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Jan 01, 2012

Melanie rated it:

"The Knight" is probably my favorite book in The Patrick Bowers Series so far. The story concept it so unique - a killer telling what he is going to do next through a medieval manuscript and then doing it. Although you'd think it would be easy to stop him, it's so not!

In this story Tessa (Patrick's Stepdaughter) finds a box in Patrick's closet (while packing his stuff) that is filled with her dead mother's momentos. One of those momentos is a key...but what does it go to? A More...

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Nov 17, 2009

Lori rated it:

I have a confession, long time ago as a college student I loved to read true life crime stories and all Stephen King books. Some of them being "difficult" to read. So before I review this book I want to pass along what I was told myself (but be sure to read my opinion about the book below):

*A word of caution: this book is considered "gritty, chilling and intense". It contains graphic descriptions of disturbing crime scenes. While not for the faint of heart, the seri More...

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Sep 07, 2009

Amy rated it:

Title: The Knight
Author: Steven James
ISBN: 9780800732707
Pages: 432
Release Date: August 2009
Publisher: Revell Books
Genre: Christian Fiction, Crime Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Publisher: The stakes have never been higher. FBI Agent Patrick Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from a medieval manuscript as a blueprint for More...

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Aug 28, 2009

Janna rated it:

Whoa! If ever there was a book written that is just itching to be made into a movie - it is definitely "The Knight" by Steven James. Without even reading books #1 and #2 in the Patrick Bowers Thriller series I would say that this could be the next great trilogy of movies!

I am literally sitting on the edge of my bed, my eyes skimming the pages as fast as possible because the writing is so tight and intense that I fear I'm going to miss something! Is the killer going to succ More...

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Aug 09, 2010

Megan rated it:

A thriller is an apt description. I read this one in a day, so I'd have to say it was pretty good!! I stayed up late last night to finish it. I had to know what was going to happen! The book is packed full with a trial from one of Patrick's earlier cases, a new serial killer, father-daughter moments and some romantic tension. The killer seems to have everything planned, including multiple "what if" scenarios. There is a unique tie to classic literature, and again it is difficult, if no More...

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Feb 03, 2012

Monnie rated it:

Overall, The Knight is another very enjoyable read in the series featuring FBI agent Patrick Bowers. This one got 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons: First, after reading just two of the books (I skipped the very first, The Pawn), I've grown a bit tired of his step-daughter's histrionics. Sure, she's got problems, and some "attitude" and disobedience is to be expected, particularly from a teenager. But quite honestly, she's done way more than enough already for me to want to send her More...

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Mar 17, 2010

Barbara rated it:

This third outing in the Patrick Bowers series finds several subplots in addition to the main story, which is Bowers' determination to solve a series of grisly crimes in the Colorado area that are being perpetrated by John/Giovanni and are somehow linked to Renaissance literature. One subplot features Bowers and his stepdaughter Raven/Tessa growing closer, and another deals with his flirtation with partner Cheyenne after breaking it off with FBI Special Agent Lien-hua Jiang. He's also called upo More...

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Aug 29, 2010

Charles rated it:

I appear to be in the minority when it comes to this book and author. I was really excited to have been selected to recieve the book for review and plowed into it right away. Unfortunately, the book didnt live up to expectations. Like so many books in a series this one felt and read like it followed a cookie cutter procedural. There was nothing new or terribly exciting that set this book apart from so many others in this genre. At almost 500 pages there was just too much paper to fill, follow th More...

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Aug 22, 2009

Dustin rated it:

The Knight is the third installment of the Patrick Bowers files by Steven James. The typical progression for a decent writer is having a hit, followed by a sophomore slump, and then a not-as-good-as-the-first-one third novel. That is why Steven James is not typical. He starts the series out with a slam dunk and consistently tops each story.

To say I couldn't put this book down is an understatement. My wife complained when I took it into the bathroom with me. I was torn between readin More...

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Nov 04, 2009

Symon rated it:

I began reading The Knight almost immediately after finishing The Rook. In this third installment of 'Patrick Bowers thrillers', Steven James has done it again, and even better than his previous tale.

As I mentioned in the Rook's review. Patrick Bowers stories read like a 24/CSI episode, the protagonist being a modern day Sherlock Holmes. As far as intelligent-fast-paced-crime-scene-murder-mystery-thrillers go, you can't get much better than this.

Steven James is edgier th More...

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Aug 29, 2009

Clockstein rated it:

The Knight by Steven James is the third book is the exciting Patrick Bowers series. FBI Agent Bowers uses his unique geographic profiling skills to track down the most violent of criminals. He'll have to use all of his abilities to find a sadistic murderer who is killing people for a twisted story before Bowers and his stepdaughter Tessa become the next victims. This riveting thriller never lets up for a second. From tense courtroom drama to intense action scenes, every page zips by. I lov More...

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Jan 10, 2012

Evangheline rated it:

This one was even more intense in my opinion then the first two books in the series, and I loved it (though I'm left without nails). Giovanni (the killer in this book) is more intense and I never expected it to be who it turned out to be. He is a killer who takes stories from The Decameron (an older classic book of stories of love gone bad) and enacts them by killing his victims. This was a book that I loved to read and ended great leaving you wanting more. It also brings up a question we all as More...

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Oct 13, 2010

Bonnie rated it:

I have liked the Patrick Bowers series so far, and this is the third book of the series. It is edge-of-your-seat crime-solving suspense with good characterizations. My main complaint of the book is that some of the murders are on the gruesome side. But then a major theme is man's capacity for good/evil, and the narrator does quite a job of showing how evil some people can be. I thought it very interesting that much of the book involved solving crimes based on classic literature. The epilog More...

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Aug 25, 2009

Victor rated it:

I had the privilege of interviewing Steven James, on our radio show “Kingdom Highlights”, for his new book, The Knight, the third book in his series on Patrick Bowers published by Revell. If you haven’t read the first two books you have missed a great treat. Steven James writes like Alfred Hitchcock directed, with incredible tense scenes that have way more going on in them then meets the first run through. Let me tell you right away this book is 492 pages of roller coaster intense More...

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Apr 26, 2011

Carolyn rated it:

This is Book 3 in the Patrick Bowers series. It's a psychological thriller - dark, sometimes gruesome and exceptionally well written. If you enjoy reading this genre I can tell you that Steven James’ books contain none of the usual sex or language that you would typically find in this caliber of murder mystery. However, it's not for the weak of heart - or for that matter, stomach (I might suggest keeping smelling salts close at hand)!! Very well researched and detail oriented...the endings are a More...

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Sep 06, 2009

Jeanie rated it:

I learned that even though I never heard of Steven James as an author or the Patrick Bowers Files....I AM HOOKED and plan to get everyone I know hooked. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. I got so invested in Patrick's life and relationships, both professionally and personally.
I do not feel that I "Misssed" a lot since I did not read #1 or #2 but I will Read them as soon as I get my hands on the books. I look forward to reading #4.
Th More...

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Oct 27, 2009

Annette rated it:

I didn't like this one as much as the others in the series. It was as good as the others as far as keeping me guessing and pulling me into the story but I just didn't buy into the psychology behind the crimes (which was pretty thin). There were way too many unanswered questions at the end for my taste. I don't mind a few loose ends leading into the next book but I also like a more concrete conclusion. Feeling satisfied at the end of a good book makes me want to read the next book. I don't k More...

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Oct 20, 2011

Pattyrflg rated it:

The third book in the Patrick Bowers Files series. Another exciting ride. Patrick's new nemesis is Giovanni. He is using a medieval book to stage a series of crimes based on the stories in the book. Patrick is working with the local police department task force and has a new love interest in this book. James has produced another fast paced thriller with no sex or language--Wahoo!! It is about a serial killer, so there are descriptions of some of his crimes, but not in gratuitous detail. Try this More...

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Apr 20, 2011

Bryan rated it:

As I continue to work through the series, I am surprised that Steven James keeps me guessing till the end. Some of the formula writing he has developed for the Bowers Series is good and entertaining but still slightly predictable, I know when something will happen but not the details. In this one a new killer, Giovanni, aka John, is terrorizing the Denver Metro area. Even though the story begins again with a killer pov it progresses well and the suspense rises believably.
<spoiler> W More...

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Dec 23, 2010

Debbie rated it:

"The Knight" was an exciting, fast-paced suspense novel. Though it has a who-done-it mystery to solve, it departed from the conventions of the mystery genre in one major way, so I'll simply call it suspense. This book was the third in the series, but you can still follow what's going on even if you haven't read the previous books.

The details about the job and the setting brought the story alive in my imagination. The good-guy characters were realistic, varied, and dealt wit More...

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Oct 31, 2009

Debi rated it:

One of the books I started reading during the Read-a-thon was this one. This is the 3rd book in a series which I've already read the first 2. There were a few nights this week that I had a hard time putting this book down to get to sleep at a decent hour (for me anyway). I was able to finish it today and could not recommend this series more. I really enjoyed the first 2 books and this book was just fantastic! The main character is an FBI agent who tracks serial killers using geoprofiling or anal More...

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Aug 16, 2010

Shiela rated it:

Although I quite enjoy this third book in the Patrick Bowers series (I remember just LOVING the other two), I felt that there were just too many loose threads and unanswered questions at the end of this one for it to merit more stars. I'm not sure if the author is planning on addressing these in the fourth book "The Bishop," but is seemed to me that they should have been attended to while the details were still fresh in the reader's mind.

Nevertheless, the chase was still More...

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Sep 29, 2011

David rated it:

The Rook and the Knight (Books 2 and 3 of the series) are the tied for the best of the series. Although Bishop was the first one that I read, I found myself engrossed in this and the next one that fit together almost like a mini series within the series. If you don't read any of the others, read these two. But I say that you won't be able to just read these without wanting to get the rest, they are all just THAT good.

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Aug 28, 2011

Tamara rated it:

THE KNIGHT by Steven James, the continued saga of Patrick Bowers, is a fast paced thriller that keeps you turning page after page.

FBI Agent Patrick Bowers is juggling more than his fair share. A serial murderer he put away thirteen years ago who might go free, a sadistic killer copying the deaths of those in Decameron a piece of Renaissance Literature and targeting Bowers for the grand finale, and his personal life-both romantic and with his step-daughter, Tessa - continue to be hit More...

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Oct 04, 2010

Cat rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Feb 28, 2011

Patriciaw rated it:

If I hadn't already read The Bishop, I would think this book was James' pinnacle, impossible to top. Now I know that type of comparison is ridiculous. Both books are equally good, although very different in the nature of the stories.

I loved the plot twists. The wickedness of Giovanni was amazing. How does James think of this stuff?

All Criminal Minds' fans should be reading Steven James.

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Jan 16, 2010

Tracy rated it:

I'm hooked! I love this character and this author. He's coming out with a fourth book this summer and I'll HAVE to read it. I love crime books, but not all authors do a great job of keeping you guessing, I did NOT see the end coming, I mislabeled the killer and would not have connected the dots. Great read! I loved all three books in this series which I read in a week.

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Apr 18, 2010

Karin rated it:

I actually made a list of all the characters through this book just to see if it would help me figure out 'whodunit'. But, nope, even with all that information, I still got it wrong. And now we have to wait until August for the next installment. These are easy to read and they really tax the brain.

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Jul 06, 2011

Pete rated it:

Steven James brings a fresh perspective to the crime genre. This addition to the Bowers files is on par with the previous two, but [WARNING: SPOILER ALERT] he makes a law enforcement or other government agent the bad guy in too many of his plots, including this one. Putting that aside, he does a good job of drawing you into the story and making you guess until the end.

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Oct 06, 2009

Eileen rated it:

FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers life is full of complications. He is fresh off of a painful breakup with his girlfriend. His step daughter, Tessa, is still suffering from the loss of her mother. He has to testify in the retrial of a serial killer who is trying to get released from jail. To top things off a new horrendous set of murders has begun in his home town of Denver.

Dead bodies pile up and the killer taunts Bowers. It becomes painfully obvious that a very smart perpetrator no More...

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