Another classic Patterson, not to be confused with the other Patterson (James), who, while fun, does not come close to the intricacy and interesting ethical examinations that are typical Richard North Patterson. I had already read his classic Protect and Defend, which features Kerry Kilcannon, as U. S. president. This work takes place earlier. Kerry' brother Senator James Kilcannon is running for president, and is shot by an assassin. The book consists of a series of points-of view and begins with the satellite television broadcast of a kidnapping. Alexis Parnell, wife of a very wealthy communications magnate, is abducted from her tennis court while playing with her husband. The ransom demand is delivered by television to the world. Five million dollars is to be paid by Stacy Tarrant, a popular singer and former girlfriend of the slain Kilcannon, for in return for the lives of John Damone and Alexis Parnell. It turns out that all the major characters are linked, and through a series of flashbacks from different perspectives we are introduced to Tony Lord, attorney for Harry Carson, ex-Vietnam veteran, who was Kilcannon's assassin. Lord had been responsible for getting Carson off despite his obvious guilt. Lord, anxious to do the best he can for his client, begins an investigation into the lives of former Vietnam vets. On the surface, Carson appears to have killed Kilcannon because the senator, as a student, had been resisting the war while Carson was in Vietnam active duty. There was never any question of his guilt; he shot Kilcannon on stage in front of thousands. To complicate things, $400,000 of money being raised for the senator at the concert was stolen, and the prosecutor thinks that Carson was part of a conspiracy to steal the money, and the assassination was just part of the plan. John Damone, Stacy's manager, had also been in Vietnam and had been a friend in Carson's unit. He was responsible for Carson's hiring at Stacy's concert where Kilcannon was killed. Lord thinks Carson was driven insane by his experiences in Vietnam. "The war's like a fault line. . . .Take your pet cat and start lobbing hand grenades all around him -- by nightfall you've got a different cat." Much of the result hinges on the reluctant testimony of John Damone. It seems they both had been part of a CIA special assassination squad. A subplot that appears to have no relation, but ultimately has a terribly crucial part, is the kidnapping of the Parnell's son many years before. Parnell had refused to pay ransom for his estranged son, whom he believed might have had a bizarre relationship with Alexis. In any case, the son disappears and is presumed dead. Most of the book is a long flashback into the trial of Carson and the interpersonal relationships that developed because of the trial. Patterson builds the tension very nicely and the careful reader can begin to suspect who the culprit is, although the end of the book throws a nice curve.
I so enjoyed reading Silent Witness Patterson's first book about Tony Lord that I was really looking forward to reading this one. So far it has been a struggle with much confusion over frequent flashbacks from multiple characters. It has been very difficult to keep track of who is who and what has happened when. From reading other people's reviews, I gather I am not alone in feeling this way and that it should get better after I reach page 150. Here's hoping!It was indeed a challenge to get to page 150, but once I had passed it I was glad I had stuck it out. The book is written in several distinct parts that take place within about a 2 year period, but in all sections there are flashbacks to episodes in certain characters past. They bothered me less in the later sections, perhaps because I knew the characters better by then. The difficulties that some Vietnam vets faced in returning home and integrating into society plays a key role in the story. There are some graphic descriptions of horrors which took place there.Chapter one in the book drew me in and hooked me. Then came the confusing part and I basically forgot about chapter one as it didn't seem connected. part 2 revolved around a court case and was very good but I had still forgotten about the first chapter. In part 3, the author came back to the story started in chapter 1. I figured out fairly quickly who the bad guy was, but there was a twist as to his motives that definitely came as a surprize. I enjoyed learning more about Tony Lord and his life throughout the book. I give this one 3 stars because of the difficult section near the beginning.
What do You think about Private Screening (1998)?
Two linked stories in this book, and I didn't think they linked all that well. We start with a kidnapping by someone that has arranged for all the negotiations, and possibly the consequences, to be broadcast live on a TV station - with viewers being able to take part in said negotiations. Almost immediately we are then taken back some time to find out about the linked tale, of an assassination of a politician by a Vietnam vet. The victim is has a squeeze who is a famous lady rock and roll singer, and she is present when the deed is done. We get to read some of the lyrics to her songs during this, which made me cringe a bit - other readers might like this feature, horses for courses and all that. The assassin is tried, and the hearing follows a well trodden path about the the vet's experience. After the verdict, we jump forward again to the kidnapping, where the lawyer defending the vet joins in with the negotiations, and trying to free the hostages. One of these captives has a link with the previous trial, and it wasn't too hard to work out who the kidnapper was, but there is a twist near the end. Not too bad a story, but I couldn't really warm to any of the good guys. Jumping from one story to another was a bit weary making, and I thought it was a bit light on information about how the kidnapper got to where he was in life. I would try another one by this author though.
—Colin
Ed ecco finalmente il Richard NorthPatterson che conosco ed adoro.”Private Screening”, ultimo tra i romanzi di Patterson mai tradotti in Italia, mostra tutte le caratteristiche dei suoi libri migliori: personaggi ben delineati, tridimensionali e completi, una storia perfettamente delineata e scandita, una vicenda adeguatamente intrigante e, non ultimo, il fatto che si pongano le basi per altri romanzi successivi, in cui si incontreranno gli stessi protagonisti o nuovi personaggi legati ad essi.La vicenda? Senza svelare troppo ci troviamo di fronte all’omicidio di un senatore degli Stati Uniti, al processo all’assassino ma, soprattutto, a due misteriosi rapimenti legati a questa tragedia che rimettono in discussione tutto ciò che si pensava di sapere.Un romanzo che chiama in gioco anche l’enorme importanza dei media in vicende del genere e che manterrà alta la tensione fino alla fine.Chi è Fenice, il misterioso rapitore? Perché ha rapito proprio quelle persone? E perché l’avvocato che difese l’assassino del senatore Kilcannon si trova a far fronte comune con Stacy Tarrant, la donna che il senatore amava e che gli era accanto al momento dell’omicidio?Da leggere e gustare.PS: piccolo punto a mio favore… stavolta sono riuscito ad intuire l’identità di Fenice :)
—Aries
My grade: B-. This is my 2nd Patterson book. I liked the first one a lot and picked this because I suspected I'd like the protagonist, Tony Lord. He's written two books about Tony, so I figured he must be a favorite. I did like Tony. The story is really two stories in one. They were decent and they did keep me guessing for the whole book and did have a couple of surprises. I do like it when the author is able to surprise me. Some of the secondary characters I didn't like so well, in particular both of the Parnells. But I'm definitely going to read the other Tony Lord book. In this book his marriage breaks up, and in the later story he is married to a character from this first story. This book was released in 1985. Part of its shortcomings were just due to the contemporary setting yet not having the technology developed yet which is common place today.
—Sheri
