Burn (A Michael Bennett Thriller, 7)

Burn is the seventh book in the Michael Bennett series by prolific American author, James Patterson. It is co-written with Michael Ledwidge. Detective Michael Bennett and his family are back from their witness protection stint in California, finally back home in NYC. But, relegated to an unwanted position (head of the mayor's Ombudsman Outreach Squad) by a Chief of Detectives with a grudge, Bennett would much rather be on the Major Crime Squad.

Ironically, when he does get reassigned back to the Crime Squad to solve a spate of jewellery heists, he cannot let go of a case his Outreach Squad was investigating: the murder, deemed suicide by the local Harlem PD, of a young cop on their squad, Officer Naomi Chast. Chast was investigating a report of possible cannibalism, but now her computer and all her notes are missing.

Bennett spreads himself thin, covering both Squads, and is also distracted by his budding romance with the Irish nanny of his ten adopted children, Mary Catherine. The sudden appearance of the father of one of those children does not help matters either. The jewel thieves are quick and clever and the cannibals are elusive. Bennett seems to be able to play fast and loose with his Outreach Squad, seconding them to surveillance on jewellery shops without hesitation.

This instalment of Patterson's Michael Bennett series gives the reader plenty of action, a bit of romance, some criminals with grisly appetites, a car and bike chase and an exciting climax. If the reader can mentally edit out the prologue with its cheap tricks and silliness, then this is a pretty good read.