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THE #1 BESTSELLING SENSATION
#1 New York Times
#1 Chicago Tribune
#1 Washington Post
#1 Entertainment Weekly
#1 USA Today
#1 Wall Street Journal
America's most popular thriller writer, James Patterson, presents his most daring-and astonishing-novel ever.
With the perfect marriage and a great job, Lauren Stillman loves her wonderful life . . . until she sees her husband with another woman. Devastated and lusting for revenge, Lauren has her own affair. It's supposed to be a quickie, but Lauren's night of passion takes a shocking turn when she witnesses an unbelievable and deadly crime.
Now her horrifying secret threatens to tear her life apart, pitting her need to uncover the truth against her fear that the truth may be too horrible to bear. And whichever choice she makes may cost her dearly-her job, her marriage . . . or even her life.
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." NYPD detective Lauren Stillwell finds out the hard way that a lie is the most difficult thing to keep alive. After seeing her husband entering a hotel room with another woman, Lauren jumps to the conclusion that he is cheating on her and, in retaliation, she has a one-night "quickie" with a fellow police officer. If this were the end of the story, it would still qualify as interesting fiction, but Patterson and Ledwidge have no intention of making things easier for Lauren. What begins as a simple act of desperation soon evolves into a complex and often deadly series of cover-ups, lies, and deceptions. Actress Mary Stuart Masterson skillfully keeps the suspense moving, giving each character a distinct personality, and helping listeners overcome the occasional florid prose by pulling us deeper and deeper into the "tangled web" Lauren creates. Highly recommended for all libraries; Patterson is sure to have a large and loyal following.
—Joseph L. Carison
James Patterson is the #1 thriller author in the world. He lives in Florida.
Michael Ledwidge is the author of The Narrowback, Bad Connection, and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. He has teamed up with Patterson before on Step On a Crack.
A string of gripping standalone mysteries followed, but it was the 1992 release of Along Came a Spider that elevated Patterson to superstar status. Introducing Alex Cross, a brilliant black police detective/forensic psychologist, the novel was the first installment in a series of bestselling thrillers that has proved to be a cash cow for the author and his publisher.
Examining Patterson's track record, it's obvious that he believes one good series deserves another…maybe even a third! In 2001, he debuted the Women's Murder Club with 1st to Die, a fast-paced thriller featuring four female crime fighters living in San Francisco—a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an assistant D.A., and a cub reporter. The successful series has continued with other numerically titled installments. Then, spinning off a set of characters from a previous novel (1998's When the Wind Blows), in 2005 he published Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. Featuring a "flock" of genetically engineered flying children, the novel was a huge hit, especially with teen readers, and spawned a series of vastly popular fantasy adventures.
In addition to continuing his bestselling literary franchises, Patterson has also found time to co-author thrillers with other writers—including Peter de Jonge, Andrew Gross, Maxine Paetro, and Howard Roughan—and has even ventured into romance (Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Sam's Letters to Jennifer) and children's literature (santaKid). Writing at an astonishing pace, this prolific author has turned himself into a one-man publishing juggernaut, fulfilling his clearly stated ambition to become "the king of the page-turners."
Two of Patterson's Alex Cross mysteries (Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls) have been turned into films starring Morgan Freeman; in 2007, a weekly television series premiered, based on the bestselling Women's Murder Club novels.
I'd made a special trip into Manhattan and had put on my favorite "little black dress." I looked moderately ravishing. Nothing that would be out of place at the Mark Joseph Steakhouse, and one of Paul's favorite outfits, too, the one he usually chose if I asked him, "What should I wear to this thing, Paul?"
Anyway, I was excited, and I'd already spoken to his assistant, Jean, to make sure that he was there - though I hadn't alerted her about the surprise. Jean was Paul's assistant after all, not mine.
And then, there was Paul.
As I rounded the corner in my Mini Cooper, I saw him leaving his office building, walking with a twenty-something blonde woman.
Paul was leaning in very close to her, chatting, laughing in a way that instantly made me feel very ill.
She was one of those bright, shiny beauties you're more likely to see in Chicago or Iowa City. Tall, hair like platinum silk. Cream-colored skin that looked just about perfect from this distance. Not a wrinkle or blemish.
She wasn't completely perfect, though. She tripped a Manolo on a street plate as she and Paul were getting into a taxi, and as I watched Paul gallantly catch hold of the pink cashmere on her anorexic elbow, I felt like someone had hammered a cold chisel right into the center of my chest.
I followed them. Well, I guess followed is too polite. I stalked them.
All the way up to Midtown, I stayed on that taxi's bumper like we were connected by a tow hook. When the cab suddenly pulled up in front of the entrance to the St. Regis Hotel, on East 55th Street, and Paul and the woman stepped out smiling, I felt an impulse rush from the lizard part of my brain to my right foot, which was hovering over the accelerator. Then Paul took her arm. A picture of both of them sandwiched between the storied hotel's front steps and the hood of my baby-blue Mini flashed through my mind.
Then it was gone, and so were they, and I was left sitting there crying to the sound of the honking taxis lined up behind me.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Quickie by James Patterson Michael Ledwidge Copyright © 2007 by James Patterson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Anonymous
Posted December 13, 2009
What an easy read. If you like suspense, this is for you. The corners Mr. Patterson turns are unexpected and thrilling. From page 1 to the last one, you don't know where the story will take you. Short, 1,2,3 or 4 page chapters, you will find yourself turning with disbelief and anticipation. An ending even more bizarre than you will believe. ***** 5 stars
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I read this book in 2 days on vacation and it was so good that I actually started reading it to my friend who got enthralled just by what I was telling her. I loved the character of Lauren and think this should be a movie. Sort of picture Angelina Jolie in title role. I usually can figure out some things but this book kept surprising me and the twists and turns were great. James Patterson is one of my favorite authors and he outdid himself with this one.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 18, 2012
I read this a while back and it was a good read, easy, short and couldnt put it down
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 29, 2012
Patterson has done it again. Can't wait to purchase another one.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 23, 2011
Could not figure at any time what was going to happen next. So many unexpected twists and turns. It kept me on the edge throughout the entire book. Loved it!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.What would you do if your own husband killed a cop who was your lover for a day and you were also a cop? The book, "The Quickie" by James Patterson is a book of romance and suspense. The Main character is a woman who is a detective, who is married to ----------- who is living a double life with her and another woman. The detective sees her husband go into a hotel with a young blonde lady, she assumes the worst so she wants to do pay back. The detective has sex with an undercover cop who is also involved with her husband because the undercover cop knew he was lying to the detective about his life and was blackmailing him. Her husband got tired of him and decided to kill him. The day he killed was the day he was having sex with his wife, so apparently his wife seen when her husband was killing him and when he shot him in the head. She didn't know what to do. She was confused because she didn't know what was going on, she was asking herself if he knew they were together, wondering if that was the reason why or what was it. She wanted to go outside to stop him but she couldn't face him, she seen when her husband took him. She waited and she couldn't help anymore so she went outside, it was already to late, her husband left and took the dead body. She called for a cab to drop her off at her house to see if he went home but he wasn't so she got on her car and left to every hospital in town to see if he left him. Sadly, he wasn't in any. She seen cops rushing through the streets and she followed behind. That is when this old lady called in to report someone dumping a dead body. And guess who it was, it was the undercover cop. Dead. She was at the scene and she was to be the person in charge of the case the one to get to the killer. She knew who is was, but she couldn't turn him in. I can't say more because I don't to ruin it for others who haven't read this book. Out of all the books i have read, this book is the best so far. The title means more than just a quikie. Its an interesting book so don't think just because it says quikie, its about someone having sex, its more than that.
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 13, 2007
I have read all of Patterson's books and they range from books that I thought were great'Along Came a Spider', books that I thought were innovative and fun 'The Jester', and books that are just enjoyable reads 'Beach House'. The Quickie, however, is possibly the worst book I have ever read. It is filled with unlikeable characters rushing from one unbelievable scenario to the next. The book begins by causing the reader to ask 'But why would he/she do that?' and quickly descends to such outlandish action that I actually spent time searching the net to see if the book was intended as a farce--it wasn't, but it is anyway.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 7, 2013
I can not believe that James Patterson actually had anything to do with this book. The character development makes no sense and is so disjointed. The constant 'twists' and 'surprises' were either so unbelievable or so horribly portrayed that they did not add any suspense to the story.
I'm also pretty sure that I put more time and effort into writing this review than the authors did in writing this story. So sad I paid money to read it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2012
I have never read a book as good as this. It is perfect if you like horror and mystery. I just started reading it an hour ago and it's done. THATS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.lopezmom
Posted December 17, 2010
This book was awesome! This is the best book I've read in awhile!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The book started out great,amzaing,super bizarre, by the cover I thought it would be super romantic, or have lots of sex.Not the case. The Quickie , like J.p's other books, had short chapters,easy to read, Suspenseful.But maybe a little too much suspense, I still dont understand where half the book came from or went to. Ended very..Absurd,Was a quick easy book and will most likely be quickly forgotten,Overall I Didnt enjoy it much, Sorry J.P., I got Lost..ALOT.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Its funny. I was thinking that this book would have benn an A half way through and an F by the end so I guess that's a C average. When supposedly smart charcaters do routinely stupid things it bothers me so much and that was the case here. Readers are given the story of Lauren who is at most times inpossible not to hate because of all the hypocritical things she does to save and her family. The ending was terrible and Patterson is capabale of so much more. Overall, a quick read that will probably be quickly forgotten. :(
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.crafterjtf
Posted October 11, 2009
This book was unbelievable -- one thing happened after another which seemed ridiculous. I was disappointed with Patterson. This was different from the other books I have read.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 24, 2007
I am a big fan of murder mysteries and James Patterson. However, this book was a total disappointment. The characters were not at all likeable and their actions made no sense. The situations were extreme and unbelievable. And what happened to right and wrong? It seemed to blur for the main character who I thought would be the 'good' person. I kept on reading hoping there would be some reasonable explanation or redeeming action for the characters but there was none.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ESTRN
Posted April 29, 2013
This was a good book. I liked the twist and turns and the ending was great. The only reason why I gave it a 4 was because I expected a lot of sex. The book is called "The Quickie". Figured there would be a lot of sex
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JAMES PATTERSON DOES IT AGAIN!!! ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FROM JP. 2 THUMBS FROM THIS CHICK!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.madeaDB
Posted March 8, 2013
Loved the suspense
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 8, 2013
Great book! Non-stop action and suspense. I could not put it down!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sunnydnj
Posted December 31, 2012
suspense, drama, and betrayal...recipe for a good book. I could not put it down
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 16, 2012
Petterson has hit the ball out of the park with so many different characters we expect them all to be 5 star reads
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Overview
THE #1 BESTSELLING SENSATION
#1 New York Times
#1 Chicago Tribune
#1 Washington Post
#1 Entertainment Weekly
#1 USA Today
#1 Wall Street Journal
America's most popular thriller writer, James Patterson, presents his most daring-and ...