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Cover of Worst Case by James PattersonWorst Case
Modern · Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Worst Case

by James Patterson
2010 · 356 pages · Fiction
72.0Must-Read
Score Modern
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 9 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

One by one, the children of New York's wealthiest families are taken hostage. The kidnapper doesn't want money or power: he asks his victims whether they know the price others pay for their luxurious lives, and if they don't, he kills them. NYPD detective Michael Bennett has to stop him.

Why it's worth reading

It spent 2 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. James Patterson's Michael Bennett thrillers are fast and gripping.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's the third Michael Bennett book. Short chapters make it a fast read.

By the numbers

72.0Must-Read Score
  • Readers63 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (2 weeks at #1)24 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2010

Reads as

Gripping

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedModern booksTop 25 · 1,573 rankedBooks of the 2010sTop 25 · 736 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedRomancesTop 25 · 233 ranked

Quick answers

Is Worst Case worth reading?

Yes. It spent 2 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #1,087 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.0 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Worst Case about?

One by one, the children of New York's wealthiest families are taken hostage. The kidnapper doesn't want money or power: he asks his victims whether they know the price others pay for their luxurious lives, and if they don't, he kills them. NYPD detective Michael Bennett has to stop him.

How long does it take to read Worst Case?

About 9 hours (356 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Worst Case?

If you liked it, try Step on a Crack by James Patterson, 1st to Die by James Patterson or Cross by James Patterson.