A Book I Might Not Read

Today I started The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. I commented on the first four books previously and was surprised then at mistakes in the description of their San Francisco setting. As I began this fifth book I soon discovered a similar problem. On page 10, I read this sentence:

I met Yuki and her mother, Keiko, in front of Saks in the upscale Union Square shopping district out by the Golden Gate Panhandle."

Now I've worked in San Francisco for over 10 years but I've never lived there. I also don't do a lot of exploring in the City. So if you live there and can tell me this location description is true, I'd appreciate it (and be very, very suprised). Because unless there's another Panhandle I don't know about, it's not anywhere near Union Square.

Then the authors continue with "the three of us headed up Maiden Lane toward Grant Avenue." Come on. I went on Google Maps and figured out that Maiden and Grant are almost three miles from the Panhandle. Who are your researchers? Do you think your readers don't mind that you are so careless with the facts? Surely you have someone reading your proofs who is checking these things! I've about had enough of your shoddy writing and editing. I'm so not going to read this book.