Step on a Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

During a state funeral for a beloved former First Lady in New York City's largest cathedral, the unthinkable occurs. Armed men disguised as monks seize the church and seal themselves inside, along with more than one hundred of the most powerful people in America. The captives include world leaders, actors, TV stars, athletes, and politicians, and the kidnappers are armed with enough C4 explosives to blow a crater in the middle of Manhattan.

NYPD officer Michael Bennett is pulled into the standoff as lead negotiator. Despite the escalating danger, Michael faces an even more terrifying crisis at home. His wife has been diagnosed with a devastating disease, and Michael faces the prospect of losing the love of his life and having to raise their ten children alone. With his own life teetering and the lives of thousands suddenly his responsibility, Michael struggles to diffuse the tense situation fast. Yet the kidnappers' moves are impossible to predict, and they block every attempt to break into the cathedral almost as if they are privy to their deliberations.

Two stars and that's only because I'm feeling generous. What a stinker. The plot had potential, but unfortunately, the writing did not help at all. Holy crap, it was bad.

Just some nitpicks:

1. There's one character in the book who is always referred to as either Commander Will Matthews or Will Matthews, but never just Will or Matthews. I have no idea why. None of the other characters are given similar treatment. It actually gets ridiculous because there are several points in the book where his full name is given in the same paragraph. In one instant, it was in adjoining sentences.

2. After taking over the cathedral, the hostage-takers claim that they've planted explosives that they'll detonate if the police try and storm the cathedral.They didn't, but the cops didn't know because they didn't bother asking any of the thousands of hostages the bad guys released early on if they had seen them wiring up explosives.

3. Overall, the cops all act like absolute morons and it's obvious no research was actually done into how they would handle the situation.

4. Michael Bennett just exists for most of the book and does little during the main plot until the very last part. Otherwise, he just cycles between the crime scene, going home to his kids, and visiting his dying wife in hospice. His contributions to the hostage situation is largely relegated to talking to the leader of the hostage-takers on the phone in brief calls.

5. When the go to arrested the hostage-takers at the end, they do so while they're at work (in a prison) instead of showing up at their homes and arresting them quickly and quietly.
6. The reveal of the mastermind was disappointing because it felt like it was just pulled out of someone's butt.

Having said all that, I do plan on reading the other books in the series because I want to see if there's any improvement in the writing or not.

I am a big fan of James Paterson. I have read all of the James Paterson woman's murder club books. I wanted to try something different I am very glad I did I enjoyed this.