Shattered
Authors: James Patterson & James O. Born
Publisher: Century
ISBN: 9781529125344
NYPD master homicide investigator Michael Bennett is in Ireland, on honeymoon with his new bride, Mary Catherine when he receives repeated calls from his FBI agent friend. He decides that the calls can wait until he returns to New York.
Unfortunately upon his return, he learns that Emily Parker, a top FBI abduction specialist has not shown up for work at the FBI Building in Washington DC and is reported missing. Michael and Emily both share a history where they have worked on several cases together in the past and each can predict the other’s next move.
Next, Michael is shocked to learn that Emily has been murdered. He then takes the risk by venturing outside his jurisdiction when he takes a leave of absence from his work to go to Washington DC to find her killer. The investigation he undertakes is both challenging as well as brilliant detective work. And it is also the most intensely personal one for him, despite encountering lots of obstacles from his superiors and other agencies in Washington.
What Michael finds out is a shock for him - as the life Emily led reveals one that is unknown to him, until now.
A portrait begins to emerge of a woman as adept at keeping secrets such as forging powerful connections. And a woman whose enemies had both the means and the motives to silence the real Emily Parker - and her protectors.
And he discovers that Emily is not the only one who has been strangled. There was another woman before Emily who suffered the same fate. Can Michael tie the two murders together and find her killer? Or will he be left hanging as he is not there on official business?
The story has an interesting twist at the end but in an attempt to tie up the convoluted plot, some parts of the story do not seem logical or realistic. Especially Michael's housemates whom he has confided his secrets to and turned out to be not what he has expected.
Still, an interesting and arresting read.