How far would you go for the people that you love? What if that loyalty put you in danger? Delusional by James Patterson and James O. Born gave me a lot to think about when it comes to loyalty, family, and the choices that people make when these two things collide.
4/5 stars ★★★★☆
From the publisher: A New York Times bestseller from the world’s bestselling author. Detective Michael Bennett and army-sniper-turned-NYPD-officer Rob Trilling travel to Montana to investigate a case that crosses state borders and family lines.
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Genre: Mystery/Thriller; Fiction
Pages: 368
Published: August 17, 2026
📚 Judi’s Report Card on Delusional:
Surprisingly, this is my first Michael Bennett book, and this is book 18! I’m not sure how that happened, considering Patterson is probably the author I read most often.
Plot and Pacing: B+:
There are two mysteries happening at the same time. I kept wondering how they were going to come together. Knowing Patterson, I figured there had to be a connection somewhere. The mysteries drive the story, but for me, this felt more like a solid mystery than a true thriller. It held my attention, but it wasn’t one of those books I couldn’t put down.
The ending was my favorite part. There are some good twists, all of the loose ends were tied up, and I finished the book feeling satisfied with how everything wrapped up.
And I have to mention Montana. Part of the story takes place there, and since Montana is one of my favorite places to be, that automatically gave the book a few bonus points with me.
Themes: A-
I appreciated that the story portrayed the police department in a positive way. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, since law enforcement is often portrayed much more negatively in fiction lately, so I was pleasantly surprised. I also enjoyed the themes of loyalty and family. The loyalty between Michael Bennett and Rob Trilling really stood out to me. At times, their loyalty to each other becomes more important than simply following the rules of the job. This brings me right back to that question of how far we’re willing to go for the people we care about. Rob’s loyalty to his family also made me smile. Michael’s family life also adds another layer to that theme. He and his wife have ten adopted children, and I liked seeing how much joy he gets from the normal chaos of home.
Characters: B
As far as the characters go, I never became especially attached to any of them, although I did like Rob. I think that kept me from becoming totally invested in the story. There are a couple of villains who were fun to try to figure out, but overall, I wouldn’t say characterization is one of this book’s strengths.
Overall Grade: B / 3.5 Stars Rounded Up To 4
So where did I land on Delusional? Somewhere in the middle. I didn’t love it, but I definitely didn’t dislike it either. The two mysteries kept me interested, and the strong ending helped bump my rating up. Overall, this was a solid mystery, just not one of Patterson’s more memorable books for me.
Where to Buy Delusional and More:
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📝 Extra Credit Reading:
If Delusional earned a passing grade from you, add these three books to your extra-credit reading list:
1. The House of Cross by James Patterson
Why? If you liked the police investigation and law-enforcement side of Delusional, this is an easy next choice. Alex Cross is another Patterson detective, and The House of Cross has the same mix of danger, investigation, and people trying to protect those they care about.
2. The Country Road Murders by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
Why? Both books have strong themes of loyalty and family, and neither one is just about solving the crime. The relationships matter, too. Plus, if you liked the more outdoorsy feel of the Montana portions of Delusional, this one has a small-town setting that gives it a different feel from Patterson’s city thrillers.
3. Lies He Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis
Why? If your favorite part of Delusional was watching two seemingly separate pieces of the story finally come together, try this one next. It’s another Patterson thriller built around secrets, hidden connections, and finding out that the truth is more complicated than it first appears.
Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson, and James O. Born for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
Let’s Chat:
How far would you go for someone you love, and do you think there’s a point where loyalty can go too far?
