Book Review: I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

I don't like cops who are thugs. Whenever Michael Bennett has the opportunity to abuse a criminal, he takes it. Whenever Michael Bennett has the opportunity to abuse a perceived "bad guy", he takes it. 

Sure, he treats his kids well, but that's not all there is to being a good person. He's not home enough to qualify as a decent parent. This time he even forgets one of his kid's birthdays! He won't win any Father of the Year Awards in this decade. 

He treats Mary Catherine as if she were a pet dog, expecting that she will always be there at his home waiting for him, with a smile on her face, regardless of how he treats her. I was so happy when she finally leaves, and very sad when, at the end, she is basically forced to stay with him against her will.

The story was at least interesting, until you realize that there is no real resolution as in the previous Michael Bennett books, but that it is, instead, a convoluted setup for the next book, and an excuse to get the whole Bennett clan into Witness Protection. Personally, I find the idea that you can "hide" a family consisting of a single dad with 10 adopted kids of various races preposterous. They'll stick out no matter where they go.

I honestly can't think of a storyline for the next Michael Bennett novel that would make me want to read it. I take that back, I can think of one: if it were a story in which Michael realizes what a lousy person he's been and changes his ways, taking care of his own children for a change instead of always depending on someone else to do it for him, and gets on his knees to apologize to Mary Catherine for treating her like dirt. 

I doubt that story will be written.