Last updated on September 9th, 2026 at 05:41 pm
Delusional by James Patterson is a fast-paced Michael Bennett thriller that mixes deadly bombings, domestic extremism, family conflict and a sprawling investigation stretching from New York to Montana. But is Delusional worth reading, especially for fans who have followed Detective Michael Bennett through 18 books?
In this Delusional by James Patterson review, I break down the plot, major characters, themes, strengths, weaknesses and ending to determine whether Patterson and James O. Born have delivered another must-read thriller, or simply another familiar Patterson formula.
Do you ever finish a thriller and feel like you’ve just run a marathon— exhausted, exhilarated, and already planning your next race? That’s exactly how I felt after turning the final page of Delusional , the eighteenth installment in James Patterson and James O. Born’s Michael Bennett series.
This isn’t just another crime novel; it’s a sprawling, cross-country investigation that forces Detective Michael Bennett to confront something he’s never faced before: a case so expansive it pulls him out of New York City and into the vast, unforgiving landscapes of Montana.
With bombings rocking Manhattan, a military arsenal burglarized in New Jersey, and arson tearing through a small town outside Bozeman, Bennett finds himself stretched thinner than ever, and that’s saying something for a man with ten adopted children and a pregnant wife.
What makes this installment stand out isn’t just the action (though there’s plenty of that). It’s the way Patterson and Born explore a question that feels increasingly urgent in our divided times: what happens when genuine grievances curdle into violence, and how do we tell the difference between conviction and delusion?
Table of Contents
Overview
Delusional (Little, Brown and Company, August 17, 2026, 368 pages) is the 18th book in the Michael Bennett series, co-authored by James Patterson and James O. Born. The novel follows NYPD Detective Michael Bennett and his partner, former Army sniper Rob Trilling, as they investigate a series of deadly bombings in New York City that may be connected to a military burglary in New Jersey and a wave of violent attacks in Montana.
What begins as a straightforward domestic terrorism case expands into something far more personal when Trilling’s family becomes a target.
Who will love Delusional:
- Longtime Michael Bennett fans who’ve followed the series since Step on a Crack (2007)
- Readers who appreciate fast-paced thrillers with short chapters (Patterson’s signature style)
- Fans of police procedurals that balance action with family drama
- Those who enjoy stories about domestic terrorism and anti-government extremism
Who might want to skip it:
- Newcomers to the series, as one reviewer noted, “if you are new to these authors and this once great character, I recommend you do not start with this one”
- Readers looking for deep literary fiction, this is pure entertainment, not high art
- Those fatigued by the “lone bomber” trope, some reviewers noted the plot felt familiar
Background
The Michael Bennett series began in 2007 with Step on a Crack, introducing readers to a widowed NYPD detective raising ten adopted children. Over the years, Bennett has evolved from a grieving father into one of Patterson’s most enduring characters, a man defined by his unwavering dedication to family, loyalty to colleagues, and willingness to place himself in danger.
Delusional marks the continuation of Patterson’s collaboration with James O. Born, a career law-enforcement agent who brings authentic procedural detail to the series. Together, they’ve kept Michael Bennett “relevant, engaging, and consistently entertaining” across eighteen installments.
The novel arrives at a moment when domestic terrorism and anti-government extremism are prominent in public discourse. The authors tap into this anxiety, presenting a group of radicals who believe they’re “making the world a better place” through violence.
The title itself, Delusional , captures the central tension: how do law enforcement and society distinguish between passionate conviction and dangerous self-deception?
Delusional Plot Summary
The Setup: Bombs in Manhattan
The story opens with Detective Michael Bennett and his partner Rob Trilling standing outside a city office building in lower Manhattan that’s just been bombed. The Office of Technology and Innovation, an obscure annex office near City Hall, has been reduced to rubble, and a young clerk named Abby Boyd is dead. The bomb was sophisticated, far more advanced than the crude device that killed Sergeant Rose Vega in Queens five months earlier. Adding to the weirdness: someone had packed glitter into the explosive.
Bennett and Trilling have little to go on. The security system was hacked, the door was pried open with a crowbar, and the only physical evidence is a smudge suggesting the perpetrator was missing the middle and index fingers on their left hand.
Trilling’s Montana Crisis
As the investigation begins, Trilling receives an urgent call from home. His brother Gary, who runs the family car lot outside Bozeman, Montana, is being pressured by a wealthy developer from Los Angeles named Arnold Marks. Marks wants to buy the property, and he won’t take no for an answer. Gary’s car lot has been vandalized, and tensions are escalating.
Trilling requests leave to help his family, and Bennett reluctantly approves. The partner relationship here is crucial: Bennett is a father figure to the younger Trilling, and their bond has deepened over previous installments.
Enter Tom Owens
Meanwhile, we’re introduced to the novel’s primary antagonist: Thomas Wayne Owens, a reclusive MIT engineering graduate living in a cabin near Millwood, New York. Owens idolizes Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, and lives a primitive existence in the woods, trapping squirrels for food, fixing neighbors’ tractors in exchange for venison, and building increasingly sophisticated explosive devices.
Owens is approached by Ellis Warrenton, a charismatic but manipulative figure who leads a small anti-government group. Warrenton, along with his enforcer Pry (Leonard Barr) and a young woman named Kimmy, convinces Owens to join their cause. They claim to be fighting “tyranny”, the government, banks, and tech companies that they believe are strangling society.
But Owens quickly realizes he’s been recruited for his bomb-making skills, not his ideology. The group’s previous bombing, the one that killed Sergeant Vega, was crude and unsophisticated. With Owens’s expertise, they can do something far more devastating.
The Partnership with Maggie Chin
Back in New York, Bennett is paired with ATF Special Agent Maggie Chin, a former combat engineer with experience in Afghanistan and Syria. Chin is sharp, no-nonsense, and immediately likable, “the best new character in the novel,” according to one reviewer.
Together, Bennett and Chin investigate the bombings, connecting the Office of Technology attack to the burglary of Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, where C-4, black powder, and an artillery round were stolen. The investigation leads them to Leonard “Pry” Barr, a massive man missing two fingers on his left hand, matching the evidence from the crime scene.
Montana: A Family Under Siege
Trilling arrives in Montana to find his family’s situation dire. The car lot has been firebombed, and Gary’s bookkeeper, Lillian Mathis, is dead. Arnold Marks, the developer, is buying up properties across Palm Island (a tiny incorporated town Trilling’s great-grandfather founded) and using strong-arm tactics to pressure holdouts.
Trilling calls Bennett for help. Despite being in the middle of the bombing investigation, Bennett flies to Montana. What follows is a tense, western-style confrontation with Marks and his hired muscle. In one particularly memorable scene, Bennett slaps Marks across the face, an insult that, in the world of crime and street culture, is far more damaging than a punch.
The violence escalates. Marks’s men attack the Trilling family home, and in a dramatic showdown, Chet Trilling, Rob’s grandfather, emerges with a shotgun to defend his family.
The Bomber’s Endgame
Back in New York, Owens has become increasingly disillusioned with Ellis Warrenton. Ellis isn’t interested in ideology, he wants money. His plan is to rob a bank using Owens’s bombs.
Owens has other ideas. He wants to target a Con Edison facility and knock out power to Manhattan, a statement that would dwarf anything the Unabomber ever achieved. The tension between Owens and Ellis comes to a head, and Ellis strikes Owens in the face.
Bennett and Chin, having tracked Owens through his brother Spencer (who provided the address of the Airbnb in Yonkers where Owens is staying), arrive at the house. What follows is a chaotic confrontation: Ellis flees with a satchel bomb, Owens is arrested, and Bennett finds himself in a foot chase with Ellis.
The Climax
Ellis corners Bennett in an alley, holding the remote detonator for the satchel bomb. He’s about to trigger it when something goes horribly wrong: the remote explodes in his hand. Owens, it turns out, had rigged the device as a “surprise” for Ellis, a final act of revenge for the bullying and abuse.
But the danger isn’t over. Arjan Marku (Arnold Marks’s real name), the Albanian gangster from Montana, has followed Bennett to New York. He confronts Bennett in the parking lot outside the Manhattan North Homicide office, demanding revenge for the humiliation in Montana.
In a twist of cruel irony, Marku opens the door of Bennett’s car, and triggers a bomb that Owens had planted earlier. The explosion is devastating. Bennett is thrown across the asphalt, suffering second-degree burns on his face and a badly injured foot. Marku is killed instantly.
The Resolution
Bennett survives, though he’s badly injured. His titanium Saint Christopher medal, a gift from his late wife Maeve, survives the blast, but the keychain with photos of his children is melted beyond recognition.
The case is resolved. Owens is in custody. Pry Barr is facing charges. Ellis Warrenton is hospitalized with severe burns. And Arnold Marks is dead.
The novel ends on a hopeful note: Bennett’s family attends Juliana’s opening night performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Rob Trilling appears at the last moment, roses in hand, and shares a kiss with Juliana, confirming the status of their relationship. Mary Catherine is expecting their eleventh child. And Bennett reflects on how lucky he is to have his family together.
Delusional Analysis
Characters
Michael Bennett: Two decades into the series, Bennett remains a compelling protagonist. His dedication to family, loyalty to colleagues, and willingness to place himself in danger continue to resonate. In Delusional , we see Bennett stretched between two crises: the bombing investigation in New York and his partner’s family emergency in Montana. What makes him work as a character is his humanity, he’s not a super-cop, just a dedicated father and detective trying to do the right thing.
Rob Trilling: The former Army sniper turned NYPD officer brings a fresh dynamic to the series. His tactical instincts complement Bennett’s methodical empathy, and their partnership has become one of the series’ strongest elements.
In Delusional , we see Trilling in his element, defending his family, relying on his military training, and navigating the complicated dynamics of home.
Maggie Chin: The ATF special agent is the standout new character. A former combat engineer with experience in Afghanistan and Syria, Chin is smart, capable, and refreshingly free of the bureaucratic baggage that often hampers federal agents in crime fiction. Her partnership with Bennett is one of the novel’s highlights, and readers will hope she returns in future installments.
Tom Owens: The Unabomber-inspired antagonist is both disturbing and oddly sympathetic. Owens is a genius who can’t connect with people, a man who retreats to the woods because society overwhelms him. His idolization of Ted Kaczynski feels authentic, and his gradual disillusionment with Ellis Warrenton adds complexity to his character.
Ellis Warrenton: The charismatic leader of the anti-government group is a study in manipulation. He talks about fighting tyranny, but his real motivations are money and control. Owens’s realization that Ellis doesn’t care about the cause, and never did, is one of the novel’s more poignant moments.
Arnold Marks (Arjan Marku): The Albanian gangster posing as a Los Angeles developer is a classic Patterson villain: ruthless, arrogant, and ultimately undone by his own pride. His pursuit of Bennett across the country adds an extra layer of tension to an already crowded plot.
Delusional Themes and Symbolism
Delusion and Self-Deception: The title isn’t just clever marketing, it’s the novel’s central theme. The anti-government group believes they’re “making the world a better place” through violence. Ellis Warrenton believes he’s a revolutionary when he’s really just a common criminal.
Owens believes he can save the world through bombs. And Arnold Marks believes he’s untouchable. The novel asks a uncomfortable question: how do we distinguish between genuine conviction and dangerous self-deception?
Family as Sanctuary: Bennett’s chaotic household provides a stark contrast to the violence of his professional life. His ten adopted children, his pregnant wife Mary Catherine, and his grandfather Seamus offer a glimpse of what he’s fighting for. The domestic scenes aren’t just filler, they’re the emotional core of the series.
The West vs. The City: The novel’s shift from New York to Montana isn’t just a change of scenery, it’s a thematic shift. The vast, open landscapes of Montana represent a different kind of America, one where self-reliance matters and the rules are different. Bennett is out of his element in Montana, and that discomfort drives much of the tension.
Technology and Control: Owens’s grievances about technology and government surveillance echo the Unabomber’s manifesto. The novel doesn’t endorse these views, but it takes them seriously enough to make them believable.
Redemption and Second Chances: Brian Bennett, Michael’s oldest son, appears in a supporting role. He’s working at an air-conditioning company and helping with the younger kids, a far cry from his troubled past. It’s a reminder that the series has always been about second chances, both for its characters and for the people they encounter.
Delusional Evaluation
Strengths
Pacing and Structure: Patterson and Born waste zero time setting the narrative in motion. The short chapters keep the pages turning, and the expansion of the investigation from New York to Montana adds an intriguing new dynamic.
The Partnership Dynamic: The Bennett-Trilling partnership continues to evolve in compelling ways. Trilling’s tactical instincts and Bennett’s methodical empathy create a productive friction.
Maggie Chin: The new ATF agent is a welcome addition. She’s smart, capable, and brings a different perspective to the investigation.
The Montana Setting: The shift from New York to Montana gives the novel a stark, almost cinematic isolation that contrasts with Bennett’s usual urban environment.
Believable Villains: The antagonists are grounded in motivations that are both disturbing and believable. They’re not cartoonish villains, they’re people who believe they’re doing the right thing.
Weaknesses
Formulaic Elements: Some reviewers noted that the plot felt familiar. As one put it, “I could easily guess the detectives and killers next steps”. The series has been running for eighteen books, and certain patterns have become predictable.
Emotional Beats Feel Rushed: The emotional moments sometimes move as quickly as the action. Characters process trauma and grief at a pace that feels unrealistic, even for a thriller.
Too Many Plots: The novel juggles multiple storylines, the bombings, the Montana crisis, the Owens subplot, the Marku subplot. At times, it feels like there’s too much going on.
Familiar Territory: For longtime readers, some elements will feel like déjà vu. The anti-government group, the family drama, the partner-in-peril plot, these are well-worn paths in the series.
Impact and Resonance
Delusional arrives at a moment when domestic terrorism is a genuine concern. The novel’s exploration of how grievances can curdle into violence feels timely, even urgent. The authors avoid the trap of making the villains purely evil, they’re people who believe they’re fighting for something important, even as their methods become increasingly destructive.
The novel also resonates because of its family themes. Bennett’s dedication to his children and his willingness to drop everything to help his partner speak to something universal. In a world that often feels fractured, the novel reminds us that family, chosen or blood, is what matters most.
Comparison with Similar Works
Delusional fits squarely in the Patterson tradition, alongside other Michael Bennett thrillers like Paranoia (2025), Crosshairs (2024), and Obsessed (2023). It shares DNA with the Alex Cross series, though Bennett is a more grounded, less superheroic protagonist.
The novel also echoes works like The Unabomber Manifesto (in its exploration of anti-tech ideology) and more recent thrillers about domestic terrorism. Fans of authors like David Baldacci, Lee Child, and Harlan Coben will find familiar pleasures here.
Personal Insight: The Unabomber Connection
What struck me most about Delusional was its exploration of the Unabomber legacy. Thomas Owens isn’t just a random bomber, he’s a man who has studied Ted Kaczynski’s life and work, who idolizes him, who believes Kaczynski was “right about so many things”.
This isn’t just a plot device. It reflects a real and troubling phenomenon. According to the FBI’s 2021 Domestic Terrorism report, the number of domestic terrorism investigations has increased by 357% since 2016. Many of these cases involve individuals radicalized by online content, conspiracy theories, and grievances that echo Kaczynski’s manifesto.
What makes this novel particularly insightful is the way it distinguishes between Owens and Kaczynski. Owens is a genius, but he’s also deeply flawed, socially awkward, emotionally stunted, easily manipulated. He’s not a hero or a martyr. He’s a lonely man who found purpose in destruction.
Five Lessons from Delusional :
Ideology doesn’t excuse violence. The group’s claims about fighting tyranny don’t make their bombings acceptable. Intentions don’t erase consequences.
Loneliness is dangerous. Owens’s isolation made him vulnerable to manipulation. Human connection, real connection, might have saved him.
Not all grievances are equal. The group had legitimate concerns about technology and government overreach. But they chose the wrong response.
Family matters. Bennett’s dedication to his family isn’t just sentimental, it’s what keeps him grounded and effective.
Delusion is a choice. The characters who refuse to see reality, Ellis, Pry, even Marks, all meet bad ends. Those who acknowledge their mistakes (like Owens, ultimately) have a chance at redemption.
Delusional Quotes
“You don’t ever mess with family.” , Chet Trilling, Chapter 70
This line, spoken by Rob Trilling’s elderly grandfather after he emerges with a shotgun to defend his family, captures the novel’s emotional core.
“Do you know how hard it is to get people to listen to hard truths?” , Ellis Warrenton, Chapter 96
A revealing moment that shows Ellis’s self-deception, he believes he’s fighting for truth when he’s really just fighting for himself.
“There are two types of people in the world. Those who want to blow it up and those who’re content to watch it slowly burn itself out. Which are you, Tom?” , Ellis Warrenton, Prologue
The line that recruits Owens into the group, and reveals Ellis’s manipulative nature.
“This isn’t TV. Kids grow up without their parents because of people like you.” , Michael Bennett, Chapter 101
Bennett’s response to Ellis’s ideological posturing cuts to the heart of the matter.
Conclusion
Delusional is a solid addition to the Michael Bennett series, not the best, not the worst, but a reliably entertaining thriller that delivers what Patterson fans expect. The novel’s exploration of domestic terrorism and the Unabomber legacy feels timely, and the expansion of the investigation to Montana adds fresh energy to a series that’s been running for eighteen books.
The partnership between Bennett and Trilling continues to be the series’ strongest element, and the introduction of ATF agent Maggie Chin is a welcome development. The villains are believable, the action is relentless, and the family scenes provide emotional grounding.
Who should read this book: Longtime Michael Bennett fans, readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers, and anyone interested in stories about domestic terrorism.
Who should skip it: Newcomers to the series (start with Step on a Crack instead), readers looking for literary fiction, and those tired of the “lone bomber” trope.
Final verdict: Delusional is exactly what you’d expect from a Patterson thriller, fast, fun, and forgettable in the best possible way. It won’t change your life, but it will entertain you for a few hours. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
