Michael Ledwidge is a successful thriller writer who has collaborated several times with James Patterson. So he knows the formula for keeping readers turning pages. No Safe Place, book 3 in a series about retired police detective Michael Gannon, makes that very plain.

Unfortunately, it’s possible to overdo the formula, at least in this reader’s view.

Michael Gannon didn’t want to retire as a New York cop, but he’s doing his best to enjoy his free time. He especially enjoys fishing, which is what brought him back to his New England home town. To make things even more perfect, he’s run into a girl he had a crush on in high school, now divorced and available.

But that’s before the bar where they’re meeting is invaded by armed men, in search of the mayor’s wife, who has decided to inform on her husband’s illegal activities. Only she can’t guess how very illegal those activities are, or how many powerful people are up to their elbows in the racket. Michael and the others would have no chance against them, except that Michael has a few tricks – and weapons – in his kit.

The writing in No Safe Place wasn’t bad in itself – the spelling and grammar were okay. But I got a strong feeling of first draft here anyway. The book feels as if it were written quickly, strictly following a template of dramatic beats. The chapters are very short, and switch jarringly back and forth between Michael (first person) and other characters, especially the villains. None of the villains has much depth.

I disliked the staccato jerkiness of the narrative, and I didn’t believe the preposterous premise for a moment. This is junk food literature – easy to chew, highly flavored, zero nutrients. Quickly finished and forgotten.

Not awful, and profanity was avoided. But I wasn’t impressed.