About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge is a great beach read. Beach Road has big print, short chapters and a fast-moving plot. James Patterson does what he is known for doing well. Beach Road is a thriller that will not disappoint Patterson fans or anyone else looking for an entertaining, if not intellectually stimulating, read.



Pros

• Beach Road is a quick, easy read
• There is enough suspense to keep pages turning

• Beach Road has likable characters
• The last 100 pages are great

Cons

• No depth, won't make you think (not a con for everyone)
• Beach Road is a little slow in the middle

Description

• Beach Road is a James Patterson thriller, fast-paced and fun
• In Beach Road, a high school basketball star is framed for murder and a local lawyer defends him
• Told from several viewpoints, Beach Road keeps readers guessing about the outcome until the end

Guide Review - Beach Road by James Patterson - Book Review

Beach Road by James Patterson is the story of a basketball star in the Hamptons who is framed for murder. A local lawyer and former NBA player, Tom Dunleavy, agrees to defend the star and makes an attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend in the process.

The characters in Beach Road are not developed well and the plot is not very complex; however, Beach Road has all the elements of an entertaining thriller--conspiracy, courtroom drama, mystery, and just a little sex and romance. Patterson also throws in some celebrity cameos, which I found humorous.

James Patterson does not disappoint readers who are looking for a fun, mindless read. The book jacket promises a shocking ending. Indeed, the last hundred pages are the best part of Beach Road. They move quickly and make up for mediocre moments earlier in the novel.

Overall, I would classify Beach Road as a good beach read. It won't feed your mind or soul, but it is a good alternative to reality TV.

Be sure to check out these Beach Road book club discussion questions.