Shattered

Shattered

A missed phone call that went unanswered would set off a chain of events that would alter many lives. Emily Parker was out for a run, a seasoned FBI agent, and blindsided. Emily is found dead strangled but who killed her? Detective Michael Bennett is an NYPD detective but will find his way to DC to find the killer. With the support of his new wife Mary Catherine, and his 10 children he heads off to find a killer. A phone call from his partner, Harry sets it in motion when he learns Emily is missing. Emily Parker’s disappearance forced a phone call to a colleague from the Bronx. Roberta Herring was his source and explained his link to Emily and the cases they worked on in the past as she reveals that Emily dated some powerful people in DC. Politicians, judges, and other powerful men were just some of her social circle. DC it is and making casual inquiries Bennett learns she was involved with the newest Supreme Court justice, Robert Steinberg, who’s married to the daughter of a senator from New York. But he needed a contact in the FBI and that was Bobby Patel who was his resource and link to information. The research was necessary so Bennett learned more about Steinberg and her link to powerful men and women. Checking out where she was in the last scene at Whole Foods, hoping to get footage from a DVR system. Then he learns that she was tracking an anarchist group, The Burning Land, and here’s where it gets dangerous. Researching this group he learns they were suspected of several deaths, fires, and more crimes. But the leader Jeremy Pugh would prove more than dangerous when Bennett decides to confront him. The incident in chapter 13 makes you wonder why Bennett didn’t fight harder. 

Added in the authors include the special award that his son Trent was getting, the special project Seamus was helping Bennett’s daughter with, the other 8 children each from different cultures, and of course Mary Catherine. 

Working the case he realizes he’s out of his jurisdiction and comes up against huge obstacles from the police in New York, the other branches of law enforcement, and of course the suspects once he hones in on them. Emily had secrets that are revealed about many relationships, her powerful connections, and the reasons why she was eliminated. 

As he learns more from Herring he uncovers three possible suspects. Justice Steinberg, Marty Bryant a congressman, and a lobbyist named Donald Minshew. 

Throughout the novel, Bennett is blindsided and law enforcement in other branches wants him gone. They even go as far as using force snd threats. 

In another murder in Baltimore, Michelle Luna snd the murder scene and the manner of death mirrors Erica’s to a point. Bennett seeks the help of Patel but something is off. Meeting Beth Parks turned out embarrassing as in the end, she takes him down. The senator’s wife has her secrets and thinks she’s above the law. 

As the pieces fit together n Bennett relies on Google technology and the cell phone locations of his suspects. The best is the takedown of Jeremy snd what follows proves that Bennett can solve it all against all odds. 

Authors James Patterson and James O. Born have changed Bennett in many ways from the start of the series till the present. 

The issues of political corruption, deceptions, lies, betrayals, and family trust, loyalty, and hope, the characters face off with internal conflicts, justifying their actions, and in the end when two killers are identified, which ones will pay and at who’s the expense? Bennett will stop at nothing to avenge Erica’s death even though her personal life was questionable he felt a loyalty to her as a friend. Lives will be changed, done remain in tack while others will be permanently Shattered.

Fran Lewis just reviews