The Summer House: The Classic Blockbuster from the Author of Lion & Lamb

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 45,141 ratings

Price: 2.99

Last update: 07-17-2024


About this item

When seven murder victims are found in a small town, the homicide investigation shakes a small-town sheriff to her core in James Patterson's tense thriller.

Once a luxurious southern getaway on a rustic lake, then reduced to a dilapidated crash pad, the Summer House is now the grisly scene of a nighttime mass murder. Eyewitnesses point to four Army Rangers—known as the Night Ninjas—recently returned from Afghanistan.

To ensure that justice is done, the Army sends Major Jeremiah Cook, a veteran and former NYPD cop, to investigate. But the major and his elite team arrive in sweltering Georgia with no idea their grim jobs will be made exponentially more challenging by local law enforcement, who resists the Army's intrusion and stonewall them at every turn. 

As Cook and his squad struggle to uncover the truth behind the condemning evidence, the pieces just won't fit—and forces are rallying to make certain damning secrets die alongside the victims in the murder house. With his own people in the cross-hairs, Cook takes a desperate gamble to find answers—even if it means returning to a hell of his own worst nightmares . . . 


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Top reviews from the United States

Rachael Ashak-Benson
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprises around every rusted fender & corn row!
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
I am in the vast minority here, I’m aware.
I’ve never been a huge James Patterson reader. Just not my cup of tea.
I do love thrillers, & twisty-turny mysteries. And most of all military stories with both a medical & apocalyptic leaning to them.
Minus the apocalypse - The Summer House - has it all & more.
I don’t even need to say, I don’t think, just how strongly the cast of characters was created & the dialogue structured. Just phenomenal.
The same goes for the world building. From the first page until the last the imagery is so outstandingly crafted it’s like you are given a front row seat to the blockbuster movie of the year - except that premium seat is in your mind. Right from the start, the visual simply flows.
I flew through The Summer House in a day or so, but wish I could have stretched out the experience!
I’m not sure if any of Patterson’s books conclude with, “happy endings”? But I just had a feeling throughout, everything, somehow, would work out. The slight tension was in the, “how.”
Speaking of tension, it definitely isn’t the most “edge of your seat,” read. Which is not a negative. It is a thrilling read, in that you NEED to turn the page, to find out what happens next, & to learn how it all started to begin with.
Yet it does not grab you & hold your adrenaline & stress levels maxed from start to finish. It’s a relief all books are not like that! Lol!
So I’ll add my glowing review to the thousands of others which came before. And like those other readers my same advice to you will be — just read The Summer House. No matter your usual genre.
There is nothing lacking here. And all to be gained.
(Side note from a New Englander ….
It is also a positive every so often, to be reminded that, “old prejudices,” are not so, “old,” in other parts of our country. That they are alive & well; living & breathing.
This isn’t a spoiler, nor is it necessarily anything which factors into this story’s plot in a particularly meaningful manner. It’s just that there are those of us living in other areas of the country where the culture is so different, we occasionally forget that it’s still like this in America today.
Where I live, diversity is celebrated. In fact, it’s almost a total non-issue at this point. (Of course, prejudice at its base level — anywhere — can never be truly erased, I’m certainly not saying that.)
Just the … blatant use of pejorative terminology & out in the open biases. By political leaders, judges, etc…. Jarring, & a solid reminder. )
L.W. Samuelson
5.0 out of 5 stars What a Barn Burner
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024
The Summer House is a great, fast-paced read. James Patterson is adept at changing points of view allowing me to experience the story on several levels. Its short chapters and building suspense kept me reading far beyond the time I intended to read. With great characters and an unpredictable plot The Summer House is one of the best books I've read this year!
Rey Mundo Magnus
4.0 out of 5 stars A simple read, a simple story
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
The Summer House by James Patterson

This book was what I would consider a generic version of James Patterson story telling. The story line moved quickly, the characters all held their own and I enjoyed the chapters being broken up into small clips which helped the book flow.

There were characters that were strong enough that they could be used in a followup novel. It was an enjoyable and simple book that held me to the finish, wanting to know how it would all conclude.

The one thing I found unnecessary was the repeated use of God's name in vain. It wasn't needed in order to carry the bad guy image storyline. I am uncertain why writers use this to emphasize subject matter, you would think they could come up with hundreds of alternative words aside from his and damn together

It is an okay novel that I would probably read again. Patterson is a great writer and it is hard to go wrong, this is just not one of his five star award winners
Steven
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024
Great story. Twists and turns. Kept my interest.
Kay Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
I love a book that is so good you stay tense the whole time you're reading it. This definitely that book! Suspense on every turn of the page. I know there is a lot more corruption in the world than I can imagine, otherwise books like this wouldn't be written. Very good read!
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2024
This book has many twists and turns. Very hard to put down. The chapters are shorter so it's easy to say just one more!
Klrj26
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
I thought the book was great, lots of suspense. I think it could have been 100 pages shorter in my opinion though.
Della Caldwell
3.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable and Unnecessary Twists
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2023
This was a reasonably intriguing story about Army Rangers accused of an horrendous murder - until it took too many unbelievable twists and then it became boring. All of the lead investigator's trips in Afghanistan - yeah right. Wouldn't happen. Weren't necessary. All of that information could have been "uncovered" in a more realistic manner without being in-person in Afghanistan. An entire county in Georgia under the thumb of one bad character? Everyone getting killed or going missing and that doesn't raise anyone's concerns other than the Army investigators? Skyping into court??? Then POOF - the Rangers are magically free???? Too many characters killed off - for what? That doesn't make good reading - just gore. It would have been better to develop the story of Tyler and DD. There was no real build up to a satisfying ending.

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