The perfect murder always looks like an accident. FBI agent Emmy Dockery is absolutely relentless. She's young and driven, and her unique skill at seeing connections others miss has brought her an impressive string of arrests. But a shocking new case-unfolding across the country-has left her utterly baffled. The victims all appear to have died by accident, and have seemingly nothing in common. But this many deaths can't be coincidence. And the killer is somehow one step ahead of every move Dockery makes. How? To FBI Internal Affairs special agent, Harrison "Books" Bookman, everyone in the FBI is a suspect-particularly Emmy Dockery (the fact that she's his ex-wife doesn't make it easier). But someone else is watching Dockery. Studying, learning, waiting. Until it's the perfect time to strike.
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.
James Patterson collaborates with David Ellis—one of the authors who is able to keep his pieces on track—for this sequel that will chill the reader almost as much as the original piece. Emmy Dockery is back, still licking the wounds after having blown the lid off a serial killer who masked his crimes under the radar, but she refuses to rest. Seeing links in apparent accidental deaths, Emmy is connecting dots and trying to make a case that a new serial killer is on the loose. However, her superiors at the FBI refuse to listen and want her to keep the investigation where it belongs, on the back burner and during her downtime. For now, Emmy is tasked with helping to crack a case that has the country talking, the nighttime bombings by Citizen David, an anonymous activist trying to representing the ‘little guy’. With news leaking to the public through a keen reporter, all eyes turn to Emmy as the one fuelling that fire. Emmy’s fiancé, Harrison ‘Books’ Bookman, has taken a step away from his past with the Feds and is working in a bookstore, trying to keep her from getting too far off the beaten path, though failing miserably. As the Citizen David investigation heats up, a killer lurks in the shadows, one who has been committing crimes that Emmy is discovering, though no one is yet ready to admit it. ‘Darwin’ is hiding in plain sight, masking his appearance and developing a backstory that will cover any tracks that might be visible. While Emmy is breathing down his neck, he seeks to throw everyone off the scent while also monitoring Emmy from afar. As the investigation heats up and Emmy is finally able to convince someone that there might be something to her off-duty sleuthing, the hunt for the mole intensifies, straining resources and the relationship Emmy needs so badly. But, will this serial killer get the best of everyone and create a pile of unsolved cases, while killing at random? Patterson and Ellis show why they are a masterful duo in this novel that will have the reader wanting to read on until the very end, stopping only when necessary. Recommended to those who loved the early Patterson novels, before he sold out, as well as the reader who loves a decent thriller.
I will be the first to admit that I have only a vague recollection of reading the debut in this series. This is not indicative of a poorly penned novel, but only that I read and review so much. However, after looking back at the review, I can remember a little more and knew I enjoyed it. The same can be said here, as I devoured this piece in short order, loving the twists and turns the authors presented. Emmy Dockery is a protagonist that the reader will easily enjoy, even if she becomes annoying at times. Her ability to get to the root of the issue and dedication is not lost on the attentive reader, even if she is socially stunted and unable to walk away from scouring for Darwin. The connection she has with Books is an on/off switch, but it is apparent that they need one another throughout this book, again. There are a handful of strong supporting characters, all of whom serve to intensify an already strong story with their own character development. One can only wonder if Patterson and Ellis will be back for another novel in the series and use some of these folks to help propel things even further. The story is strong and works well with this cast of characters, keeping the reader wondering throughout. The authors have used a few subplots to keep the overall storyline moving forward and it keeps the reader wondering, as they use their omnipotent view to amass all the information and are able to see the thriller from all angles. I’d gladly return to see if Emmy Dockery and her group have another case in them, though it would seem that anytime Patterson and Ellis work together, the magic follows.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Ellis, for another stellar novel. I am happy to see this collaboration working effectively and can only hope it continues.
FBI analyst Emma Dockery was sure there was a silent killer out there. Certain people were dying; the police were saying natural causes, an accident, a suicide. But Emmy knew better. The FBI refused her request for an autopsy so once again Emmy was going out on a limb, determined to catch a killer no one believed was out there.
Ex FBI agent, Harrison Bookman – Books – now owned a bookstore, and was engaged to Emmy. Books was called in by the FBI to find a leak in the department, while Emmy spent time with her team searching and analyzing data. The killer was getting more confident, and Chicago was in for a big shake up. Would Emmy discover the killer before more were killed? Or was she putting a target on her back?
Unsolved is the 2nd in the Invisible series by James Patterson and David Ellis and wow! What a ride! Tension, so many twists and turns, fast paced action – all a characteristic of a Patterson novel. I loved the first one and loved this one as well. Unsolved is an excellent thriller, one I highly recommend.
Take a formulaic author and pair him up with a second author and you might have a page-turning twisted tale that sets a couple of FBI agents on the tail of a serial killer.
The question is, will they be able to figure out in time who he or she is before it is too late, or he/she gets them first?
I use to love James Patterson, and couldn’t wait to read anything he wrote into my hands. But then I found his stories carried the same formula and I grew bored – hence the term formulaic author.
But then he started a trend – he began to team up with other authors to create storylines. This seemed to be his way to back away and give other authors a chance to make a name for themselves by letting them take the writing lead (it was my take on it), but also a process perhaps to move away from his formula story line.
However, when it comes to this book, I’m not sure whether it succeeded. It felt like another old formula losing steam. Like a re-tell of a story we’ve read before – the characters we know (love and hate) – bad guys hidden among the good guys – the worst of the worst – and we as readers are racing through time, just like the main characters to capture him or her.
Of course, let the authors throw in a side story to complicate things, too. I’m just not sure adding a second author is going to save James Patterson any longer. What do you think? Am I being too harsh?
This novel from James Patterson & David Ellis is a highly-readable FBI-analyst thriller. The clock ticks audibly toward "Darwin's" next murder or bombing, but clues lead in many different directions.
Okay, so the name of one character ("Books") who just happens to own a bookstore, is hammy, but WTH.
Strongly recommended to mystery & thriller readers who will enjoy the plot twists and character revelations as Emmy struggles to identify the villain, who's also targeting her.
I am a pretty avid reader of James Patterson. However, for the purposes of honesty, I get his books from the library because I don’t find him good enough to buy and keep in my library. He’s mind candy – simple, fast-paced, detective and mystery- oriented adventures that can be read in about two to three days and easily left behind. Nice escapism, but nothing super memorable.
UNSOLVED is the second book in the “Emmy Dockery” series and a follow-up to “INVISIBLE” (also co-written with David Ellis), published back in June, 2014. In the first book, failing FBI research analyst, Emmy Dockery, was on the hunt for a serial killer who killed her beloved sister. However, Emmy’s not a team player and no one wants to work with her. Not even her ex-fiancée and former FBI field investigator, “Books” Bookman, leader of her investigation team. By the end of the book, Emmy’s independent spirit helps her barely survive and help capture one of the most prolific serial killers in the United States.
UNSOLVED starts about 18 months following Emmy’s escape from death, along with her slow physical and emotional recovery. Emmy is now a senior analyst with the FBI working on two investigations. The first one is the Citizen David, a person or group who have claimed responsibility for several acts of civil disobedience and domestic terror, including hacking into major systems of pharmaceutical companies, Ivy league schools, and prisons, as well as bombing banks and city hall buildings. Up to now, nobody has been harmed in any of these attacks. And to make it worse, FBI Director Moriarty calls in Emmy’s fiancée, Books, to independently investigate their belief that Emmy’s leaking information to the press that assists David’s cause.
In addition to her day-time job, Emmy is also running her own second investigation at night. Using her analytical skills, she is tracking what looks like to be another serial killer. The victims all appear to have died by natural or accidental causes, but have there are several coincidences that just seem to provide a consistent pattern. The victim’s live alone in a single-story house that was either up for sale or recently purchased, are located within two blocks of local public transportation, and they performed some type of community service. Emmy understands that the circumstantial is not enough and try’s desperately to get an autopsy to provide the evidence needed to get the FBI’s support and involvement.
After reading UNSOLVED, the good news outweighs the bad news.
The bad news first. Like the first book, I did not care for the character of Emmy. She continues to be an extremely self-centered and downright selfish. She treats her former fiancée (two times over) with complete and utter disrespect. Although he demonstrates his willingness to sacrifice everything, including his career, on her behalf, she cannot even be honest about anything important to her. And when she is confronted with her actions, her response is to break-up with him and run away from her problems. You would have thought almost being killed by a deranged serial killer at the end of the last book would have helped bring her around a little bit to seeing other people’s point of views, but no such thing.
Emmy lacks any form of social grace or understanding of emotional intelligence. She wasn’t even nice in her interactions with her mother. Several times I found myself wanting to yell at her to grow up and quit acting so selfish. I was so tired of Books making all of the sacrifices to keep their relationship together in any way that he could. He deserves a much better partner than her.
However, the good news outweighs the bad. Just like the first book, the intricate and well-developed plotlines made the difference. Even with having to deal with Emmy’s incessant and degrading personality, the book delivered a fun and entertaining read.
The multiple arcs were complex, well-layered, and they unfolded in tension filled moments, immersing the reader from the start. I am not sure if it was having Ellis as a co-author, but it had more complexity and creatively researched ideas, which contributed to a stronger mystery. The pacing moved along at a steady staccato pace, with several twists and turns along the way. And the characters (other than Emmy) were more dimensional than normal, keeping your empathetic interest the whole time. And, more importantly, the story had a certain fresh feeling to it, including a few good surprises, and a strong ending.
Truth be told, just like INVISIBLE, I read UNSOLVED in two fun-filled reading days of frenzied enthusiasm. This was one of those times and it brought a pleasing smile to my face that even Emmy couldn’t ruin. This was summer escapism reading at its best.
Overall, the plotting outweighed my struggle with Emmy’s selfish characteristics. It was one of my more favorite Patterson books – multi-layered plotlines and interesting characters (not counting Emmy). I am looking forward to a third outing, if Patterson and Ellis can come up with the right story. Although, truth be told again, I’m more interested in finding out what’s next for special agent and bookstore owner, Books Bookman, than I am for Emmy. I can only hope she will develop some humility, kindness, and emotional intelligence. Maybe we will find out…
4.5⭐️ I first discovered how talented David Ellis is when I read Look Closer back in 2021, and it quickly became a favorite. When I saw that both bookswithheath and kells.books read and gave 5 stars to Invisible (just one of the many series he’s co-written with James Patterson) I knew I needed to get my hands on it. And. It. Did. Not. Disappoint.
Invisible might just be one of the scariest books I have ever read/listened to. Complete with the sounds of victim’s screams in his own raw “podcast” style recordings he sends to the FBI, the antagonist is one of the most disturbed I’ve ever read about. Let’s just say, I had trouble sleeping after finishing this one.
In book two, Unsolved, the “killer” is a bit more complex as the book tackles various themes including the idea of vigilante justice. This book takes you into the world of the FBI and it’s inner workings and while very different from Invisible, I enjoyed it just as much. And once again, I found myself unable to put it down.
Each book is entirely unique, sans the detectives at the heart of them, FBI agent Emmy Dockery and her ex-fiancé and fellow agent Harrison “Books” Bookman. Their messy, complex relationship added a personal element that I could not get enough of.
I highly recommend listening to both on audio, because as discussed above, the audiobooks help to immerse you in the story in a very unique way with realistic sounds and scary music. Unsolved is also narrated by the incredibly talented Brittany Pressley who narrates Emmy to perfection.
Read if you like: •serial killer plots •fbi procedurals •twisty reads •romance subplot
Unsolved was an awesome sequel to Invisible. I hope more books come out in this series because both have had some great twists and turns and as frustrating as Emmy can be she is a good character to read has is Books. This one consisted of activism that turns into a series of criminals with perps you do not see coming. Highly enjoyable thriller that I would recommend to any crime thriller fan.
This is the second book in this series, and although I somehow missed the first ("Invisible"), I've now vowed not to miss any more. For one thing, David Ellis is perhaps my favorite of prolific James Patterson's co-authors; for another, this one is plenty good enough to keep me interested.
The star of the show is FBI data analyst Emmy Dockery, who is almost insanely intent on tracking down serial killers. But while I liked her, it was her on-again, off-again main squeeze, former FBI agent Harrison "Books" Bookman, who won me over big-time. Appropriately for his name, I guess, he owns a bookstore that's struggling to make it, having had his fill of the stressful FBI life. Emmy, though, has no such illusions; she's been seriously scarred both physically and mentally (detailed, no doubt, in that first book). But rather than making her shy away from danger, her life experiences have turned her into an even more determined seeker of justice. Unfortunately, it's also costing her any semblance of a personal life.
Unbeknownst to Books or the FBI, Emmy has been trying to identify the still-on-the-loose serial killer of her twin sister, Marta for some time now. But officially, she's tasked with finding a killer dubbed "Citizen David" - someone who's hell-bent on championing the downtrodden. Along the way, it appears someone is leaking information to the media; since the reporter happens to be a friend of Emmy's, certain FBI muckety-mucks are sure Emmy herself is passing on the information.
Before long, Emmy herself makes the killer's hit list (big surprise there). Worse, it may well be that someone in the FBI is aiding and abetting the killer - or could even be the actual killer. Needless to say, Emmy runs into several blank walls, bringing a few twists to the plot along the way. Of course, I can't reveal any details, so I'll just say it's quite an entertaining journey and I'm looking forward to the next adventure.
This book co-authored by Patterson and Ellis is one of the better ones that Patterson has put out in recent years. The plot was well thought out and the characters were fully developed. This was a good story that kept you guessing!
It as impressed with this one as much as Invisible. It seemed a bit repetitive in its storyline but with just a different type of crime. Tho as far as new releases from JP this one and Invisible are better than a lot he’s released of late. More like his original works.
I thought this one was a little hot and cold. The first third or half was not that great, but it started getting more interesting around half way. But for some reason, it didn't seem to progress that smoothly to me, and I thought it could have used some editing or something to take out some redundant or repetitive stuff. One whole chapter was devoted to looking for a way to play a DVD, unsuccessfully. They finally, in a later chapter, found an obvious choice.
All in all, it was a decent read, but at times I got impatient and wanted it to move along faster. I suppose I expected more from this team. I've enjoyed a few David Ellis books, and haven't really read much, if anything, by Patterson but expected more considering his popularity.
This was a challenge for me to read. The plot didn't seem to have the flow that would help to have this book made great.
Grabbed me right from the start! Two serial killer investigations at the same time. When one serial killer starts infringing on the other's turf/style, I couldn't wait to see if they would meet up. A couple of twists I didn't see coming. David Ellis is a great writer. I've started to read his legal series (on his own) and it's awesome.
Emmy Dockery is an FBI research analyst on leave. She has been obsessed with a large number of fires in which a single person always died, including one involving her sister. Local authorities, finding no foul play, I loved Invisible which I just happened to read a few days before Unsolved was released. It was hard for me to get started reading it. I was confused regarding who was who. Who was telling the story in 1st person? Who was the bad guy telling what he did. Then as I got further into it I did get that straightened out, but it seemed to be so much like the first book that l felt disappointed. However, it did get much better and more like I expected it to be. I couldn't put it down. I expected the outcome to be surprising and it certainly was. I don't know if I missed some important facts or what, but I feel as though I should go back and find out what happened to the people I suspected were the bad guys.
It was ruled all these fires were accidental. New fires fitting the pattern claimed by Emmy continue to occur. No one believes Emmy and some even think she has gone mad. By continuing to insist these explained fires were really murders, she has put her career with the FBI in jeopardy. Even her ex-fiancé (nicknamed "Books"), who is an ex-FBI agent, doubts her. But one day she finds something of interest to Books and a preliminary investigation is launched by the FBI with Books in charge of the investigation and with Emmy on the team. Soon more is found scary and dangerous to members of the team, as well. And this case becomes very important, as hundreds of suspect fires are found nationwide. The case becomes more and more interesting and I read more and more I liked Books, found him to be a most interesting character. I found there were too many unnecessary killings in this book for me. Was sill a decent recent read..
An easy to read mystery. An analyst at the FBI Emmy Dockery previously survived her investigation into a serial killer and a confrontation with him. She is scarred and damaged in a relationship with an ex-FBI agent who runs a bookshop. In her investigation she has found another serial killer who is killing the elderly and homeless in different cities. He figures out she is investigating him and it then gets interesting. Far fetched but definitely entertaining.
The story hangs together well until the final confrontation which is weak. The stalking, analysis and inept and misogynistic male FBI agents is believable but the subplots are just silly. Still it was an enjoyable read and the authors have definitely hit on a winning formula.
Now I love this James Patterson. This book (series) reminds me of his earlier work and why he is so well read today. I really do like the characters in this and I like that they are believable and realistic. When the main female character, Emmy, puts her mind to finding something or someone, nothing will stop her. It seems only she able to do it. There are a few shocking revaluations in the second book of this series and I expect if it continues we will see a lot of that occurring. I feel like that’s part of what makes this series work so well it’s always nice to expect the unexpected from an author who has written as much as James Patterson.
This was one of the better books I have read by James Patterson in a while! I grabs you and you think you know what happened and then you go farther and think no, this is what happened...and then ...who knew! Really a good read!
I give very very few 5 star ratings. To me 3 stars means good ~ 4 very good and a 5 is excellent! Awww love David Ellis I have read over 100 of JP’s novels and sorry to say have been disappointed with some of the newer “foul-mouth” novels. But this is a WINNER!! I went back and checked my comments of novels of JP with co-author Ellis and my comments have been great. Guilty Wives was one of my favorites. Read the Invisible which I totally enjoyed it. Emma and Books are back and this novel DID NOT disappoint! Certainly has all the psychological twists that I love in a novel.
Rating this book was not easy for me. If you read my review of part one, I said I didn't really like Emmy. I now am sure I don't like her. If I am to rate solely on if the "who done it" was good, it was. There were plenty of misdirections and twist to the story.
But I felt Emmy did a lot more whining in this one. Again I had to endure her yes no to her relationship; Emmy is an addict, plain, and simple. At the beginning of the book, it's painfully clear. Hurting those she loves, knowing she is and not caring.
Without giving anything away, in the end, we start at the beginning. We seem to forget that nothing really changed and it's left for your imagination, or another book.
The 5 star was for the: superb plotting (at both the main plot level and the various subplots), excellent writing, action level and it's unputdownable book quality. The addition of David Ellis also adds another notch upwards to the writing style. David Ellis is one of my two favourite James Patterson collaborators. (The other one is Candice Fox). However that he is in real life justice in the Illinois Appellate Court always stays in my mind when reading what he has written eg about murders and crime. This book is a sequel to Invisible. Using the character Emmy Dockery. Wonderful book.
If I had not read the first in this series Invisible I would have given this another star, however I found this continuation repetitive. The same premise is used here about a serial killer that only Emmy can figure out and solve. And once again she is in the same on again off again relationship with Books. I found nothing new in this book and was disappointed that is used the exact same ideas and storyline. The first book was original and interesting but the second was just more of the same.
Weak plot and a very slow onset. The authors seem to expend more words on the homeless and less on the actual villains. Emmy Jane Dockery, an analyst, once again saved the day. Pairing James Patterson with David Ellis, two modern day storytellers, seals the bargain.
This is the third David Ellis book I’ve read and the second one with Patterson. I think I like the Patterson projects better than the Ellis standalone I read. I suspect that may because of Patterson's influence but, what do I know. I'm not a writer. Anyway, I like Emmy and the Invisible series and will continue to read it. Around the 75-80% mark, I was pretty sure I knew who both David and Darwin were. WOW!!! Was I wrong!!!
Anyway, I loved the ending for Emmy and Books. However, one of the underlying themes (there were a few) was the constant and daily struggle of vets suffering from PTSD. The story of Sgt Petty and even, to some degree, Lt Wagner were two completely different examples of what the war can do to a person and how the effort to assimilate back into civilian life can result in two completely different directions.
Je n’avais pas fait attention en prenant ce roman, c’est un tome 2 et je n’ai pas lu le premier. J’ai réussi à comprendre, mais c’est sans doute mieux de lire le 1, car il y a énormément de références.
Emmy Dockery est une analyste du FBI. Depuis qu’elle a neutralisé un tueur en série, un nouveau semble obsédé par elle. Problème : personne d’autre qu’elle ne suspecte cette personne, car ses cibles ne sont jamais catégorisées comme des meurtres, mais plutôt comme des accidents. Mais elle est surveillée par le FBI qui la soupçonne d’être une taupe dans une autre affaire. Et ça va plus loin, personne ne voit d’un très bon œil les recherches annexes qu’elle réalise en utilisant sa fonction au sein du FBI. Mais notre héroïne est déterminée et fera fi de sa hiérarchie et même de son fiancé.
J’ai passé un bon moment avec l’histoire, l’enquête est pleine de retournements de situations qu’on ne voit pas venir. J’aurais aimé avoir lu le tome 1 pour comprendre les références au passé d’Emmy, mais en tout cas, c’était une bonne lecture.