After finishing this novel by James Patterson, I am very excited to read another one of his books because I was very pleased with this one. What started with multiple cold blooded execution like murders on the beach in the Hamptons one summer, leads into months and months of evaluation and a very complicated court case. With his life and death literally on the line, Dante, a high school graduate getting ready to be drafted into the NBA, is framed for committing these murders. While locked away, it is up the Tom, a friend and somewhat decent lawyer, to deal with proving his innocent. This story is a very emotional ride for not only Dante and his family and friends but also for the family and friends of those murdered. As the truth slowly but surely unfolds about what actually happened that night on the beach, ideas dealing with drugs and race are brought into perspective. Faced with the death penalty, this book is extremely suspenseful because it was very easy to get emotionally attached to specific characters and have weary opinions about others. I truly felt like I was part of the story and since all the chapters go back and forth between different characters as the narrator, you can really see each persons opinion and perspective about each other, but in the story, it is one big mystery. Trying to uncover the truth takes over Tom and his ex-girlfriends life from over a year, and the dreaded court case finally comes to a close. With a climaxing twist at the end, the truth really blew my mind as I finished this book. The end of this book is one of my all time favorites with the amount of suspense and mind boggling truth that comes out.
I had shelved so many James Patterson books when I worked at the library, but had only read one, the similarly titled Beach House. I enjoyed the setting of Beach Road as well as the characters, suspense and courtroom drama, until chapter 107. I just didn't believe the turn Patterson took with his protagonist. There should have been more clues as to why the perpetrator did what he did and why. In my opinion, it's just not enough to say that "people often lie," and "the full extent of their lies can be almost beyond our comprehension." That's a writer's copout for not making the effort to hide some clues in the novel, which would have made the reading more interesting. As it is, all you get is one moment of shock in chapter 107, instead of honing your detective skills. There are so many more suspense/thriller writers who do a better job of explaining their characters motivations, even when the character is a liar.I'll have to try harder to find skillful writers instead of just popular ones!
What do You think about Beach Road (2006)?
I disagree with your review and I should point out that if you are going to rip on someone's writing you should probably make sure you actually use capital letters, punctuation or maybe spell check.
—Joel Barnes
Picked this up, as I saw James Patterson, and then noticed, it also said Peter De Jonge. Co-written.Story. Lawyer Tom Dunleavy is a mediocre lawyer, or the beginning of the book would have you believe. He dumped the love of his life in High School, she went onto become a very successful lawyer. She still carries a torch for Tom. The story takes place in the Hampton's, where the Rich and Famous have fantastic homes (which none of us peasants would ever know about if we hadn't been watching the show "Royal Pains"!) There is a terrible murder, Dante Halleyville is accused of the crime. Tom gets back with his ex-girlfriend to get Dante off, but who is the drug lord who has killed these teenagers and how is he able to control a crooked police department? The ending may surprise some readers.
—Jan
This novel is about Tom Dunleavy and Kate Costello fighting the case of Dante Halleyville. They both know he is innocent, and he has a bunch of supporters from around the country. Dante was on his way to becoming a NBA player when he was falsely accused of four murders. In this book Patterson brings up the issue of race and corrupt city officials. The whole time, I found myself rooting for Dante and siding with Tom and Kate the whole time. All of the characters were likable. When I first started the book, I thought it was pretty slow and not as exciting as his other novels, and as quick as I came to that conclusion, I realized I was already over halfway through it. It is a novel that keeps you hanging on even though you aren't exactly sure why. And then there is the end. Guilty vs. Non Guilty. Who do you think is the criminal? Well, you will just have to wait until the end of the book. Make sure you are sitting down for this one. It blew me away, and I can usually figure out the endings of books. Ill insert one of the reviews from the back of the novel here"Gripping... Races toward a conclusion so shocking that even longtime Patterson devotees won't see it coming." - BooklistOnce I read that review, I knew I had to give it a shot. i didnt understand how it could be so shocking. Then I realized that Patterson had pulled more tricks out of his sleeve. A Must Read!4.5/5 Stars for me. Slow start, but it will keep you going right up to the last page.
—Courtney
