Quiz Obsessed James Patterson and James O. Born

Obsessed Quiz: 20 Questions on James Patterson's Michael Bennett Thriller

This quiz covers the entire novel Obsessed, the 15th book in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and James O. Born. Challenge yourself with 20 questions spanning plot, character motivations, themes, and synthesis. Each question is multiple-choice or short-answer. The complete answer key with explanations is at the end.

Quiz Questions

Plot and Sequence (8 Questions)

  1. Where is the first body recovered in the novel?

    • A) In the East River near the Brooklyn Bridge
    • B) In the Hudson River, retrieved by an NYPD boat
    • C) In a pawnshop in Harlem
    • D) In a hotel room in the Bronx

  2. What is the name of the first victim identified by fingerprint matching?

    • A) Emma Schrade
    • B) Suzanne Morton
    • C) Estella Abreu
    • D) Allie Pritz

  3. What weapon does Assistant Medical Examiner Aurora Jones determine killed Estella Abreu?

    • A) A kitchen knife
    • B) A cylindrical metal rod driven with great force
    • C) A straight razor
    • D) A barbell

  4. What is Detective Bill Stanton’s nickname, and why is it given? (Short answer)

  5. How does Michael Bennett gain entry to Kyle Banning’s apartment building on Fifth Avenue?

    • A) He flashes his badge and the doorman lets him in
    • B) He climbs the fire escape
    • C) The doorman, who owes a gambling debt to Ronald Higdon, lets Bennett in through a back door
    • D) He disguises himself as a deliveryman

  6. What substance does Dr. Thomas Sloan inject into Michael Bennett during their interview at the veterinary clinic?

    • A) Epinephrine
    • B) Ketamine
    • C) Fentanyl
    • D) Sodium thiopental

  7. Where does the final confrontation with the killer take place?

    • A) The roof of the Malloy Arms hotel
    • B) The offices of Lancet Financial
    • C) The Holy Name church gymnasium
    • D) The Rain bar in Manhattan

  8. Who fires the shots that kill Perry Martin?

    • A) Terri Hernandez
    • B) Michael Bennett
    • C) Allie Pritz
    • D) A uniformed officer

Character Motivation (5 Questions)

  1. Why does Michael Bennett agree to help Ronald Higdon when his pawnshop is being broken into? (Short answer)

  2. Why does Terri Hernandez initially scoff at Bennett’s idea of her going undercover at the Rain bar?

    • A) She fears being recognized by a former suspect
    • B) She believes her casual clothes will make her stand out among the upscale crowd
    • C) She thinks the operation is too dangerous
    • D) She has a prior commitment that evening

  3. What is Mary Catherine’s stated reason for doubting whether she wants to have another child? (Short answer)

  4. When Bennett confronts Kyle Banning at his office, why does Banning refuse to answer questions?

    • A) He claims he is paid by Lancet Financial to do his job, not to chat with police
    • B) He says he wants a lawyer present
    • C) He denies knowing the victims
    • D) He threatens to call security

  5. Why does Allie Pritz shoot Perry Martin on the hotel roof? (Short answer)

Theme and Symbol (4 Questions)

  1. What does the hidden designer gown in Estella Abreu’s closet symbolize?

    • A) Her love of fashion
    • B) A secret life or hidden identity that her family knew nothing about
    • C) A gift from a boyfriend
    • D) Her desire to become a fashion designer

  2. How does the recurring motif of “bullying” serve as a theme in the novel? (Short answer)

  3. Michael Bennett’s acrophobia (fear of heights) functions thematically to represent:

    • A) His physical weakness
    • B) His reluctance to confront his own vulnerability and limitations
    • C) A childhood trauma involving a fall
    • D) His distrust of tall buildings in New York

  4. What does the “Girlfriend Experience” service symbolize about privilege and power in the novel? (Short answer)

Synthesis (3 Questions)

  1. Compare the parenting styles of Michael Bennett and Mr. Banning. How do each father’s choices influence their children’s behavior and outcomes? (Short answer)

  2. Using examples from the novel, how does Obsessed critique the justice system’s handling of domestic violence and sexual assault? (Short answer)

  3. How do the parallel plots of the homicide investigation and the bullying of Bennett’s sons reinforce the novel’s central themes? (Short answer)

Answer Key

  1. B) In the Hudson River. Chapter 1 describes Bennett on an NYPD boat recovering a body from the river near a news helicopter.

  2. C) Estella Abreu. In Chapter 4, Walter Jackson identifies her via fingerprints; she was a nursing student from East Harlem.

  3. B) A cylindrical metal rod. In Chapter 8, Aurora Jones notes the puncture wound pierced her heart, indicating a powerful blow.

  4. “Suicide” Stanton – He earned the nickname because of his habit of classifying deaths as suicides rather than homicides. (Chapter 18)

  5. C) The doorman, Dorian, who owes a gambling debt to Ronald Higdon, lets Bennett in through the back door to avoid cameras. (Chapter 47)

  6. B) Ketamine. In Chapter 80, Dr. Hoang confirms the syringe contained the animal tranquilizer ketamine.

  7. A) The roof of the Malloy Arms hotel. In Chapter 105–107, the chase ends on the hotel roof.

  8. C) Allie Pritz. In Chapter 107, after Martin confesses, Allie snatches a detective’s gun and shoots him.

  9. Because he made a promise. In Chapter 66, Bennett recalls that when Ronald asked for a favor, he vowed to deliver. He feels obligated even though it means leaving his family.

  10. B) She believes her casual clothes will make her stand out among the upscale crowd. After a quick call to her cousin, she transforms her look. (Chapter 36)

  11. She fears for her children’s safety in a dangerous world and worries about the demands of a newborn. (Chapters 50, 93)

  12. A) He claims he is paid by Lancet Financial to do his job, not to chat with police. He also threatens to call the NYPD on Bennett. (Chapter 42)

  13. For vengeance. After hearing Martin confess to murdering her friends, Allie sees him reaching for Bennett’s hand and chooses to shoot him rather than let him be taken alive. (Chapter 107)

  14. B) A secret life or hidden identity. Her mother had never seen the expensive green gown, suggesting Estella had connections her family knew nothing about. (Chapter 7)

  15. Bullying appears both in the killer’s predatory behavior and in the harassment of Bennett’s sons. The theme explores power imbalances, abuse of privilege, and the idea that bullies—whether wealthy serial killers or street thugs—are fundamentally cowards. (Chapters 41, 108)

  16. B) His reluctance to confront his own vulnerability and limitations. Bennett’s acrophobia appears when he must chase Allie down a fire escape and later when facing Martin on the ledge, forcing him to push past personal fear. (Chapters 60, 105)

  17. It symbolizes how wealth and privilege allow men to commodify relationships and purchase access to vulnerable young women, while also insulating them from consequences. The service enables entitlement and reflects a broader cultural disregard for women’s autonomy. (Chapters 55, 62–63)

  18. Michael Bennett is present, involved, and willing to reason with his children; he struggles with work-family balance but prioritizes their safety. Mr. Banning is authoritarian and dismissive, uses money to control outcomes, and shields his sons from accountability. The Banning brothers become entitled and reckless, while Bennett’s children, despite facing real danger, grow in resilience and moral awareness. (Chapters 49, 50, 109)

  19. The novel shows multiple failures: Celia Cartwright’s assault by Kyle Banning was dismissed after her attacker’s family paid her to drop charges (Chapter 34). Coach Perry Martin’s earlier assault allegation was suppressed after the victim’s brother retaliated (Chapter 88). The justice system is portrayed as easily manipulated by wealth, leaving victims without support and perpetrators free to escalate.

  20. The parallel plots reinforce that violence and intimidation are not confined to one socioeconomic level. Whether a wealthy serial killer or a street bully, the root is a desire for power over others. Bennett’s determination to protect his family mirrors his drive to stop the killer, and both plots emphasize that justice requires courage and perseverance. The resolution of both storylines—the bullies arrested and the killer stopped—underscores the theme that life goes on and family anchors resilience. (Chapters 108, 109)

Return to the main book page: Obsessed Book Overview
Discuss the story: Questions and Answers
Read the ending explained: Obsessed Ending Explained