Run for Your Life

by: James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Published by: Hachette Audio

Reviewed by Maria Elmvang

NYPD homicide detective Mike Bennett is facing the worst nightmare of his life. His children are all sick, and he can’t even stay home to take care of them because a maniac calling himself “The Teacher” is running around Manhattan killing the rich, the snobbish and the rude. It would appear that nobody in the upper circles can count themselves safe. What Mike really wants to know is how the victims are chosen! Is it just a random sampling? Or are they all connected somehow? When the killer finally shows up at Bennett’s house to take him hostage, he knows he has to do something drastic.

James Patterson has always been known for his fast-paced, quick-action books, and this adventure, co-authored with Michael Ledwidge, is no exception. I was hooked from the very beginning, so eager to know what happened next, that I even found myself biking detours in order to get in “just one more chapter” before arriving at work.

Run for Your Life is read by Dallas Roberts and Bobby Cannavale, with one reading the chapters focused on Mike Bennet and the other reading the chapters focused on “The Teacher.” At first I was unsure of how this would work, and worried that the two voices would be too similar for me to differentiate between them. That turned out not to be a problem at all, as not only were their voices significantly different, but they also managed to adapt their tone of voice to the characters portrayed. Nobody would be in doubt as to the state of “The Teacher’s” mental health after hearing Bobby Cannavale’s portrayal of his voice. And Dallas Roberts’ voice was likewise sufficiently strong as Mike Bennett.

Run for Your Life is James’ and Michael’s second book about Mike Bennett, but can easily be read or listened to with no knowledge of the first as the plot is self-contained and any continuation must be in reoccurring characters only.

At a mere seven hours playing time it is an almost too quick, but very enjoyable listen.

Armchair Interviews says: The excellent writing is enhanced by outstanding readers.

Author’s Web site: http://www.JamesPatterson.com