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The Patrick Bowers Files #6
The King
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers has matched wits with some of the most violent serial killers in history—and one of them has never forgiven him....
Patrick Bowers has pursued the nation’s fiercest serial killers—and now one elusive foe is back for revenge.
Settling into a new post at the FBI academy, Patrick and his fiancée, Lien-hua Jiang, are planning their future together with his stepdaughter, Tessa.
But just when his life seems normal, a demon from the past returns to draw him down a dark road he hoped had closed forever. Forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves most, Patrick is in a race against time to stop an international conspiracy from becoming the most widespread act of terrorism in U.S. history.
Patrick Bowers has pursued the nation’s fiercest serial killers—and now one elusive foe is back for revenge.
Settling into a new post at the FBI academy, Patrick and his fiancée, Lien-hua Jiang, are planning their future together with his stepdaughter, Tessa.
But just when his life seems normal, a demon from the past returns to draw him down a dark road he hoped had closed forever. Forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves most, Patrick is in a race against time to stop an international conspiracy from becoming the most widespread act of terrorism in U.S. history.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2013
166 people are currently reading
1433 people want to read
About the author
Steven James
135 books1,753 followersSteven James is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of twenty novels and numerous books on the craft of novel writing, including the new release, DELVE, PIVOT, PROPEL, which explores revolutionary new approaches to fiction writing. With a master's degree in storytelling, James teaches writing worldwide and has appeared on five continents telling stories and teaching storytelling at over 2000 appearances.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
July 14, 2013
Book Review
Steven James is an author that according to my GR friends' reading lists in this genre is not on their radar but should be. Exception being, two avid friends and fans with whom I've shared many comments regarding the Patrick Bowers series of which this is the latest.
The King is the point of chess: the endgame is check mate. Each book is named after a chess piece and as with the game, recurring moves are prominent throughout this series as are recurring characters: villains and law enforcement alike. And for Patrick Bowers checkmate means making a moral decision that defies the law, but is right...to do the unexpected. However, checkmate also means identifying the strategy of your opponent.
When confronted by death, it is ridiculous to be expected to behave morally. After all, implicit in moral behavior is the ability to make a choice...and when that's taken away from you, there is no obligation to behave morally. But what if it is not your life that is being directly threatened? After all: what is the essential strategy in a game of chess? It is to protect your chess pieces and avoid: Checkmate....
For readers of this series, what to all intents and purposes looks like a chess game that has ended with checkmate...we have to ask ourselves: is this really checkmate? Is the game really over?
Clearly, the answer is no...and James is clear on this. There is only one move remaining: Checkmate, his next novel.
Perhaps unfairly so, when I see that the publishing house is a religious one, I as a reader am doubly vigilant that no indoctrinating content is part of what's being served up. And it does seem to be an unfair assumption. There is a sprinkling of faith and religion in this latest James novel. And from another perspective, assuredly the author's, The King refers to God. But this is handdled well and seems properly placed within the characterization of a ravenous, beautiful girl coming to terms with the enormity and awe of being alive as she too wrestles with her own dark demons. Tessa remains crucial to Patrick, as to the series itself. Part of growing up is making decisions about faith, religion, or what not. I certainly have.
While we live, let us live
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Series Review
Imagine my surprise after reading all the Patrick Bower series by Steven James and in wanting to write a review of the books, to discover that this series is labeled as being published by a Christian publisher, as well as authored by a Christian...ergo, the Patrick Bowers series is labeled Christian Fiction. I'll tell you this, as an atheist, I didn't have a clue (not even a suspicion) of this throughout my reading of these novels.
Now, now, I am not implying that good Christian fiction doesn't exist! I have read a few good ones in my time. Having said that, however, I do not like novels with an ulterior motive, novels written to spread the word, so to speak. I stay away from them: period. No such problem with this series. In fact; there's nothing in these books that even hints at the above. So, do read on!
Suffice it to say that morality is not the exclusive province of religion. If that were the case, no fiction, no protagonists, antagonists, or plots could ever be written. Steven James, the author, understands that. And you gotta know something about this series...it's all about morality, about choices made and not made, volitional experiences and their consequences made and perpetrated by protagonist and antogonists (this series has some of the best and most evil antogonists to be found anywhere!). Steven James - whether or not because of his religious affiliation - does understand the nature of evil. In fact, it's almost uncanny at how the author creeps into the minds of some of the most colorful, if not horrendous minds of his fictional villains. So, a word of caution, these novels have the propensity to creep you out.
From my perspective, this series is about a war between intellect and demons (personal and real), between mental and scientific strategy and unrelenting impulses, between Criminology and the worst of the worst criminals, with Patrick Bowers at the helm of this singular intellect. Both cerebral and emotive, Patrick battles evil with an unerroring eye for detail, with near photographic memory, and with plenty of physical volatility all aimed at heart-pounding suspense and boy! Does S. James know how to deliver stunning endings!
In regards to Criminology, the readers of this psychological thriller series will be exposed to the latest in scientific analysis: Environmental Criminology. Patrick Bowers focuses on criminal patterns within built environments (cities, landscapes, etc.) and analyzes the impacts of these variables on people's cognitive behavior. This places him in somewhat of a conflict with the FBI's profilers who tend to dismiss Bower's expertise. Here as in other places, Bowers is aided by powerful allies, notably by his friend Calvin, a professor as well as the originator of Environmental Ciminology.
The characters are extremely well developed, very believable, and often help carry the weight of the protagonists role as powerful allies in themselves, such as is the case with Tessa...Patrick's step-daughter. This is a character with whom the reader sympathizes as much as they do with our hero. Wild, dark-haired, often an unwilling ally, and deeply compassionate, Tessa is at the core of Bower's universe, if not the series. She is his island which he protects at all costs and needless to say, she suffers the consequences of her father's aim to destroy evil. She is also the last testament towards his capacity for love.
Note: one of the things I love about Goodreads is their categorization of series into numbered series. In this case, please note that #6 (recently published), is actually the pre-quel to the remaining Patrick Bower series. So, read it first!
As with my other reviews that involve series, this review is the same for all the Bower's series, so if you've read this one, you've read them all.
Steven James is an author that according to my GR friends' reading lists in this genre is not on their radar but should be. Exception being, two avid friends and fans with whom I've shared many comments regarding the Patrick Bowers series of which this is the latest.
The King is the point of chess: the endgame is check mate. Each book is named after a chess piece and as with the game, recurring moves are prominent throughout this series as are recurring characters: villains and law enforcement alike. And for Patrick Bowers checkmate means making a moral decision that defies the law, but is right...to do the unexpected. However, checkmate also means identifying the strategy of your opponent.
When confronted by death, it is ridiculous to be expected to behave morally. After all, implicit in moral behavior is the ability to make a choice...and when that's taken away from you, there is no obligation to behave morally. But what if it is not your life that is being directly threatened? After all: what is the essential strategy in a game of chess? It is to protect your chess pieces and avoid: Checkmate....
For readers of this series, what to all intents and purposes looks like a chess game that has ended with checkmate...we have to ask ourselves: is this really checkmate? Is the game really over?
Clearly, the answer is no...and James is clear on this. There is only one move remaining: Checkmate, his next novel.
Perhaps unfairly so, when I see that the publishing house is a religious one, I as a reader am doubly vigilant that no indoctrinating content is part of what's being served up. And it does seem to be an unfair assumption. There is a sprinkling of faith and religion in this latest James novel. And from another perspective, assuredly the author's, The King refers to God. But this is handdled well and seems properly placed within the characterization of a ravenous, beautiful girl coming to terms with the enormity and awe of being alive as she too wrestles with her own dark demons. Tessa remains crucial to Patrick, as to the series itself. Part of growing up is making decisions about faith, religion, or what not. I certainly have.
While we live, let us live
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Series Review
Imagine my surprise after reading all the Patrick Bower series by Steven James and in wanting to write a review of the books, to discover that this series is labeled as being published by a Christian publisher, as well as authored by a Christian...ergo, the Patrick Bowers series is labeled Christian Fiction. I'll tell you this, as an atheist, I didn't have a clue (not even a suspicion) of this throughout my reading of these novels.
Now, now, I am not implying that good Christian fiction doesn't exist! I have read a few good ones in my time. Having said that, however, I do not like novels with an ulterior motive, novels written to spread the word, so to speak. I stay away from them: period. No such problem with this series. In fact; there's nothing in these books that even hints at the above. So, do read on!
Suffice it to say that morality is not the exclusive province of religion. If that were the case, no fiction, no protagonists, antagonists, or plots could ever be written. Steven James, the author, understands that. And you gotta know something about this series...it's all about morality, about choices made and not made, volitional experiences and their consequences made and perpetrated by protagonist and antogonists (this series has some of the best and most evil antogonists to be found anywhere!). Steven James - whether or not because of his religious affiliation - does understand the nature of evil. In fact, it's almost uncanny at how the author creeps into the minds of some of the most colorful, if not horrendous minds of his fictional villains. So, a word of caution, these novels have the propensity to creep you out.
From my perspective, this series is about a war between intellect and demons (personal and real), between mental and scientific strategy and unrelenting impulses, between Criminology and the worst of the worst criminals, with Patrick Bowers at the helm of this singular intellect. Both cerebral and emotive, Patrick battles evil with an unerroring eye for detail, with near photographic memory, and with plenty of physical volatility all aimed at heart-pounding suspense and boy! Does S. James know how to deliver stunning endings!
In regards to Criminology, the readers of this psychological thriller series will be exposed to the latest in scientific analysis: Environmental Criminology. Patrick Bowers focuses on criminal patterns within built environments (cities, landscapes, etc.) and analyzes the impacts of these variables on people's cognitive behavior. This places him in somewhat of a conflict with the FBI's profilers who tend to dismiss Bower's expertise. Here as in other places, Bowers is aided by powerful allies, notably by his friend Calvin, a professor as well as the originator of Environmental Ciminology.
The characters are extremely well developed, very believable, and often help carry the weight of the protagonists role as powerful allies in themselves, such as is the case with Tessa...Patrick's step-daughter. This is a character with whom the reader sympathizes as much as they do with our hero. Wild, dark-haired, often an unwilling ally, and deeply compassionate, Tessa is at the core of Bower's universe, if not the series. She is his island which he protects at all costs and needless to say, she suffers the consequences of her father's aim to destroy evil. She is also the last testament towards his capacity for love.
Note: one of the things I love about Goodreads is their categorization of series into numbered series. In this case, please note that #6 (recently published), is actually the pre-quel to the remaining Patrick Bower series. So, read it first!
As with my other reviews that involve series, this review is the same for all the Bower's series, so if you've read this one, you've read them all.
August 14, 2013
Yesyesyesyes! LOVED this book. Got it for my birthday but decided to read through series again before reading it. This last month had been a wild ride hosted by Steven James: my most favorite author EVER!
It is not only an amazing thriller but makes you think at the same time. Loved it!
It is not only an amazing thriller but makes you think at the same time. Loved it!
January 27, 2016
Steven James is my favorite mystery/suspense writer. I loved this book and absolutely cannot wait for the final installment- Checkmate- next summer!
August 25, 2023
Read again 8/25/23. Still my favorite series of all time.
A+ writing. Pulls you in from the first page. Supurb writting.
A+ writing. Pulls you in from the first page. Supurb writting.
January 20, 2018
Personally, I am not as impressed with this book as I was with the others. Was there action? Of course, however I don't really feel like there was any suspense. You already know from the beginning of the book who the killers are. I also didn't like how one scenario was left open-ended. I think reading about the same serial killers is becoming quite tiresome, although I'm sure that is parallel to what it's like in the real world of the FBI and criminology. Overall, I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps if you haven't read the entire series up to this point, this would be an excellent read.
May 9, 2023
I started and read most of this series when I was twelve. That... was much too young to delve into the darkness of these books. Without going into too much background, I set the series aside for a later day. Now, as an adult, I chose to pick up where I left off, to close a chapter. (:
I would be hesitant to recommend this series, but in some circumstances, I might. (I recommended them to one of my uncles! And am considering buying a copy of the first book, for my other two.)
The darkness in the book is very palpable. But... there are questions, or little pieces of light, that sometimes break through. There's a point to the darkness, which I appreciate. James doesn't just take us there and intend to let us stay forever... He wants us to learn... to ask questions... to challenge our beliefs... And... he doesn't give us the answers... He wants us to actually ponder and decide for ourselves.
I love James' writing style! I love how he writes the main character and his daughter, with all their quirks, and the descriptions! It makes me smile or smirk interchangeably, very believable!
Their relationship struggles, with all the background. <3
It's a page-turner! The mystery's very well done, along with the way he shows the FBI solving cases. He doesn't make it easy.
I'm excited to read the next/final book!
Content Warnings: A suicide is shown. Both the thoughts and plans leading up to it, along with the action. | A cannibalistic serial killer... James shows us... things... | A few crude mentions of things... while the daughter's at school/with school people | Torture, with... some description | Mentions of rape | There might be more, I'm forgetting to mention! That's just what immediately comes to mind.
I would be hesitant to recommend this series, but in some circumstances, I might. (I recommended them to one of my uncles! And am considering buying a copy of the first book, for my other two.)
The darkness in the book is very palpable. But... there are questions, or little pieces of light, that sometimes break through. There's a point to the darkness, which I appreciate. James doesn't just take us there and intend to let us stay forever... He wants us to learn... to ask questions... to challenge our beliefs... And... he doesn't give us the answers... He wants us to actually ponder and decide for ourselves.
I love James' writing style! I love how he writes the main character and his daughter, with all their quirks, and the descriptions! It makes me smile or smirk interchangeably, very believable!
Their relationship struggles, with all the background. <3
It's a page-turner! The mystery's very well done, along with the way he shows the FBI solving cases. He doesn't make it easy.
I'm excited to read the next/final book!
Content Warnings: A suicide is shown. Both the thoughts and plans leading up to it, along with the action. | A cannibalistic serial killer... James shows us... things... | A few crude mentions of things... while the daughter's at school/with school people | Torture, with... some description | Mentions of rape | There might be more, I'm forgetting to mention! That's just what immediately comes to mind.
August 2, 2020
3.5 stars. I picked up this book from 2013 at a library book sale a few months ago - before the pandemic.
FBI special Patrick Bowers consults on cases nationwide and teaches at the FBI academy. Two different cases are highlighted in this book. A serial killer named Basque likes to eat his victim's intestines and lungs. Gross! He's #3 on the FBI's most wanted list and he's out for revenge for Bowers catching him previously. Also, two assassins are killing people with a new drug that will be released to the masses soon.
I love books with serial killers. I'm obviously playing catchup with this series as a number of previous cases are talked about in this story. I learned a lot about counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Now that's scary to think about especially since medications are so expensive now and people try to find cheaper ones. I liked Bowers, Tessa, Lien-hua and would like to read other books in this series. There are some good action scenes. The last page leads me to believe a killer will return.
FBI special Patrick Bowers consults on cases nationwide and teaches at the FBI academy. Two different cases are highlighted in this book. A serial killer named Basque likes to eat his victim's intestines and lungs. Gross! He's #3 on the FBI's most wanted list and he's out for revenge for Bowers catching him previously. Also, two assassins are killing people with a new drug that will be released to the masses soon.
I love books with serial killers. I'm obviously playing catchup with this series as a number of previous cases are talked about in this story. I learned a lot about counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Now that's scary to think about especially since medications are so expensive now and people try to find cheaper ones. I liked Bowers, Tessa, Lien-hua and would like to read other books in this series. There are some good action scenes. The last page leads me to believe a killer will return.
March 15, 2024
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3BRXGNA...
Review on my blog (to be posted 7/13): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Whenever I'm in the mood for a good thriller, I know one series that never disappoints - Steven James' The Bowers Files. Not only are they creepy & chilling, but they are also fairly clean, language-wise, which is something I always appreciate in the novels I read.
The King was such a great read! I don't think it was as gruesome as Opening Moves (which was one of, if not the, freakiest book in the series so far), but there were still disturbing scenes that made me shudder.
My favorite character from The King is definitely Tessa. So many of my favorite scenes from this book involved her and the things she said - especially the scene where she talks about baseball (page 142).
I was really impressed with how everything played out in The King. There were a couple times I was surprised by what had happened and the ending - Wow!! It was very good and I can't wait to read the next Patrick Bowers' book, Checkmate.
If you love thrillers and don't mind disturbing and/or gruesome scenes, I definitely recommend The King. However, if you have a weak stomach, I don't recommend reading this book/series. I don't think you have to read the previous Patrick Bowers' books to enjoy The King, but it would be preferable if you do.
*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Review on my blog (to be posted 7/13): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Whenever I'm in the mood for a good thriller, I know one series that never disappoints - Steven James' The Bowers Files. Not only are they creepy & chilling, but they are also fairly clean, language-wise, which is something I always appreciate in the novels I read.
The King was such a great read! I don't think it was as gruesome as Opening Moves (which was one of, if not the, freakiest book in the series so far), but there were still disturbing scenes that made me shudder.
My favorite character from The King is definitely Tessa. So many of my favorite scenes from this book involved her and the things she said - especially the scene where she talks about baseball (page 142).
I was really impressed with how everything played out in The King. There were a couple times I was surprised by what had happened and the ending - Wow!! It was very good and I can't wait to read the next Patrick Bowers' book, Checkmate.
If you love thrillers and don't mind disturbing and/or gruesome scenes, I definitely recommend The King. However, if you have a weak stomach, I don't recommend reading this book/series. I don't think you have to read the previous Patrick Bowers' books to enjoy The King, but it would be preferable if you do.
*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
May 19, 2019
I enjoyed this book as I've enjoyed every book in this series so far for its fast-paced plot, engaging characters, and well-timed twists. I also really admire the way James naturally weaves Christian themes into the novels in a way that's very natural and authentic to the characters. I wasn't as engaged in the "destroy the world" plot of this book, though (the personal revenge plot was more engaging to me) and given some overly-convenient discoveries in that plot, this wasn't my favorite book in the series. That being said, I still enjoyed it a lot and await reading the final entry with bated breath.
Rating: 4 Stars (Very Good).
Rating: 4 Stars (Very Good).
September 23, 2013
This was another in a series of serial killers' books with FBI protagonist Bowers. Was it good - yeah. Did it seem the material was recycled - yeah - killing off one serial killer from a prior novel - Vilkayrie and almost killing of Basque who has more than a cat's nine lives. Why mentioned these two - they are in prior books and the book really is two long novellas to finish up the plot. Another prior serial killer appears in the next book. I guess, the author is good for a couple of really nasty protagonists and then has to repeat. This writing reflects this circling of the plot, characters, and dialogue, although Tessa does get to a prom and Lien Hua is still trying to get married. The whole book in a few sentences. Will I be reading this series again, Maybe not. He has other books that may show a diversity of writing. If the author keeps this writing up, being a serial author should be rethought.
October 20, 2020
Review of “The King” by Steven James
Another great book by Steven James in the Bower Files series. There are 2 themes running through this book: The continuing hunt for Richard Basque – the serial killer who ate his victims, and Basque’s hunt to destroy Pat Bower and his family - and a conspiracy to bring tainted illegal drugs into the US the kill off US citizens. Of course Pat survives to marry his girlfriend.
Pg 129 – “Most Americans have no idea that 80% of the active ingredient in the drugs they buy comes from overseas and more than 40% of the drugs are manufactured abroad. Only a fraction of those factories are ever inspected by the FDA, and the pharmaceutical supply chain in North America isn’t secure. At least 5% of the drugs used by US consumers are counterfeit. Which means at any given time, 8 million US citizens were unknowingly taking counterfeit drugs…Unsuspecting consumers order off the Internet thinking they’re just saving money, never realizing that they might very well be purchasing drugs containing sawdust, floor wax, insect parts, chalk, industrial lubricants, brick dust from cement mixtures, paint, heavy metals, boric acid, or safrole – which is used to make Ecstasy.”
Pg 233 – Pat and his bride to be, Lien-hua, start a ‘Unity Candle’ which they will light and hold onto whenever they want to remember that they are one, that they have a lifetime of unfathomable moments together. I think this is a great idea.
Pg 237 – “I consulted on one case in which a teenage girl slit her wrists and bled to death in her bathtub because she saw that her boyfriend had changed his status on Facebook from “in a relationship” to “single”. One of the most tragic suicides I’ve ever run into was a father who took his own life when none of his children wished him a happy Father’s Day. He left them a note telling how disappointed he was in them, how it was their fault. But he had the date wrong. Father’s Day wasn’t for another week.”
Pg 310 – “At times each one of us pokes around the rubble of our dark desires, seeing how far we can wander into the nightmare and still remain who we are.”
Pg 474 – This is from Tessa, Pat’s teenage daughter: “I was reading Ecclesiastes lately. There’s a lot of stuff in there about how meaningless life is. But it doesn’t end with everything being meaningless. The king who wrote it ended up saying that finding God brings meaning into every moment – I mean, that’s a paraphrase. Anyway, in my speech (high school graduation) I think I’m gonna say that as soon as we put religion out of bounds, we put the search for truth and the quest for meaning out of bounds, and that’s not education, that’s repression. If we’re not free to speak about what matters most, we’re not free at all.”
That is a mouthful – I totally believe what she says here.
Pg 479 - : “While we live, let us live. Yes, this brief moment that we have, this vaporous gift reaching only the span of a heartbeat. Yes, while we live, let us live.”
I think this book made me realize how precious life is and how we should live it to the fullest.
Another great book by Steven James in the Bower Files series. There are 2 themes running through this book: The continuing hunt for Richard Basque – the serial killer who ate his victims, and Basque’s hunt to destroy Pat Bower and his family - and a conspiracy to bring tainted illegal drugs into the US the kill off US citizens. Of course Pat survives to marry his girlfriend.
Pg 129 – “Most Americans have no idea that 80% of the active ingredient in the drugs they buy comes from overseas and more than 40% of the drugs are manufactured abroad. Only a fraction of those factories are ever inspected by the FDA, and the pharmaceutical supply chain in North America isn’t secure. At least 5% of the drugs used by US consumers are counterfeit. Which means at any given time, 8 million US citizens were unknowingly taking counterfeit drugs…Unsuspecting consumers order off the Internet thinking they’re just saving money, never realizing that they might very well be purchasing drugs containing sawdust, floor wax, insect parts, chalk, industrial lubricants, brick dust from cement mixtures, paint, heavy metals, boric acid, or safrole – which is used to make Ecstasy.”
Pg 233 – Pat and his bride to be, Lien-hua, start a ‘Unity Candle’ which they will light and hold onto whenever they want to remember that they are one, that they have a lifetime of unfathomable moments together. I think this is a great idea.
Pg 237 – “I consulted on one case in which a teenage girl slit her wrists and bled to death in her bathtub because she saw that her boyfriend had changed his status on Facebook from “in a relationship” to “single”. One of the most tragic suicides I’ve ever run into was a father who took his own life when none of his children wished him a happy Father’s Day. He left them a note telling how disappointed he was in them, how it was their fault. But he had the date wrong. Father’s Day wasn’t for another week.”
Pg 310 – “At times each one of us pokes around the rubble of our dark desires, seeing how far we can wander into the nightmare and still remain who we are.”
Pg 474 – This is from Tessa, Pat’s teenage daughter: “I was reading Ecclesiastes lately. There’s a lot of stuff in there about how meaningless life is. But it doesn’t end with everything being meaningless. The king who wrote it ended up saying that finding God brings meaning into every moment – I mean, that’s a paraphrase. Anyway, in my speech (high school graduation) I think I’m gonna say that as soon as we put religion out of bounds, we put the search for truth and the quest for meaning out of bounds, and that’s not education, that’s repression. If we’re not free to speak about what matters most, we’re not free at all.”
That is a mouthful – I totally believe what she says here.
Pg 479 - : “While we live, let us live. Yes, this brief moment that we have, this vaporous gift reaching only the span of a heartbeat. Yes, while we live, let us live.”
I think this book made me realize how precious life is and how we should live it to the fullest.
March 17, 2020
Fast.
Non.
Stop.
AHH so good!!!!
Things to love about this freaking fantastic read:
- The writing style -
I have never enjoyed a suspense book as much as I have enjoyed Steven James. It is just brilliant and so well paced. I think I'm spoiled for any other book.
- The Plot -
It's not about whether or not you saw it coming -- it's about keeping yourself from jumping back to the book when you should be working because the writing style is SO SO good. The villains are insanely terrible, the action basically holding you glued to the pages.
+ there are things you don't assume to make the cut for a hard core thriller. The mental illness mentions, light vs. darkness. good vs. evil....and the philosophical aspects I didn't expect but they're real and raw and powerful and WOW. Religion doesn't play a huge role in the book, but the parts that are there are lit.
- Tessa -
Patrick's daughter is that cool emo human each of us admire deep down...dude she is smart and sassy and kicks butt and needs her own series y'all.
- Lien and Patrick -
Ship them. 'Nuff said.
The violence is sometimes graphic and disturbing. There are frank talks are self harm. A suicide scene was triggering for me, and honestly that was the one red flag. I struggled through that chapter and would probably skip it on a reread just because #mental health.
Overall?
Huge freaking five stars.
It's deserves every one.
This book is a must read if you read suspense.
Non.
Stop.
AHH so good!!!!
Things to love about this freaking fantastic read:
- The writing style -
I have never enjoyed a suspense book as much as I have enjoyed Steven James. It is just brilliant and so well paced. I think I'm spoiled for any other book.
- The Plot -
It's not about whether or not you saw it coming -- it's about keeping yourself from jumping back to the book when you should be working because the writing style is SO SO good. The villains are insanely terrible, the action basically holding you glued to the pages.
+ there are things you don't assume to make the cut for a hard core thriller. The mental illness mentions, light vs. darkness. good vs. evil....and the philosophical aspects I didn't expect but they're real and raw and powerful and WOW. Religion doesn't play a huge role in the book, but the parts that are there are lit.
- Tessa -
Patrick's daughter is that cool emo human each of us admire deep down...dude she is smart and sassy and kicks butt and needs her own series y'all.
- Lien and Patrick -
Ship them. 'Nuff said.
The violence is sometimes graphic and disturbing. There are frank talks are self harm. A suicide scene was triggering for me, and honestly that was the one red flag. I struggled through that chapter and would probably skip it on a reread just because #mental health.
Overall?
Huge freaking five stars.
It's deserves every one.
This book is a must read if you read suspense.
December 3, 2021
Just when you think Steven James can't shock you, you open a new Patrick Bowers novel, read the first few chapters, shut the book and want to hide it somewhere, because you don't like what just happened! Then you get the courage to read on, glad you did and in for another great thrilling ride.
Apart from the two serial plots we can enjoy, one which was quite eye opening with regards to counterfeit medicine in circulation, I enjoyed the focus on all the relationships we get to see in this novel, not only between Pat, Lien-Hau and Tessa, but we also see a bit more about Ralph and his family.
“So what sport do you like?” “Reading.” “Reading’s not a sport.” “It oughtta be. It’s more exciting to watch than baseball.”
Again, I loved Tessa's character and seeing her growth. There was a few scenes which had me smiling and one scene which had me "Go Tessa!".
I'm looking forward to the final book to see the conclusion, but also sad to be at the end of this series.
Apart from the two serial plots we can enjoy, one which was quite eye opening with regards to counterfeit medicine in circulation, I enjoyed the focus on all the relationships we get to see in this novel, not only between Pat, Lien-Hau and Tessa, but we also see a bit more about Ralph and his family.
“So what sport do you like?” “Reading.” “Reading’s not a sport.” “It oughtta be. It’s more exciting to watch than baseball.”
Again, I loved Tessa's character and seeing her growth. There was a few scenes which had me smiling and one scene which had me "Go Tessa!".
I'm looking forward to the final book to see the conclusion, but also sad to be at the end of this series.
February 22, 2020
This was about the best of any of the Steven James' Patrick Bowers books I've read to date. With the exception of the prequel novel, "Opening Moves", I've found this series to be somewhat lacking. With all the titles referring to chess pieces, the Patrick Bowers series has been tough to keep reading each additional book. "The King", comes out of the gate very quickly and the plot stays strong throughout. With most of the previous outings the characters who were mostly very stiff and shallow do get fleshed out and more lively in, "King". Bowers stepdaughter Tess has in about every novel annoyed me to no end makes a surprising upturn here in this book. At just over 480 pages, "The King", does read very quickly. I was able to read up to 100 pages at a sitting which is well above the others in this series. With only one more book in this chess series I'm looking forward to his final three novels with Bowers stationed in NYC. Four stars out of a possible five stars for, "The King". A definite pretty good read in author Steven James Patrick Bowers series. Check it out.
June 13, 2025
“Settling into a new post at the FBI academy, Patrick and his fiancée, Lien-hua Jiang, are planning their future together with his stepdaughter, Tessa.
But just when his life seems normal, a demon from the past returns to draw him down a dark road he hoped had closed forever. Forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves most, Patrick is in a race against time to stop an international conspiracy from becoming the most widespread act of terrorism in U.S. history.”
But just when his life seems normal, a demon from the past returns to draw him down a dark road he hoped had closed forever. Forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves most, Patrick is in a race against time to stop an international conspiracy from becoming the most widespread act of terrorism in U.S. history.”
August 4, 2019
Not an investigative pick, but it mends all the holes left by the previous book and deep Bower’s familiar relationships. Really loved this one. Can’t wait to read the last stallment.
March 17, 2021
I have been following this series since the beginning. I appreciate how detailed the author goes into the different topics covered in the book. You can tell that he spent time researching information. Steven James did a wonderful job of filling in readers who may have picked up this book and started reading the series out of order with the history of the characters that transpired in previous books. In this series, the author covers some really dark topics while helping shine some hope and light into the darkness. I love a good thriller, and this novel had me turning the pages so quickly I could barely read fast enough. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.
September 17, 2023
Another great novel by Steven James. Can't wait to see how this series ends.
June 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, but there were a couple of items that were a little too convenient, in my opinion. Typically, I enjoy how James weaves two unrelated stories together using environmental location science, but this time it was too simple. Bowers didn't have a hard time using his own methods to support his theories. He caught all the "bad guys" with ease. And it was way too obvious that the two cases were related from the get-go. Besides that, though, James is a great storyteller who manages to frighten and thrill readers with his descriptions that, while they themselves are not gruesome, manage to sick me out nonetheless. He's a master of subtlety. Plus I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I read this book. The pacing is incredibly well done. Spoilers till the end, sorry.
*SPOILER ALERT* Lien-hua's character has somehow been put on a pedestal; she can almost do no wrong. Even after being brutally wounded by Basque, she urges Bowers not to kill him but bring him in for proper authorities to dole out justice. UH, WHAT!? Bowers is doing everything in his power not to just kill him with his bare hands after kidnapping his fiancee! Seriously!? And she's so forgiving and understanding and perfect. She's not making enough mistakes. Make this lady more real, man!
I typically love Tessa's character; and I really liked where James was going by having her write her graduation speech and struggle with the meaning of life. I even like that she consulted the Bible and was confused by its meaning, asking her father for help. But for a Christian author to have a character that comes up with a graduation speech that essentially amounts to: "Everyone has to consult the truth for themselves, and good luck finding it" is a bit of a cop-out. Either you believe in Jesus or you don't. I get that he's trying to show a gradual acceptance of faith in these novels, but that was a wholly unsatisfying conclusion for a very lost woman to draw at the end of the novel. I also understand there's another book, but I think he's got a lot of headway to make toward an ultimate goal of salvation if that's where he's going to end it...
I LOVED the fact that Bowers killed Basque and then brought him back to life. It shows that he can be just as evil as Basque (because we all can) but he knows the true meaning of life is not to give into your carnal and fleshly desires but to love others. Plus it made for a great twist at the end.
And, okay, about that twist: Everyone knew Basque was going to go after Tessa at the prom. That was no great secret. Now what happened when he got there was pretty awesome. I will admit that Tessa's method to get free of Basque was really clever, but SERIOUSLY? After all the hard times she's had with boys, did he really have to dump her at the PROM? When is she going to find someone who's actually nice (probably college, like all good girls).
And the best part of the book, in my opinion, was when Bowers decides to just put 3 rounds in Basque's chest. HECK YEAH! Be done with that sicko! After all the torture he's put you and your family through, just screw the authorities and DIY! Love it.
Oh also, as soon as Wellington said, "The dead police officer's body armor wasn't on him at the scene," I TOTALLY KNEW BASQUE WAS STILL ALIVE. Didn't have to read the epilogue. I don't think James should have given that tidbit away. I would have just not had them find the body and then SURPRISE! in the next book. That would be much more terrifying than knowing what's coming.
*SPOILER ALERT* Lien-hua's character has somehow been put on a pedestal; she can almost do no wrong. Even after being brutally wounded by Basque, she urges Bowers not to kill him but bring him in for proper authorities to dole out justice. UH, WHAT!? Bowers is doing everything in his power not to just kill him with his bare hands after kidnapping his fiancee! Seriously!? And she's so forgiving and understanding and perfect. She's not making enough mistakes. Make this lady more real, man!
I typically love Tessa's character; and I really liked where James was going by having her write her graduation speech and struggle with the meaning of life. I even like that she consulted the Bible and was confused by its meaning, asking her father for help. But for a Christian author to have a character that comes up with a graduation speech that essentially amounts to: "Everyone has to consult the truth for themselves, and good luck finding it" is a bit of a cop-out. Either you believe in Jesus or you don't. I get that he's trying to show a gradual acceptance of faith in these novels, but that was a wholly unsatisfying conclusion for a very lost woman to draw at the end of the novel. I also understand there's another book, but I think he's got a lot of headway to make toward an ultimate goal of salvation if that's where he's going to end it...
I LOVED the fact that Bowers killed Basque and then brought him back to life. It shows that he can be just as evil as Basque (because we all can) but he knows the true meaning of life is not to give into your carnal and fleshly desires but to love others. Plus it made for a great twist at the end.
And, okay, about that twist: Everyone knew Basque was going to go after Tessa at the prom. That was no great secret. Now what happened when he got there was pretty awesome. I will admit that Tessa's method to get free of Basque was really clever, but SERIOUSLY? After all the hard times she's had with boys, did he really have to dump her at the PROM? When is she going to find someone who's actually nice (probably college, like all good girls).
And the best part of the book, in my opinion, was when Bowers decides to just put 3 rounds in Basque's chest. HECK YEAH! Be done with that sicko! After all the torture he's put you and your family through, just screw the authorities and DIY! Love it.
Oh also, as soon as Wellington said, "The dead police officer's body armor wasn't on him at the scene," I TOTALLY KNEW BASQUE WAS STILL ALIVE. Didn't have to read the epilogue. I don't think James should have given that tidbit away. I would have just not had them find the body and then SURPRISE! in the next book. That would be much more terrifying than knowing what's coming.
July 21, 2013
Steven James has quickly become one of my favorite reads in the christian fiction genre. Whereas other crime novels still have rough edged and broken nihilistic heroes, Patrick Bowers is a logical and faithful man of the law. He uses science as a means and not a ethical crutch to do he wants, that is directed at you Sherlock Holmes. In this novel, we really get to see the emotional and logical connection that law enforcement has to make everyday and it is not done in the stylist Lethal Weapon or Rush hour buddy cop kind of way.This time we find Bowers on the cusp of his wedding and what would turn out to be one of the worse weeks of his life. Richard Basque, the cannibal psychopath, is slowly working his way closer and closer to Patrick Bowers. Meanwhile, someone is tainting shipments of anti-depressants as a means to cause mass suicides across the US. As if this is not enough, Tessa, Bower's step-daughter, is in the final weeks of her Senior year, no Prom date but a cute guy is interested and a possible graduate speech to boot. Toss in a pair of garden sheers, a crime novelist, her daughter, and a side trip to India and you have the one of the best novels in the series. For those looking to find a hard science based legal thriller, without the sex and cursing, this is your series but do your self the favor and start at the beginning, The Pawn.
Spoilers!!!!
Spoilers!!!!
December 4, 2013
Let's talk about the good stuff first. Steven James knows how to tell a story. (Makes sense as he has a Master's in storytelling) The pacing of this story is perfect. The characters continue to grow - even after six books - in realistic fashion. The plot follows along most detective/criminal thrillers. There is so much to this book, but James knows how to keep you reading.
When I finished this story, it felt satisfying. This is how it feels to finish a Steven James novel. He tells big stories with intimate characters all while leaving the reader wanting more. After so many books in one series, this is an incredible accomplishment.
(The Easter Egg in the magic shop was a nice addition.)
Now the bad stuff.
Before diving into the prequel, Opening Moves, James wrote that he did not want to glamorize evil. It seems as if he's doing exactly what he doesn't want to do. Opening Moves was hard for me to read. Now with The King, I was repeatedly brought out of the story due to the brutal nature of the villain.
While thinking back over the previous novels, I couldn't remember how "evil" the bad guys were written. I'm sure they were not whitewashed for the censors. The issue for me is the fact that the villain in this book is a cannibal. The way James writes his thoughts about what he wants to do sent my imagination to places I did not want it to go.
Nevermind that Raven, the daughter, would have to have serious issues at this point. She's been attacked how many times now and she comes across as a little too normal...
So that was a turn off for me. One more book in the Patrick Bowers series so we'll see how things conclude because I know I will absolutely purchase Check Mate when it releases.
When I finished this story, it felt satisfying. This is how it feels to finish a Steven James novel. He tells big stories with intimate characters all while leaving the reader wanting more. After so many books in one series, this is an incredible accomplishment.
(The Easter Egg in the magic shop was a nice addition.)
Now the bad stuff.
Before diving into the prequel, Opening Moves, James wrote that he did not want to glamorize evil. It seems as if he's doing exactly what he doesn't want to do. Opening Moves was hard for me to read. Now with The King, I was repeatedly brought out of the story due to the brutal nature of the villain.
While thinking back over the previous novels, I couldn't remember how "evil" the bad guys were written. I'm sure they were not whitewashed for the censors. The issue for me is the fact that the villain in this book is a cannibal. The way James writes his thoughts about what he wants to do sent my imagination to places I did not want it to go.
Nevermind that Raven, the daughter, would have to have serious issues at this point. She's been attacked how many times now and she comes across as a little too normal...
So that was a turn off for me. One more book in the Patrick Bowers series so we'll see how things conclude because I know I will absolutely purchase Check Mate when it releases.
November 10, 2017
Lien Hua is abducted by serial killer Basque. Can Patrick find her in time to save her? Patrick is asked to investigate His boss's brother's death. And Tessa has been asked to make a speech at her high school graduation. On top of all of that Pat and Lien Hua are getting ready to get married.
Whew, a lot goes on in this book! Basque is obviously back and going after Pat and his loved ones. He is evil for sure! There are a lot of suspenseful encounters with him and a lot of gross-out scenes. Another evil person is lurking in the wings, just in case Basque isn't enough evil! There's a lot of self-evaluation in the characters and maybe I'm forgetting the other books(because it has been awhile since I read The Queen), but there was more of a spiritual questioning going on in this one than I remember. I liked it! When death knocks at the door it should cause people to contemplate God's existence. I see some maturing in Tessa, but she still is a bit too impulsive and impetuous which ends up getting her into trouble. I do like that she is resourceful and stands apart from the crowd, and she's smarter than the average bear! Lien Hua is quite capable of handling herself, and serves as a perfect balance between Tessa and Pat. I took my time reading most of the book, but found myself gorging at the end because I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend the whole series, but don't read it at night unless you plan to keep the light on!
Whew, a lot goes on in this book! Basque is obviously back and going after Pat and his loved ones. He is evil for sure! There are a lot of suspenseful encounters with him and a lot of gross-out scenes. Another evil person is lurking in the wings, just in case Basque isn't enough evil! There's a lot of self-evaluation in the characters and maybe I'm forgetting the other books(because it has been awhile since I read The Queen), but there was more of a spiritual questioning going on in this one than I remember. I liked it! When death knocks at the door it should cause people to contemplate God's existence. I see some maturing in Tessa, but she still is a bit too impulsive and impetuous which ends up getting her into trouble. I do like that she is resourceful and stands apart from the crowd, and she's smarter than the average bear! Lien Hua is quite capable of handling herself, and serves as a perfect balance between Tessa and Pat. I took my time reading most of the book, but found myself gorging at the end because I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend the whole series, but don't read it at night unless you plan to keep the light on!
October 22, 2013
Special FBI agent Patrick Bowers has tangled with some of
the most violent serial killers in history and now one is
back for revenge. Settling into a new post at the FBI academy
Patrick and his fiancée Lien-hua Jiang are planning their
wedding together with his stepdaughter Tessa. Everything is
normal when a demon from the past appears and draws him down
a dark road that he hoped had closed forever. Patrick is
forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves
most and he is also in a race to stop an international
conspiracy from becoming a reality. This is one of Steven
James best. A real page turning thriller.
the most violent serial killers in history and now one is
back for revenge. Settling into a new post at the FBI academy
Patrick and his fiancée Lien-hua Jiang are planning their
wedding together with his stepdaughter Tessa. Everything is
normal when a demon from the past appears and draws him down
a dark road that he hoped had closed forever. Patrick is
forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves
most and he is also in a race to stop an international
conspiracy from becoming a reality. This is one of Steven
James best. A real page turning thriller.
December 4, 2024
Two storylines colliding with eachother can make it hard to continu. Over all great style of writing
December 5, 2021
Patrick Bowers has seen a lot in his time as an FBI environmental criminologist. His specialty, by its nature, pits him against the most evil serial killers in history. Rather than look at one specific crime, Bowers looks at serial crimes and their environmental clues. What does the location tell us of the killer? Can we determine where he’ll strike next based on where he’s struck in the past? Can we determine the killer’s home based on the location of his crimes? These, and a host of other questions, set Bowers apart from the typical detective, and in one of the factors that sets the Bowers Files apart from most detective stories.
Throughout the six previous books in the series, one figure has haunted every story, his storyline slowly developing over the years. After five years of waiting, readers finally got more than a taste of (pun so very intended) of the cannibalistic killer Richard Devin Basque. Throughout the first five book, Basque is alluded to or made part of a side plot. He’s the first serial killer Bowers ever caught, back before he was FBI. James took his readers through a slew of well-crafted, poignantly-themed, and knock your socks off thrillers, all the while keeping the specter of Basque mostly in the background, slowly building up the intensity. Basque gained focus in The Knight, where we saw him released from prison on a technicality. He became even more a focal point in The Queen, as he immediately began killing and Bowers went off hunting him. Then, last year, James gave us Opening Moves, the prequel we’d been waiting for. Focusing on Basque and Bower’s first encounter, it provided the years-long payoff readers had been waiting for.
But that was only a foretaste of the real thing; it was a stellar story that served to perfectly set up James’s latest and penultimate installment of the Bowers files: The King. Now despite the lengthy history I’ve painted here, there is no reason to avoid The King simply because you’ve not read the previous novels. James is careful to craft his latest as a standalone thriller—but one that will be significantly heightened if you know what’s gone on before. So if you’ve never read Steven James, start with The King. But have your credit card ready to order the rest of the series as soon as you turn the last page.
Richard Devin Basque is one of the most terrifying book villains I have ever read. James does not shy away from creating characters that are wholly evil and presenting that vividly through his prose. It’s never gore for gore’s sake, never glorifies evil, but rather paints it with the blackest of strokes so that it may be seen for what it really is. The novel begins with Bowers settling into a new life: he’s going to teach at the FBI Academy, he and fiancée Lien-Hua Jiang are planning their wedding, and his relationship with his stepdaughter Tessa is finally stable. Basque steps in to attempt to destroy all of that.
The primary storyline is this very personal battle between Bowers and Basque, teasing out the theme of revenge, asking the question of how a Christian should deal with such abject evil. But, as always, there’s another storyline in the background, involving another mysterious figure from Bowers’ past. This adds another tendril to the story, giving it depth and keeping it from becoming single-minded.
As always, the plotting and pacing are brilliant; the questions raised and themes explored are poignant; and the relational aspects are well written. Steven James is one of the best storytellers out there and Patrick Bowers is one of the best fictional detectives. This may well end up being my favorite book of the year.
Throughout the six previous books in the series, one figure has haunted every story, his storyline slowly developing over the years. After five years of waiting, readers finally got more than a taste of (pun so very intended) of the cannibalistic killer Richard Devin Basque. Throughout the first five book, Basque is alluded to or made part of a side plot. He’s the first serial killer Bowers ever caught, back before he was FBI. James took his readers through a slew of well-crafted, poignantly-themed, and knock your socks off thrillers, all the while keeping the specter of Basque mostly in the background, slowly building up the intensity. Basque gained focus in The Knight, where we saw him released from prison on a technicality. He became even more a focal point in The Queen, as he immediately began killing and Bowers went off hunting him. Then, last year, James gave us Opening Moves, the prequel we’d been waiting for. Focusing on Basque and Bower’s first encounter, it provided the years-long payoff readers had been waiting for.
But that was only a foretaste of the real thing; it was a stellar story that served to perfectly set up James’s latest and penultimate installment of the Bowers files: The King. Now despite the lengthy history I’ve painted here, there is no reason to avoid The King simply because you’ve not read the previous novels. James is careful to craft his latest as a standalone thriller—but one that will be significantly heightened if you know what’s gone on before. So if you’ve never read Steven James, start with The King. But have your credit card ready to order the rest of the series as soon as you turn the last page.
Richard Devin Basque is one of the most terrifying book villains I have ever read. James does not shy away from creating characters that are wholly evil and presenting that vividly through his prose. It’s never gore for gore’s sake, never glorifies evil, but rather paints it with the blackest of strokes so that it may be seen for what it really is. The novel begins with Bowers settling into a new life: he’s going to teach at the FBI Academy, he and fiancée Lien-Hua Jiang are planning their wedding, and his relationship with his stepdaughter Tessa is finally stable. Basque steps in to attempt to destroy all of that.
The primary storyline is this very personal battle between Bowers and Basque, teasing out the theme of revenge, asking the question of how a Christian should deal with such abject evil. But, as always, there’s another storyline in the background, involving another mysterious figure from Bowers’ past. This adds another tendril to the story, giving it depth and keeping it from becoming single-minded.
As always, the plotting and pacing are brilliant; the questions raised and themes explored are poignant; and the relational aspects are well written. Steven James is one of the best storytellers out there and Patrick Bowers is one of the best fictional detectives. This may well end up being my favorite book of the year.
April 23, 2023
Special FBI Agent Patrick Bowers may have wanted to think twice before he adopted Tessa, his late wife's daughter--his stepdaughter. Not that there's a thing in the world wrong with Tessa. Instead, the problem is that Tessa becomes the target for arrested or wounded criminals who want to get back at Bowers for catching them. This book begins with Richard Devin Basque, Bowers' nemesis, abducting Lien-hua Jiang, Bowers' fiancée. First, Basque strangles Lien-hua into unconsciousness. Then he takes her to an unknown location, where he first toys with her by drawing a blade lightly across her throat, then outright stabbing her in her right side, a wound which penetrates to her lung. But Lien-hua is not your typical kidnap victim. She fights back against Basque with some well-placed kicks, and then bolts from his lair. Her ordeal isn't over yet, though. She is struck by a car in her efforts to escape.
Somehow, Lien-hua survives all of this merriment, but Bowers is incensed. He's getting tired of crooks going after his family. To further confuse matters, he is knee deep in a case involving two perps (Bowers hates the word "perps," one of them a red-headed woman and the other a young, fit man. To make a long story short, the two are part of an international intrigue, aimed at sowing world-wide destruction mayhem. Bowers must wrestle with catching the bad folk while keeping his true love safe.
But wait: There's more. One bad guy in particular, a foe from an earlier novel, kidnaps Tessa from what was supposed to be her dream date to her senior prom. She discovers that her dream date is planning to "hook up" with his ex after prom ends, so Tessa storms off in a huff...right into the hands of the bad guy. Lien-hua, who has made strong progress in her recovery, convinces him that she will be fine and that he must focus on rescuing Tessa.
Bowers faces a true dilemma toward the end: He can arrest Basque, or he can save Tessa, who is sealed inside a sealed police cruiser that is rapidly sinking into the Potomac. It's a dilemma in every sense of the word. Author Steven James has made these stories into true thrillers, and readers will race through the pages to find out what Bowers decides.
Somehow, Lien-hua survives all of this merriment, but Bowers is incensed. He's getting tired of crooks going after his family. To further confuse matters, he is knee deep in a case involving two perps (Bowers hates the word "perps," one of them a red-headed woman and the other a young, fit man. To make a long story short, the two are part of an international intrigue, aimed at sowing world-wide destruction mayhem. Bowers must wrestle with catching the bad folk while keeping his true love safe.
But wait: There's more. One bad guy in particular, a foe from an earlier novel, kidnaps Tessa from what was supposed to be her dream date to her senior prom. She discovers that her dream date is planning to "hook up" with his ex after prom ends, so Tessa storms off in a huff...right into the hands of the bad guy. Lien-hua, who has made strong progress in her recovery, convinces him that she will be fine and that he must focus on rescuing Tessa.
Bowers faces a true dilemma toward the end: He can arrest Basque, or he can save Tessa, who is sealed inside a sealed police cruiser that is rapidly sinking into the Potomac. It's a dilemma in every sense of the word. Author Steven James has made these stories into true thrillers, and readers will race through the pages to find out what Bowers decides.
August 21, 2017
It has been a long time since I picked up the Patrick Bowers series. I got away from the series looking for a different read and unfortunately didn't get back to it.
It was surprising to me, after such a long departure, how quickly I got back to knowing the characters. This is what I believe makes this writing style of Steven James different from a lot of other crime/suspense novels. Centered in everything is a family that is struggling with everyday life. This aspect is featured prominently throughout the book as well as the series. This family and friends deal first with life and struggles of being a family. This is what makes this so interesting.
As to the crime to solved, again Mr. James weaves a highly suspenseful story. When things become intense, he brings you to the edge of your chair. You hurriedly read pages, flipping to the next page wanting to find out how its going to turn out. And as with any well told story, you catch you breath and your wit, waiting for the next episode, the next murder, the next high suspense.
All in all, I enjoy how Mr. James weaves his plots, yet keeps this family, the center of the story. You have a family who on the surface appears to be frail, fractured, near the brink of falling apart, but strengthened in the commitment to one another, resolve to persevere. All the while, deadly and beastly forces are at work to pull this apart, to destroy this family. With all this, their love and faith is the glue that keeps them together.
Well written, well told, not over the top, believable, and exciting. Looking for a decent fun and suspenseful crime story, you will not go wrong with this one or the series.
It was surprising to me, after such a long departure, how quickly I got back to knowing the characters. This is what I believe makes this writing style of Steven James different from a lot of other crime/suspense novels. Centered in everything is a family that is struggling with everyday life. This aspect is featured prominently throughout the book as well as the series. This family and friends deal first with life and struggles of being a family. This is what makes this so interesting.
As to the crime to solved, again Mr. James weaves a highly suspenseful story. When things become intense, he brings you to the edge of your chair. You hurriedly read pages, flipping to the next page wanting to find out how its going to turn out. And as with any well told story, you catch you breath and your wit, waiting for the next episode, the next murder, the next high suspense.
All in all, I enjoy how Mr. James weaves his plots, yet keeps this family, the center of the story. You have a family who on the surface appears to be frail, fractured, near the brink of falling apart, but strengthened in the commitment to one another, resolve to persevere. All the while, deadly and beastly forces are at work to pull this apart, to destroy this family. With all this, their love and faith is the glue that keeps them together.
Well written, well told, not over the top, believable, and exciting. Looking for a decent fun and suspenseful crime story, you will not go wrong with this one or the series.
August 13, 2019
The King is the fifth installment in The Bowers Files series, and while some series lose a reader’s interest the longer they go, Steven James manages to keep his readers thrilled, shocked, and on the edge of their seats book after book. This edgy Christian thriller is full of action, suspense, and a deep look into the criminal mind. Another winner by James.
The King has everything that long time fans of James have come to expect — complex characters, suspense-filled drama, and thoughtful insights into the human psyche. In this novel, the author really puts his characters through their paces, emotionally and physically. There are some cringe-worthy scenes that are not for the faint of heart. My husband, also a big fan of the series, said “poor Lien-hua!”. LOL! If you are loved by Patrick Bowers, you have a target on your back. While the twists and turns of the cases Bowers is investigating keep the pages turning, I especially liked the philosophical conundrum that is explored — just what makes man a beast? Patrick also gets hit by Tessa as she confronts him about his lack of spiritual guidance in her life. That is an especially great argument that will make you think.
As always, one main storyline is completed, while another continues — more shiver-y reading to come.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
The King has everything that long time fans of James have come to expect — complex characters, suspense-filled drama, and thoughtful insights into the human psyche. In this novel, the author really puts his characters through their paces, emotionally and physically. There are some cringe-worthy scenes that are not for the faint of heart. My husband, also a big fan of the series, said “poor Lien-hua!”. LOL! If you are loved by Patrick Bowers, you have a target on your back. While the twists and turns of the cases Bowers is investigating keep the pages turning, I especially liked the philosophical conundrum that is explored — just what makes man a beast? Patrick also gets hit by Tessa as she confronts him about his lack of spiritual guidance in her life. That is an especially great argument that will make you think.
As always, one main storyline is completed, while another continues — more shiver-y reading to come.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
January 30, 2024
Book 138 - Steven James - The King
Following on from Book 14 - The Rook, Book 29 - The Knight, Book 66 - The Bishop and Book 102 - The Queen I have reached the penultimate one in the Patrick Bowers series.
The geoprofiler is back and this one is more personal than ever. Within three or four chapters we have the most personal attack on Bowers and his family and it is such a difficult read…heart wrenching…page flicking…brilliant.
The chase for serial killer Richard Basque and in parallel the attempt by the FBI to stop some suicide inducing pharmaceuticals makes this novel a story on equally the grandest and also most intimate scale Harris has written. As we race with Bowers to corner the killer, we are educated in the frankly terrifying ways of US medicines and how the internet has transformed counterfeit tablets and treatments through the purchases from abroad. The detail and research Harris has carried out is heartbreaking and some of the statistics would make you campaign for better checks all round.
As Bowers closes in on Basque he risks everything…his career…his life and perhaps his very soul to chase down that one man who threatens the most personal of destructions.
Again family and love are central to the novel and the slow burn following on from the high octane start is mesmerising. I cannot recommend Harris enough…read it…digest it…think and discuss it.
With some of my favourite lines in any book including:
‘I have the gift of patience…I just haven’t unwrapped it yet.’
And as Patrick’s stepdaughter now daughter says…
‘I was reading Ecclesiastes lately. There’s a lot of stuff in there about meaningless life is…but it doesn’t end with everything being meaningless…finding God brings meaning to every moment…as soon as we put religion out of bounds, we put the search for truth and the quest for meaning out of bounds, and that’s not education, that’s repression.’
As with Patrick Bowers…always seek the truth…in every moment.
A must, must read
Following on from Book 14 - The Rook, Book 29 - The Knight, Book 66 - The Bishop and Book 102 - The Queen I have reached the penultimate one in the Patrick Bowers series.
The geoprofiler is back and this one is more personal than ever. Within three or four chapters we have the most personal attack on Bowers and his family and it is such a difficult read…heart wrenching…page flicking…brilliant.
The chase for serial killer Richard Basque and in parallel the attempt by the FBI to stop some suicide inducing pharmaceuticals makes this novel a story on equally the grandest and also most intimate scale Harris has written. As we race with Bowers to corner the killer, we are educated in the frankly terrifying ways of US medicines and how the internet has transformed counterfeit tablets and treatments through the purchases from abroad. The detail and research Harris has carried out is heartbreaking and some of the statistics would make you campaign for better checks all round.
As Bowers closes in on Basque he risks everything…his career…his life and perhaps his very soul to chase down that one man who threatens the most personal of destructions.
Again family and love are central to the novel and the slow burn following on from the high octane start is mesmerising. I cannot recommend Harris enough…read it…digest it…think and discuss it.
With some of my favourite lines in any book including:
‘I have the gift of patience…I just haven’t unwrapped it yet.’
And as Patrick’s stepdaughter now daughter says…
‘I was reading Ecclesiastes lately. There’s a lot of stuff in there about meaningless life is…but it doesn’t end with everything being meaningless…finding God brings meaning to every moment…as soon as we put religion out of bounds, we put the search for truth and the quest for meaning out of bounds, and that’s not education, that’s repression.’
As with Patrick Bowers…always seek the truth…in every moment.
A must, must read
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