Lifeguard
by Andrew Gross, James Patterson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Andrew Gross, James PattersonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-07-11
ISBN: 0316057851
Number of pages: 394
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Product features:
- James Patterson
- Andrew Gross
- Lifeguard
- story
- fiction
Book Reviews of Lifeguard
Book Review: Incredibly Engaging and Totally Unrealistic
Summary: 4 Stars
This story is an excellent example of the attributes which have won James Patterson a loyal following of readers and continually placed his books on the best seller lists. The action is almost continuous and very fast paced; the central characters are frequently in extreme danger; and the plot has enough twists to maintain the reader's interest. In addition, the incredibly short chapters (120 chapters in this 393 page book which includes lots of blank space) draw the reader relentlessly and deceptively along and make it a perfect book whether the reader intends to read it in short stretches on a commuter train, during a few hour flight or on the beach during vacation. Of course, it also suffers from the typical Patterson shortcomings when he writes for this genre (as compared with the deeply emotional SUZANNE'S DIARY FOR NICHOLAS or SAM'S LETTERS TO JENNIFER). With the exception of Ned Kelly, the first person narrator, there is no significant character development; furthermore, when the reader takes time to reflect upon the storyline, a few segments are totally unrealistic even within the plot constraints. Finally, one of the primary reasons for my four star rating despite my enjoyment is that Patterson and his co-author Andrew Gross several times use the incredibly annoying device of playing games with the reader by purposely withholding information from the reader (either knowledge which Ned Kelly possesses or the identity of characters whose actions are detailed but who are referred to only by their descriptive nicknames such as Ponytail).
This review will only briefly describe the storyline because the plot outline is simplicity itself and I cannot provide any significant details without including spoilers. Ned Kelly meets the beautiful Tess McAuliffe on a Florida Beach where he has become a LIFEGUARD after leaving his hometown Boston and former job as a teacher (for reasons which are gradually revealed and integral to the story). They soon are in bed together in her first class hotel room; he fantasizes that the $5 Million score in which his cousin Mickey has included him will allow him to actually have a chance of spending his life with this girl of his dreams. However, things go incredibly wrong for everyone concerned. Confused, shocked and feeling sabotaged, Ned is on the run away from Florida and the FBI and back to the answers which he hopes he might unearth from family and friends in Boston.
In Part Two we meet Ellie Shurtleff, a young FBI agent brought into the case due to her expertise as the new head of the Art Theft and Fraud department for South Florida. Ellie's superiors soon conclude that she is too inexperienced to trust her judgment, but Ned gradually comes to believe that despite the obvious difficulties involved in sharing information with her, that may be the only way to discover the truth and clear himself. At this point, the story shifts to third person narration primarily from Ellie's perspective, and this literary device is one of the methods which I mentioned which is used to selectively manipulate ther reader.
Murders continue to occur, and eventually practically everyone who Ned cares about will be dead -if not murdered then from some combination of illness and old age. As Ned continues on the run, it soon becomes clear that not only will he be totally unsuccessful at being a LIFEGUARD for anyone else under these circumstances, but even his ability to save himself is increasingly in doubt. (The comments by some reviewers concerning the inappropriateness of the title miss this double entendre.) For a while it appears that the best outcome for Ned might be just staying alive and ahead of his pursuers long enough to reach safety, avenge Mickey and receive a long prison term. Meanwhile, Ned's misadventures are interspersed with Ellie's travails given the interplay with her superiors and her aggravation of the powerful and rich Palm Beach businessman who is the victim of the art theft.
There were a few elements about this story which I particularly enjoyed. First, Sollie Roth, whose character and background deserved more elaboration given the crucial role which he played. Second the bit part played by Ned's friend Champ, a truly outrageous individual who made danger seem like fun. Third, the way the background information concerning the art was included in the story. Finally, the epilogue, which provided an almost perfect conclusion and wrapped up the loose ends.
In summary, LIFEGUARD is a good summer read that is worth the very limited time which it will take you to complete it. It compares favorably with the other three books on which Patterson and Gross have collaborated, although my favorite remains THE JESTER due to their success in utilizing their usual format and techniques to create a work of "light historical fiction".
Tucker Andersen
Summary of Lifeguard
The danger isn't in the water. As a lifeguard in Florida resort, Ned Kelly meets the woman of his dreams. It feels perfect except that she prefers caviar and Manolo Blahniks, and he is used to burgers and flip flops.So when Ned's cousin offers him a rich deal, Ned can't turn him down. It is just a fast break and enter. The risk is high, and the reward even greater - $5 million.
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