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Author James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge booklist (click here)

Book Review By Bobby Blades
Step On A Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Step On A Crack opens with a swift and emotional prologue. The wife of the president, one Caroline Hopkins falls ill after eating some of her dinner. What seems like a heart attck is actually an allergic reaction. She is rushed to the hospital where she dies. The story shifts to NYPD homicide detective Michael Bennett who gets his ten adopted children ready to visit his cancer stricken wife Maeve. Once back home with the kids (who are kept busy with a list of chores from Maeve) Michael Bennett gets a call from his boss to come down to St. Patricks Cathedral, there was report of shots fired. At the scene, Bennett becomes hostage negotiator. He speaks with a man inside known only as Jack. Without much effort from law enforcement, a majority of the people who were attending the funeral of the First Lady are set free. This seems odd to Bennett until he figures out it's not so easy to control that many people. But there is a group of roughly thirty wealthy and famous people still inside: the bubble gum pop queen, handsome leading man actor, the mayor of New York, and even the President.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - depressing/sad
Time/era of story:
Murder of certain profession?
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Eccentric: Yes
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
City? Yes
City: - New York

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
Unusual forms of death - perforation--bullets
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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