Margo, you're reading the wrong Patterson, James lost his "fastball" several years ago; he offers very little nowadays, mostly soft stuff!

If you, or others, haven't read Richard North Patterson, begin someday; begin with "Degree of Guilt", about 10 years ago, and do them in sequence, I believe nine in total.

His most recent three novels delve into abortion, "Protect and Defend", gun rights, "Balance of Power", and, the death penalty, "Conviction".

Just finished the latter. My opinion, he's the best out there right now!