Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "Fifty Fifty: A Detective Harriet Blue Thriller" by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Review of "Fifty Fifty: A Detective Harriet Blue Thriller" by James Patterson and Candice Fox

The Harriet Blue series is a collaboration between James Patterson and Australian writer Candice Fox.

In this second book in the series, Detective Harriet Blue has a double agenda: to prove her brother is innocent of murder and to catch a killer in the Australian outback. The book can be read as a standalone but it's best to start with the first book in the series, Never Never.

*****

Australian Police Detective Harriet (Harry) Blue had a rough childhood in foster homes.

As a result Harry is a formidable fighter who doesn't hesitate to engage in fisticuffs with ANYONE. In fact Harry will even battle several men at once. Thus Harry has a reputation for violence, a reputation that leaches over to her brother Sam. As the story opens Sam is on trial, arrested for being the 'George Rivers Killer' who murdered three women in Sydney.

Harriet is certain her brother is innocent and so angry at the prosecutor that she punches him in public. So Harriet is (temporarily) banished to an outback town called Last Chance Valley (population 75).

In a diary found near Last Chance Valley someone threatens to kill all the town's residents, and Harry is to look into the matter. When a prominent citizen of Last Chance Valley is blown up, it's clear the diarist means business.

Harry is paired with two partners to investigate the matter: local cop Victoria Snale....

.....and Federal Agent Elliot Kash. Kash is the book's most entertaining character as he sees terrorists everywhere he looks and is constantly extolling his own virtues as a counter-terrorist.

Meanwhile, Harry's police partner in Sydney, Detective Edward Whittacker (Whitt), keeps trying to prove Harriet's brother Sam is innocent.

For this purpose Whitt works with Detective Tox Barnes, a wild card with his own unique methods.

The book is fast-moving with short snappy chapters, including sections devoted to (what might be) the REAL George Rivers Killer and his latest victim.

The book has a variety of interesting ancillary characters, including an insolent fresh-mouthed teenage boy;

an old Aboriginal man who resides on the outskirts of town;

a woman who derides Last Chance Valley's racism; and more.

The novel is engaging escapist literature that would appeal to fans of James Patterson and to readers who enjoy edge of your seat thrillers.

Rating: 3 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Review of "Fifty Fifty: A Detective Harriet Blue Thriller" by James Patterson and Candice Fox

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