Lion & Lamb

by James Patterson, Duane Swierczynski

Overview

Veena Lion and Cooper Lamb are rival PIs in Philadelphia in this “fun ride…the romance between Cooper and Veena is artfully handled...endearing characters including Cooper’s two preternaturally clever kids and his Rhodesian ridgeback puppy.” –Publishers Weekly

​“Great storytelling…a spectacular murder case.” –Kirkus, starred review

The city is in a state of shock over the fate of two hometown heroes: Eagles starting quarterback Archie Hughes, and his even more famous wife, Grammy-winning singer Francine Hughes.

One spouse is murdered. The other is suspect #1.
 
Even before the case hits the courtroom, it’s the hottest ticket in town. 
 
For the defense: Cooper Lamb, private investigator to the stars.
 
For the prosecution: Veena Lion, a sleuth so bright she’s got to wear shades.
 
Between them, they know every secret in Philadelphia. Together, they prove how two wrongs can make a right. They are Lion & Lamb.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316404891
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	08/14/2023
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	33,668
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

James Patterson is the world's bestselling author. The creator of Alex Cross, he has produced more enduring fictional heroes than any other novelist alive. He lives in Florida with his family.

Duane Swierczynski is the two-time Edgar-nominated author of ten novels including Revolver, Canary, as well as the graphic novel Breakneck, many of which are in development for film/TV. Most recently, Duane co-scripted James Patterson's The Guilty, an Audible Original starring John Lithgow and Bryce Dallas Howard. He lives in Southern California with his family.

Hometown:

Palm Beach, Florida

Date of Birth:

March 22, 1947

Place of Birth:

Newburgh, New York

Education:

B.A., Manhattan College, 1969; M.A., Vanderbilt University, 1971

Website:

http://www.jamespatterson.com

Editorial Reviews

06/26/2023

This easygoing mystery from bestseller Patterson (the Alex Cross series) and Marvel comics writer Swierczynski centers on rival Philadelphia PIs Veena Lion and Cooper Lamb, both of whom have been hired to investigate the slaying of Eagles quarterback Archie Hughes. Archie was found shot to death in his Maserati on a freezing January night and missing his watch and Super Bowl ring. Chief among the multiple suspects is Archie’s wife, Francine Pearl Hughes, a Grammy-winning singer and film star who’s possibly even more famous than her late husband. Veena has been tapped by the Philadelphia district attorney to help build the case against Francine; Cooper is working on her defense. As their investigations develop, questions about Archie’s own innocence muddy the waters. The expected romance between Cooper and Veena is artfully handled, and Patterson and Swierczynski keep the core mystery breezing along, populating it with endearing characters including Cooper’s two preternaturally clever kids and his Rhodesian ridgeback puppy. Though the final reveal is a bit of a letdown, readers won’t much mind. This is a fun ride. Agent: Robert Barnett, Williams & Connolly. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 2023-09-22
PI rivals combine their wits to solve a spectacular murder case.

Just after leading his team to a win in the NFL playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Archie Hughes is found shot to death in his powder-blue Maserati, putting the City of Brotherly Love in freak-out mode. Archie was their GOAT, or Greatest of All Time; fans, bettors, and bookies had been counting on him to deliver a Super Bowl win. The police are all over the murder investigation, but the district attorney asks private investigator Cooper Lamb to help. Lamb doesn't want to work with the DA, so he recommends his rival, Veena Lion, whom he considers to be the second-best PI available. So Lion works for the city while Lamb works for the superstar’s widow, the much-beloved entertainer Francine Hughes. The two PIs find that they have one goal in common, which is to learn the truth. As they dig into the case, they learn disturbing facts about Archie Hughes that suggest Francine may have had a motive for his murder. Through all of this, the happily divorced Lamb cracks wise with his young son and daughter and brings his year-old associate, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Lupe, with him to important meetings. The kids call the pup Loopy. The PIs’ names are a perfect setup for silly jokes, with occasional utterings of “Rowrr” and “Baaaaa” by children and investigators alike. The two adults like each other, by the way. Though generally rivals, they aren’t competing on this case, and their main tension is sexual. He cheerfully suggests sleepovers, and she cheerfully deflects said propositions. Will they, or won’t they? This fast-moving yarn replaces noir with humor—if only the world could do the same. The authors are apparently noodling with the idea of making this enjoyable read the first of a series. Go for it, guys.

Great storytelling. Patterson’s fans will love it.

Kirkus Reviews

There’s an inherent satisfaction we get from murder mystery stories that feature entirely clever, yet diametrically opposed, but still wildly attracted to each other detective types. It scratches an itch. I should know—I’m somewhat of an expert. (On murder stories, not itches.)  Patterson once again takes us on a wild ride that keeps us turning pages to see if we’re all as smart as the characters in his story.”—Nathan Fillion

“A classic game of cat and mouse.”—BookReporter

From the Publisher

There’s an inherent satisfaction we get from murder mystery stories that feature entirely clever, yet diametrically opposed, but still wildly attracted to each other detective types. It scratches an itch. I should know—I’m somewhat of an expert. (On murder stories, not itches.)  Patterson once again takes us on a wild ride that keeps us turning pages to see if we’re all as smart as the characters in his story.

Nathan Fillion