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Private #3
Private Games
Private, the world's most renowned investigation firm, has been commissioned to provide security for the 2012 Olympic games in London. Its agents are the smartest, fastest, and most technologically advanced in the world, and 400 of them have been transferred to London to protect over 10,000 competitors who represent more than 200 countries.
The opening ceremony is still hours away when Private investigator and single father of twins, Nigel Steele, is called to the scene of a ruthless murder. A high-ranking member of the games' organizing committee and his mistress have been killed. It's clear that it wasn't a crime of passion, but one of precise calculation and execution.
Newspaper reporter Karen Pope receives a letter from a person who calls himself Cronus, claiming responsibility for the murders. He also proclaims that he will restore the Olympics to their ancient glory and will destroy all who have corrupted the games with lies, cheating, and greed. Karen immediately hires Private to examine the letter, and she and Nigel uncover a criminal genius who won't stop until he's ended the games for good.
"America's #1 storyteller" (Forbes) delivers an exhilarating, action-packed thriller that brings the splendor and emotion of the Olympics to a wildly powerful climax.
The opening ceremony is still hours away when Private investigator and single father of twins, Nigel Steele, is called to the scene of a ruthless murder. A high-ranking member of the games' organizing committee and his mistress have been killed. It's clear that it wasn't a crime of passion, but one of precise calculation and execution.
Newspaper reporter Karen Pope receives a letter from a person who calls himself Cronus, claiming responsibility for the murders. He also proclaims that he will restore the Olympics to their ancient glory and will destroy all who have corrupted the games with lies, cheating, and greed. Karen immediately hires Private to examine the letter, and she and Nigel uncover a criminal genius who won't stop until he's ended the games for good.
"America's #1 storyteller" (Forbes) delivers an exhilarating, action-packed thriller that brings the splendor and emotion of the Olympics to a wildly powerful climax.
409 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2012
1670 people are currently reading
12947 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
941 books354k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,526 reviews
May 16, 2023
Quite surprising that this London Olympics 2012 thriller with a terrorist targeting the Games was OK to be published before the Games took place! A typical Patterson page-turner. 6 out of 12, Three Stars!
2012 read
2012 read
June 9, 2016
I thought I knew who cronus was but then there's a twist and it's someone you never would have guessed. Most of the book implies it's this one man but no! I really enjoyed this book. It will keep you up til all hours of the morning.
March 22, 2012
I won't say this is the worst techno-thriller I have ever read. I read a lot of them. But my goodness, this book was awful!
I've read other James Patterson books and some of his earlier stuff was pretty good. But in a techo-thriller, the author has to get the "techno" part absolutely right. And the "thriller" part has to at least hold up. In this book the techno was clangingly, distractingly inaccurate and fanciful. To the point of wanting to hurl the book across the room. The thriller part was so formulaic and transparent, readers could have written the unsurprising end of each chapter. It's a cartoon.
It's one of those co-authored books that well-established writers seem to gravitate towards later in their careers. I'm not sure how these work. Maybe the co-author simply writes the whole book and gives it to Patterson for a quick-look and to put his name on it, so it sells. Like I said, I don't know. But if I were Patterson, I would not have put my name on this book.
Maybe it's the Heinlein syndrom. After a series of good stuff, tHe juice just runs out and the quality falls away to junk.
This book is mind-pablum for the masses, as are many of this genre. I don't fault that. I need my escapism too. But for readers who still look to a good read, this is not it.
I've read other James Patterson books and some of his earlier stuff was pretty good. But in a techo-thriller, the author has to get the "techno" part absolutely right. And the "thriller" part has to at least hold up. In this book the techno was clangingly, distractingly inaccurate and fanciful. To the point of wanting to hurl the book across the room. The thriller part was so formulaic and transparent, readers could have written the unsurprising end of each chapter. It's a cartoon.
It's one of those co-authored books that well-established writers seem to gravitate towards later in their careers. I'm not sure how these work. Maybe the co-author simply writes the whole book and gives it to Patterson for a quick-look and to put his name on it, so it sells. Like I said, I don't know. But if I were Patterson, I would not have put my name on this book.
Maybe it's the Heinlein syndrom. After a series of good stuff, tHe juice just runs out and the quality falls away to junk.
This book is mind-pablum for the masses, as are many of this genre. I don't fault that. I need my escapism too. But for readers who still look to a good read, this is not it.
November 13, 2017
Everything was on target for the 2012 Olympic Games to go off without a hitch in London – the planning had been intense, the security second to none. But no one had reckoned on a maniac with an agenda of his own.
When Private London’s head of operations, Peter Knight, arrived at the scene of a murder and discovered the gruesome remains of a member of the games organising committee, he was shocked and horrified to discover the man was also his mother’s fiancé. But more brutal killings occurred – the killer was focusing on the Games. What would they do? Cancel, postpone – or continue to compete? No one wanted to let terrorists beat them, but were the stakes too high?
Private Games is the 3rd in the Private series by James Patterson, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I hadn’t read one in a while as the last one didn’t grab me at all. But in this one, the pace was electric, the twists stunning and the thrills definitely made my heart thump! Recommended.
When Private London’s head of operations, Peter Knight, arrived at the scene of a murder and discovered the gruesome remains of a member of the games organising committee, he was shocked and horrified to discover the man was also his mother’s fiancé. But more brutal killings occurred – the killer was focusing on the Games. What would they do? Cancel, postpone – or continue to compete? No one wanted to let terrorists beat them, but were the stakes too high?
Private Games is the 3rd in the Private series by James Patterson, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I hadn’t read one in a while as the last one didn’t grab me at all. But in this one, the pace was electric, the twists stunning and the thrills definitely made my heart thump! Recommended.
August 22, 2012
Living in London during the Olympics and having a mild interest in Greek/Roman mythology, I thought this would be an intriguing listen for those early morning commutes on what turned out to be empty trains, thanks Boris.
Imagine someone had briefed a sun journalist to write a thriller in a weekend, and at the last minute they're told the subject - the Olympics. There are clumsy fumbles all over it - a private security firm called F7 - yeah right who could that be? The names of the characters irritate me; Knight, Pope and Lancer. And here's the thing that tells me that even the author realises it's crap: The review on his own website has the main character as Nigel Steele who is the single father of twins. The audio book has it as Peter Knight who is cursed with the brats. By the way these kids at the age of three have a pretty advanced vocabulary although still haven't mastered the crapper.
And there was one point at which the knicker elastic of my suspension of disbelief twanged: Imagine you have twins, would you hire a nanny you met in the park after about two minutes of conversation? Can't tell the difference between Bosnian and Estonian mate? Err you're a private investigator and your kids aren't worth a little background research? Does faecal incontinence lower the paternal responsibility imperative that much?
Well it just happens that she's a Bosnian war criminal in league with an insane Olympian purist out to cleanse the Games. Although, to be fair, she did manage to get one of the kids to use the bog. Goes a small way to making up for her promising to shoot them using an AK with a coke bottle silencer.
Imagine someone had briefed a sun journalist to write a thriller in a weekend, and at the last minute they're told the subject - the Olympics. There are clumsy fumbles all over it - a private security firm called F7 - yeah right who could that be? The names of the characters irritate me; Knight, Pope and Lancer. And here's the thing that tells me that even the author realises it's crap: The review on his own website has the main character as Nigel Steele who is the single father of twins. The audio book has it as Peter Knight who is cursed with the brats. By the way these kids at the age of three have a pretty advanced vocabulary although still haven't mastered the crapper.
And there was one point at which the knicker elastic of my suspension of disbelief twanged: Imagine you have twins, would you hire a nanny you met in the park after about two minutes of conversation? Can't tell the difference between Bosnian and Estonian mate? Err you're a private investigator and your kids aren't worth a little background research? Does faecal incontinence lower the paternal responsibility imperative that much?
Well it just happens that she's a Bosnian war criminal in league with an insane Olympian purist out to cleanse the Games. Although, to be fair, she did manage to get one of the kids to use the bog. Goes a small way to making up for her promising to shoot them using an AK with a coke bottle silencer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2018
3-3.5*
It was a pretty good read centered on terror killings at the London Summer Olympics. I found Peter’s character easy to like and actually very fun to read about. I was torn with follow the Private series as Goodreads has them in order because of veering off from the main Private series but Jack was in this one also, and honestly I found it rather nice to read about some new characters. I am turn between 3-3.5* though because there were times when I wasn’t as interested. However, I did read this one in one sitting and it only takes about 5 hours to read in one sitting.
My quick and simple overall: good mystery and took me overseas to London, which is always great in books!
It was a pretty good read centered on terror killings at the London Summer Olympics. I found Peter’s character easy to like and actually very fun to read about. I was torn with follow the Private series as Goodreads has them in order because of veering off from the main Private series but Jack was in this one also, and honestly I found it rather nice to read about some new characters. I am turn between 3-3.5* though because there were times when I wasn’t as interested. However, I did read this one in one sitting and it only takes about 5 hours to read in one sitting.
My quick and simple overall: good mystery and took me overseas to London, which is always great in books!
March 31, 2012
I couldn't decide at first if I wanted to give this book a 3 or 4, but once I thought about it, I decided it did deserve a 4 because the things I didn't like were minor when I took the book in its totality.
What I didn't like:
Peter Knight's twins did a couple of things that I don't think children their age should be able to do. I was so surprised that at one point I ended up flipping back to reread passages to make sure I hadn't misread their age. They have very well-developed motor skills for toddlers.
**update** My sister, who's a mother, informed me that children can in fact perform those tasks and gave me stories of other people whose kids had done similar tasks. Glad I didn't let it cloud my decision.
The ending seemed a bit over the top and kind of gross. I could've done without the visual and wished Knight had been able to defeat Cronus in a different way.
What I did like:
It's a fast-paced book that kept my attention right from the beginning. In fact, it started in the middle of the action and I got a glimpse into the mind of the villain and just how out-of-control he was because of his god-complex. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough during the action sequences.
About half-way through the book, I figured out who the villain was. Yay! Usually in a mystery, I go back and forth between different people, but this time I knew it was him. Even when Patterson tried to throw me off the scent near the end, I still held fast to my belief.
This was a good read overall.
What I didn't like:
Peter Knight's twins did a couple of things that I don't think children their age should be able to do. I was so surprised that at one point I ended up flipping back to reread passages to make sure I hadn't misread their age. They have very well-developed motor skills for toddlers.
**update** My sister, who's a mother, informed me that children can in fact perform those tasks and gave me stories of other people whose kids had done similar tasks. Glad I didn't let it cloud my decision.
The ending seemed a bit over the top and kind of gross. I could've done without the visual and wished Knight had been able to defeat Cronus in a different way.
What I did like:
It's a fast-paced book that kept my attention right from the beginning. In fact, it started in the middle of the action and I got a glimpse into the mind of the villain and just how out-of-control he was because of his god-complex. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough during the action sequences.
About half-way through the book, I figured out who the villain was. Yay! Usually in a mystery, I go back and forth between different people, but this time I knew it was him. Even when Patterson tried to throw me off the scent near the end, I still held fast to my belief.
This was a good read overall.
February 28, 2012
In an effort to broaden my horizons into best-selling fiction that my patrons read, I decided to pick this up. This will probably be my first and last foray into the publishing behemoth that is James Patterson.
I know something is poorly written when I'm constantly thinking to myself, "I could write this". My expectations were pretty low and I was simply hoping to be entertained, but found even that a struggle. A few issues: 1. Their research of London seemed limited to Fodor's guide and a crappy British phase book. Hence we're left with talk of "bangers" and "a spot of tea". 2. The dectective's twins are just turning 3 during the games yet actions are way off for that age group acting more than a few years ahead except for the son's speech. 3. I won't spoil anything, but the concluding action sequence is one of the most ridiculous endings I've ever come across.
I think I figured out Mr. Patterson's secret to publishing (besides hiring a team of authors) and that is to use zero editors. A quick run through spell and grammar checks seems the extent to which this book was subjected to.
I know something is poorly written when I'm constantly thinking to myself, "I could write this". My expectations were pretty low and I was simply hoping to be entertained, but found even that a struggle. A few issues: 1. Their research of London seemed limited to Fodor's guide and a crappy British phase book. Hence we're left with talk of "bangers" and "a spot of tea". 2. The dectective's twins are just turning 3 during the games yet actions are way off for that age group acting more than a few years ahead except for the son's speech. 3. I won't spoil anything, but the concluding action sequence is one of the most ridiculous endings I've ever come across.
I think I figured out Mr. Patterson's secret to publishing (besides hiring a team of authors) and that is to use zero editors. A quick run through spell and grammar checks seems the extent to which this book was subjected to.
February 12, 2016
Loved this book!
I love that you got to see another side of Private International, the London side this time, and it was so cool that this took place during the 2012 London Olympics!
It was fast paced, lots of action, and the characters were great! I love Peter Knights character and I cannot wait to read another Private book that takes place in London!
I love that you got to see another side of Private International, the London side this time, and it was so cool that this took place during the 2012 London Olympics!
It was fast paced, lots of action, and the characters were great! I love Peter Knights character and I cannot wait to read another Private book that takes place in London!
January 7, 2019
On your mark, get set, GO! Book number three in the Private series keeps you reading until you cross the finish line. Centered around the 2012 Olympics it was an enjoyable read; I give this one 4stars!
January 31, 2024
*Thrilling*
**4.5-5 Stars**
This is the 3rd instalment of the Private series. The owner of the investigation company Jack Morgan a former US Marine has acquired many branches of Private over several countries.
This time we are in London. The story is fiction and set around the 2012 Olympics. I must admit I felt it was quite a bold move to write such a thrilling story based on a real event especially as it was written and published in the same year ahead of the games.
So much goes on it makes riveting reading and the plot is about someone who is against the Games going ahead and will do anything to stop it and prove to the world how magnificent they are. The culprit is not working alone. The creepiest thing is that they are often in plain sight.
There are brutal murders and the main investigator and head of Private in London is Peter Knight. He is a widower with twins and the first victim’s death is personal. As bad as the criminals are Peter is made of tough stuff and has sharp instincts, with Jack Morgan in tow they make a formidable team.
With Games under threat and people being set up left right and centre, it was thrilling and over the top especially as the culprit narrates a lot of the story in a chilling way
**4.5-5 Stars**
This is the 3rd instalment of the Private series. The owner of the investigation company Jack Morgan a former US Marine has acquired many branches of Private over several countries.
This time we are in London. The story is fiction and set around the 2012 Olympics. I must admit I felt it was quite a bold move to write such a thrilling story based on a real event especially as it was written and published in the same year ahead of the games.
So much goes on it makes riveting reading and the plot is about someone who is against the Games going ahead and will do anything to stop it and prove to the world how magnificent they are. The culprit is not working alone. The creepiest thing is that they are often in plain sight.
There are brutal murders and the main investigator and head of Private in London is Peter Knight. He is a widower with twins and the first victim’s death is personal. As bad as the criminals are Peter is made of tough stuff and has sharp instincts, with Jack Morgan in tow they make a formidable team.
With Games under threat and people being set up left right and centre, it was thrilling and over the top especially as the culprit narrates a lot of the story in a chilling way
October 27, 2016
Cronus & his Furies invade the London Olympic Games. Jack Morgan knows that in order to be the best at what you do, you must hire the best and pay them very well. Take Peter Knight, Private London's best investigator, out to find the person or persons responsible for killing his mother's Fiancé abs Olympic committee member.
The book is fast paced, energetic and will keep you turning the page. The killers' insight throughout the story invokes an explanation as well as suspenseful thrill to the story. Another J?P. book I enjoyed reading.
The book is fast paced, energetic and will keep you turning the page. The killers' insight throughout the story invokes an explanation as well as suspenseful thrill to the story. Another J?P. book I enjoyed reading.
October 2, 2020
I didn't love the first two books of this series but this one is told from a slightly different angle, another office of the Private Agency during the Olympics. I liked the fact that it was told from both monster and prey but in the end it was an easy mystery. I used these between heavier books as a "palate cleanser. "
3.5
3.5
August 13, 2012
After reading the first book I decided to have a quick peek to check the order I should read the series because even on the website it seemed a bit slapdash. After reading the first couple of pages I found that Private London actually was a precursor to Private Games and I am glad that I read them in that order: 1 Private - 2 Private #1 Suspect - 3 Private London - 4 Private Games.
When I started reading Private Games I thought who the hell is this Peter Knight, what has happened to Dan Carter? Then he explains that they have all been killed in a plane crash. Peter Knight is not as believable a character as Dan Carter and does not fit the role he filling in this book at all.
Very poor research for this book as the most basic error is made throughout the book. This book is based on the Olympic Games and England do not enter the Olympic Games. Great Britain enter a team for the games which is made up of athletes from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet throughout the book it is mentioning the England football team and other such rubbish. Not what I was expecting from his usual very exacting detailed stories.
The whole basis of the story is that this ex athlete, ex guardsman met up with three Balkan war ravaged female killers but none of the checks made by Private or any other agency ever showed up his service in the Balkans. This fact is glossed over in about two paragraphs with no detail of how he might have hidden this information or in fact wiped it from his history.
If you have read the first two Private books then you will be disappointed with the superficial detail in the story and I would just read Private London, co written with Mark Pearson instead.
When I started reading Private Games I thought who the hell is this Peter Knight, what has happened to Dan Carter? Then he explains that they have all been killed in a plane crash. Peter Knight is not as believable a character as Dan Carter and does not fit the role he filling in this book at all.
Very poor research for this book as the most basic error is made throughout the book. This book is based on the Olympic Games and England do not enter the Olympic Games. Great Britain enter a team for the games which is made up of athletes from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet throughout the book it is mentioning the England football team and other such rubbish. Not what I was expecting from his usual very exacting detailed stories.
The whole basis of the story is that this ex athlete, ex guardsman met up with three Balkan war ravaged female killers but none of the checks made by Private or any other agency ever showed up his service in the Balkans. This fact is glossed over in about two paragraphs with no detail of how he might have hidden this information or in fact wiped it from his history.
If you have read the first two Private books then you will be disappointed with the superficial detail in the story and I would just read Private London, co written with Mark Pearson instead.
April 30, 2018
Knight realised that many of the athletes around him were pointing up at the huge video screens around the Olympic venue, all displaying the same three red words: OLYMPIC SHAME EXPOSED.
This is the first of James Patterson's Private series that I have read and selected it based on the Olympic background more than series itself. A few references are made to previous additions but it is not critically important to have read the prior novels.
The premise is based around the 2012 Summer Olympics being held in London. Peter Knight, who is head of security firm Private London, is called after an organizing committee member is murdered. But it is soon apparent that Sir Denton Marshall wasn't the only target, it's the entire Olympic games!
I love the Olympics, I missed this book in 2012 and found it shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics finished. The thrill of the book is an enjoyable one, although a little bit out-there.
However, and this is much more a personal knit-pick than a real criticism but the research to certain aspects of the Olympics seem weak and not what you'd expect from an author like Patterson, even though the book was written in collaboration with Mark Sullivan. For example there are numerous references to the United Kingdom team and the England football team when it really is Great Britain who compete in the games.
The short chapters do keep up a "just one more" feel to the book although I wasn't as gripped as you would expect by Patterson.
This is the first of James Patterson's Private series that I have read and selected it based on the Olympic background more than series itself. A few references are made to previous additions but it is not critically important to have read the prior novels.
The premise is based around the 2012 Summer Olympics being held in London. Peter Knight, who is head of security firm Private London, is called after an organizing committee member is murdered. But it is soon apparent that Sir Denton Marshall wasn't the only target, it's the entire Olympic games!
I love the Olympics, I missed this book in 2012 and found it shortly after the 2016 Rio Olympics finished. The thrill of the book is an enjoyable one, although a little bit out-there.
However, and this is much more a personal knit-pick than a real criticism but the research to certain aspects of the Olympics seem weak and not what you'd expect from an author like Patterson, even though the book was written in collaboration with Mark Sullivan. For example there are numerous references to the United Kingdom team and the England football team when it really is Great Britain who compete in the games.
The short chapters do keep up a "just one more" feel to the book although I wasn't as gripped as you would expect by Patterson.
May 23, 2013
"Private Games" by James Patterson is about a detective agency named 'Private' and a detective in the agency named Knight. Knight is a man who's wife died after giving birth to his now 4 year old twins. The story begins with the murder of Knight's soon-to-be step-father, accompanied by a note regarding the 2012 Olympic Games in London. This story shifts to the point of view of the murderer, who calls himself Cronus, and Knight, who is trying to stop him. Knight soon realizes that Cronus is trying to attack the games because he feels they are a mockery of the original olympic games. Cronus attacks everybody he believes to have corrupted it, including athletes and the olympic committee. Knight is on the hunt for Cronus, trying to stop him before he massacre's the entire games, while also trying to take care of his twins with the help of a nanny, who is in fact one of Cronus's three "sisters" which he uses to help his evil plots. Unfortunately, this book was extremely predictable, with no interesting twist at the end like most mystery novels have, so overall I did not enjoy this book very much.
April 28, 2012
A much better book than I expected it to be, as I am not a big 'newer series' fan of James Patterson. The book was quite good at setting the hero and villain sections and did offer some great build-up as it gave first hand villain chapters, as well as some great background. A little longer than most Patterson novels, yet still the 130+ chapters to tease you into reading 'just one more before I put it down'.
Set against the backdrop of the upcoming London Olympics, Patterson sets a nice scene and paints a fairly believable storyline, with the villain causing issues with the Games and its athletes. We get some good personal development as well, but still, some of the dialogue and minor plotlines remains hokey and a little shallow. Then again, Patterson is not known for his deep plots (save some of his more sappy books). Still, a good read and I sped through it, as I am sure most people could. Great for that overseas flight as you head to the Olympics ;-) !
Good work, Mr. Patterson. Keep churning them out... though I pine more for your WMC, Alex Cross, and Michael Bennett books.
Set against the backdrop of the upcoming London Olympics, Patterson sets a nice scene and paints a fairly believable storyline, with the villain causing issues with the Games and its athletes. We get some good personal development as well, but still, some of the dialogue and minor plotlines remains hokey and a little shallow. Then again, Patterson is not known for his deep plots (save some of his more sappy books). Still, a good read and I sped through it, as I am sure most people could. Great for that overseas flight as you head to the Olympics ;-) !
Good work, Mr. Patterson. Keep churning them out... though I pine more for your WMC, Alex Cross, and Michael Bennett books.
January 1, 2019
Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrated by: Paul Panting
Initially, I wanted to just write "ho-hum" but it was a little better than that. Just.
Private is a world-renowned security company hired to help provide security for the 2012 Olympics being held in London, England. Peter Knight, a widowed father of twins, is the British investigator assigned to the project. From the beginning, it seems that random tragedy is haunting the games but Chronos begins taking "credit" for the deaths. It becomes a race to the finish to discover who Chronos is and to prevent him from destroying the spirit of the Olympics.
There were a couple of things that annoyed (and distracted me), one of which was his bratty son, Luke, a biter and still needing potty-trained. I understand that it was necessary in that he suddenly became desperate for a Nanny just as the perfect solution was provided, which added some dimension to the story.
The very end was so contrived and lame.
Unless you're an incredible fan of James Patterson, I wouldn't recommend this book to you.
Narrated by: Paul Panting
Initially, I wanted to just write "ho-hum" but it was a little better than that. Just.
Private is a world-renowned security company hired to help provide security for the 2012 Olympics being held in London, England. Peter Knight, a widowed father of twins, is the British investigator assigned to the project. From the beginning, it seems that random tragedy is haunting the games but Chronos begins taking "credit" for the deaths. It becomes a race to the finish to discover who Chronos is and to prevent him from destroying the spirit of the Olympics.
There were a couple of things that annoyed (and distracted me), one of which was his bratty son, Luke, a biter and still needing potty-trained. I understand that it was necessary in that he suddenly became desperate for a Nanny just as the perfect solution was provided, which added some dimension to the story.
The very end was so contrived and lame.
Unless you're an incredible fan of James Patterson, I wouldn't recommend this book to you.
February 4, 2012
If you are bored of hearing about the London Olympics already, this, ironically, is *exactly* the book you need. Set during the London Olympics, a crazed former athlete starts a murder spree, starting with the Head of the London Organising Committee, but can 'Private' investigators find him before his final act of retribution. Lots of references to real places in London and what I presume James Patterson imagines as the opening ceremony and organisational arrangements. Otherwise, it will provide some real-world inspiration for terrorists! As a Brit, reading it felt like a really entertaining guilty pleasure. I truly hope that the real 2012 London Olympics don't turn out like this, but I found this much, much more entertaining than the real build-up to the real games!
February 21, 2012
I read James Patterson to remind myself that I can do this too, and I hope a tad bit better. Patterson books are always a fun read, and this was one per usual, though the final boss battle scene ended in such a comical way that I literally laughed out loud.
November 30, 2012
The 3rd book in the Private series by James Patterson.
Although this book was a bit far fetched it was fast paced and generally enjoyable.
Although this book was a bit far fetched it was fast paced and generally enjoyable.
December 20, 2022
That was a mixed bag. SPOILERS AHEAD
Pros:
Fairly entertaining and I didn’t guess the killer. Also, unlike Jack, Knight didn’t fall in love with every woman he met. In fact romance was far from the story, good or bad.
Cons:
Here’s a big one. Knight was a dumb detective. I blame the fact I didn’t come up with the killer (once revealed it was fairly obvious) because I was distracted how bad Knight was. I mean, he didn’t once consider the nanny’s appearance in his life was a bit too coincidental when she fit the profile of the furies. And only a bad plot device when he reveals how he came to be at the killers home. Why just not say “a tip led me here” instead of revealing something that would hinder his rescue? The entire ending had me rolling my eyes. Knight just left his kids at the hospital to risk his life despite the kids had already lost one parent. His weak wondering if they were okay didn’t fit the character but used as a plot excuse.
The narrator was good but this book was weaker than the first two despite the pros listed above. I’m happy I didn’t directly pay for the privilege of listening and got from library. I’ll only continue this series because I can get from library and currently lacking anything else interesting to listen to.
Pros:
Fairly entertaining and I didn’t guess the killer. Also, unlike Jack, Knight didn’t fall in love with every woman he met. In fact romance was far from the story, good or bad.
Cons:
Here’s a big one. Knight was a dumb detective. I blame the fact I didn’t come up with the killer (once revealed it was fairly obvious) because I was distracted how bad Knight was. I mean, he didn’t once consider the nanny’s appearance in his life was a bit too coincidental when she fit the profile of the furies. And only a bad plot device when he reveals how he came to be at the killers home. Why just not say “a tip led me here” instead of revealing something that would hinder his rescue? The entire ending had me rolling my eyes. Knight just left his kids at the hospital to risk his life despite the kids had already lost one parent. His weak wondering if they were okay didn’t fit the character but used as a plot excuse.
The narrator was good but this book was weaker than the first two despite the pros listed above. I’m happy I didn’t directly pay for the privilege of listening and got from library. I’ll only continue this series because I can get from library and currently lacking anything else interesting to listen to.
August 25, 2018
Rating: about 2.5 Usually I'm a big fan of James Patterson, but . . . . He now has several authors writing under his name, and the quality seems to be hit-or-miss. This plot is a little far-fetched for a realistic novel, though I will say the twists near the end had me fooled for a while. I nearly put it down as a reject several times while reading, but the heightened suspense near the end saved it.
(I'm playing catch-up, as my new job has taken a big bite out of my time lately. My reading rate has slowed considerably, and I 'm very much behind in posting.)
(I'm playing catch-up, as my new job has taken a big bite out of my time lately. My reading rate has slowed considerably, and I 'm very much behind in posting.)
October 4, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This book was Ok but it was by no means outstanding. Peter Knight is head of Private Security for the London Olympics. It seems someone is targeting people connected to the games starting with Peters soon to be step father. I found some parts of this novel really annoying not least of which is you would think someone that is head of Private Security would take a little more care when selecting a nanny!
Overall not a great read but it will not stop me reading the rest of the series.
Overall not a great read but it will not stop me reading the rest of the series.
January 13, 2022
To be fair, there were some excellent parts, but there were some less than stellar chapters, and some far fetched links.
An easy beach read. Not up to the standard of older James Patterson books.
An easy beach read. Not up to the standard of older James Patterson books.
August 11, 2024
3 1/2🌟👍. I thought it apt while the Paris 2024 Olympics were on that this was something I needed to read. Or maybe not, as the things that occur in this book are pretty shocking! If you’re wanting a fast paced (slightly unbelievable) roller coaster ride then this is the one for you!
July 12, 2024
Flowed well, lots going on. New characters in this chapter and set in London.
April 20, 2012
As my two stars would suggest this was okay! But that's pretty much about it. This is far from the best book off the Patterson production line.
I didn't really expect too much from this book though as I have not really liked this series compared to Patterson's other series novels. I despised Private, but actually quite liked Private: London, not so much for the story but due to certain parts of that book being set around where I live so I could atleast appreciate that the book had been well researched. This book however was not well researched, something that is blindingly obvious when one of the charcters (I can't remember which character it was) is recollecting the day in London after the city was awarded the 2012 Olympic games. However considering the day after London was awarded the games the city was bought to a standstill as a result of the 2005 London bombings there was no mention of this in the characters recollections (although it is mentioned in another part of the novel).
Also, as stated I quite liked Private: London, so when I realised on page one that the characters from that book had been killed off to make way for the new characters in this installment I was not impressed. I see no reason why the previous characters couln't have handled the events in this book instead of the cardboard cliches that we were actually given. And when the causes of the characters from the previous novels death is revealed towards the end of this book it just seems pointless and crow barred in.
Another thing I really didn't like about this book were the fictitious names given to characters who are obviously based on real life people, such as Mayor "Morris" of London. The fictitious "fastest man on earth" competing at the 2012 games, and the fictitious "knighted 5 time gold medal winning British rower". It was obvious who the real life counterparts of these characters were supposed to be so I see no reason why real names couldn't have been used, it's been done many times before and even by Patterson himself.
The main charcters three year old twins in this book seemed to have a vocabulary and understanding way beyond their years so again a lack of research is an issue. Also considering this book was set in Britain and features mainly British charcaters it was littered with "Americanisms" so once again research issues. And then the team said to be representing Britain in football at the Olympics were England rather than the team GB squad that will actually be representing us. So one massive research failure there. And civillians being allowed to carry hand guns on the streets of London during the Olympics. I don't care how big the Olympic contract the security company supposedly has and how much papperwork and red tape the authour reckons the character would have to go through. It wouldn't happen.
One other thing that really grated me about this book (although more on a personal level than a direct critisim) was that one of the main characters was supposedly a journalist fot The Sun newspaper. And with my personal views on that paper after their infamous The Truth headline I don't feel that that newspaper deserves the free publicity and advertising generated from this book and for me the inclussion of any other newspaper would have made the reading experiance a little more enjoyable.
And Finally every twist and plot line in this book were blindingly obvious from the off, so for a thriller it wasn't very, err, thrilling. I suppose it was inevitable that we would get a book from someone based on terroissm at the 2012 games. And whilst this book had potential such as the God complex of the main attagonist combined with his troubled and injured past plus the comparisons between the ancient Olympics and the modern games. But for me this book just plainly failed to deliver on so many levels - something that is illustarted perfectly with the stupidly absurd climax to this stroy.
I didn't really expect too much from this book though as I have not really liked this series compared to Patterson's other series novels. I despised Private, but actually quite liked Private: London, not so much for the story but due to certain parts of that book being set around where I live so I could atleast appreciate that the book had been well researched. This book however was not well researched, something that is blindingly obvious when one of the charcters (I can't remember which character it was) is recollecting the day in London after the city was awarded the 2012 Olympic games. However considering the day after London was awarded the games the city was bought to a standstill as a result of the 2005 London bombings there was no mention of this in the characters recollections (although it is mentioned in another part of the novel).
Also, as stated I quite liked Private: London, so when I realised on page one that the characters from that book had been killed off to make way for the new characters in this installment I was not impressed. I see no reason why the previous characters couln't have handled the events in this book instead of the cardboard cliches that we were actually given. And when the causes of the characters from the previous novels death is revealed towards the end of this book it just seems pointless and crow barred in.
Another thing I really didn't like about this book were the fictitious names given to characters who are obviously based on real life people, such as Mayor "Morris" of London. The fictitious "fastest man on earth" competing at the 2012 games, and the fictitious "knighted 5 time gold medal winning British rower". It was obvious who the real life counterparts of these characters were supposed to be so I see no reason why real names couldn't have been used, it's been done many times before and even by Patterson himself.
The main charcters three year old twins in this book seemed to have a vocabulary and understanding way beyond their years so again a lack of research is an issue. Also considering this book was set in Britain and features mainly British charcaters it was littered with "Americanisms" so once again research issues. And then the team said to be representing Britain in football at the Olympics were England rather than the team GB squad that will actually be representing us. So one massive research failure there. And civillians being allowed to carry hand guns on the streets of London during the Olympics. I don't care how big the Olympic contract the security company supposedly has and how much papperwork and red tape the authour reckons the character would have to go through. It wouldn't happen.
One other thing that really grated me about this book (although more on a personal level than a direct critisim) was that one of the main characters was supposedly a journalist fot The Sun newspaper. And with my personal views on that paper after their infamous The Truth headline I don't feel that that newspaper deserves the free publicity and advertising generated from this book and for me the inclussion of any other newspaper would have made the reading experiance a little more enjoyable.
And Finally every twist and plot line in this book were blindingly obvious from the off, so for a thriller it wasn't very, err, thrilling. I suppose it was inevitable that we would get a book from someone based on terroissm at the 2012 games. And whilst this book had potential such as the God complex of the main attagonist combined with his troubled and injured past plus the comparisons between the ancient Olympics and the modern games. But for me this book just plainly failed to deliver on so many levels - something that is illustarted perfectly with the stupidly absurd climax to this stroy.
November 4, 2014
So my mother-in-law came for a visit last week and, knowing I read a lot of books, she insisted I read this latest and greatest book by James Patterson. Of course, just about all of me defenses went up because:
1) It's a James Patterson book. Now, I've enjoyed some of his early Alex Cross books but his novel manufacturing machine that cranks out 12-15 new books per year from his "co-authors" is a real turn off for me;
2) It's a recommendation from somebody who reads a moderate amount but rarely enjoys the same stuff I do;
3) I have waaaay too much stuff on my TBR shelves and there are far too many great-looking books coming out that I can't wait to get my hands on/download to my e-reader to be wasting time on something else.
But in the end...it's my mother-in-law. And so I did. And I could justify it by telling myself it's all about the 2012 Olympics in London that starts tomorrow. I would get points for timeliness.
Unfortunately, the book lived up to my low expectations but no further. This is actually the third novel in the "Private" series but features a new London-based protagonist and should easily stand alone. And it would have if only it had legs. The hero of the story is Peter Knight (very imaginative), an agent in the "Private" security firm which has been hired to provide security for the London Olympic Games. The story was a bit slow getting started but I did enjoy the descriptions of the major Olympic moments and the fictional athletes. Peter Knight, unfortunately, came across as a rather cliched character and a buffoon. He was matched only by the equally inept bad guy, a character going by the name "Chronos". Chronos is presented as an evil mastermind and yet makes mistake after mistake, absolutely none of which is capitalized on by our Mr Knight. In fact Knight's discoveries of clues were virtually all accomplished by accident. When he is in danger it is only through the actions of others, including his mother and his just-turned 3-year old son, that he is rescued. The final 30 pages or so provided some saving grace for this novel, raising it from 1 star to 2, and resulted in some satisfaction in the resolution. But for me it was too little, too late.
It would seem Mr Patterson needed to spend a bit more time in the editing role for this novel. As it stands, it is more like a badly done comic book than action/suspense novel. I remain wary of my mother-in-laws recommendations...
1) It's a James Patterson book. Now, I've enjoyed some of his early Alex Cross books but his novel manufacturing machine that cranks out 12-15 new books per year from his "co-authors" is a real turn off for me;
2) It's a recommendation from somebody who reads a moderate amount but rarely enjoys the same stuff I do;
3) I have waaaay too much stuff on my TBR shelves and there are far too many great-looking books coming out that I can't wait to get my hands on/download to my e-reader to be wasting time on something else.
But in the end...it's my mother-in-law. And so I did. And I could justify it by telling myself it's all about the 2012 Olympics in London that starts tomorrow. I would get points for timeliness.
Unfortunately, the book lived up to my low expectations but no further. This is actually the third novel in the "Private" series but features a new London-based protagonist and should easily stand alone. And it would have if only it had legs. The hero of the story is Peter Knight (very imaginative), an agent in the "Private" security firm which has been hired to provide security for the London Olympic Games. The story was a bit slow getting started but I did enjoy the descriptions of the major Olympic moments and the fictional athletes. Peter Knight, unfortunately, came across as a rather cliched character and a buffoon. He was matched only by the equally inept bad guy, a character going by the name "Chronos". Chronos is presented as an evil mastermind and yet makes mistake after mistake, absolutely none of which is capitalized on by our Mr Knight. In fact Knight's discoveries of clues were virtually all accomplished by accident. When he is in danger it is only through the actions of others, including his mother and his just-turned 3-year old son, that he is rescued. The final 30 pages or so provided some saving grace for this novel, raising it from 1 star to 2, and resulted in some satisfaction in the resolution. But for me it was too little, too late.
It would seem Mr Patterson needed to spend a bit more time in the editing role for this novel. As it stands, it is more like a badly done comic book than action/suspense novel. I remain wary of my mother-in-laws recommendations...
February 17, 2017
The year is 2012. The Location is London and the backdrop is that of Olympic Games. Can things get any bigger? Huge number of agents has been assigned to the security detail of anybody who is somebody at the games. They are the best at what they do and have the latest technology to back them up. A high ranking games official is brutally murdered and a man named Cronus sends a letter to a reporter Karen Pope claiming responsibility. Peter Knight gets involved in this case twice over as not only this was important to him professionally, but he also has a personal interest. With too much at stake, Peter cannot under any circumstances rule this as a mere co-incidence. Together with Karen, Knight has to discover the identity of the killer before it is too late.
I am a huge Alex Cross fan but it has been quite a while since I last picked up James Patterson Novel. Reading ‘Private Games’ almost managed to remind me why I liked his work so much. Though Peter Knight is no Alex Cross and doesn’t completely fit the general profile of private investigators - he is definitely an interesting character. Overall, the way he handled the case was quite impressive but few of his mistakes were very amateurish making me think ‘Oh Come on!’
Obviously with Olympic Games in London, the backdrop of this book is HUGE. Just as the thought of Olympic Games create an image of grandeur in my mind and this novel helped me to picturise it even more clearly. It had the glamour, the adrenaline, and the nerves – whatever feelings that come with an event like this. Mystery fanatics like me may be able to guess out the mystery part, but that does not actually take the charm out of the book. In this case, the journey is eventful enough to keep you going even though you know what to expect at the destination. And the climax was too… I do not know how to explain exactly without giving any spoilers. So let me just say the climax was a bit too implausible for me. The storyline was fast paced and the author has taken care to try and keep the readers engrossed within the pages with doses of mystery, action and psychosis.
To round it off, it turned out to be a pretty mediocre book, certainly not something I expect with the cover that says James Patterson on the front. Well, he has set the bar of expectations so high for himself that he is bound to miss it at times. I wouldn’t probably go out of my way to recommend this book but at the same time I wouldn’t advice not reading it.
I am a huge Alex Cross fan but it has been quite a while since I last picked up James Patterson Novel. Reading ‘Private Games’ almost managed to remind me why I liked his work so much. Though Peter Knight is no Alex Cross and doesn’t completely fit the general profile of private investigators - he is definitely an interesting character. Overall, the way he handled the case was quite impressive but few of his mistakes were very amateurish making me think ‘Oh Come on!’
Obviously with Olympic Games in London, the backdrop of this book is HUGE. Just as the thought of Olympic Games create an image of grandeur in my mind and this novel helped me to picturise it even more clearly. It had the glamour, the adrenaline, and the nerves – whatever feelings that come with an event like this. Mystery fanatics like me may be able to guess out the mystery part, but that does not actually take the charm out of the book. In this case, the journey is eventful enough to keep you going even though you know what to expect at the destination. And the climax was too… I do not know how to explain exactly without giving any spoilers. So let me just say the climax was a bit too implausible for me. The storyline was fast paced and the author has taken care to try and keep the readers engrossed within the pages with doses of mystery, action and psychosis.
To round it off, it turned out to be a pretty mediocre book, certainly not something I expect with the cover that says James Patterson on the front. Well, he has set the bar of expectations so high for himself that he is bound to miss it at times. I wouldn’t probably go out of my way to recommend this book but at the same time I wouldn’t advice not reading it.
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