The blurb for this bills it as a ‘standalone’ novel. However… I’d be surprised if this doesn’t become a series – assuming it’s well-received that is.
Patterson and Fox establish an excellent cast of characters (though they also kill off a few!!!) – and it feels like we’re on the precipice of getting to know some of the mysterious guests of the inn more. And I’d certainly like to do so.
I missed the first book in this series (Never Never) but have adored both Fifty Fifty (2017) and Liar Liar (2018). In those reviews I comment on what I think is Candice Fox’s influence or role in the creation of the lead character as I really (really) like Harriet Blue, our enigmatic but troubled lead.
Fox excels in creating amazingly complex (not to mention annoying but likeable) characters and has done the same in her Crimson Lake and Eden Archer series. Of course the short chapters and pace of the novel reflect the style for which James Patterson is known.
I was a latecomer to this series, joining for the second installment, Fifty Fifty and adored it. I used to be a James Patterson fan (way back when) and while not altogether convinced that quantity equals quality, I love that he’s partnering with other authors and giving some the attention that deserve (like Australia’s Candice Fox, for example) but might not have otherwise got. Internationally at least, in Fox’s case.
And this series’ Harriet Blue feels as if it has Fox’s fingerprints (I was tempted to say paw prints, but am pretty sure I went down that analogous route in my previous review) all over the fabulous creation.
I have to confess I purposely avoided Never Never, the first book in this series DESPITE being a huge fan of Candice Fox’s work. Or maybe I should say BECAUSE I’m a huge fan of Fox’s writing. I’d had some bad experiences with previous James Patterson collaborations so didn’t want anything to tarnish my (not-weird) reverence of the talented Aussie storyteller.
So, I came into this second book of the series, Fifty Fifty with a few gaps in my backstory knowledge. It meant I might have had a few questions but did not take anything away from my enjoyment of this book, which I think (thankfully) has Fox’s fingerprints all over it. (And yes, I was tempted to say paw prints, cos…. well Fox… #sorrynotsorry)
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