Author: James Patterson, Candice Fox
Published: April 22, 2025 by Little, Brown and Company
Format: Hardcover, Audio, 368 Pages
Genre: Mystery
Series: 2 Sisters Detective Agency #2
Blurb: Rhonda and Barbara “Baby” Bird are half-sisters—and full partners in their Los Angeles detective agency. They agree on nothing.
Rhonda, a former attorney, takes a by-the-book approach to solving crimes, while teenage Baby relies on her street smarts.
But when they take a controversial case of a loner whose popular wife has gone missing, they’re accused of being PIs who can’t tell a client from a killer.
The Bird sisters share a late father, but not much else…except their willingness to fight.
Fight the system. Fight for the underdog. Fight for the truth. If they can stop fighting each other long enough to work together.***
My Opinion: You really start to notice the difference a co-author makes when you read James Patterson's books back-to-back. Some of them feel rushed, while others, like 2 Sisters Murder Investigation, thanks to Candice Fox, have more depth. This one was an easy win, balancing sharp storytelling and engaging character dynamics in a way the Murder Club books don’t always pull off.
Now, regarding the audiobook, it was a mixed experience. I tried switching between the print and audio versions but ultimately had to ditch the narration. Mela Lee’s portrayal of Baby Bird was like nails on a chalkboard and came across like an exaggerated caricature instead of the quick-witted teen detective she’s meant to be. In print, Baby’s street smarts, impulsive decisions, and sharp instincts landed much better, without the distraction of an aggravating voice and tone.
The Bird sisters are officially running their late father’s detective agency, juggling cases that range from recovering stolen dogs to unraveling a darker mystery involving a missing wife and a trophy box.
And then there’s Baby’s side mission. Developers are circling like vultures, trying to push an older man out of his home, but they clearly underestimated who they were dealing with. Baby takes them on with the kind of relentless determination that makes you want to cheer her on from the sidelines.
Both storylines pulled me in, proving that Fox adds depth to Patterson’s quick-release style that makes this book stand out. Do I trust Patterson’s annual book factory to churn out consistent hits? Not really. But this one? This one did exactly what I hoped it would by delivering a fast, fun, Patterson-level mystery.
Rhonda, a former attorney, takes a by-the-book approach to solving crimes, while teenage Baby relies on her street smarts.
But when they take a controversial case of a loner whose popular wife has gone missing, they’re accused of being PIs who can’t tell a client from a killer.
The Bird sisters share a late father, but not much else…except their willingness to fight.
Fight the system. Fight for the underdog. Fight for the truth. If they can stop fighting each other long enough to work together.***
My Opinion: You really start to notice the difference a co-author makes when you read James Patterson's books back-to-back. Some of them feel rushed, while others, like 2 Sisters Murder Investigation, thanks to Candice Fox, have more depth. This one was an easy win, balancing sharp storytelling and engaging character dynamics in a way the Murder Club books don’t always pull off.
Now, regarding the audiobook, it was a mixed experience. I tried switching between the print and audio versions but ultimately had to ditch the narration. Mela Lee’s portrayal of Baby Bird was like nails on a chalkboard and came across like an exaggerated caricature instead of the quick-witted teen detective she’s meant to be. In print, Baby’s street smarts, impulsive decisions, and sharp instincts landed much better, without the distraction of an aggravating voice and tone.
The Bird sisters are officially running their late father’s detective agency, juggling cases that range from recovering stolen dogs to unraveling a darker mystery involving a missing wife and a trophy box.
And then there’s Baby’s side mission. Developers are circling like vultures, trying to push an older man out of his home, but they clearly underestimated who they were dealing with. Baby takes them on with the kind of relentless determination that makes you want to cheer her on from the sidelines.
Both storylines pulled me in, proving that Fox adds depth to Patterson’s quick-release style that makes this book stand out. Do I trust Patterson’s annual book factory to churn out consistent hits? Not really. But this one? This one did exactly what I hoped it would by delivering a fast, fun, Patterson-level mystery.
No comments:
Post a Comment