Paris - an English couple on their honeymoon meets another young couple at the Louvre. They quickly become friends and go back to their hotel room to party but are the victims of a double murder.

Berlin - Jacob Kanon a New York City homicide detective, has been following these murders since they began six months previously starting with the very first in Florence, Italy. Jacob's daughter was murdered in Rome and he is on a mission to find the killers. The killers send postcards to a member of the press announcing that a double murder will occur in their city and then follow-up with grisly photos of the murder itself. The victims are posed in positions which simulate famous works of art from the city of the crime.

Stockholm - Swedish journalist Dessie Larsson receives a postcard in the mail announcing the next murders. Dessie meets Jacob who by now is unkempt, unwashed, bearded and long-hair and obsessed with solving the murders. Dessie calls her former lover Gabriella Oscarsson who is on the police force to help with the investigation. Twins Mac and Sylvia Rudolf are the prime suspects in these murders. Even though they have alibis for several of the murders, Jacob is convinced of their guilt.

James Patterson has another book atop the bestseller list. The character development (more detailed than in most Patterson thrillers) of the bizarre, young serial killing twins contrasts with the near-suicidal, desperate, single-minded detective who tracks them with the aid of the bisexual newspaper reporter who receives the postcard makes for a fast-paced international adventure set mainly in Sweden.

You always know what you get with James Patterson. Although, I thought Private with Jack Morgan (another recent Patterson novel) was a better read, The Postcard Killers is good escapist entertainment.

--Jerry Solot