Holmes Is Missing by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 

When six newborn babies disappear from a private hospital, investigators Holmes, Marple and Poe are hired to track down the kidnappers. The only problem is that Holmes isn't around, and the remaining two investigators are tight-lipped about his whereabouts.

You know what you're getting from a James Patterson novel; short and snappy chapters, fast-paced and not a vast amount of concentration needed. Just the sort of book you can pick up and put down easily after reading a few chapters. Holmes Is Missing, written by James Patterson in collaboration with Brian Sitts, fits the mould exactly. I read the first book in the series back in December 2023 and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. As a result, I was looking forward to reading the sequel.

What worked so well the first time around was the mystery surrounding the main characters. Throughout the first book, there were subtle hints about the backgrounds of Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe, and I fully expected these backgrounds to be explored further this time around. Unfortunately, we learnt very little about the characters as far too much of the storyline revolved around their current personal lives.

I did enjoy some of the tongue-in-cheek humour, particularly the crime writers convention where real-life writers made a guest appearance (and didn't always come off well).

There was plenty of action, as befits a James Patterson thriller, but it all felt a bit madcap as the investigators raced from one location to the next, usually in some form of American muscle car, but there were times when only a plane or helicopter would suffice. It all felt just a touch surreal.

While the crimes were solved, readers are left dangling by the introduction of an arch-nemesis for Holmes, his very own version of Moriarty. Obviously, this signals a third outing for Holmes, Marple and Poe, but I don't think I'll be getting involved.

Author Details

James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. Among his creations are some of the world's most popular series including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett and the Private novels. He has written many other number one bestsellers including collaborations with President Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, stand-alone thrillers and non-fiction. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed adult author in UK libraries for the past fourteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

Brian Sitts is an award-winning advertising creative director and television writer. He has collaborated with James Patterson on books for adults and children. He and his wife, Jody, live in Peekskill, New York.