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Michael Bennett #2
Run for Your Life
A calculating killer who calls himself The Teacher is taking on New York City, killing the powerful and the arrogant. His message is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences! For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror.
Only one man can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective Mike Bennett. The pressure is enough for anyone, but Mike also has to care for his 10 children-all of whom have come down with virulent flu at once!
Discovering a secret pattern in The Teacher's lessons, Detective Bennett realizes he has just hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. From the #1 bestselling author comes Run For Your Life, the continuation of his newest, electrifying series.
373 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2009
3325 people are currently reading
12260 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
954 books356k 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 1,875 reviews
July 20, 2016
The second in this series about Michael Bennett, a detective whose wife has sadly died and has left him with ten (yes ten!) children. So a rather unusual setting for a crime novel but it works. At least it does for me!
In this story the murderer is unusual too as in the sheer number of murderous events. Our hero holds it together while all of his family are falling around him with flu, and the murders become very personal. Of course the sequence of events, culminating in a crazy finale, are quite nonsensical but that just does not matter. It is fun, it is exciting and it is satisfying. The best kind of crime book!
In this story the murderer is unusual too as in the sheer number of murderous events. Our hero holds it together while all of his family are falling around him with flu, and the murders become very personal. Of course the sequence of events, culminating in a crazy finale, are quite nonsensical but that just does not matter. It is fun, it is exciting and it is satisfying. The best kind of crime book!
January 19, 2018
I was not as drawn into this installment as I was the first book. I will continue the series but this book was only ok in my opinion. It just did not grab me like book one. The characters were still great and the ending hints to the next book having a good plot.
My quick and simple overall: not bad but just okay in my opinion.
My quick and simple overall: not bad but just okay in my opinion.
December 1, 2024
More of the same of the first book.
Which was exactly what I wanted.
You too? Well then, keep on reading.
Which was exactly what I wanted.
You too? Well then, keep on reading.
October 25, 2020
Fast paced thriller with a satisfying ending.
August 6, 2025
Good book. Exciting ending. Similarities to the next book in the series, Worst Case.
March 6, 2009
Looking for a book that reads like the latest Jason Statham movie? Patterson’s thrilling Michael Bennett series are the books for you. Leaving off from Step on a Crack, Michael and his ten kids are thrown back into turmoil after the death of Michael’s wife. To make life a little harder, the kids all come down with virulent flu right when Mike is assigned to his latest case. A devious serial killer dubbed “the Teacher,” is on the loose in New York City murdering the rich, powerful and arrogant. Torn between familial responsibilities and the mounting tension at work, Michael struggles to find a balance as the killer strikes very close to home.
Michael Bennett is the new Alex Cross. This highly explosive police procedural/thriller/mystery/personal drama is just as fast paced and action packed as the Cross series but with a more humane angle. Admittedly, I found the motive behind the murders weak and the ending was just totally unbelievably Hollywoodish… but a lot fun nonetheless (if you’re willing to suspend your reality). I can see the movie now…
Michael Bennett is the new Alex Cross. This highly explosive police procedural/thriller/mystery/personal drama is just as fast paced and action packed as the Cross series but with a more humane angle. Admittedly, I found the motive behind the murders weak and the ending was just totally unbelievably Hollywoodish… but a lot fun nonetheless (if you’re willing to suspend your reality). I can see the movie now…
December 12, 2017
Detective Michael Bennett is becoming one of my favorite characters. He’s straight and understands more than some people think he does. He’s like the lead guy, Aaron Hotchner, on Criminal Minds. Still grieving over the death of his wife and raising their 10 kids (on a cops salary in New York?), he starts his shift dealing with a gang banger that killed two drug dealers and now he’s holding his family hostage. He gets the guy to give up and turn himself in and when he does come out, somebody shoots and kills him. Now the family is attacking Detective Bennett.
On top of the drama in the streets, his kids are getting sick with the flu and his whole world is gone completely out of sync. To top it off, there’s a serial killer whose calling himself, “The Teacher,” and he’s taking his vengeance out on people he feels that has wronged him.
This story starts with a bang, carries into and explosion and ends with a volcanic eruption. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series.
On top of the drama in the streets, his kids are getting sick with the flu and his whole world is gone completely out of sync. To top it off, there’s a serial killer whose calling himself, “The Teacher,” and he’s taking his vengeance out on people he feels that has wronged him.
This story starts with a bang, carries into and explosion and ends with a volcanic eruption. I can’t wait to get the next book in the series.
June 13, 2023
First it’s an easy book to read. Second I was entertained and laughed at loud when i read the line ‘Maybe Donald Trump went postal’. Given the novel was written in 2009 that is scary. This is also a story written solely by Patterson and not coauthored which in my humble opinion are always better.
The plot is that a psychopath has gone postal going around killing people all over New York and calling himself The Teacher. Bennett is the detective assigned the case and he is a widower with 10 kids who all decide to get the flu. The story is so far fetched it becomes entertaining. The ending is completely unbelievable but the author has a style in his writing that is easy to read and puts the f in fiction.
The plot is that a psychopath has gone postal going around killing people all over New York and calling himself The Teacher. Bennett is the detective assigned the case and he is a widower with 10 kids who all decide to get the flu. The story is so far fetched it becomes entertaining. The ending is completely unbelievable but the author has a style in his writing that is easy to read and puts the f in fiction.
April 19, 2018
Another great read!
February 7, 2009
A sadistic killer is on the loose in New York City. He calls himself the “Teacher”. He is going around punishing everyone from the girl talking on her phone to the top elite of New York. The teacher reminds everyone to remember your manner or suffer the consequences.
Detective Michael Bennett a trained hostage negotiator is promoted to the lead investigator on this case. He is instructed to solve these murders quickly. Detective Bennett’s training kicks in and he is off in full force. At first it seems there is no connection to the shooting victims and that they were random shootings. But after some further digging and receiving communication by the teacher himself, Bennett uncovers the teacher’s motive behind the killings. Bennett will have to make a choice, which is more important…, his family or his career.
I have resigned myself that I will only listen to Mr. Patterson’s books. I have tried reading them and found they put me to sleep right away. With audio books, I am able to experience the story the way it is suppose to be experienced. Having said that, I was excited to listen to this latest book, Run for your Life. It is the type of books I love to read. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. If it wasn’t for the talented voices overs of reading duel Bobby Cannavale and Dallas Roberts, I probably would have stopped listening a long time ago instead of finishing the book. They brought Detective Bennett and the Teacher to life. The teacher seemed so much more sinister when there was a voice attached to him.
Detective Michael Bennett a trained hostage negotiator is promoted to the lead investigator on this case. He is instructed to solve these murders quickly. Detective Bennett’s training kicks in and he is off in full force. At first it seems there is no connection to the shooting victims and that they were random shootings. But after some further digging and receiving communication by the teacher himself, Bennett uncovers the teacher’s motive behind the killings. Bennett will have to make a choice, which is more important…, his family or his career.
I have resigned myself that I will only listen to Mr. Patterson’s books. I have tried reading them and found they put me to sleep right away. With audio books, I am able to experience the story the way it is suppose to be experienced. Having said that, I was excited to listen to this latest book, Run for your Life. It is the type of books I love to read. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. If it wasn’t for the talented voices overs of reading duel Bobby Cannavale and Dallas Roberts, I probably would have stopped listening a long time ago instead of finishing the book. They brought Detective Bennett and the Teacher to life. The teacher seemed so much more sinister when there was a voice attached to him.
September 18, 2009
The scariest part of this book was imagining I was Mary Catherine stuck in a household with ten children who have the flu.
"The Teacher" is a killer out to teach the world some manners. Michael Bennett, father to the ten children, is the New York detective charged with capturing this guy who is not so randomly shooting people, tho the killer does a lot of other random things. In the beginning of the book, "The Teacher" gets into his car, starts the engine and, while waiting for the engine to warm, pulls out his Blackberry and reads his "manifesto" again. Then he opens the garage door to pull out. Apparently, he's never heard that it's not a great idea to start your car in an enclosed garage let alone one that's attached to the house. And how did the killer manage to get all those high end creature comforts, i.e., big screen TV, a gourmet range and refrigerator, leather furniture, etc., in an apartment in Hell's Kitchen without attracting all sorts of attention, especially from the wrong kind of people. It was just bizarre.
Now I can remember why I stopped reading most of Patterson's new books. I believe Patterson has done his readers's a disservice when he began writing the outlines of his books and letting another author finish. I much preferred the Alex Cross series and his early works.
"The Teacher" is a killer out to teach the world some manners. Michael Bennett, father to the ten children, is the New York detective charged with capturing this guy who is not so randomly shooting people, tho the killer does a lot of other random things. In the beginning of the book, "The Teacher" gets into his car, starts the engine and, while waiting for the engine to warm, pulls out his Blackberry and reads his "manifesto" again. Then he opens the garage door to pull out. Apparently, he's never heard that it's not a great idea to start your car in an enclosed garage let alone one that's attached to the house. And how did the killer manage to get all those high end creature comforts, i.e., big screen TV, a gourmet range and refrigerator, leather furniture, etc., in an apartment in Hell's Kitchen without attracting all sorts of attention, especially from the wrong kind of people. It was just bizarre.
Now I can remember why I stopped reading most of Patterson's new books. I believe Patterson has done his readers's a disservice when he began writing the outlines of his books and letting another author finish. I much preferred the Alex Cross series and his early works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2012
With James Patterson's "co- written" novels, it is sometimes hit or miss. This one, for me was the latter. This is the second in the Mike Bennett series. I have not read the first one. Mike is a detective, formerly with the feds, a widower with ten adopted children.
When several affluent people are murdered, Mike is hand picked to work on the case. The killer is killing like a vigilante. He has a score to settle, and is very clever.
Mike also has to deal with a reporter that withholds evidence, the press, and a flu outbreak at home.
It is a mystery, in a way, since we don't really know the true identity of the killer, except he has given himself the name "the teacher". But, it's not like a classic who done it, it's not edge of your seat thriller either. I just thought this one was predicable and boring almost. Up until the very end where there is a little action. But, in my opinion that part was completely implausible.
As with all Patterson novels, this is quick read. This is the second Patterson novel I have read recently that was sort of ho hum. I have a few of his older books around here, and intend to read them at some point, but as for his newer ones, I'm so sure.
When several affluent people are murdered, Mike is hand picked to work on the case. The killer is killing like a vigilante. He has a score to settle, and is very clever.
Mike also has to deal with a reporter that withholds evidence, the press, and a flu outbreak at home.
It is a mystery, in a way, since we don't really know the true identity of the killer, except he has given himself the name "the teacher". But, it's not like a classic who done it, it's not edge of your seat thriller either. I just thought this one was predicable and boring almost. Up until the very end where there is a little action. But, in my opinion that part was completely implausible.
As with all Patterson novels, this is quick read. This is the second Patterson novel I have read recently that was sort of ho hum. I have a few of his older books around here, and intend to read them at some point, but as for his newer ones, I'm so sure.
May 3, 2018
Ok, so I am a huge James Patterson fan and I love his stuff but he has really gone downhill lately. I was in two minds whether or not to bother with his latest novel.
I have been somewhat disappointed with the latest Alex Cross novels and I am left confused by his latest character Michael Bennett however, I've really enjoyed his later books. Makes one wonder if it is this not just the same character in a different book and different skin?! It's hard at times to separate the two. There are differences in the number of children they have, etc., but basically they are a lot the same person.
The story follows Michael Bennett as he takes on The Teacher, a killer who is determined to right other people's wrongs and teach them all a lesson. I was actually quite engrossed throughout the story but thought it was ridiculous that Bennett's children get involved (why do the `baddies' always end up at the `goodies' houses?!) and the final scene is absolutely ludicrous. Is this a serious book or is Patterson `taking the mickey'. Still entertaining but so far fetched. It is still ok....however.
I have been somewhat disappointed with the latest Alex Cross novels and I am left confused by his latest character Michael Bennett however, I've really enjoyed his later books. Makes one wonder if it is this not just the same character in a different book and different skin?! It's hard at times to separate the two. There are differences in the number of children they have, etc., but basically they are a lot the same person.
The story follows Michael Bennett as he takes on The Teacher, a killer who is determined to right other people's wrongs and teach them all a lesson. I was actually quite engrossed throughout the story but thought it was ridiculous that Bennett's children get involved (why do the `baddies' always end up at the `goodies' houses?!) and the final scene is absolutely ludicrous. Is this a serious book or is Patterson `taking the mickey'. Still entertaining but so far fetched. It is still ok....however.
September 23, 2018
Es el primer libro que leo de este autor y me ha decepcionado. Tiene 373 páginas y la brevedad de los capítulos era lo que más me motivaba para continuar leyendo (la mayoría eran de entre 3 y 5 páginas).
El principio me hizo tener buenas expectativas. Conocemos al agente de policía Michael Bennett intentando mediar en una especie de secuestro y la verdad es que me pareció un hombre muy profesional y me gustó su carácter cercano.
Él y “the Teacher”, que es el villano de esta historia, se reparten el protagonismo. El problema viene cuando a los pocos capítulos ya se empieza a notar que los crímenes tan graves que se están cometiendo no generan un verdadero caos y ni siquiera da la impresión de que se esté realizando una investigación muy exhaustiva.
Michael es viudo desde hace relativamente poco tiempo y tiene 10 hijos a su cargo que él y su mujer adoptaron antes de que ella enfermara y falleciera. Sus edades van desde los 4 hasta los 13 años, así que Michael cuenta con una niñera que se ocupa de ellos mientras él trabaja. Uno de los grandes dramas de este libro, me atrevería a decir que incluso más que el tema de los asesinatos, es que todos los niños pillan una gripe y la casa de Michael se convierte en un mini hospital con niños enfermos que no paran de vomitar y que impiden a Michael descansar ni un solo minuto. Yo veía que en varias ocasiones la atención se centraba más en esto que en la búsqueda del asesino.
“The Teacher”… ¿qué os puedo decir de este criminal? Pues mata y nunca hay nadie que pueda identificarle bien, acaba con la vida de la gente como si nada y huye de los escenarios sin que nadie se lo impida. Da la impresión de que Michael es el único policía de Nueva York que le dedica un poco de atención, ya que no vi que nadie se lo tomara muy en serio.
La lectura no es precisamente trepidante, la mayor parte del tiempo se ve a Michael agotado visitando escenarios de crímenes o cuidando a sus hijos, pero nunca investiga demasiado, es como si esperara que las respuestas le cayeran del cielo. A pesar de que él me caía bien, no le veía como el gran policía del inicio. Y “the Teacher” se limita a ir eliminando gente sin demasiada tensión, se aparece delante de sus víctimas, hace lo que tiene que hacer rapidito y adiós.
En las últimas páginas hay más acción, pero no compensan la pesadez del resto del libro. Yo me esperaba una historia llena de adrenalina, con persecuciones y una investigación a contrarreloj, pero en vez de eso me he encontrado con una trama insulsa, surrealista en ocasiones y con unos personajes sin carisma, os juro que me asustaban más los niños vomitando y el desastre en la casa de Michael que todo lo relacionado con el asesino.
El principio me hizo tener buenas expectativas. Conocemos al agente de policía Michael Bennett intentando mediar en una especie de secuestro y la verdad es que me pareció un hombre muy profesional y me gustó su carácter cercano.
Él y “the Teacher”, que es el villano de esta historia, se reparten el protagonismo. El problema viene cuando a los pocos capítulos ya se empieza a notar que los crímenes tan graves que se están cometiendo no generan un verdadero caos y ni siquiera da la impresión de que se esté realizando una investigación muy exhaustiva.
Michael es viudo desde hace relativamente poco tiempo y tiene 10 hijos a su cargo que él y su mujer adoptaron antes de que ella enfermara y falleciera. Sus edades van desde los 4 hasta los 13 años, así que Michael cuenta con una niñera que se ocupa de ellos mientras él trabaja. Uno de los grandes dramas de este libro, me atrevería a decir que incluso más que el tema de los asesinatos, es que todos los niños pillan una gripe y la casa de Michael se convierte en un mini hospital con niños enfermos que no paran de vomitar y que impiden a Michael descansar ni un solo minuto. Yo veía que en varias ocasiones la atención se centraba más en esto que en la búsqueda del asesino.
“The Teacher”… ¿qué os puedo decir de este criminal? Pues mata y nunca hay nadie que pueda identificarle bien, acaba con la vida de la gente como si nada y huye de los escenarios sin que nadie se lo impida. Da la impresión de que Michael es el único policía de Nueva York que le dedica un poco de atención, ya que no vi que nadie se lo tomara muy en serio.
La lectura no es precisamente trepidante, la mayor parte del tiempo se ve a Michael agotado visitando escenarios de crímenes o cuidando a sus hijos, pero nunca investiga demasiado, es como si esperara que las respuestas le cayeran del cielo. A pesar de que él me caía bien, no le veía como el gran policía del inicio. Y “the Teacher” se limita a ir eliminando gente sin demasiada tensión, se aparece delante de sus víctimas, hace lo que tiene que hacer rapidito y adiós.
En las últimas páginas hay más acción, pero no compensan la pesadez del resto del libro. Yo me esperaba una historia llena de adrenalina, con persecuciones y una investigación a contrarreloj, pero en vez de eso me he encontrado con una trama insulsa, surrealista en ocasiones y con unos personajes sin carisma, os juro que me asustaban más los niños vomitando y el desastre en la casa de Michael que todo lo relacionado con el asesino.
March 22, 2019
This book is the second in the Michael Bennett detective series. This is an enjoyable read with a slight twist. The main character continues to develop in later books in the series. This was one that I was missing.
I wish that there had been a resolution to the situation at the beginning and the end of the book. This was not the main part of the storyline, but I felt like I was left hanging in mid-air.
I wish that there had been a resolution to the situation at the beginning and the end of the book. This was not the main part of the storyline, but I felt like I was left hanging in mid-air.
April 10, 2017
A really unrealistic novel.
There is a new killer on the loose who calls himself the Teacher. He wants to right the wrong doings of those who have offended him. Michael is on the case to find the killer, as well as battling the flu on the home front.
I like Patterson’s novels in that they are quick, easy reads with a fairly good mystery. I just couldn’t get over the unrealistic aspect of Michael being the lead on a high profile case, well also being a single dad of his 10 kids, who of course are all battling the flu. The whole novel just seemed too perfect.
I doubt the kids are going anywhere soon, so I’m done with this series for now.
There is a new killer on the loose who calls himself the Teacher. He wants to right the wrong doings of those who have offended him. Michael is on the case to find the killer, as well as battling the flu on the home front.
I like Patterson’s novels in that they are quick, easy reads with a fairly good mystery. I just couldn’t get over the unrealistic aspect of Michael being the lead on a high profile case, well also being a single dad of his 10 kids, who of course are all battling the flu. The whole novel just seemed too perfect.
I doubt the kids are going anywhere soon, so I’m done with this series for now.
June 16, 2021
Holy cow, this was so intense! James Patterson can write, that's for damn sure.
January 25, 2012
Fantastic gripping book, page by page! Although having read all of Patterson's books featuring Nypd supercop Michael Bennett, I'd have to say Run For Your Life was the best of the lot! Also have to note if their was one book that they should make a major motion picture of, it would have to be this one as well.
After the outcome of the crimes of the first book in this series Step On A Crack were said and done it didn't mean that Nypd cop Mike Bennett could simply live life with his brood of a family of 10 and live happily ever after...no unfortunatly for Bennett, he finds himself after trying to desperatly try to lure a whacked out druglord out of his family's apartment, and holding his own entire family hostage he is now trying to track down who i will refer to as the most vicious killer in Patterson's books yet who simply calls himself 'The Teacher'.
The teacher is coldly and caliculatingly going from one 'rich' business to another mowing down a bunch of snobby rich elite citizens of New York who have wronged him in the past. Aside from dealing at home with not one but all of the Bennett children suffering from a flue epidemic that has gripped The Bennett household, Mike has to once again go to rescue and be the supercop of the Nypd that he is known for putting his own family at stake! So for this book all Ny residents must remember their manners or be prepared to face the wrath of The Teacher!
A fantastic page turner from the beginning to end..sadly now that i have read the whole Bennett series i lie in await for Patterson to write the next chapter in the Bennett saga!
After the outcome of the crimes of the first book in this series Step On A Crack were said and done it didn't mean that Nypd cop Mike Bennett could simply live life with his brood of a family of 10 and live happily ever after...no unfortunatly for Bennett, he finds himself after trying to desperatly try to lure a whacked out druglord out of his family's apartment, and holding his own entire family hostage he is now trying to track down who i will refer to as the most vicious killer in Patterson's books yet who simply calls himself 'The Teacher'.
The teacher is coldly and caliculatingly going from one 'rich' business to another mowing down a bunch of snobby rich elite citizens of New York who have wronged him in the past. Aside from dealing at home with not one but all of the Bennett children suffering from a flue epidemic that has gripped The Bennett household, Mike has to once again go to rescue and be the supercop of the Nypd that he is known for putting his own family at stake! So for this book all Ny residents must remember their manners or be prepared to face the wrath of The Teacher!
A fantastic page turner from the beginning to end..sadly now that i have read the whole Bennett series i lie in await for Patterson to write the next chapter in the Bennett saga!
April 6, 2009
I was 24 pages in before I decided I had much better things to do with my life than read this. I couldnt stand the style of writing - i felt like I was reading something with too simple of sentences. Maybe its just against the kind of style I like, but I honestly felt like this was horrible writing and I just couldn't wait it out long enough to see if the plot went anywhere interesting.
June 28, 2020
Run For Your Life (2009) by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge is an enthralling book in the Michael Bennett series.
This page-turner follows Michael Bennett as he tries to track down the mysterious killer known by the name The Teacher. New York is in chaos as The Teacher seemingly is killing people at random and Bennett must try to piece the pieces together to find out whether these murders are indeed random as suggested or if buried deep, there is a link to be found. This book has 98 chapters with three chapters in the prologue and they seem to fly by as you join Bennett on the case of solving the murders. Snappy chapters filled with pace and drama keep you reading and reading …
Another element of these books which is wonderful apart from the mystery is Bennett’s love for his family. His wife died and he is minding a whole bunch of their children himself. Well with the help of Mary Catherine, their nanny. There seems to be chemistry between Mary Catherine and Michael so I think they may get together in future books. I also like the fact that all the children are adopted. I don’t think there is enough about families where people are adopted in stories and when there is, it isn’t always dealt with right. It always seems to be that terrible line of “real family” about their birth family but in this book Patterson and Ledwidge show a family of adopted children who are loved and cared for by their father with the same level of warmth and heart that a birth father is often depicted as feeling for his children so I thought that was lovely. And if either way, that ain’t real family, I don’t know what is.
A splendid read filled with mystery and human feelings. Absolutely gripping.
This page-turner follows Michael Bennett as he tries to track down the mysterious killer known by the name The Teacher. New York is in chaos as The Teacher seemingly is killing people at random and Bennett must try to piece the pieces together to find out whether these murders are indeed random as suggested or if buried deep, there is a link to be found. This book has 98 chapters with three chapters in the prologue and they seem to fly by as you join Bennett on the case of solving the murders. Snappy chapters filled with pace and drama keep you reading and reading …
Another element of these books which is wonderful apart from the mystery is Bennett’s love for his family. His wife died and he is minding a whole bunch of their children himself. Well with the help of Mary Catherine, their nanny. There seems to be chemistry between Mary Catherine and Michael so I think they may get together in future books. I also like the fact that all the children are adopted. I don’t think there is enough about families where people are adopted in stories and when there is, it isn’t always dealt with right. It always seems to be that terrible line of “real family” about their birth family but in this book Patterson and Ledwidge show a family of adopted children who are loved and cared for by their father with the same level of warmth and heart that a birth father is often depicted as feeling for his children so I thought that was lovely. And if either way, that ain’t real family, I don’t know what is.
A splendid read filled with mystery and human feelings. Absolutely gripping.
April 16, 2023
Don't Mess with the Papa Bear
I love seeing all facets of Michael Bennett's life as he goes from work to home and back again.
'The Teacher' is... undoubtedly demented. His "logic" for doing what he does is messed up. The bit of cat and mouse that he plays with Mike definitely kept me reeling and interested.
I love how Mike is with his family. He tries hard to be a good father and loves his brood of adopted children. His grief over the loss of his wife Maeve still palpable, but he makes every reasonable effort to make things better for his kids.
William Myer turns out to be an interesting character. 🤔
I borrowed a copy of the audio book. The narrators are actors Bobby Cannavale and Dallas Roberts. I like both, but Bobby really is a great choice for Bennett. The instrumental inclusions are sometimes appreciated and help build the suspense. Other times, it's just noise.
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.5x
I love seeing all facets of Michael Bennett's life as he goes from work to home and back again.
'The Teacher' is... undoubtedly demented. His "logic" for doing what he does is messed up. The bit of cat and mouse that he plays with Mike definitely kept me reeling and interested.
"It's just the Pine-Sol. It always irritates my eyes." 😢
-- Michael Bennett
I love how Mike is with his family. He tries hard to be a good father and loves his brood of adopted children. His grief over the loss of his wife Maeve still palpable, but he makes every reasonable effort to make things better for his kids.
William Myer turns out to be an interesting character. 🤔
I borrowed a copy of the audio book. The narrators are actors Bobby Cannavale and Dallas Roberts. I like both, but Bobby really is a great choice for Bennett. The instrumental inclusions are sometimes appreciated and help build the suspense. Other times, it's just noise.
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.5x
May 4, 2019
NYPD Detective Michael Bennett has a busy life. In addition to a very demanding job, he runs a household of 10 adopted kids, and his wife passed a bit before the series began. He gets by with the help of indespensible nanny Mary Catherine, who he can't quite decide how he feels about and his grandfather Seamus, a priest. He does his best to juggle handling high profile murder cases and a ridiculous amount of demands from his family life.
The two major issues this go around are a flu epidemic within the family and a new serial killer calling himself "The Teacher." His MO is something many may have fantasized about time to time: people who are obnoxiously rude in public wind up dead. The case isn't made any easier by so many agreeing with the killer's mission, at least in theory.
It's a typical Patterson in many ways. You have a rough idea what you're getting before you pick it up (not that that's a bad thing at all), and as the second in a series, you have even more of a clue. Decent thriller with a lot of domestic complications.
The two major issues this go around are a flu epidemic within the family and a new serial killer calling himself "The Teacher." His MO is something many may have fantasized about time to time: people who are obnoxiously rude in public wind up dead. The case isn't made any easier by so many agreeing with the killer's mission, at least in theory.
It's a typical Patterson in many ways. You have a rough idea what you're getting before you pick it up (not that that's a bad thing at all), and as the second in a series, you have even more of a clue. Decent thriller with a lot of domestic complications.
December 2, 2019
Detective Mike Bennett, a widower with 10 children is not only dealing with a household of kids sick with the stomach flu a but he’s hot on the heels of a serial killer (The Teacher) who is killing ill-mannered people. Pop, just like that, he wanders the city and kills. It seems random at first, but then his reasoning became become clear. It is a list he is following (for the most part), and he is determined to eliminate the names on that list list.
This was an entertaining read but not overly complicated. Things moved quickly and I found the story relatively ordinary.
This was an entertaining read but not overly complicated. Things moved quickly and I found the story relatively ordinary.
December 15, 2017
This book was just like every other James Patterson book. All ten thousand of them. I had the audio book in my car and was stuck on a long car ride with nothing to listen to so it served a purpose but the overall experience was on the low end of mediocre at best. I’ll be okay if I never read another one of his books. You read one you’ve read them all. I hate that he doesn’t even write half of the books with his name on them anymore...just sells the name so it will give the books credibility and in all fairness I really can’t tell the difference but it still rubs me the wrong way.
January 18, 2025
A good thriller/crime book. I like the way Patterson writes and the way we're made to think one thing before the twist kicks in, and we realise that we were nowhere near. I prefer this one to the last one of his I read and look forward to reading more of his.
June 16, 2017
If there's anyone out there who was looking for a good thriller, the book you’ve been looking for is Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. This book is the sequel to Step on a Crack, but you'll have no trouble understanding even if you haven't read the first one.
This was one of those books that have nonstop action on every page. Mike Bennett, a detective who works for the New York Police Department, must track down a deadly killer, who calls himself "the Teacher" and is on a mission to exterminate rich people who have no manners and treat poor people like trash. Okay, honestly I thought this was a pretty ridiculous reason to go around killing people, so it would've been nice if there was a more realistic reason. The Teacher foils the police time after time, while Detective Bennett and the rest of the police department desperately try to predict where the Teacher will strike next. One time, the police find the place the Teacher is going to commit the next murder, but they arrive too late to prevent the murder, and the Teacher slips through their fingers and escapes to the subway. Two cops follow him, and they almost have him cornered, but he shoots them, and escapes from the terrified subway. Now this definitely gets Bennett fired up, and he tells us “Everything had changed from an hour ago. The shooter had killed one, probably two of our own. The stakes had skyrocketed.” As the police finally get an idea of who this killer is, Bennett realizes he must stop the Teacher’s final plans if he wants to save himself and his family.
Run for Your Life was an exhilarating mystery right off the bat, because it starts off with Mike Bennett on another case, and the action there immediately pulls the reader in, then shifts to the Teacher, who is plotting his scheme. The story develops really quickly, which was nice since I can't stand books with slow starts. Something that was really interesting about the book was that it has two narrators. One is Detective Bennett, the protagonist, and the other is the Teacher, the antagonist of the story. I was amazed at how smoothly Patterson pulled this off, and it worked unbelievably well since the book is a mystery. When you read the story from Teacher’s point of view, it describes the Teacher’s actions in a way that hints at what is going to happen next. It gives enough detail to feel like you are in the Teacher’s mind, but doesn’t fully reveal his plans. After that, the book switches to the detective’s point of view, and he finds out what the Teacher had planned all along. It's an ingenious way of telling a story.
I also loved how Patterson changes how he describes the Teacher throughout the book, especially as the Teacher gets cornered. At first, the Teacher seems perfect: everything goes as he had planned, he predicts the police’s every move, and he remains calm after every murder. The first description Patterson gives of the Teacher is “The man in the beautifully tailored, two-button Givenchy suit had finished his morning’s work with his usual expertise and speed. Many things in his life had changed since he had seen the truth – he was a new man now – but his superior intelligence and skills remained intact,” giving the impression that the Teacher is a superior human being that can escape the police. As the story progresses, he is forced to do things he hadn’t originally planned. He is thwarted by the police, loses his calmness and is forced to take actions he doesn’t want to. I thought it was a good way of showing that every person has his or her flaws. This book shows that the Teacher is aware of this, because even in his thoughts, he says how things aren’t going his way and he can’t get his plans to work like they should.
I won't give away what happens in the end, but apparently think Patterson and Ledwidge wanted to have a really dramatic and climatic ending. It was kind of believable when I read it, but looking back, I'm just thinking "yeah right." Well, I guess it's better than having a really anticlimactic ending, but still, the ending could've been a ton better.
All in all, this book is an excellent thriller with quick nonstop action. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in these kinds of mysteries. Make sure you have lots of free time before you start reading, because it will be hard to put down until you finish it. If you are okay with books that are realistic for the most part, you won't really mind all of the crazy parts of this book. This was a pretty easy and fast read, so if you like this genre, get this book as soon as possible from your local library or bookstore!
This was one of those books that have nonstop action on every page. Mike Bennett, a detective who works for the New York Police Department, must track down a deadly killer, who calls himself "the Teacher" and is on a mission to exterminate rich people who have no manners and treat poor people like trash. Okay, honestly I thought this was a pretty ridiculous reason to go around killing people, so it would've been nice if there was a more realistic reason. The Teacher foils the police time after time, while Detective Bennett and the rest of the police department desperately try to predict where the Teacher will strike next. One time, the police find the place the Teacher is going to commit the next murder, but they arrive too late to prevent the murder, and the Teacher slips through their fingers and escapes to the subway. Two cops follow him, and they almost have him cornered, but he shoots them, and escapes from the terrified subway. Now this definitely gets Bennett fired up, and he tells us “Everything had changed from an hour ago. The shooter had killed one, probably two of our own. The stakes had skyrocketed.” As the police finally get an idea of who this killer is, Bennett realizes he must stop the Teacher’s final plans if he wants to save himself and his family.
Run for Your Life was an exhilarating mystery right off the bat, because it starts off with Mike Bennett on another case, and the action there immediately pulls the reader in, then shifts to the Teacher, who is plotting his scheme. The story develops really quickly, which was nice since I can't stand books with slow starts. Something that was really interesting about the book was that it has two narrators. One is Detective Bennett, the protagonist, and the other is the Teacher, the antagonist of the story. I was amazed at how smoothly Patterson pulled this off, and it worked unbelievably well since the book is a mystery. When you read the story from Teacher’s point of view, it describes the Teacher’s actions in a way that hints at what is going to happen next. It gives enough detail to feel like you are in the Teacher’s mind, but doesn’t fully reveal his plans. After that, the book switches to the detective’s point of view, and he finds out what the Teacher had planned all along. It's an ingenious way of telling a story.
I also loved how Patterson changes how he describes the Teacher throughout the book, especially as the Teacher gets cornered. At first, the Teacher seems perfect: everything goes as he had planned, he predicts the police’s every move, and he remains calm after every murder. The first description Patterson gives of the Teacher is “The man in the beautifully tailored, two-button Givenchy suit had finished his morning’s work with his usual expertise and speed. Many things in his life had changed since he had seen the truth – he was a new man now – but his superior intelligence and skills remained intact,” giving the impression that the Teacher is a superior human being that can escape the police. As the story progresses, he is forced to do things he hadn’t originally planned. He is thwarted by the police, loses his calmness and is forced to take actions he doesn’t want to. I thought it was a good way of showing that every person has his or her flaws. This book shows that the Teacher is aware of this, because even in his thoughts, he says how things aren’t going his way and he can’t get his plans to work like they should.
I won't give away what happens in the end, but apparently think Patterson and Ledwidge wanted to have a really dramatic and climatic ending. It was kind of believable when I read it, but looking back, I'm just thinking "yeah right." Well, I guess it's better than having a really anticlimactic ending, but still, the ending could've been a ton better.
All in all, this book is an excellent thriller with quick nonstop action. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in these kinds of mysteries. Make sure you have lots of free time before you start reading, because it will be hard to put down until you finish it. If you are okay with books that are realistic for the most part, you won't really mind all of the crazy parts of this book. This was a pretty easy and fast read, so if you like this genre, get this book as soon as possible from your local library or bookstore!
February 16, 2021
The enemies we cannot kill, we must caress & deception is the art of war (Machiavelli The Prince or The Art of War)
"That, without question, is a parent's greatest fear: to be helpless, not able to do anything, when his child is facing harm."
Plenty of action!
"That, without question, is a parent's greatest fear: to be helpless, not able to do anything, when his child is facing harm."
Plenty of action!
February 5, 2014
All in all I really did enjoy this book and found it an easy read. It is the first James Patterson book that I have read and it has led me to go out and buy many more. This title from what I can tell is the second in the ‘Detective Michael Bennett’ series, but without reading the first I had no problems understanding any of the storyline.
The book made me personally want to keep reading to find out not only the detectives next move in response to the crimes being committed, but also to keep reading about the characters family and how they were dealing with life. The character was shown nicely in two contrasting lights; the detective dealing with a violent case and a home family man with a large set of children to care for. The story was plausible, all be it exaggerated for story telling purposes and it was definitely a page turner. The book is also written using a language and style that makes it easily accessible to a large audience, especially those that are not avid, regular readers.
I had two problems with this book that do drive my opinion of it down a little. The minor issue being the formatting of the chapters; there are a vast number of chapters with many being under five pages long. This does mean it is easy to pick up to read briefly but to me it felt frustrating at times to constantly be turning to a new chapter, especially when it felt that certain chapters could in fact be merged. However, this does not seem to be unique to this book and instead may be the style that James Patterson prefers to write as I have recently started another of his books and the same situation has arisen.
My second issue with this story was the conclusion. Now I don’t want to give any of the story away or to provide spoilers but it is possible I will inadvertently do so, so some people may wish to skip this paragraph....Ok those that are still reading....My biggest gripe with this book was the weak ending to an otherwise exciting story. I felt the last attempted crime was highly unrealistic but again this was acceptable as it was a fiction book. The few pages after the crime that involved a ‘spiritual experience’ on the other hand left a sour taste in my mouth. While this may appeal to some people for me personally I would have preferred this unrealistic section had been omitted. It was the least believable part of the book and to me did not fit the general tone of the story.
Baring that in mind I would still suggest that anyone who is a fan of crime reading gives this book a read. I purchased it in a 3 for £5 sale so the book cost approximately £1.65, but having read it I would safely say I would have happily paid more for it. It should be noted that it seems that it could appeal to a vast demographic as my mother has also read this book and enjoyed it; although she also agrees with the few issues that I had.
Overall I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5. It is the book that has got me back into wanting to read for pleasure and so I would highly recommend it to everyone.
The book made me personally want to keep reading to find out not only the detectives next move in response to the crimes being committed, but also to keep reading about the characters family and how they were dealing with life. The character was shown nicely in two contrasting lights; the detective dealing with a violent case and a home family man with a large set of children to care for. The story was plausible, all be it exaggerated for story telling purposes and it was definitely a page turner. The book is also written using a language and style that makes it easily accessible to a large audience, especially those that are not avid, regular readers.
I had two problems with this book that do drive my opinion of it down a little. The minor issue being the formatting of the chapters; there are a vast number of chapters with many being under five pages long. This does mean it is easy to pick up to read briefly but to me it felt frustrating at times to constantly be turning to a new chapter, especially when it felt that certain chapters could in fact be merged. However, this does not seem to be unique to this book and instead may be the style that James Patterson prefers to write as I have recently started another of his books and the same situation has arisen.
My second issue with this story was the conclusion. Now I don’t want to give any of the story away or to provide spoilers but it is possible I will inadvertently do so, so some people may wish to skip this paragraph....Ok those that are still reading....My biggest gripe with this book was the weak ending to an otherwise exciting story. I felt the last attempted crime was highly unrealistic but again this was acceptable as it was a fiction book. The few pages after the crime that involved a ‘spiritual experience’ on the other hand left a sour taste in my mouth. While this may appeal to some people for me personally I would have preferred this unrealistic section had been omitted. It was the least believable part of the book and to me did not fit the general tone of the story.
Baring that in mind I would still suggest that anyone who is a fan of crime reading gives this book a read. I purchased it in a 3 for £5 sale so the book cost approximately £1.65, but having read it I would safely say I would have happily paid more for it. It should be noted that it seems that it could appeal to a vast demographic as my mother has also read this book and enjoyed it; although she also agrees with the few issues that I had.
Overall I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5. It is the book that has got me back into wanting to read for pleasure and so I would highly recommend it to everyone.
January 26, 2009
Mike Bennett, NYPD homicide detective, is facing the worst nightmare of his life. His children are all sick, and he can't even stay home to take care of them, because a maniac calling himself "The Teacher" is running around Manhattan killing the rich, the snobbish and the rude. It would appear that nobody in the upper circles can count themselves safe, but what Mike really wants to know is how the victims are chosen! Is it just a random sampling? Or are they all connected somehow? When the killer finally shows up at his own house to take him hostage, he knows he has to do something drastic.
James Patterson has always been known for his fast-paced, quick-action books, and this adventure, co-authored with Michael Ledwidge, is no exception. I was hooked from the very beginning, so eager to know what happened next, that I even found myself biking detours in order to get in "just one more chapter" before arriving at work.
"Run for Your Life" is read by Dallas Roberts and Bobby Cannavale, with one reading the chapters focused on Mike Bennet and the other reading the chapters focused on the Teacher. At first I was unsure of how this would work, and worried that the two voices would be too similar for me to differentiate between them. That turned out not to be a problem at all, as not only were their voices significantly different, but they also managed to adapt their tone of voice to the characters portrayed. Nobody would be in doubt as to the state of the Teacher's mental health after hearing Bobby Cannavale's portrayal of his voice. And Dallas Roberts' voice was likewise sufficiently strong as Mike Bennett.
"Run for Your Life" is James' and Michael's second book about Mike Bennett, but can easily be read with no knowledge of the first as the plot is self-contained and any continuation must be in reoccurring characters only.
At a mere 7 hours playing time it is an almost too quick, but very enjoyable listen.
James Patterson has always been known for his fast-paced, quick-action books, and this adventure, co-authored with Michael Ledwidge, is no exception. I was hooked from the very beginning, so eager to know what happened next, that I even found myself biking detours in order to get in "just one more chapter" before arriving at work.
"Run for Your Life" is read by Dallas Roberts and Bobby Cannavale, with one reading the chapters focused on Mike Bennet and the other reading the chapters focused on the Teacher. At first I was unsure of how this would work, and worried that the two voices would be too similar for me to differentiate between them. That turned out not to be a problem at all, as not only were their voices significantly different, but they also managed to adapt their tone of voice to the characters portrayed. Nobody would be in doubt as to the state of the Teacher's mental health after hearing Bobby Cannavale's portrayal of his voice. And Dallas Roberts' voice was likewise sufficiently strong as Mike Bennett.
"Run for Your Life" is James' and Michael's second book about Mike Bennett, but can easily be read with no knowledge of the first as the plot is self-contained and any continuation must be in reoccurring characters only.
At a mere 7 hours playing time it is an almost too quick, but very enjoyable listen.
January 31, 2010
Well, Patterson has a new hero in the form of Mike Bennet, NYPD.
Wonder what he's like?
If you're a follower of Patterson's books, you'll probably guess that Bennet...
1: Is single or a widower
2: Has children and a small select group of important family and friends.
3: Has many skills including negotiating and profiling. In fact, he's pretty darn good at anything that comes his way.
4: He's handsome and any woman's idea of a 'good catch' (supposedly!).
Oh no, forgive me. The above seems to be a description of Patterson's hero Alex Cross. But wait a minute...this also perfectly describes Mike Bennet!
The similarities in character aside, I enjoyed this book from the minute I started reading.
In true Patterson style, it sets off from the blocks at full speed and doesn't slow down until the very last page.
This could easily be an Alex Cross story but it is refreshing to have a new cop on the beat.
He seemingly fairly effortlessly juggles being a widower, understanding friend to nanny Mary Catherine, son to Seamus, father to 10 (yes, 10!) adopted children and multi talented cop.
This story starts with a shoot out hostage situation and then ends up as one of Patterson's high paced hunts for a serial killing, very clever, disturbed individual. Needless to say, it ends up personal...but enough, I don't want to spoil it for you.
If you like James Patterson, you'll like this. If you've never read any Patterson, read this.
Jolly good, high octane, heart thumping crime adventure!
Wonder what he's like?
If you're a follower of Patterson's books, you'll probably guess that Bennet...
1: Is single or a widower
2: Has children and a small select group of important family and friends.
3: Has many skills including negotiating and profiling. In fact, he's pretty darn good at anything that comes his way.
4: He's handsome and any woman's idea of a 'good catch' (supposedly!).
Oh no, forgive me. The above seems to be a description of Patterson's hero Alex Cross. But wait a minute...this also perfectly describes Mike Bennet!
The similarities in character aside, I enjoyed this book from the minute I started reading.
In true Patterson style, it sets off from the blocks at full speed and doesn't slow down until the very last page.
This could easily be an Alex Cross story but it is refreshing to have a new cop on the beat.
He seemingly fairly effortlessly juggles being a widower, understanding friend to nanny Mary Catherine, son to Seamus, father to 10 (yes, 10!) adopted children and multi talented cop.
This story starts with a shoot out hostage situation and then ends up as one of Patterson's high paced hunts for a serial killing, very clever, disturbed individual. Needless to say, it ends up personal...but enough, I don't want to spoil it for you.
If you like James Patterson, you'll like this. If you've never read any Patterson, read this.
Jolly good, high octane, heart thumping crime adventure!
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