While I don’t usually read mystery novels, I like to consider myself an open minded person, therefore when an opportunity fell in my lap to read one of James Patterson’s novels, an author who I had heard of several times before this, I took it.

            When the Wind Blows takes place in the present day, that is to say, the present day several years ago. I noticed that with a few of James Patterson’s books he writes it for the year he’s writing it in. Therefore you will see many references to popular culture at the time. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether or not you understand the references. I believe he mentioned the movie Jurassic Park being in theaters, so the time period of this book is whenever that was. The 90s, I believe.

            Anyway, the story follows an FBI agent who is now listed under the alias ‘Kit Harrison’ to protect his identity. Kit has officially been taken off the case of secret activities involving genetic engineering, though like all ruggedly handsome, bad boy secret agents, Kit isn’t so easily taken off the case and soon finds himself in Colorado in search of further leads. It is here that he meets local veterinarian Frannie O’Neill, an equally handsome woman who has a heart of gold where animals are concerned.

            Early in the story we are also introduced to the character Max, a young girl who, in order to solve the first problem of the book, takes flight at will.

            Essentially what we have here is a story about genetic engineering gone wrong, or possibly right, depending on how you look at it. It brings to mind (not surprisingly) Jurassic Park, where the intentions seem good, but the road to the final product is strewn with bodies.

            Since I finished this book I have begun reading one of James Patterson’s other mystery novels, and let me just say now that he is clearly more at home with a murderer and a detective. When the Wind Blows isn’t a bad book. It has a good share of mystery, action and romance, but I think its major pitfall is that it ultimately isn’t all that memorable. As I was writing this review I had a lot of trouble remembering character names and location names. Even the story itself is beginning to fade from my mind and it wasn’t that long ago that I finished it. Since the ultimate mystery of the book was the nature of these extraordinary children, and not the typical murder of most mystery novels, I think the focus shifted too much, not quite sure what to center in on.

            I’ve also seen countless books about human cruelty and corruption, so when some of the later ‘shocking’ scenes in the book came along, James Patterson failed to strike any cords with this reader.

            In the end, this book can provide for an entertaining read, and it’s fast paced enough that it won’t take away much of your time to finish it. However if you’re looking for a James Patterson novel, I would recommend his Alex Cross or Women’s Murder Club mysteries over this one.