The dolls by James Patterson and Kecia Bal

Lana Wallace, an investigative reporter, has just moved from Chicago to Boston.  It's a change of location and a change of focus, as she moves from being a crime reporter to a business reporter.  It's not so easy to leave her previous career behind though, as a breaking story has everyone on their toes - two wealthy business men have been found murdered and there is no sign of the murderer.

Drawn into investigating the case, Lana soon discovers that there is much more to the story than meets the eye.  As she digs deeper she discovers the world of dolls, incredibly life like robots that will do anything their owners tell them to - and it appears that their owners purchased them for one main reason, sexual pleasure.  Can Lana use her skills as a reporter to get to the bottom of the case - before it's too late?

This is another intriguing and expertly written Bookshot that I had to read in one sitting because I did not want to put it down.  While the idea of a 'sex bot' is somewhat cliché in the science fiction genre, recent leaps in AI have shown just how lifelike robots can be now, and how open they are to abuse already.  There are some interesting moral topics raised in this story too - like do you have to be human to have human rights?

A great read, and hopefully there are more Bookshots from Patterson and Bal as they have a seamless style and a good grasp of what makes you connect with, and care about the characters.  This is no cliché riddled, corny science fiction novella - it is a tensely written thriller that could have come from the headlines, and makes you wonder if just because they could, should they have?

If you like this book then try:

• Private Royals by James Patterson and Rees Jones
• The hostage by James Patterson and Robert Gold
• Black and Blue by James Patterson and Candice Fox
• Chase by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
• Airport code red by James Patterson and Michael White
• Let's play make-believe by James Patterson and James O. Born
• The house husband by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski
• The witnesses by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
• The end by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
• After the end by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois

Reviewed by Brilla