Review: Murder Interrupted - James Patterson

Review: Murder Interrupted - Book #1 Discovery's Murder is Forever Series -  James Patterson - January 2018

You know how sometimes a book finds you twice? That's exactly what happened with Murder Interrupted by James Patterson and I'm so glad it did.

One of my reading goals for 2026 is to tackle at least one non-fiction book a month, which sounds straightforward enough until you're standing in front of your shelves (or your TBR list) completely paralysed by choice. In the end, I handed the decision over to my partner, and honestly? Best thing I could have done. He pointed me straight to this one a copy I'd nabbed at the Rotary secondhand book sale here in Tauranga back in March and off I went.

Here's the funny thing though. A quick peek at Goodreads reminded me I'd actually attempted this very book back in February 2018 when it first came out. Apparently past-me wasn't feeling it, because I gave it 2 Ps which, for those who know my rating system, is a DNF (did not finish). But present-me? Completely hooked from the start. It's funny how the right book at the right time makes all the difference.

Murder Interrupted covers two true crime cases, and they're quite different from each other, which kept things feeling fresh. The first story follows a woman who believed she was in a perfectly happy marriage  only to discover her husband had hired a hitman to kill her. I hadn't heard of this case before picking up the book, which made it all the more gripping. There's something particularly chilling about a betrayal that close to home, and James Patterson handles the details in a way that keeps you turning pages without feeling exploitative.

The second story, well I doubt I even need to introduce it. Unless you've been completely off the grid for the past several years, you'll know the name Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Her story, and the shocking way it ended for her mother, has become one of the most discussed true crime cases of recent memory. Even knowing the outcome, reading it laid out with such clarity and context added new layers I hadn't considered before.

If you grew up devouring Ann Rule's work that perfect blend of compassion and hard fact then Murder Interrupted belongs on your shelf. A surprisingly warm recommendation from a secondhand find and a partner with good taste.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nuBp5I