Swimsuit by James Patterson

 

A model, in Hawaii for a swimsuit shoot, has gone missing.  Her parents drop everything and come to the island to help look for her.  But they won't find her as there is a serial killer on the loose.  Before he leaves, there will be three girls killed as well as the first girl's parents.  

Ben Hawkins used to be a policeman.  After he left the force, he became a journalist covering the crime beat.  His editor sends him to Hawaii and he meets and befriends the model's parents.  He is appalled at what is happening and vows to find the killer.  But the killer is also looking for him.  Henri kills for an audience; a group of rich individuals around the world who pay to view the killings he does.  

Henri has decided he wants to come clean and document all of his killings.  He picks Ben but tells him he will give him and his girlfriend if Ben doesn't write his story.  He kidnaps Ben and takes him to a remote national park where he chains him in a trailer while he tells his story.  Ben agrees to write his story but is in reality determined to put an end to Henri before he kills again.  Will he succeed?

James Patterson is known for his mysteries, usually these days written with another author.  Here his cowriter is Maxine Paetro.  This is a typical Patterson mystery, short chapters, choppy that move quickly.  The characters are shallow and the plot is not believable but the reader is drawn along by the structure and the desire to see how everything turns out.  This book is recommended for mystery fans who are Patterson fans.