In brief: Michael Bennett is an NYPD detective. Widowed for years, he’s been raising his ten adopted children with the help of the family’s nanny, Mary Catherine, and his grandfather, Seamus, a retired Irish priest.
Michael takes on tough cases, but as the series has matured, so has his relationship with Mary Catherine. The two are now married (as of book 13, The Russian). Theirs was a slow-burn romance, built gradually over several books — and it’s a great example of why this series rewards reading in order. While each book works as a standalone case, following the series lets you watch that relationship develop naturally toward marriage. The later books also introduce Rob Trilling, another recurring character and Michael’s current NYPD partner.
Author: James Patterson; James O. Born
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Series: Michael Bennet #17
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 3f84
Date of Publication: February 10, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
NYPD Detective Michael Bennett will stop at nothing to protect family: his wife, his kids—and his fellow officers—in the latest psychological thriller from bestselling author James Patterson.
At every death scene, Bennett says a prayer over the victim.
But recently, too many of the departed have been fellow cops.
“I want you to look at these deaths on special assignment,” NYPD Inspector Celeste Cantor says. “Report only to me.”
Bennett excels as a solo investigator. But he’s chasing a killer who feeds on isolation… and paranoia.
In the 17th book in the Michael Bennett series, Paranoia, Michael has been tasked with finding out why there is a sudden spate of deaths among former police officers. The request was made by Inspector Celeste Cantor and Michael is only to report to her in his solo investigation.
On the home front, Michael is the loving father - and now husband to Mary Catherine - and together, they are expecting what will be their eleventh child. Mary Catherine’s pregnancy is at risk, and as has been shown throughout the series, Michael’s loving and close relationship with his family shines through. They all rally around Mary Catherine and provide endearing support, especially as this new assignment of Michael’s requires his nearly undivided attention.
On the home front, Michael is the loving father - and now husband to Mary Catherine - and together, they are expecting what will be their eleventh child. Mary Catherine’s pregnancy is at risk, and as has been shown throughout the series, Michael’s loving and close relationship with his family shines through. They all rally around Mary Catherine and provide endearing support, especially as this new assignment of Michael’s requires his nearly undivided attention.
Author: James Patterson; James O. Born
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Series: Michael Bennet #18
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 374
Date of Publication: August 18, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Detective Michael Bennett and army-sniper-turned-NYPD-officer Rob Trilling travel to Montana to investigate a case that crosses state borders and family lines in this thriller from the world's bestselling author.
In New York City, a series of deadly bombs explodes. Across the river, a military base is burglarized for munitions. In Montana, violence and arson rock a small town outside of Bozeman. Are the incidents related?
Bennett, Trilling, and the ATF investigate. A single-minded group angry with the government keep turning up in unexpected places, insisting that they’re only trying to make the world a better place. To law enforcement, their claims seem delusional.
Will words or gunpowder light the next fuse?
MY THOUGHTS:
In New York City, a series of deadly bombs explodes. Across the river, a military base is burglarized for munitions. In Montana, violence and arson rock a small town outside of Bozeman. Are the incidents related?
Bennett, Trilling, and the ATF investigate. A single-minded group angry with the government keep turning up in unexpected places, insisting that they’re only trying to make the world a better place. To law enforcement, their claims seem delusional.
Will words or gunpowder light the next fuse?
MY THOUGHTS:
In Delusional, Detective Michael Bennett’s latest case revolves around investigating a series of deadly bombings. It appears that they have a highly sophisticated bomber on their hands, one who seems to have little regard for human life. Simultaneously, Mike’s new partner, Rob Trilling, is tasked with handling a family matter in Montana. This unexpected situation ultimately pulls Mike away from the bombing case to assist Trilling.
Although his visit to Montana is brief, it appears that Mike has made yet another enemy - something he has dealt with many times in his career. Meanwhile, Mike is juggling the responsibilities of husband and father. This dynamic adds a refreshing balance to this fast-paced installment in the exciting series. The situation is precarious as the bombings initially seem random. Regardless of whether Mike is excelling as a brilliant detective, a loving husband and father, or navigating a new partnership on the job, this series continues to improve and captivate readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
James Patterson has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today with his Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Private, NYPD Red, Daniel X, Maximum Ride, and Middle School series. As of January 2016, he has sold over 350 million books worldwide and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers. In addition to writing the thriller novels for which he is best known, he also writes children’s, middle-grade, and young-adult fiction and is also the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on the New York Times adult and children’s bestseller lists.
James O. Born is a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). He has been involved in investigations in such areas as organized crime, violent crimes, economic crimes, drug cartels, and public corruption. It has now been fourteen years since Born started writing, and ironically, he has the same editor as W E B Griffin and Tom Clancy - the very authors he spent his time reading during those long surveillances years ago. Born currently lives in suburban Palm Beach County with his wife Donna, and two children, John and Emily.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The son of an insurance salesman and a schoolteacher, Patterson grew up in Newburgh, New York, and began casually writing at the age of nineteen. In 1969, he graduated from Manhattan College. He was given a full ride to Vanderbilt University’s graduate program in English but dropped out after a year, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to continue reading and writing for pleasure if he became a college professor.
Instead, he moved to New York to become a junior copywriter for the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson, eventually becoming CEO of its North American company.
In 1976, while still working for J. Walter Thompson, Patterson published his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, with Little, Brown and Company. After being turned down by thirty-one publishers, it won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Patterson’s 1993 novel, Along Came a Spider, his first novel to feature Alex Cross, was also his first New York Times bestseller in fiction.
In 2001, Morgan Freeman starred as Alex Cross in a film adaptation of Along Came a Spider, and Tyler Perry also played the character in the 2012 film Alex Cross. A film adaptation of Patterson’s middle-grade novel Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life was released in theaters in October 2016.
For his initiatives to help kids become passionate readers and for his philanthropic efforts, Patterson was awarded the National Book Foundation’s 2015 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.
James Patterson has donated more than one million books to students, emphasizing some of the most under-resourced schools and youth programs in the country. In 2015, Patterson donated $1.75 million to public school libraries throughout the United States, $1 million to independent bookstores, and a further $250,000 in holiday bonuses to individual bookstore employees. He also gave $1 million to independent bookstores in 2014.
Patterson has recently donated over $26 million to his and his wife’s alma maters—the University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, and Manhattan College—and he has established over four hundred Teacher Education Scholarships at twenty-four colleges and universities throughout the country. Patterson has also donated over 650,000 books to U.S. soldiers at home and overseas.
In May 2015, Patterson launched a new children’s book imprint at Little, Brown, called JIMMY Patterson, that is unwaveringly focused on one goal: turning kids into lifelong readers. This imprint also provides resources, strategies, and programs to serve teachers, parents, librarians, and booksellers. Patterson invests proceeds from the sales of JIMMY Patterson Books in pro-reading initiatives.
Patterson has also founded ReadKiddoRead.com, a website designed to help parents, teachers, and librarians ignite a new generation’s excitement for reading. Awarded the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize and the American Library Association’s Great Websites for Kids, the site features thoughtful book reviews from a variety of genres and age ranges, a large and lively Facebook community, and contributions from other authors.
Mr. Patterson’s awards for adult and children’s literature include the Edgar Award, the International Thriller of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award for Author of the Year.
He lives in Palm Beach with his wife, Sue, and his son, Jack.
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