James Patterson has been called the most popular storyteller of our time, and rightly so. If his output of fiction and nonfiction titles is any indication, there is no sign of him slowing down. Now he has teamed up once again with James O. Born to bring us a new thriller starring NYPD Detective Michael Bennett.

As CROSSHAIRS opens, Adam Glossner (described as a hedge-fund manager of some kind) steps out onto the balcony of his Manhattan apartment just moments before a bullet from a high-powered rifle catches him in the head, instantly ending his life. This turns out to be just another in a series of long-range sniper-style killings that have rocked the New York City area, and Bennett is put right on the case.

"The finale is a wild and breathless race to the finish. The result is one of the most satisfying and well-plotted novels I have ever read by the illustrious James Patterson."

The press has nicknamed the assailant the Longshot Killer, prompting law enforcement to step up and do something to protect their citizens. Bennett's boss, Harry Grissom, teams him up with Rob Trilling, an ex-Army Ranger and NYPD sniper. His skill set should come in very handy as he and Bennett begin to retrace the locales of each shooting.

Trilling is not an easy person to get to know. His family is from rural upstate New York, and they all grew up in Montana. He keeps things close to the vest and acts very secretive at times. Nevertheless, Bennett trusts him as he more than proves his worth with his expertise on sniper attacks and his commitment to the case. Even Trilling’s old Army Ranger leader has nothing but glowing things to say about him.

Bennett gets to see Trilling in action when they deal with a shooter and possible suspect at a warehouse in the Bronx. They begin to bond, and Trilling even joins Bennett for family dinner, where he makes a nice impression. However, the case is not going as smoothly; each potential suspect is found not guilty for one reason or another.

This brings us to the intense second half of CROSSHAIRS. It is at this point that Trilling suddenly becomes a suspect himself. Even the mere suspicion of his new temporary partner rattles Bennett, and he begins to go back over everything they have done and discussed together. When another victim is claimed by the sniper in the same vicinity where Trilling was allegedly hunting down a lead, the situation gets incredibly tense.

The finale is a wild and breathless race to the finish. The result is one of the most satisfying and well-plotted novels I have ever read by the illustrious James Patterson.