many strange discoveries along the way, the question remains, who exactly are the Postcard Killers, and where will they go next?
If you don't read a James Patterson novel in one day, are you even reading a James Patterson novel at all? As one of my favourite crime thriller authors, I am always on the lookout for his books. Despite being 10 years old, it captures all the classic James Patterson essence which I know and love, with an added twist as its co-written with Liza Marklund, the famous Swedish author of the Annika Bengtzon series.
As you can guess, I absolutely nailed this book in one afternoon, and I loved it! As usual, the fast-paced cliff hanger chapters pulled me deep into the plot, and with each page, I grew more desperate to track down The Postcard Killers. They are not your usual killers, either. The totally abstract concept – think erotica, historical art and slit throats - made it a bit more twisted than your typical crime thriller.
As the setting changes from one European city to another, I loved learning about the little of nooks and crannies of each place, like a free walking tour through the famous museums of Scandinavia. I could got a real feel of the vibe for the cities that I have not visited yet but would love to venture to, like Copenhagen and Stockholm. This sense of adventure tied in with the mini-lessons about historical art were nice touches to a gripping race against time.
Among the many James Patterson books that I have read and loved; this one is easily added to the list. It's the perfect satisfying read for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a train journey through Europe. A brilliant crime-thriller by two brilliant authors.