Series
Genres
Publication
Random House Export (2013)
Description
The Berlin office of the world's most renowned investigation firm looks into the disappearance of an agent, Chris Schneider, whose last case involved an unfaithful billionaire, a cheating soccer player and a seedy nightclub owner.
User reviews
LibraryThing member HenriMoreaux
I received this book as a gift, and as such wasn't completely aware it was part of a series. There's no real reference to being part of a series on the cover.
The story is set in modern Germany, and involves events which took place in East Germany before reunification.
I thought with the contextual
I was also disappointed with the lack of description as to what 'Private Berlin' is. Yes, one eventually draws the conclusion it's some form of private investigation company yet I'm confused as to why they have corporate jets & forensic labs. A little introduction paragraph to cover off the non-series readers wouldn't have gone astray.
Overall, an average but entertaining read. Doesn't excel, doesn't add anything to the genre, but it will fill your time in.
The story is set in modern Germany, and involves events which took place in East Germany before reunification.
I thought with the contextual
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setting involving East Germany, the Stasi and a mysterious slaughterhouse with many secrets, that there was a lot of potential for a really great novel. However, I can't help but feel it was squandered at the altar of fast profit - these novels seem to be being churned out ever more quickly. I also couldn't help but note that despite being 431 pages it's a very quick read, then when you realise the font is large, double spaced with large margins it really isn't as large as it appears - just padded.I was also disappointed with the lack of description as to what 'Private Berlin' is. Yes, one eventually draws the conclusion it's some form of private investigation company yet I'm confused as to why they have corporate jets & forensic labs. A little introduction paragraph to cover off the non-series readers wouldn't have gone astray.
Overall, an average but entertaining read. Doesn't excel, doesn't add anything to the genre, but it will fill your time in.
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LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member Pierced_Phoenix
A good installment in James Patterson's "Private" series. Murder, lust, revenge, all come together in this thrilling tale of who-dun-it.
LibraryThing member JeffV
I really loved the first of the Private books, but subsequent books have all come up short. What started out as a group of highly skilled investigators now seems only to presume as such. The story is good -- half of it told first-person by the perpetrator of a number of serial killings. However,
And that is a shame -- the running commentary by the serial killer was very well done. The overall plot reaches back to the days of Communism and East Germany and is pretty well conceived -- the plot is bigger than just a serial killer and dredging up events long buried is inconvenient and unhealthy for those who thought they moved on. The hero is just too weak for the outcome to be plausible.
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Madeline, an agent with Private, is poorly conceived in just about every way. Private is supposed to consist of the best of the best; agents equipped to handle high profile clients in the most delicate of situations. But Madeline not only was previously engaged to Chris Schneider, an agent who runs afoul of the evil bad guy, but also has a son -- which we know is an Achilles Heel in this profession. If she had awesome skills to offset these disadvantages, we might overlook it, but she does not, and becomes predictably compromised. And that is a shame -- the running commentary by the serial killer was very well done. The overall plot reaches back to the days of Communism and East Germany and is pretty well conceived -- the plot is bigger than just a serial killer and dredging up events long buried is inconvenient and unhealthy for those who thought they moved on. The hero is just too weak for the outcome to be plausible.
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LibraryThing member BrianEWilliams
A leading investigator for a high-end detective agency in Berlin disappears, causing his colleagues to search for him. They are led to an abandoned abattoir in the former East Berlin, and eventually to a disgusting secret of the failed East German state.
Despite a slow start, this becomes a fast
Recommended for quick reading, once you get to the halfway point of the story.
Despite a slow start, this becomes a fast
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moving action story as the detectives follow a serial killer as he hunts down 6 people who can tie him to his sordid past. There's little or no character development -- this is a plot driven story. Unfortunately the background local colour for Berlin is superficial. Recommended for quick reading, once you get to the halfway point of the story.
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LibraryThing member cebellol
This book was... good.
Despite the excessive detail in some areas, it was a quick read. There was a lot of action, which definitely helped it along and the few chapters that we got from the killer's perspective were a nice touch. You really were able to get a feel for his idiosyncrasies which was
Also, I'm not a fan of how it ended. It's not that it was a huge leap to make, but I don't think that someone grieving would have made it that soon.
I would recommend this as a beach or pool side read, but not much more than that.
Despite the excessive detail in some areas, it was a quick read. There was a lot of action, which definitely helped it along and the few chapters that we got from the killer's perspective were a nice touch. You really were able to get a feel for his idiosyncrasies which was
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kind of fun (& creepy). It's funny, actually. As much detail as there was in certain areas of the book, i felt as though the killer's chapters could have used a little more. Maybe it was just me wanting to know more about him. I really don't know, but I just though he could have had another layer to him that wasn't really taken anywhere.Also, I'm not a fan of how it ended. It's not that it was a huge leap to make, but I don't think that someone grieving would have made it that soon.
I would recommend this as a beach or pool side read, but not much more than that.
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LibraryThing member lamour
Set in Germany, this novel is part of Patterson's Private series. When one of their operatives is discovered dead and mostly eaten by rats in an abandoned abattoir, the members of Private, a private investigative organization set out to search the man's mysterious past to find out why he was
Their search leads them to some of the horrendous things the former East German Secret Police (Stasi) did to the families of opponents of the government. One of those former Stasi agents is tracking down anyone who can identify him and killing them. It becomes a race to get to these people before the criminal does so his identity can become known.
A fast moving story with some horrific violence depicted. I can see why his books are popular for the chapters are short and the writing very basic. I did not find my first Patterson very satisfying. I will have to try a title in one of his other series.
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killed. Who were the skeletons that were found with him?Their search leads them to some of the horrendous things the former East German Secret Police (Stasi) did to the families of opponents of the government. One of those former Stasi agents is tracking down anyone who can identify him and killing them. It becomes a race to get to these people before the criminal does so his identity can become known.
A fast moving story with some horrific violence depicted. I can see why his books are popular for the chapters are short and the writing very basic. I did not find my first Patterson very satisfying. I will have to try a title in one of his other series.
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LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member TomWheaton
I thought this was the best book in the private series so far. It was a bit slow getting started but, after the villian's profile is developed, the reader just wants this evil person to "get his' in the end. I also enjoyed some of the locations as have been to Berlin. The book has the usual short
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chapters but even so, it was hard to stop at bedtime. Show Less
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member skinglist
I can't tell if he was using a really bad co writer or the bad syntax was meant to convey their broken English - when it wasn't clear whether the characters were speaking in English or German. He's really mass producing these too quickly - but I'm intrigued by the series and loved the physical and
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historical setting of this. I found it a little too rushed in terms of tying up loose ends - but a good two day read Show Less
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member ZachMontana
Intrique and horror fill this mystery for Private Berlin and lead investigator, Mattie Engel. One of James Patterson's best made even better by the narrators, especially the man who does the evil Falk -Ari Fliakos.
LibraryThing member bostonterrio
The audio of this book not only grabbed my attention it held it! Fast paced and compelling! I listened to the whole thing with very few breaks. Love how the author included details of Berlin life before and after the wall came down. The characters were believable and I cared about what was
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happening to them. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
I have enjoyed the Private Series. This one is a little different in that it is one of their own who is killed and they have to solve the mystery. An engrossing read, I had to finish it.
LibraryThing member sandra.k.heinzman
Another good James Patterson page turner! Takes place in Berlin, of course.
LibraryThing member whybehave2002
I love this series because Private has offices all over the world and we get to visit them as the stories unravel. This one is a dark story. The heaviness that the people of Berlin carry in their hearts has to, of course, affect them in their daily lives. You can feel it and often see it in this
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story. Sad, but triumphant and a feeling that there will be another day... Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013-01-21
ISBN
1780890184 / 9781780890180
Other editions
Private Berlin by James Patterson (Ebook)
Private Berlin: (Private 5) by James Patterson (Paperback)
Private Berlin: (Private 5) by James Patterson (Paperback)