James Patterson may have made a name for himself with his legendary Alex Cross thrillers, but a close second are his books featuring NYPD Detective Michael Bennett. This gritty series, which he has written with James O. Born since 2017, welcomes its latest release, DELUSIONAL.

At the start of this fast-paced novel, Bennett and former army sniper turned NYPD officer Rob Trilling are working with the bomb squad to investigate a series of attacks around the New York City area. The most recent in Queens claimed the life of fellow officer Rose Vega. There is not much evidence except for the fingerprint smudge that tells them the person who set the explosive device is missing the middle and index fingers on their left hand.

"DELUSIONAL is an exciting novel that compels readers to feel for the efforts being made by the protagonists who are fighting enemies with a deadly agenda..."

Not long after this event, Trilling informs Bennett that he needs to take some personal time to head back to Montana where his family is going through a crisis. His brother Gary, who runs the family business --- a car lot outside of Bozeman --- is dealing with a wealthy outsider who is buying up a lot of property in the area. While Gary has no intention of selling, violent attacks and burnings have influenced local business owners to sell. Along with supporting his brother, Trilling wants to figure out who might be behind all of this.

A madman in the making enters the picture. Tom Owens has acquired a good deal of explosive equipment and is so intrigued by the NYC bombings that he feels compelled to get involved and possibly do it better. His network is part of the wider threat of domestic terrorism that seems to be growing across the US.

Meanwhile, Bennett is introduced to the best new character in the novel, Maggie Chin, an ATF special agent who will prove to be a great colleague in his ongoing investigation.

In Montana, things have taken a dangerous and deadly turn when Gary’s office is firebombed, and the body of a young woman is found in the wreckage. At this point, Trilling realizes that he is out of his element taking this one solo and places a call to Bennett, asking him to fly out to Montana to provide some support and expertise. It will not be long before the two partners, working alongside each other again, start piecing together the threat that may be tied to a much larger problem involving everything they have been investigating.

Unfortunately, the group allegedly behind all of this is not being taken seriously by law enforcement or the government. Bennett, Trilling and Chin are soon caught in the middle of a situation where they appear to be crying wolf about a villainous enterprise that only they seem to be able to recognize must be stopped --- before it's too late.

DELUSIONAL is an exciting novel that compels readers to feel for the efforts being made by the protagonists who are fighting enemies with a deadly agenda, as well as public sentiment that dares them to break away from the restrictions of their roles to do the right thing. Or else.