The Midnight Club

by James Patterson

🎧Run Time = 8 hours and 42 minutes

A gripping listen that the #1 New York Times bestselling author himself claims to be “one of [his] favorites”: As a skillful killer travels across the globe, evading capture by the police, a New York detective becomes determined to end the carnage. “Patterson is in a class by himself” (Vanity Fair).

“The Midnight Club is the novel I wrote just before Along Came A Spider. I’m certain that both Alex Cross and Sampson originated in ideas I had while writing this story. It’s one of my favorites.” - James Patterson

Bestselling author James Patterson weaves a suspenseful tale of a powerful mobster who runs up against a very determined cop and his faithful crime fighters.

A stunningly brilliant psychopathic killer who has skillfully eluded the police from London to Paris to New York. A beautiful woman journalist suddenly in grave danger. An unorthodox New York detective whose motive for stopping the killer couldn’t be more personal or emotional.

All bound by the chains of secrecy, wealth, and crime formed by the cabal called The Midnight Club.

From the bestselling author of Along Came a Spider and Cat and Mouse, a mesmerising tale of non-stop action and suspense. Already a bestseller in paperback -- now reissued in striking new cover style. Nobody knows the underbelly of the city like New York cop John Stefanovitch. He's out to get Alexandre St-Germain, the most powerful member of the Midnight Club -- a secret international society of ruthless crime czars, all of whom are 'respectable' businessmen. And Stef's the ideal man for the job -- until he's levelled by a blast from St-Germain's shotgun and left for dead. Now, Stef is back, wheelchair-bound, yet sworn to destroy St-Germain. With the help of a beautiful journalist and a Harlem cop, Stef is determined to crack the Midnight Club. And he's up against odds that are as unknown as they are deadly!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Detective

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 1989

About the author

Official 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.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average Patterson thriller muddled by inconsistent writing and sappy melodrama. Certain aspects of this book I really liked, but there were some scenes I found incredibly stupid. Like when a dying policeman who knows the identity of his murderer decides to spend his last half-hour on Earth catching a taxi to his partner's apartment in order to tell him that he loves him--instead of, you know, passing on the crucial information to someone or maybe even getting himself to a hospital. Soon after writing this book, Patterson penned ALONG CAME A SPIDER and established himself as a publishing superstar. For better or worse, THE MIDNIGHT CLUB is basically a trial run for the Alex Cross series.

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book published in 1989, it mentioned meetings in the World Trade Center. It evoked memories of the tragic destruction that everyone remembers. The story itself was typical Patterson magic. Not many details just Stef, a quirky cop who is out to catch the evil Grave Dancer. There is fast paced non stop action, kidnapping, injuries, and even a bit of a romantic affair between Stef and Sarah. Loved the adventure!

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m being generous because it was early in Patterson’s career. I liked the characters and they even had potential to see another book but the story was just not enough. It never took off and I think it could have.

I didn’t like the first Cross book but have loved most of the rest. This should have been better. I’m determined to read all of his adult books. Skip this one unless you are as determined as I am.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is ridiculous and very melodramatic. A paralyzed detective hunts a mastermind sadistic psychopath who heads an international criminal empire called the midnight club. I found the characters all too perfect and unbelievable. I suppose it was one of his early efforts and he was learning his craft.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 1989, I somehow missed reading The Midnight Club by James Patterson, not to be confused with his series the Women's Murder Club.

The protagonist in The Midnight Club is John Stefanovitch, a New York cop confined to a wheelchair after being shot and left for dead by the Grave Dancer. Despite losing his wife to the Grave Dancer on the same chilling night, and undergoing years of rehabilitation, John is still on the force and as determined as ever to get his man.

While John was fighting and clawing back his life, the Grave Dancer was climbing the ladder of success, and is now part of an elite and secretive international unit of organised crime lords, otherwise known as the Midnight Club.

I thoroughly enjoyed having a male protagonist in a wheelchair who was attractive, strong, protective and driven without feeling sorry for himself or drinking himself into oblivion. Patterson steers clear of all the possible traps and cliches here, which makes The Midnight Club feel like a fresh piece of writing, despite it being 23 years old.

There are references to the twin towers and a few other things that remind the reader of the passage of time however on the whole, this was an enjoyable crime novel with a very likeable good guy in New York cop John Stefanovitch and an equally well written bad guy.

[Vikas · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which Mr. Patterson tells a story about mafia and though it's better than the previous initial books it's still not that good I certainly liked it better than the first two books.

People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting! I always enjoy books like this that have action and suspense on almost every page. James Patterson is a master of adding unexpected twists and turns to his stories and "The Midnight Club" doesn't disappoint in this regard.

[Paul Chafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as exciting as other James Patterson thrillers I've read even with the usual short and snappy chapters. One side of me thinks I should give it the benefit of the doubt as it is one of his early works. The more cynical side thinks that he needed the support of ghost writers co-writers to make it a good book.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed a lot of this didn’t enjoy

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been a long time fan of James Patterson and have read most everything he has written...with the exception of his earliest novels. So, I'm trying to go back and read Patterson's earlier books.
I have to say I was very disappointed in The Midnight Club. It just didn't live up to the quality I've grown accustomed too. Yes, I agree that some of the more recent Alex Cross books haven't been great but at least they kept my interest.
I finished The Midnight Club on Friday and am writing this on Monday. Honestly, I can't remember anything about the plot. At this point, I'm trying to decide if I am going to listen to this book again before it has to be returned to the library.

[Ruza Minić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Неверовтан трилер! Заплет! Просто не можеш да оставиш књигу, а да не прочиташ шта ће се наредно десити.
П.С.једина мана његовим књигама је што се читају буквално у јеном даху! Кренеш да читаш и заборавиш се...

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down, even though the chapter's went from different people but the story was in line though out the book

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was written back in 1989, when Patterson's work was still fresh, not commercialized.

I found it hard to believe that something like the "Midnight Club" as he describes it could exist -- too much of a stretch of the imagination for me.

The main characters were a bit of a stretch, too: opening scenes have Stef being carried up the stairs to a crime scene, but then the way Stef could get around "unassisted" after that point mid-way through when the unspeakable happens in the tunnel under Central Park ... Sarah's reactions to what happens in regards to her family didn't ring true for me. She's a writer/researcher, not a hardened cop ...

And the ending/epilogue: again, not believable, but I saw it coming a mile away. Still giving it three stars, though, because the action held me spellbound through most of the tale (except where the actual "Midnight Club" was involved).

[Erin Alderman · Rating 1 out of 5]

did not like LMAO i put it down last year bc i couldn’t get through it and then saw it on my bookshelf last week and forced myself through it

[Sean Cozart · Rating 2 out of 5]

To put it simply, this was the best from Patterson. But from another perspective, I've noticed that debut novels are never really that good. To get right down to the point, the book was highly unbelievable and I'm under the impression Patterson has never held a gun before, let alone shot one.

As described in the opening scene, our hero Stefanovitch is shot three times with a shotgun by our villainous evildoer. He was hit firstly in the shoulder and then in the side from 20 yards. Once on the ground, the villain stood over him and gave him the "death" shot into the back. Now remember that shotgun shells are fill with pellets, not a bullet in a casing unlike rifles or handguns. Their purpose is to cover the max area of a moving target because the pellets disperse in all directions. That is why shotguns are used often for bird hunting. In a nutshell, from 20 yards away, if the first two shots didn't kill Stefanovitch, the third one from 3 ft away would've shattered his spine and punctured numerous organs. Heck, if the bad guy aimed for his neck, he would've taken his entire head off. But no, he survives but is paralyzed from the waist down.

And you'll telling me the Kupek died. He is shot and the first thing he does is goes to Stefanovitch's house? He didn't, I don't know, cried for help, find a payphone, etc. For a homicide detective, he sure wasn't acting like one. Seems a little far-fetched to me if you ask me.

Lastly, in the climax of the film, Stefanovitch is shot again, twice actually, in the side and back. He ends up chasing the shooter on his wheelchair and is hit by a taxi. Doctors in the "best" hospital in New York were saying if he survives and that was a strong if, he would likely be paralyzed from the neck down. But guess what, he breaks the odds! He survives but not only that in 9 months, he's walking with the help of a cane. Talk about a miracle.

The unbelievability is what killed it for me. I thought it was decent plot with good characters and that's why I'm giving it two stars. This won't completely hinder me from reading more from this author but this one is the dud in his writings.

[Jess Pagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched Die Hard over Christmas and thought "this is just a solid action film, I love it". I read The Midnight Club and it made me think of Die Hard. It's simple, it's cool, it's set in 80s America and I loved every page. It's a classic action film in a book and I would really recommend it if you got into the Reacher series over the past year for the same reasons. I really enjoyed this, it was so much fun and so simple, definitely read it if you like old fashioned solid action films.

[Becky Tune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

Every book I read is a new journey. I learn about different cities, businesses and people. This book was awesome. Thank you mr. Patterson and I look forward to our next journey.

[Caroline Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Great story took me a little longer to read than usual. Once again Mr Patterson strikes gold . love your books ams characters thank you for being the best.

[Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crippled detective out for revenge, a flawed partner and a lady author fight against an evil foe. I really enjoyed these new Patterson characters. You will too and guess what the good guys....

[Diamond Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Beautiful execution at the end lol.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel just for wheelchair racing please James

[James Rivett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Club is one of the earlier books by James Patterson and the solo authored style that built his reputation.
It is by far one of his better creations, and so many of its elements can be seen in his later mass-produced canon.
What particularly struck me was the moral ambiguity and question of what is perceived as justice and what is revenge.
The subtext of the hierarchy of villainy and the justification of violence was explored subtly and threw up the perennial problem of how to judge amoral individuals as they conform to no moral code. The same can be said for the 'law of the streets'. Paterson's characters are forced to confront their own beliefs and question how far they are prepared to go for justice if vengeance is outside the law, is it acceptable to kill a mass murderer to stop them?

[Matthew Velazquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Patterson has a talent for creating suspense. Having read a couple of his books now, this is something that I know I can look forward to when I see his name on a cover.

The Midnight Club is a good story overall. I couldn’t help but question some of the decisions here, however.

Stefanovitch’s condition after Long Beach. The partner’s condition and the decision to go to an apartment instead of getting help. The inconsistent behavior of the antagonist. Parker’s role and the consequences that followed. The ending.

I was left with questions that don’t really get answered. Items that were just kind of ignored I felt like. So, while the ending was written to be satisfying as if presented with a smile and a nice bow to tie things up, I was left feeling like it was undeserved.

[Erika Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some slower parts but in general I really liked the protag and honestly I was really impressed with the way Patterson wrote the character. The story was strong and I enjoyed reading it. The slower parts may discourage you from pushing through, but be a champ, do it. It is worth it. They don't last that long but would have benefited the reader if during editing it fell to the floor. This book seems to have a wee bit more of a Patterson feel which is nice.
Would recommend with a warning... push through the slower parts.

[Conor Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

High 3.
Good, fast-paced, a nice JP read. But, ultimately it’s missing some ‘oomf’.
Loved the references he used for some of his own writing advice - ‘be there’ and ‘singing when you go over that hill’
Not too much to say other than I just couldn’t quite rate this in the 4’s. I felt some of the character physical actions were missing - Stefanovich seemed to be able to get up/ down/ left/ right with relative ease despite being in a wheelchair…
A definite 3.7,3.8, but just not the full ticket for what I like from JP reads.

[Deffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always I really like the suspense books. This one didn’t disappoint. I’d recommend this book to my reading friends.

[Shabana Mukhtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

gory, gruesome and grotesque as usual. I'm beginning to understand James Patterson's style now.

I loved "winning the race" moment.

[J. Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Quite disappointed to be perfectly honest. A James Patterson novel with corrupt cops and mobsters? Sounds right up my street but it failed. Stick to his later novels, this is a let down.

[Mitch Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midnight Club (1989) by James Patterson is so page-turning and interesting, the reader will find themselves further into the book than they expect in no time.



James Patterson as a writer has a way of just drawing readers in and getting them hooked on his novels. And this book is no exception. It has a very quick pace and is action-packed. This story’s protagonist is Detective John Stefanovitch. His job: find out about the secretive Midnight Club and find out about their leader. With a host of characters who supply our suspect list, this book is an excellent read. I have heard it being spoken of as not one of Patterson’s best reads. Each to their own but I enjoyed it as much as any other James Patterson book. I loved the brilliant twists and turns, the mystery of it all and I loved seeing the personal and the working life of Stefanovitch. Stefanovitch is in a wheelchair after being shot by the Grave Dancer on the night his wife was killed. And now Stefanovitch is more determined than ever after years of rehabilitation to catch the Grave Dancer now part of the Midnight Club. I love that he had a detective who was in a wheelchair because that isn’t done often enough and I think we need to as writers represent all people in life and show that because someone is disabled it doesn’t mean they can’t achieve anything anyone who isn’t disabled can.



There is also a mention of the Twin Towers in this book which sent a shiver down my spine when I read it knowing what happened in 2011.



I found this an intriguing read. I was hooked to find out what would happen and I loved that this book was longer than many James Patterson novels leaving me with more excellent reading. For me James Patterson can do no wrong. I think he is an incredible writer and every time I find his books amazing and filled with plenty of interest and excellent writing. I loved it.