When the Wind Blows

Frannie O'Neill, a young and talented veterinarian whose husband was recently murdered, comes across an astonishing discovery in the woods near her animal hospital. Soon after, Kit Harrison, a troubled and unconventional FBI agent, arrives on Frannie's doorstep. And then there is eleven-year-old Max -Frannie's amazing discovery - and one of the most unforgettable creations in thriller fiction.

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS will not just thrill readers. It will make their imaginations soar.

Amazon.com Review
Taking a break from his phenomenally successful Alex Cross series, James Patterson's When the Wind Blows is as much child's fantasy as it is an adult nightmare. The novel moves away from the gritty Washington, D.C., setting of the Cross books and follows the daily life of Frannie O'Neill, a Colorado veterinarian. After the mysterious death of her husband several years before, Frannie retreated to an isolated life in her Colorado practice. But a series of bizarre events suddenly disrupts her lonely routine. On a personal level, she is shaken by her new tenant--Kit Harrison. Kit's too handsome and too friendly and he's a hunter (or so Frannie thinks). He's also recovering from a devastating personal tragedy, and, as Frannie eventually learns, he's really an FBI agent using his vacation to follow a crucial lead. But Kit isn't the one that's got Frannie concerned. As she says after stopping her Suburban one night to check out something on the side of the road: "What I saw was way beyond my abilities to imagine, beyond my comprehension, my system of belief, and maybe beyond my ability to communicate right now. The little girl's arms were folded back in a peculiar way, but when she lifted them--feathers fanned out." The girl is Max, and the mystery of her wings leads Frannie and Kit into a massive conspiracy involving secret genetic research and the scientific manipulation of the human species.

Patterson, a former advertising executive who coined such catchy phrases as "Nupe it!," knows how to entertain. His chapters are always short (some only two pages), and his writing is clear and unobtrusive; the reading experience is brisk--akin to watching a summer blockbuster. The book is not as dark or as weighty as the tales of detective-psychologist Alex Cross, but while some fans may be disappointed by Patterson's migration from pure suspense fiction, his first-person narrator Frannie, has a quirky realism that keeps this flight of fancy mostly on stable ground. --Patrick O'Kelley

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

An OK Novel, 2008-12-03
This novel i had very high hopes for when i first picked it up. I glanced on the black and was hooked from the intresting story line of a girl with super powers. For the first 1/3 of the book i was captivated. The story of this young girl escaping was fresh and exciting. But as the novel went on, i couldn't help but feel as though the story was just repeating himself. The character's would almost get caught, then they escape again. Characters almost get caught, then they escape again. This is the first novel of his where i felt bored at some parts of the book. usually with his novels i am enthralled the entire time through but this one fell short. Despite all of this repeativness i really did enjoy the asountouding twist at the end of the novel where frannie finds people she is not expecting. The human connection between her and Kit seem to be personal and believable. Overall only a 3 star. Worth a read


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

GREAT READ! I LOVED IT!, 2008-11-02
A total detour from vintage Patterson, and I think that's what makes an author great. The ability to go completely out of the box and write about something totally out of his norm! The plot was a little off the wall, but was very entertaining and out of the ordinary. I couldn't put the book down.
Bravo! Patterson gets two thumbs up from me on this one!



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

The one that hooked me!, 2008-10-13
My mother gave this book to me several years ago, and I just couldn't sleep until I had finished it. I was so in love with the characters, the science, the suspense, and the plot, that I went to research what other treasures this author had written...little did I know I had already read about four James Patterson books. I started the Alex Cross series over, and got hooked on the Women's Murder Club series, but my favorite will always be this gateway book. James Patterson is never as masterful as when he is writing fantasy! If you love this book, or if you like James Patterson and history, I recommend you read Jester. Jester is also by James Patterson, and is just amazing! I have read almost all of Patterson's novels, and his writing just keeps getting better. I love that he is not afraid to collaborate with other talented authors!


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

depending on.., 2008-06-20
Your motivations for buying this book, will dictate the content of your review when you'll be at it. If you are searching for a deeply emotional or spiritual satisfaction / i.e. literature experience, this book may not be top-of-the line choice.

However - if your wish be to just 'pass out' on a week-end and substitute your 'never-ending TV story' with a nice alternative - this book may be just do the job.


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Good reading!, 2008-06-05
Purchased this book after reading the Maximum Ride series....even though it is a slightly different story, it felt like a prequel, I am currently reading "The Lake House", which takes off from "When the wind blows"....I am enjoying the whole group of books, hope Patterson continues with the story line...

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