My sister recommended Crosshairs and warned me that once I started, I’d have trouble putting it down. She was not wrong. I picked it up intending to read a few chapters and ended up finishing it in one sitting. This book moves.
This was my first introduction to Michael Bennett, and now I want more. He’s a detective, a father of ten (yes, TEN), and somehow manages to balance solving crimes with family chaos and moral clarity. I loved his relationship with his wife Mary Catherine and the glimpse into his family life, which gave the book some warmth in between all the high-stakes tension. Crosshairs is #16 in the Michael Bennett series, so clearly I’ve got some catching up to do.
The plot is classic Patterson in the best way: It opens with a sniper killing and does not let up. What really stood out to me, though, was the killer’s motive. Without giving too much away, it taps into that frustration we all feel when people game the justice system and get away on technicalities. If that bothers me, I can only imagine how it feels for detectives like Bennett. The emotional weight behind the crimes made this more than just a “catch the bad guy” story.
One supporting character I really liked was Rob Trilling. Even when things got messy, he stayed grounded and determined to do the right thing. You need those kinds of people in stories like this—someone whose integrity never wavers.
I won’t spoil the ending, but let me just say this: I did not see it coming. And I was relieved the killer wasn’t someone I’d grown to like. I am officially on the hunt for more Michael Bennett thrillers!
