NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

Product Information

The debut book of the NYPD Red series written by author Karp is entitled ‘NYPD Red’. It was released by the Little, Brown, and Company publishing in the year 2012. The central characters mentioned by author Karp in this book include Delia Kates, Kylie MacDonald, Gabriel Benoit, Zach Jordon, Dr. Cheryl Robinson, etc. Marshall Karp has done the setting of the plot in New York City, New York. At the start of the book’s story, it is depicted that New York City is filled with glamor as Hollywood on Hudson has begun. Each night, the city’s people get to see film stars arrive in limos at the premieres and walk on red carpets. Even the expensive restaurants get booked exclusively for the private parties of wealthy producers, prominent directors, dashing actors, sexy actresses, etc. Fans gather in the number of thousands outside all such restaurants to get glimpses of beautiful and famous faces. Because of the arrival of the long list of celebrities in the town, a special task force, NYPD Red, is asked to stay on high alert. Not even a single mistake is expected from them as it is their prime duty to take care that nothing happens to the celebrities or other people during the premiere. Shortly after, a well known producer collapses suddenly during breakfast and dies. A top detective of NYPD Red, Zach Jordon, is the first person to reach the scene. Immediately after the producer’s death, Zach is partnered with the beautiful Kylie MacDonald to find out the murderer. Kylie also happens to the former girlfriend of Zach. Soon, the two realize that the death of the producer is just the beginning. Crimes begin to take place in large numbers and in the most spectacular, horrifying, and brutal manner, and openly in public. The whole of New York turns into chaos and puts NYPD Red on the most important task of stopping the crimes and catching the killer. Zach & Kylie know that no one knows what the killer is up to. They also know they have to put an end to all the chaos and hunt down the psychopath as the whole world is watching. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs Mysteries featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs, who work homicide out of the Hollywood Division. The NYPD Red series is a popular book series of mystery, suspense, thriller, and detective fiction books. The series is penned by author Marshall Karp, and co-authored with James Patterson. We had our yellow barrel, and we were going to follow it…before it [the movie] ends the shark sinks Quint’s boat and eats him alive, but still, a lead is a lead.”

So, what is the result of Karp taking over the series? Did it make much of a difference? Let’s see… There's part of me that wants to harp on the implausibility of KOD. But I don't know why I would—it's a fun idea and works well in this novel. Karp's version of this thing that we've seen and read about in other books/shows/movies/comics is as successfully conceived and executed as I've seen it. And as I said before, if you accept the world of this series, the outlandish nature of the KOD works well. So, I don't know why I feel like I have to make excuses for it or justify it, but I do feel that way. The KOD is a good challenge for Kylie and Zach and the way they confront it is entertaining. Which is what this book is about. He's not attempting to tell a gritty story like Winslow's The Badge (which has parts that are just as implausible)—this is an action-adventure story. In this installment, a Harvey Weinstein type is unbelievably exonerated of killing a police officer and as he steps up to a microphone on the courthouse steps to gloat, an invisible sniper delivers Wild West justice. And then another assasination simultaneously takes place (the scumbag’s equally scummy brother who also got away with murder). So it seems that there is militarily trained squad of killers for hire (known as Kappa Omega Delta/KOD — Killers on Demand) operating in NYC. The subtitle of the book is “The Murder *Sorority*” and not “Murder *Fraternity.*” A clue for the reader in advance of Kylie and Zach uncovering what’s really going on? Or people who “were gender-fluid before it was cool”? This investigation is further complicated when someone close to the team is shot in a seemingly unrelated incident. Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Always in the NYPD Red series, since lead detective Kylie is a green-eyed blonde. NYPD Red is a prestigious police task force assigned to high-profile crimes concerning elite New Yorkers. Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan are the two detectives that readers are familiar with from the beginning and I like their partnership. Their characters are what kept me reading and of course, the mysteries are solid as well. I really enjoyed the pacing of this series with short chapters and mini cliffhangers after each one.I really need to find or develop a synonymous phrase for that, because I use it too often in this post. Sorry about that. This was structured like most of Patterson collaborations where there is a lot of fast-paced action where the leads spend most of their time running around following the clues and distractions left by the bad guys. This one had a lot of twists and turns, most of which you could see coming and a few well-placed ones that you don’t. It also includes some very coincidental, but well-delivered, character development for Zach that was a surprisingly beneficial element that strengthened the storylines. Kudos to Karp for that creative thinking. During their investigation, a theory begins to surface about a team of assassins operating under the name of a sorority—Kappa Omega Delta. KOD—Killers On Demand. It sounds farfetched to the partners (and their captain), but they keep running into the idea. And soon, they might start to find some actual evidence pointing to it. I especially enjoyed the character of Detective Kylie MacDonald. She is a no- nonsense officer with an engaging personality. The camaraderie between her and Detective Zach Jordan is great, and their witty banter is enjoyable. In addition to the case she is working on, she is following another case that involves the shooting of her boyfriend. Since it is not the case featured in the title, we readers don’t get as much information about that case, but it is an interesting secondary story nonetheless. I love this series by James Patterson and Marshall Karp. I have given 4 stars to EVERY book from 1-6. Book #7 is a solo work by Marshall Karp!

The same goes for the plot about Kylie's boyfriend and the shooting (and what that suggests about the ongoing story about her now-missing husband). I think this shooting, the investigation, and the resolution was actually the strongest storyline in the novel and Karp developed it well. Especially in the heightened reality of this series, this came across as pretty grounded. Good writing, a solid plot, and a fun (but improbable) premise made NYPD Red 7 an easy read. A good read for anyone who loves suspense, intrigue and action. MARSHALL KARP co-created and co-authored the first six books in the #1 bestselling NYPD Red series with James Patterson. Starting with NYPD Red 7, Marshall will become the sole author of the series, which features Detectives Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan as members of an elite task force dedicated to solving crimes committed against — and sometimes by — New York City’s rich and famous. I'm both annoyed and glad that the description of the book tipped its hand so much about the assassins. I prefer to discover that kind of thing in my mystery novels��don't tell me what the characters are going to figure out, let me do it with them. But knowing it was coming did make it easier to buy into.Things are now taking a change. Starting with the current outing – “NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority” – the baton has been passed from Patterson to Karp as a solo artist, who is taking over the series as a solo writer. The book cover blurb expressing Patterson’s confidence and approval in Karp taking over the writing comes across as the marketing ploy, but I guess that should be expected. NYPD Red is one of Patterson’s lesser-known mystery series co-created and co-written with Marshall Karp. It is about two detectives - Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald – who make up a special investigative team focused on serving and protecting the rich and elite of New York city. In typical Patterson style, Zach and Kylie were also former lovers coming out of the police academy years ago and Zach has never stopped loving her, even though Kylie has sworn off ever dating a cop again. Because they work so close together, the sexual tension adds to the aura of their working relationship and is optimistically used as a tool to keep the reader’s interest.

Part of this feels like too much to say, but it's right there in the title (also, the publisher's description), so... Marshall Karp takes over sole writing responsibility on the NYPD Red series, after collaborating on the previous novels with James Patterson. With intensity being a key element of the series to date, Karp has large shoes to fill, but does so with ease, keeping things on par with past publications. A gripping set of crimes, great character development, and some humour where it matters most, Karp is sure to impress series fans and has me wanting to explore some of his other solo work.This, the seventh book in the series co-written by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, marks Karp's first solo effort. And I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly and hope to read many more. For those not familiar with the series, the books focus on the elite New York group of detectives known as NYPD Red and specifically on detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald. Of all of James Peterson’s various series, I have come to love the NYPD Red ones over the others. Marshall Karp delivers an expected exciting plot, witty camaraderie between Kylie and Zach, and thrilling twists. He’ll do well with continuing this series. 5 stars!