Worst Case by James Patterson - (audio book review)

Title: Worst Case
Authors: James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Read by Bobby Cannavale, Orlagh Cassidy, and John Glover
Publisher: Hachette Audio

BEST CASE: SURVIVAL  The son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street and held hostage.  His parents can't save him, because this kidnapper isn't demanding money.

WORST CASE: DEATH   Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation.  As another student disappears, another powerful family uses their leverage and connections to turn up the heat to stop this killer.  Their reach extends all the way to the FBI, which sends its top Abduction Specialist, Agent Emily Parker.

THIS CASE: DETECTIVE MICHAEL BENNETT IS ON IT   Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case, the mastermind changes his routine.  His plan leads up to the most devastating demonstration yet -- one that could bring cataclysmic ruin to every inch of New York City.   (Synopsis from back cover)

My thoughts:  Sorry about using the canned synopsis, but I am too far behind on reviews.  I loved this audio cd, not just for the narrators but for the story itself.  There was good chemistry between Bennett and Parker, not necessarily the romantic kind, but just how they were always on the same wavelength - especially coming from different lifestyles.  Bennett is a single dad of a bunch of kids.  His wife has died and he has a housekeeper/nanny that helps out who is also sporting a crush on Bennett.  Parker is also a single parent of  only one, a girl who she has left in the care of her brother.  They worked well together and I don't feel like there was any power struggle between the two of them.  In a male/female pairing of this sort, you think you would either have strong romantic vibes or that the woman would be working hard to "prove" herself - or maybe the man would be playing "protector".  I like that they just came together as colleagues towards a mutual goal.  The narrators were wonderful!  You could hear the Bronx in Bennett just by the dialogue.  And in listening to the kidnapper, you could just feel the little bit crazy, little bit sinister in his voice!  I have a feeling that even in reading it, I would have felt the same way because of the choice of words - it wasn't just in the voices - it was in the words.  I have read quite a few by Patterson, but I think I am going to be listening to more of his in the future!

Listen to an excerpt

~I received a complimentary copy of this audio CD from Hachette in exchange for my review.~

Worst Case
Publisher/Publication Date: Hachette Audio, Feb 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60024-784-2
Approx. 7 hours