I have read and reviewed a couple of James Patterson books already so I was happy to trade my Sophie Kinsella for this one, When the Wind Blows. I didn't relly like it I'm afraid.

Patterson starts the book by telling us that what we are about to read is possible: science is not that far away from being able to achieve it. There, that's appetite whetted.

We are then introduced to Kit, an FBI agent on a mission that his bosses are trying to keep him away from. Frannie is a Vet whose husband was recently murdered. They meet by chance with neither of them knowing that they are already involved with each other by force of circumstances.

What is Kit looking for? Frannie takes an instant dislike to this gun carrying and confident man who looks like trouble to her.

What he is looking for flies past: a young girl ... with wings ... flying past. Genetic and related engineering. Under cover, secret, many children die in the process.

From then on the story is simplicity itself. Kit and Frannie eventually catch up with the young girl and convince her that they are friends not foes. We learn a bit more about the goings on at the school where there are other children: not all of whom can fly and not all of whom survive.

There is some kind of plot going on and now Kit and Frannie are all out to stop it. Frannie's house cum surgery is razed to the ground in the process. There is a car chase or two. There are shots fired. There is imprisonment.

There is escape and there are other children to be rescued and rescued they are. Then they come across people whom Frannie thought were friends: friends they most definitely are not as it becomes clear that they were probably part of the plot that killed her husband and the husband of her close friend.

What's the plot, who are these people and what are they doing and why? Ever heard of money? Don't forget that the love of money is the root of all evil: epitomised here I'm afraid.

Not my kind of book I'm afraid although I read it fairly quickly and enjoyed parts of it. As to whether the science is ready to create the flying characters in this book I've no idea and I'm sure I don't really care for it.

Duncan Williamson
28th May 2006