Funny, the title should help you decide whether or not to purchase the book... I did and was grossly disappointed. I am a Patterson fan and have enjoyed his Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club series for years. Some on the non-series books are great, good or fair, but until I read "You've Been Warned" I have never been disappointed to this level.

The story is the result of taking half of Patterson's brain and marrying it to half of Stephen King's brain without the strengths of either author.

I'm warning you, do not purchase "You've Been Warned"!!!

This book did not measure up to the usual standards that I have come to expect from James Patterson. It is fragmented, difficult to follow and extremely far fetched.

Patterson is such an unusual writer...his work varies from excellent to downright goofy. This book falls into the downright goofy catagory with an ending that might have you saying "Whaaa???". Fortunately, I got this novel from the library so I didn't waste my money on it (I would have given it 1 star if I had!). Extremely easy to read because it's all straight forward first person story telling except there isn't much story to tell. I read the entire book while on Jury Duty in one day. If I hadn't been trapped, I might not have continued with it although I will say that it wasn't boring (that's the kiss of death for me when reading) and while the story and characters were somewhat transparant, it held my attention well enough to see what happens and how close I was to figuring it out (I was pretty close!). I'll still continue to read Patterson because his track record has been good in the past but I'll get his books from the library and not the store.

Tremendously fast read....Typical Patterson.....I sort of liked it and felt for the main character. Another very quick and easy read, Patterson books are great on audio CD since they are short and easy to follow in the car.

I've read many of Patterson's books but this was one of my favorites. In fact, I liked it so much, I read it again once I finished it the first time. What I like most about the book was the angle it comes from - something different, fresh and capturing.

Picked this book up at the grocery store as it seemed to be the only book without Fabio on the cover. It's definitely not Shakespeare, but I found it to be a page turner. I enjoyed it and couldn't wait to see how it would end. I recommend this as a great book to take along to pass the time in a waiting room or somewhere you wouldn't want to read a book that's really deep. If you go into it not expecting much I think you'll get a kick out of it.

I've been a long time James Patterson fan, but over the last several years, I've been so disappointed in the co-authored books that have been churned out every few months.

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED (and you have here) is the WORST BOOK EVER. If you don't believe me and still want to read about a nanny and wannabe photographer who has murderous nightmares, then PLEASE borrow the book from the library and save your money, as I have to believe you'll want to trash it in the end.

What a complete waste of my time. Please save your time and money and find something interesting to read. Alex Cross, yes. Womens Club, yes. Anything else I will stay away from.

I read all of JPs books. I typically like the weirdo supernatual ones the best. "You've Been Warned" is a fine read, if you are killing time in the bathroom. I wasn't even totally sure what the hell happened at the end. And then the strange note at the very end? What was that? If you are in a pinch and looking for something on a flight, or if you are having the above mentioned gastrointestinal issues, pick it up. Otherwise, borrow it from one of us!

I am not sure why James Patterson has such a hold on me and fellow readers. His books are so easy to digest and seem to be getting more shallow every new book. However I still find myself compelled to be the first in line to by each and every new book? Why, I ask myself...what could it be that I find so addicting?

You've been warned is a little different than his mystery / murder books. This is more of a supernatural book and like the 6th Sense if you know the ending than the entire plot is ruined. I am not a fast reader as in able to read a book a day, however I did finish You've Been Warned in one sitting. I was not able to put it down. My first thought after finishing the book was disappointment. But than I began to think about what the book was about and what it meant and the clues that were sprinkled trhu the chapters. The more I thought the more my mind changed. I guess to me it was like reading a short story in college and than the discussion afterwards and how every one had a differnt insight to the true meaning.

All in all this book is not the worst way to spend a weekend at home.

I read alot. Maybe 3 to 4 books a week. My favorite Patterson are the Womans Murder Club books. I thought another book about a woman would be good. It was awful!! I read all of it hoping it would get better...it never did. I read the last sentence totally amazed I had read the whole thing. There was never a plot. There was never a point where this book made any sense to me. And I have read books that are complicated and bounce around. This was just a bunch of mumbo jumbo about this girl who really the whole time was just in her head. Don't waste your money on this book.

I think too many people are expecting all of Patterson's books to be just like the Alex Cross series. Personally, I'm a bit burned out on Alex Cross; how many Cross books have there been now?? It's just a 'been there, done that' feeling now. I know, MANY people would burn me at the stake for even considering a criticism of Alex Cross, but I've just lost track of all of them. I like reading something that's a change of pace, and this one is definitely different! While it took a chapter or two for me to really get into it, once I did, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I will admit, the premise is a bit "out there", but I read fiction to be entertained & to escape daily life, and this was entertaining. The ending was a surprise as well!! I would definitely recommend it, with the warning that it's nothing like anything else he's ever written. Read it with an open mind & I think you'll like it.

The plot was awful, if you could find one, the writing sophomoric and the ending was nonsense.

I have read over 20 James Patterson books and never have I sat there so dumbfounded at the end. Throughout the entire book, I was confused with the direction of this story. The end was not a true ending and left me with more questions that I had in the begining. I wouldn't waste my time on this book.

this was a strange one, cant say good, but how can i say bad if i read it in a day? Couldnt put it down, but dont know what i was waiting for because it never came!! I was waiting for the big "ohhhhhh i get it" at the end...it didnt happen. What was that???? oh well, guess he cant be great at every book.

I am one of those readers for whom James Patterson can't write fast enough. A book a month leaves me with nothing to do for the other 29 days of the month. I eagerly look forward to the next page turner. I picked this up as an airplane book. The book is not as well constructed as most of Patterson's books. The twist at the end was most bizarre and unsettling. I wouldn't recommend the book at all.

I've read most of James Patterson's books. This one was a total waste of time and eyesight. Don't waste your money.

I think some editing could've tightened up the writing and plot, but overall, what a break from Patterson's usual fare. The book was hard to put down once I got into it. And what a great ending!

I have been a long suffering James Patterson fan and have been increasingly disappointed with his hit or miss collaborations over the past few years. You've Been Warned is BY FAR HIS WORST. It feels like what I imagine a bad acid trip would be like and has the disjointed, desperate, incoherent frustration of a paranoid schizophrenic. While the concept is thought provoking, the execution is terrible and was NOT the relaxing escape I had hoped. Save yourself the pain and don't read it.

i gave this an easy 5..one reviewer , that didn't like this , said he got it at an airport..i think this pearl would make great plane reading..that's what i intended to do..by the end of my speed reading class i went from 365 words to 370 words per minute but my instructor understood giving me an 'A' anyways..i just can't, and don't want to, read any faster..i'm a slow reader..370 words, gees!!!..i feed on each word like a delicious meal savoring each nuance of the thing knowing what a mystery it is to come up with as i consider myself a writer..journal mostly, hundreds, 10's of thousands of words..i'm so 'bad' i can't read 2 pages of 'Beloved' without having my brain scorched..same with 'A Month of Sundays'..took me a year to read 'Rabbit Redux', same for 'Rabbit is Rich'..a little less time for 'Rabbit At Rest'..i haven't read many books but i love those i do..just like my movie addiction but i see tons of those..i read 'Crime and Punishment' a couple times even made a book report on it in high school..read a lot of Vonnegut..i rarely read 'fiction' even though i mention them above..i NEVER have sat down and read more than 50 pages in one 'sit'..with 'You've Been Warned' i read 210 pages at one pretty quick session for me..and, i finished it in less than 3 days..i loved it..now, i've never heard of Patterson and i don't care who he is or what he's written even though his taste of 'At The Edge of Madness' sounds tantalizing to me , especially , not being fiction..i liked this book and that's all that matters..i read some of the reviews in here and let some friends know i'm not going to read the lousy thing to force myself to enjoy on the plane and got 'Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath' and 'When You Are Engulfed in Flames' to chose one to take on a plane..this book i recommend, though, fine reading on a plane..i'm not taking it because i got taken in fast..i'm not sure but i kinda agree with a woman who gave this a '5' that maybe a lot of people didn't like it because it's a psychological thriller..the story, plot and being in her head moved so fast and interestingly nothing but fun for me even though i had a slight feeling i may know how it somewhat turns out..doesn't matter to me though.

What a fabulous book - I simply loved it. Mr. Patterson always knows how to tell a great story and keep you turning those pages on the edge of your seat. Prior to buying this book, I had read a few reviews of other customer's who said they hated the book. However I have read James Patterson books for many years and I could not believe those bad reviews. I decided to find out for myself and I am glad I did. This is true to form Patterson, well written, suspenseful with plently of twists, and at the end I think - a moral lesson for us all. Don't play with fire because you will get burned and burn innocent people too. Another winner from James Patterson.

You've Been Warned

You've Been Warned
James Patterson
Howard Roughan

Aside from all the clever marketing tactics, including the title itself (which is what drew me to the book) and the scary looking book cover with the bloody hole cut out mid-page to reveal a "Don't Look" teaser, this book was incredibly engaging and incredibly hard to put down once I started reading it.

It's a mystery, it's a thriller and it has that all-important twist toward the end of the story that catches you by surprise. In a way, I was expecting the ending, as I was reading through the story, and for a brief moment I thought it was just too unbelievable, but that soon passed and he brought it all together to the point that I really did believe something like this could happen in the real world.

Being a writer myself, I always hesitate to give away too much in a book's review, because I don't want to spoil it for the next guy, who hasn't read the story yet. I've noticed that some folks make their reviews sound as if they're writing a high school book report and they tell you what the entire story is about, literally ruining the experience for the next reader. It's almost as if they feel they need to prove that they actually read the book. Heck, if you give away everything there is to know about the book, then all the suspense and excitement has been diminished, especially in a mystery novel.

I got hooked on Patterson's short chapter, extremely tight style of writing when I read "The Honeymoon" not too long ago. He knows how to keep you turning pages, even when your eyes are burning and stinging from reading for hours, and even though you know you must get some sleep or you won't be able to get up and go to work the next morning.

It has been said that other writers learn and mimic other writers' styles in their own books, and I have tried Patterson's tactics, while writing my own novels, but no one can pull it off like Patterson does.

Also, his character descriptions leave no doubt in your mind what the people roaming around in the story look like. I especially enjoyed the way he portrayed Penley, "the pencil", the "other woman" who stands in the way of Kris's object of affection, Michael.

Patterson and Roughan did a fabulous job writing this book and I'm sure I will be picking up and reading another one soon. Good job, guys!

Joyce Marie Taylor
Author

Like a reviewer before me, I picked this up because James Patterson's name was prominently displayed on the dust jacket and I've read and enjoyed several of his books. Boy have I learned my lesson! Always read a few pages of a book before purchasing. I couldn't get past the first few pages. My husband felt the same. Patterson should be ashamed to put his name on a piece of junk like this. We will be donating our copy to a local library simply because we can't bear to throw a book away. Don't waste your time or hard earned cash on this one!

Picked it up at the airport because the choices were so slim. There must be somekind of kickback to stock this sort of thing. There is not much to say other than to quote this portion of the book:

"It was quiet in there.
Too quiet."

That may be a word or two off and do not want to go back now but how trite can it be. Actually I know the answer to that. "It was trite. Too trite."

I've read just about all of Patterson's books and this is by far the worst! No longer will I just assume if it's James Patterson's then buy and read! If you want a clue, just read the writer's comment in the section immediately following the last page. If you then decide to waste your time and money on this book, you can then at least say that "you were warned"!
I never throw books away, but I left this on the plane in the seatback with a suitable review. And what did I find there, but another copy of this book. Apparantely, a previous passanger felt the same about the book as I did!

... Do.not.read.the.book.

Absolutely horrible. Tremendously boring. Factually inconsistent, as another Photog had mentioned. Very insipidly written.

Such drivel.

Why did James Patterson decide he needed to resort to such bizarre, out-there topics?? First the flying children, then the imaginary playmate, now this nightmare of a book. I loved his Women's Murder Club series, Sam's Letters to Jennifer, Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas, and of course,
Alex Cross. Bring back the James Patterson plots we all know and love and please get off this tangent, Mr. Patterson.

I love most of James Patterson's books and he is one of my favorite authors. Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, great characters and great reads for suspense and entertainment. But... he's now venturing off with other authors why, I don't know but this is the second one I've read that I was sorely disappointed. This one especially. I couldn't wait to get through it and I found myself skipping over most of it to see if there was a point to the story.
I figured the plot quite easily but was hoping for something, anything to make it worth my read. If you've seen the movie the Sixth Sense, you'll see it's a weak spin of sorts from that theory.
I love a good read but this is not one. My message to fans of James Patterson is to stick to Alex Cross and the Murder Club books and skip all of the rest and especially if he aligns himself with another author.
I wonder if Patterson's goal has moved from author to one of seeing how many books he can write and co-write?

The reason this book has drawn so many negative reviews, including mine, is that readers thought they were getting a Patterson novel and felt cheated. This book doesn't read like Patterson because it isn't Patterson! For whatever reason, too many good authors these days are lending their names to books written by (they call it "with") someone else, in this case Howard Roughan. Even Robert Ludlum is still "writing" novels, though he died in 2001. You've Been Warned is weird, confusing, and completely unsatisfying. It doesn't even come close to the high standards found in books Patterson actually wrote himself.

This AWFUL book doesn't even deserve one star but because I'm a long-time James Patterson fan, I'm being generous. Patterson is a masterful storyteller so this book had to have been written by the 'co-author' and maybe proofread by Patterson, because this dumb drivel could never have come from JP. From now on I will never buy any Patterson book with a co-author, this is the 2nd one I immediately tossed into the trash after reading instead of passing on to friends. Finishing this truly crappy book was an ordeal but I kept hoping that somehow the story would make sense and redeem itself, but it didn't. RUN DO NOT WALK away from this book, don't waste your money, and if a friend gives you the book, do yourself a favor, use it to burn in your fireplace or throw it quickly into a landfill where hopefully it will disintegrate quickly.

OK, I'm going to disagree with everyone here. I couldn't put this book down! I guess it's because I love anything to do with the supernatural. for christians the ending is fantastic. It's another view of hell, and life after death. I LOVED it, and I search for good books because I have such a hard time finding them!