Rating: 
Summary: Beached Whale
Review: I dig Jimmy Patterson and usually like his thrilling books (Keynote thinks they're tripe). Who this de Jonge character is I cannot say. This book is pretty typical of JP: Double spaced, wide margins, short chapters, small words, lotsa activity, bad people, good people, dead people, a simple mystery, and its solution). I would say most fans of his (usually women and marginal readers like myself) will enjoy this, but be irritated by the predictable nature of the whole affair. Fairly average but goes good with popcorn! Whoa!!
Rating: 
Summary: Buy the book not the audio tape or cd
Review: This was the first James Patterson book I have ever read, and I thought it was just alright because the ending was implausible. The story was very interesting until then. I also made the mistake of buying it on cd so I could listen in the car. Gil Bellows voice has sort of a whistling sound when he pronounces "s", which can get to be annoying. Additionally, it would have been nice if he learned to pronounce the names of the towns and some of the other words before he recorded this book. The main character, a native Long Islander, would not mispronounce Ronkonkoma or Patchogue as Mr. Bellows did, MANY, MANY, times. The story was very interesting (until the end) and it kept me going through the poor narration. I love Gil Bellows on the Agency but I was disappointed with his narration.
Rating:
Summary: Like Grisham?
Review: I think not... Patterson's new novel was rather dull, and the characters were undeveloped, blah, blah... Long story short: it's no Alex Cross [or Grisham, for that matter].
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: See storyline above.Patterson's 'Beach House' is one of his 'just above' average efforts. Big money, crooked cops, search for the truth, and vengeance, combine to make this a fun summer read. There are a few surprises as well as a fast-paced plot that should please most Patterson fans. His typical short chapters make this an ideal beach house read. Recommended for all Patterson fans.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Mr. Patterson! WHAT HAPPENED?!
Review: ABYSMAL! "Beach House" was a slow-moving, transparent book with precious little character development. The men of the Mullen family are unlikeable. Apparently one of them's been up to no good because he gets murdered. His brother and grandfather attempt to prove he wasn't a victim of accidental drowning. Of course, Brother Jack Mullen has been sleeping with Dana, scion of only THE wealthiest and most powerful family in East Hampton (the Mullens are lower-middle-class townies). See where this is going? Boredomville. Dana is a phony. Her parents are behind the murder. Bad rich people. Virtuous poor folk. Sickeningly predictable. Mr. Patterson, you write far better fiction when left to your own devices. I anxiously await your next Alex Cross novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected...
Review: A good mystery thriller like this must answer three questions by the end of the novel: Who was/were the killer(s), Why did he/she/they committ the murder, and How did he/she committ the murder. This book TRULY answered one, of those questions. After Jack Mullen found out his brother's brutal death was being labeled a suicide/accident, he plunged into action. The middle of the book made me want to read more and more! By the end of the novel, however, we are only given a speculation. After reading the whole book, I wanted to know why Peter Mullen was killed. The reader knows how the murder happened because we are told from the victim's P.O.V. in the beginning of the story, and the reader can basically figure out who the killers were. However, we never find out why the murder happened. I actually looked at the last page of this book and said, "That's it?!?" Skip this one and try another. James Patterson, good try, but no luck in my book.
Rating: 
Summary: Recommended Reading
Review: Good plot, good characters, very enjoyable. I think most people would find this a worthy addition to their summer reading list.
Rating:
Summary: Very Entertaining (short) Beach Book, Grisham-esque!
Review: The dust jacket leads off with the claim that the authors have "written THE beach read of the season...", so let's start by acknowledging this is an entry in fun summertime reading, not classic literature. That said, Patterson and de Jonge have collaborated to amuse and entertain for a most pleasant afternoon read. Take out the blank and half-blank pages, and what's left barely extends beyond page 200, so it is a fast run through. The short (typically 3-page) chapters add to the hustle of the pace; and the story per se kept our attention to the very last page. So you should find your pages turning in a pretty big hurry. The plot is essentially a mystery, though not one about who got killed (Peter Mullen, a likable 20-year old who spends much of his time in bed, with company); nor who did it (we find that out pretty quickly); nor will the police catch the bad guys. Rather, it's almost a morality tale where the older brother, Jack Mullen, a recent law school graduate, devotes a year or so to solving the whole crime, proving the finding of the original coroner's inquest to be faulty (bought and paid for); and then pursuing justice as best he can with a little help from his friends and relatives. A little romance along the way just helps our feet curl up more sand. We find as good a plot as Patterson has dreamed up in a little while, and before it's all over, we get bowls full of corruption, greed, big money parties and mansions, lust and illicit sex, romance, justice and injustice. The ending should satisfy just about everybody's idea of what's fair, but the suspense that leads us there makes the book tough to put down. What more can one ask for fun at the seashore?!?!
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable
Review: Although it's hard to follow in the very end, this is definetely one of the best books I've ever read. Patterson's mixture of mystery and excitement combined, produces a book that's hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Trashy Summer read
Review: This is one of the emptiest books written by Patterson. It has glaring holes that leave the reader frustrated. This is a cheap attempt to capitalize on people's interest in how the rich live and reassure them that they wouldn't want to be rich. Save your money unless you want a quick read that leaves you empty.
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