It was good read. The villain is this very bad. Ben Hawkins is a ex-cop who gets the story of the lifetime. He goes to Hawaii to follow up on the murder of a supermodel. Its his story along with Henri( the bad guy). Its good and scary.
Henri wants Ben to do a tell all of his story...Going behind the makings of a Killer and why they do it. I loved it. I gave this a 3 out of 5. Mainly because it seemed along James Patterson usual fare.

This book was okay. The murders are vividly described. The motivation is somewhat clear. Not sure where the narrator is supposed to fit in the big picture, nor why he fits there. The ending fails to bring the justice that you want to see occur. I guess we will have to see if this turns into a series.

Yet another winner by James Patterson. I've read every book he's written, and this one is just another one to add to his great list of works. Keep 'em coming!

I am a James Patterson fan, have almost every book he's written but unfortunately this one was one of my least favorites. At first book lead me to think it was based on a real story, but once you start reading you realize it couldn't be. There are references to the suspect doing executiions like on the prisoners in the middle east by decapitation. This was too much for me. I think the realness of that was too much. The ending also left much to be desired. If their is a second part to this book in the future there will be a place left in my collection, maybe 2 including this one. Really disappointed.

I am actually surprised at the negative reviews on Swimsuit. I love reading James Paterson's books and I must say some of them did not please me, especially the endings. Maybe I have not read his books in awhile but I did enjoy Swimsuit from the first page to the last. It was fast reading and held my interest. I would recommend this book. Must order Cross Country and the 8th Confession. Hope I enjoy them as much as Swimsuit. Glad I did not read the reviews before I purchased the book.

Not one of Pattersons best but an entertaining afternoon read. Gore, sex and surprises.Worth the read.I read it at the pool in Maui so it was that much more entertaining.

I thought it was a great read, very interesting and surprising twist and turns all the way through to the end, makes you want to keep reading more and more. I'm very surprised by all the negative reviews b/c i found the book to be excellent. It is slightly detailed in some things the weak stomached may not like but not as bad as others have said, after all it is a suspense criminal book about a psychopath, not sure what others expected. I highly recommend the book!

I REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LOT BETTER THAN IT WAS. I LOST INTEREST PRETTY FAST ALSO,WHICH IS ODD BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN I READ ANY OF HIS BOOKS, I CAN'T PUT THEM DOWN.
LET'S HOPE THAT THE NEXT BOOK IS MUCH BETTER THAN THIS ONE.

Maybe James Patterson should stick to writing his books by himself, or maybe he should be putting out fewer books and really writing a good one.
I have read every one of his books. I would have to say he is my favorite author. But, this was nothing like his other books.
The ending was horrible and could have been so much more. The graphic violence was just Too Much.
Where were the twists he is known for? Character development was also lacking. Glad I didn't buy this one, but I still look forward to his next one which apparently is coming in December. My advice to Mr. Patterson is to slow down and give us something better than this garbage.

When a book written by a premier author requires the kind of promotions budget that "Swimsuit" has, I wonder whether the publisher believed it produced too many copies of a pedestrian effort.

James Patterson's latest follows the story of Ben Hawkins, a best-selling author, reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and former Seattle police officer. Hawkins reports on the story of a missing supermodel on location in Hawaii for the swimsuit edition for a popular sports magazine. Hawkins' investigative instincts get the better of him as he discovers the model has been murdered by a serial killer who uses the name, Henri Benoit.

It turns out that Benoit is one sick puppy. A master of disguise, Benoit has actually been retained to make a series of snuff films for a group of similarly sick, but very wealthy puppies to whom Benoit refers to as the "Peepers." The Peepers actually call themselves "The Alliance." After Benoit kills a couple of the swimsuit models, a 12-year old girl, and the parents of the one of the models in Hawaii in particularly gruesome ways, he realizes Hawkins is on his trail. Rather than kill Hawkins, however, Benoit enlists Hawkins to write his biography. In the words a famous big-screen character spoke more than three decades ago, Benoit made Hawkins "an offer he could not refuse."

Maxine Paetro, who "co-wrote" The Women's Murder Club books with Patterson also collaborated on "Swimsuit." I have to assume that Paetro wrote most or all of "Swimsuit" because it seems to lack some of the sharpness and wit found in some of Patterson's earlier novels. In fact, the writing seems mechanical and unimaginative, which starkly contrasts the potentially engaging premise.

The chapters are short and the language is simple, which clearly intended to appeal to a mass audience, so the pages turn easily. However, as the story progresses and Hawkins must decide whether to simply obey Benoit and finish the story or to try to bring Benoit to justice for his own safety, the story meanders pointlessly. In fact, "Swimsuit" does not even seem to have a meaningful climax and the denouement is obviously and artificially manufactured.

Fans of James Patterson - and there are many - will definitely feel compelled to read "Swimsuit." For the rest, do yourself a favor. Put on your own swimsuit, go to the beach, and enjoy the sunshine.

This was my first Patterson book and I imagine that it will be my last. This book is pure unadulterated drivel. I couldn't even get past the first chapter it is so bad. What a waste of $10.00. If this is a prime example of his work, how in hell has he lasted as a writer?

I have read all of James Patterson's books. This one started out very well , a bit gory. I continued reading and it seemed suspicious that the main character comes to save the day after a short search for the killer. It would have been better to draw it out. It seemed like the TV show 24. The only person in the world that can save the world is Jack Bauer. The suspense in the book just kind ended with the dots connected.

Terrible book. Not up to James Patterson's level. Character development was poor. Felt no connection to them at all.

This must have been a favor that JP had to follow thru on. I can't imagine a bigger waste of words on paper. What a piece of ####....It reads like a deranged 5th grader was at the pen.....terrible, I can't believe JP would allow his name to be associated with such a train wreck!!!!

I have read most of Mr. Patterson's books. I did not enjoy this book at all. With thrillers, I understand the need for death, murder, mayhem, etc. However, the events in this book were just too much, too sensationalist. Many of them weren't needed. I don't know how else to describe my dissatisfaction. This book just didn't do it for me.

I read James Patterson only if he has a coauthor listed. The man has lost his touch. (Have you noticed in the Patterson-only books how he uses the same contrivances over and over...for example, all the villans have nicknames like The Magician?)

Even with a usually excellent coauthor, this book is a flop. The story line is crooked, the narration is confused, the premise is silly, and the conclusion is so weak it cannot be described.

Skip this book and save money and time.

I am not going to grace this book with a long review. If you feel the urge to read this book, don't. It is a waste of time and money. If you really need to torture yourself with reading this, get it on loan from the library. It has a lot of gore and not enough content. If you like stories that end with "The End", this book is for you.

I liked this story as much as any Patterson,quick read novel. I'm not really sure about the title of the book, since their were only a few swimsuit models involved but I guess it makes for a eyepopping cover. I will look forward to the next Patterson book in a month.

I found this very difficult to put down hoping the killer would soon be stopped. I really think James Patterson has more talent than a lot of writers I have purchased and read.

Can anyone simply review the book content? Complain about the price someplace else. Get the book at the library if you dont like the cost, but dont drag it to two stars if its a decent book. Anyone like it?

I too am one who has read every James Patterson book (except the Daniel X books, which I couldn't get into). I did find "Swimsuit" a fast, interesting read, but a bit sub-par for a Patterson book. It was very gruesome, and sometimes didn't make a lot of sense. I felt it was incredibly violent, and things were included to shock more than to advance the story along. I hope Patterson isn't getting into the habit of just cranking books out. This one hints that this may be so. I hope not. Patterson at his finest is unbeatable. This particular book isn't up to his standards.

I have read every James Patterson book. About half way through the first page I knew this one was going to be different; I just didn't know how different it was going to be. Awful does not quite sum up how bad this book is. Time better spent would be rereading an old algebra textbook. If possible, I would give it no stars.

This book by James Patterson is one of the best I've read. It really makes you think and the ending leaves you wanting more. Is there a person in this world like the main evil character???

i love this book because it is a thrilling mystery and what happends next is always unpredictable.

I love James Patterson books. Always grabbing them as soon as released and devouring them in a day. This one was very disapointing. Not even certain he actually wrote it. Just when you get into the story...... it is over. Almost like the writer left out a few chapters.

This book is not only very sick it is written extremely poorly I would be much more upset if I had paid the original higher price

This was my first Patterson book and I know from following books and writers that he seems to be churning out books quickly, seeming to rely on his name to sell books. But with this book I would ask where is the substance at the end. The story itself was fast moving and clever, but the ending left me wanting more of the loose ends tied up. Maybe that is a way to creast a cliff-hanger with suspens for a sequel.

This book is bad. Very, very, very, very, bad. Patterson isn't even trying any more. I'm done with him.

I have heard the rumor that Patterson is not writing his books himself, but having a co author write them under his name. Who cares???

Swimsuit is one of Patterson's most gruesome and diabolical books to date. He keeps one guessing, with twists and turns right 'til the very end. My response after speeding through this book was Oh, My God. I had no idea."
To give away what this is all about, would be a crime, and I might end up on the wrong side of a sex video with my head in another's hand, just for fun and laughs for those voyeurs who enjoy this type of porno. Read this book and you will be breathless 'til the very end and then. "WINK." It all comes together is a rich and fantastic tale. There just are not any bad Patterson books no matter who writes them. "WINK."

I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced thriller. Entertaining up to the ending, which was a little weak. Maybe Patterson had already started his next novel and was in a hurry.

If all of you who are complaining instead of reviewing the book would please just wait a few days after release, you would find that when the book is put on the bestseller list, the price goes to 9.99 as promised. Everyone is in such a hurry to complain. Please, slow down and just wait till the book comes down in price. I realize that this is not the correct forum to write an open letter but I really want to read reviews, not complaints about pricing!! Will someone please review this book so I know whether to buy it at its current price of (no you are not seeing things) 9.99 !

I have been disappointed in the last couple of Patterson books - this one was so bad I quit reading half way through. I will not buy any more of his books.

As has happened in the past with the most recent Patterson books, we are treated to a thriller for 300 pages. Then all of a sudden it seems as if Mr. Patterson hits his deadline or decides that he has better things to do as he wraps up the story in 2-3 pages in a very unsatisfying manner. I am very disappointed, again!

Too many murders. Ending was abrupt and weak. It was almost laughable. Very consistent. I DO NOT reccommend this book. Not one of Patterson's best.I am surprised he was connected in any way to a book so poorly written. Boycott this book for sure.Doesn't deserve to be rated

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU SPOILER FREE! (:

Swimsuit is the latest book James Patterson has written. I wish I could say that I've read all of his books like many other faithful reviewers, but truthfully, I've only read about ten. But from my experience with Patterson and his slew of coauthors, I know that his books tend to grab on to you from the beginning, lead you through a suspenseful and twisty storyline, and let you off safely at the end. They aren't very thought-provoking or seen as classics, but they are fun reads, indeed.

Swimsuit fails to even live up to the aforementioned simplistic technique. Like other reviews and actual people I've discussed the book with, I too agree that there is a lot of gratuitous sex and gore, but that isn't what ruined this title for me.

One reason is that there is barely any suspense. You figure out who the killer is on the first page. That makes it pretty impossible for there to be even a little twist at the end. And the fact that the main character is with the murderer throughout most of the book, there's no mystery of "Will he ever be found?"

Speaking of the main character, he's another reason. I found it downright painful to connect to and/or have any sympathy for him. He's such a stereotypical, cookie-cutter, "I'm going to solve this `crime' because I want to" hero. He's utterly boring.

The third reason is, well, the storyline. When reading the dust jacket, I figured "Hey, this sounds pretty interesting. It's set on the beach and everything!" Uh, wrong. I honestly don't remember one page of this book being on a beach. And really, Kim McDaniels (the young swimsuit model who is probably supposed to the portrayed on the cover) is barely a focus. Also, the ending felt completely rushed, almost like the authors just didn't care anymore. I felt like the ending of "You've Been Warned" was more impressive, and that's saying something.

I honestly can't find anything likeable about this novel. I'm considering returning it. If I could sum it up with one word, it could be BORING, and that's something I never thought I would have to say about a James Patterson novel.

E

This was a book about an extermely horrific serial killer who is being pursued by a crime writer. It dose have some spellbinding moments when you really want to know what is going to happen next. It is a cat and mouse game with some horrific scenes sprinkled into the story that didn't actually help the story line at all - it was very nearly gratuitous at times. If you have a delicate stomach, you may want to skip this book.

This story was written in partnership with Maxine Paetro. It didn't rise to the standards I have seen in Patterson books in the past. It was written in short staccato chapers - 122 chapters in just 383 pages. The short chapters didn't enhance the story. In fact, many chapters didn't occur at natural breaks in action or shifts in point of view. They would actually break into the middle of some scenes.

On the whole, I could have lived quite happily without ever reading this book. I don't recommend it.

Definitely the worst book I've ever read. In fact, I only read the first 70 pages and skipped to the lamest ending ever. what I did read was gratuitous violence with no redeeming value whatsoever. Ick. I've never been moved to warn people to keep their $ since I can usually find something worth buying the book for, but not this time.

I have made the mistake of buying a book (Kindle) because it had James Patterson as one of the authors. All of his books are excellent. I know what's happening without prowling through 3 pages of descriptive BS to get to the story.
Well the story to this one does not follow the usual Patterson trait.
I did not like the book at all.
As my granddaughter would say, " It sucked!"

The usual Patterson style of writing, very fast read. Reminded me of the mass media hype with Michael Jackson's death, the rush to print of many magazines and newspapers on the "gory details" and this is still happening. Overall, enjoyable book for the beach, pass the time quickly!

Rarely do I not finish a book I have started but I got to chapter 20 and was so disappointed that I quit. I've read several Patterson books and found this one to be very amateurishly written. There are too many good books out there to waste time on this one.

unfortunately i listened to this book on audio so i couldn't skim through the last 200 pages.
patterson should be ashamed of himself for letting this tripe be published with his name on the cover. It is the last Patterson book I will buy.

Swimsuit, James Patterson's latest piece of dreck to be published, starts off with a swimsuit model mysteriously disappearing, leaving no trace of herself behind. Shortly after she goes missing, her parents receive a chilling call late at night from someone telling them that bad things have happened to her. After receiving the call they immediately book a flight to Hawaii - were the photo shoot was taking place - and with the help of ex-cop turned writer for the LA Times Ben Hawkins, they begin to search for her, hoping that the worst wont come.

Words cannot describe how awful this book was, and using the word awful doesn't seem to be a fair word to use either. Before even finishing the description on the book jacket, you can already tell were this book is going to be heading: the daughter is obviously dead, the parents will find her, and everything from that point on will be boring. The book even saves us the trouble from this by having the daughter killed within the first three chapters of the book. Sure the book was predictable, but the fact that we already know what happens in the beginning takes away any thrill or mystery to the story that could have been there if we hadn't known before-hand.

The story itself was tiring and trite. The only thing that was going on was some guy going around, picked up women, spiked their drinks, and then making a pornographic snuff film with them so he can sell the tape to a group of rich people in Europe. Yes, you read that right, a pornographic snuff film. For those that don't know, a snuff film is were someone tapes them self killing someone else, however this killer added a twist to this by having porno in it. It wasn't exactly porno per se, but it involved him hog-tying the woman down, raping them, and then proceeding to decapitate her with a knife, ignoring the fact that someone would probably hear large amounts of screaming coming from the hotel room, but Patterson skips this by not mentioning it, ever. Nice. Being a guy, I still found it somewhat offensive to a woman's intelligence in general, because according to Patterson, a woman's IQ doesn't exist if she's on vacation. Honestly, any woman reading this right now, can you honestly say that if some random guy were to walk up to you and offer you the world, would you go with him? Let me answer for you, no, you probably wouldn't, and yet he manages to pick up well over ten women. Apparently they don't bother to read the news either about a random guy doing this to women either because apparently people don't read about news anymore either.

While the two things listed above make the book bad, what does this book in is the ending. You'll just be sitting there reading the book when all of sudden, it just comes to an abrupt halt, like Patterson himself was reaching through the pages to give you the finger and tell you that he didn't feel like finishing the book. The sheer stupidity of this jumps out from the book and sears the readers eyes. Apparently its too much effort to add a few more pages, but I guess we'll never know what happens.

To sum it up, this book sucked. The story went nowhere, the characters were stupid and you could care less about them, and the killings - while somewhat original as I have never read this before in a book - were over the top with too mucn violence and unnecessary raping. There's a fine line between just killing someone, to cutting off their freaking head. A definite skip.

Actually the first 90 or so pages are the best part of the book, those who thought it too edgy should go back to Mary Poppins or Snow White. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the ending which got wrapped up too quickly. I've read most of Patterson's books and this is more in line with his earlier works.

Swimsuit was over-the-top, self-indulgent, mysogenistic violence at its worst! As a woman who has met a serial rapist and murderer in real life and survived, I read murder mysteries and thrillers for the satisfaction of seeing them caught and punished in the end. This book gave me no satisfactional at all. It just left me disturbed and glad to be done with it. It makes me wonder seriously about Patterson's and Pietros' sanity and proclivities. It's enough to make me swear off the entire genre completely. What a waste! I'm pissed.

This would have gotten a 1- if such a review is possible. This book was timed and titled to capture the beach read audience. It is obviously, and brutally thrown together, and the ending is just plain awful! As other reviewers said, it was just wrapped up and tied with a bow with many unanswered questions, (although frankly, I couldn't care less)!

Sail was a terrific read with suspense last summer. I was hoping for the same with suimsuit and all we get is middle eastern type killing and murder that goes on and on. The author appears to believe that the more gizzly the deaths are the more interested the reader will be. The book moves along and then ends suddenly leaving the reader guessing way to much. I find myself moving more and more away from Paterson and over to Connelly and Crais books. Patterson even makes reference to Connelly and Harry Bosch in this book. I should of just reread Sail!

I'm a huge Patterson fan and I did enjoy this book for the most part. It was a fast reader, kept me interested throughout and the violence didn't really bother me. However, this book has no ending!!! Talk about frustrating. I kept thumbing through the last 20 pages after I was done, thinking I had missed some chapters. What a poor, poor way to finish this otherwise entertaining book. I really feel like I read 3/4 of a book and then got to a page that said "The End". What a big disappointment.

I am a HUGE James Patterson fan. But I couldn't even get through chapter two because it was so violent and disgusting! I could not belive Patterson would write somethimg so horrific, let alone get published. I felt in the first two chapters alone, I was reading a hard core violent porn book. I literally threw my hardback copy away because it made me so sick!!!!

I was so disappointed with this book. I didn't even finish it, that's how bad it was. Thanks anyway James. Good luck with the next one.

A big fan of these authors/ I was comcerned by the 2 star rating but started anyway. A bit slow and gory at first however it picked up and became hard to put down midway through.