'Private Beijing' by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy

Published by Penguin Books,
3 August 2023. 
ISBN: 978-1-52915-735-2 (PB).

Jack Morgan, Private’s owner, is enjoying a relaxing evening when he receives a phone call from the Private Beijing office second-in-command, Zhang Daiyu, informing him that three operatives have been killed and the head of the office, Shang Li, is missing.  He immediately arranges to fly to Beijing, but as he is on his way news comes of another attack on Private operatives, this time in New York.  He has to assume that the attacks are connected and is totally reliant on Zhang Daiyu for support.  David Zhou, one of Beijing’s most wealthy and powerful men has been under surveillance and the two colleagues take up this trail again. Meanwhile in New York, Justine, Jack’s partner, is meeting Rafael Lucas, who is coping with the death of one operative and the serious injury of another and feels the need for some leadership.

Jack and his colleagues, Justine, Maureen Roth (a tech expert) and Seymour Kloppenberg (who leads a team of 12 forensic scientists) have to deal with this twin attack and try to understand how they might be linked.  The answer is suitably complex.

This is a well-written, fast moving story, with tense action scenes.  It’s the 17^th in this series and the main characters are well-established.  The action involves lots of bravery, not a small amount of luck, but the tension never drops.  
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Reviewer: Jo Hesslewood
Other books in this series:  Private Moscow (2020), Private Rogue (2021), Private Rome, Private Monaco (2024) and Private Dublin (2025

Adam Hamdy is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker. In addition to his own original work, Adam has adapted a number of comic books and novels for the screen, including the forthcoming film version of David Mitchell’s novel, Number9Dream. Adam has a law degree from Oxford University and a philosophy degree from the University of London.  He is a seasoned rock climber, skier and CPSA marksman. Adam lives in Shropshire with his wife and three children.  

http://www.adamhamdy.com/

 

James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His books have sold in excess of 385 million copies worldwide.  James is passionate about encouraging children to read. Inspired by his own son who was a reluctant reader, he also writes a range of books for young readers.  James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed author in UK libraries for the past thirteen years in a row. He lives in Florida with his family.

www.jamespatterson.com  

Jo Hesslewood.  Crime fiction has been my favourite reading material since as a teenager I first spotted Agatha Christie on the library bookshelves.  For twenty-five years the commute to and from London provided plenty of reading time.  I am fortunate to live in Cambridge, where my local crime fiction book club, Crimecrackers, meets at Heffers Bookshop .  I enjoy attending crime fiction events and currently organise events for the Margery Allingham Society.