Book Review: The House Husband by James Patterson and Duane Swierczwynski

The House Husband
by James Patterson and Duane Swierczwynski

This 119-page, stand-alone murder mystery is told from the perspective of both the detective and the murderer. We don’t know the identity of the killer and it’s maddening that we become familiar with his thoughts and personal life but no clue yet as to who he is. Actually, there is one clue but it’s slyly presented and you miss it – I had to go back and re-read that section.

Alternating chapters give you glimpses into each of their lives and let you watch while the detective tries to solve the crimes, and the murderer plots each successive murder of an entire family.

And there’s a surprise in the middle that I didn’t expect.

A fast read (you can devour this in one evening) with suspense building in each chapter. Patterson’s BookShot books are meant to be page-turning, quick reads and this one doesn’t disappoint.

For the most part, that is. Once the crime is solved I felt it ended too abruptly. There should have been at least another short chapter. Also, I felt there were a couple of holes in the plot. But overall an attention-grabbing mystery, well-written, with a surprise ending.

[For another fast-paced mystery with a strong, female detective try The Late Show and The Dark Sacred Night, both by Michael Connelly.]

[ official House Husband page on the official James Patterson web site ]

Recommended by Charlotte M.
Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!