I'm gradually getting all the overlooked issues read, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. This is 2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club #2).

Synopsis: When a young girl is brutally murdered outside a San Francisco church, the newly promoted Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer embarks on a mission to uncover why the killer, soon dubbed Chimera, ineptly attempted to make the scene resemble a random drive-by shooting. The case bears a striking resemblance to another murder cleverly disguised as a suicide. Perplexed by Chimera's motives, Lindsay decides to召集 another meeting of the Women's Murder Club: her dearest friend, medical examiner Claire Washburn; Chronicle crime reporter Cindy Thomas; and Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt. Eventually, Lindsay discovers that her own father, an ex-cop, is somehow intertwined in the killer's past. Soon, she and Chimera are engaged in a battle of wits as the women of the Club become his prime targets.

One of the subplots in this installment is Lindsay's reunion with her estranged father, Marty. Marty abandoned his family when Lindsay was a teenager, and now, he has returned to make amends with his daughter. Marty proves to be a beneficial character, and it's important to note that he was formerly a cop. Other developments include Cindy finding love and Jill becoming pregnant. I also found the ending to be skillfully written, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the final shot was fired. If you appreciate short chapters and can more or less guess who the villain is, then you'll relish this book. Overall, I really liked this book. In some respects, I preferred book 1 slightly more, but this one was still excellent. Highly recommended.

SPOILER:

In the first book, she continuously confesses her love for her group of friends. It seems that her affection for them knows no bounds. Similarly, in this book, she again continuously confesses her love for her group of friends. The pattern is quite evident.

In the first book, she exerts all her energy on the suspect, going to great lengths to investigate. However, in the end, she discovers that he is not the killer. Surprisingly, the same thing happens in this book. She puts in all her efforts only to find out that the suspect is innocent.

Interestingly, in both books, the actual killers are related to the original suspect and were doing the killings for them or in their honor. It's a rather strange and unexpected twist. Wonder what the 3rd book in the series is about... (sarcasm). Will there be more of the same or will there be a completely different storyline?

The second book of the Women’s Murder Club takes readers on a thrilling journey that centers around a cop killer. This menacing figure is not only targeting police officers of color but also killing people of color in a pattern that seems to be driven by a personal vendetta.

Lindsay Boxer, the determined protagonist, must team up with her close friends from the Murder Club squad to crack the case and figure out the pattern. As they dig deeper into the investigation, things quickly become close and personal. Tragically, two of her friends are attacked, putting Lindsay on high alert. She realizes that she must step up her efforts before she too becomes another victim of the killer.

This installment of the WMC series is yet another great chapter. It is better fleshed out than the first book, with more detailed character development and a more intricate plot. However, it maintains the same level of suspense and engrossing storytelling that made the first book so popular.

One of the things that I really like about this series is its realism. In the world of the Women’s Murder Club, people get hurt and people get killed. Even those characters who we suspect are too essential to be harmed can meet a tragic end. This adds an element of unpredictability and keeps readers on the edge of their seats throughout the entire book.

I found that I enjoyed this book to a greater extent than the first one in the series. Having discovered the series rather late, I initially blamed my dislike of the first book on its inability to stand the test of time. However, after conversing with two different readers who assured me that the series improves as it progresses, I decided to carry on.

I still have some reservations about the way the members of the "club" handle the cases. Their fumbling and lack of finesse don't quite sit well with me. Additionally, I'm not overly impressed with the portrayal of female friendship. I tend to attribute this to the fact that the books are written by men. The notion that a group of women would come together and immediately "grab a beer" while chatting just doesn't seem right to me. It would be more believable if they were to have a glass of wine, a mixed drink, or something completely different, but not necessarily a beer.

On the positive side, what I really enjoyed were the plot twists and the meticulous foreshadowing. These elements, when all was said and done, made the revelation of the killer even more satisfying. I also liked the way the broken relationship between the parent and child was mended. The parallels that could be drawn between the two relationships in the book added an extra layer of entertainment and depth that I truly appreciated.

If I were to rate this book more accurately, it would be 3.75 stars. Despite my criticisms, I still plan to continue with the series, as I'm hopeful that it will continue to improve and offer more engaging storylines and character development.

This piece presents a rather interesting perspective.

It points out a classic situation where women are written by men, suggesting that perhaps men don't quite get it right.

Moreover, it expresses a high level of suspicion regarding the interactions between the white police and the black characters.

The overall atmosphere or "vibe" is not to the author's liking.

In fact, the author makes it clear that they can't say they will be continuing after this one.

This could potentially be due to the combination of these elements that seem to create a sense of unease or dissatisfaction.

It makes one wonder about the implications of such portrayals and how they might impact the audience's perception.

Perhaps there is a need for more careful consideration and a more accurate representation of these complex relationships and dynamics.

After all, a story's success often depends on how well it can engage and resonate with its readers or viewers.

And if the vibe is off, it may be difficult to maintain their interest.

It seems that James Patterson has entrusted this series to a "co-author", which is quite disappointing.

The plot structure is almost identical to that of "1st to Die", following the pattern of "We are certain we have the killer! The case is foolproof! However... we don't actually have the killer and the case is full of flaws."

Lt. Lindsay Boxer not only experiences one but two severe bouts of Lois Lane Syndrome, charging headlong into dangerous situations with a recklessness that only a fictional character who is clearly destined to survive and continue the series can get away with.

I'll give it another one or two books, but if they continue in this manner, I will abandon the series.

Perhaps Patterson should take a closer look at the quality of the writing and the development of the plot to ensure that his fans are not left disappointed. After all, his reputation as a best-selling author is at stake.

It would be a shame to see this series go downhill when it has the potential to be so much more. Let's hope that Patterson and his co-author can turn things around and deliver a more engaging and satisfying read in the future.

This book is probably more of a 2.5/5 stars. However, I'm rounding up because my maiden name is Patterson. If, by some strange chance, I'm distantly related to James, I surely want to stay in his good graces.

Kumski book club 2019 - 5

Ok krimić. At first, I thought it was going to be completely uninteresting. However, the story developed and intertwined in such a way that in the end, it turned out to be quite solid. And yes, I didn't expect that the murderer would be the one who finally emerged.

This book club selection really took me by surprise. The initial impression was not very positive, but as I delved deeper into the story, I found myself getting more and more engaged. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't put the book down until I reached the end.

The author did a great job of building suspense and leading the reader astray. Just when I thought I had figured out who the culprit was, a new clue would be revealed, changing everything. It was a thrilling read from start to finish.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other books the Kumski book club has in store for us in the future. Maybe there will be more hidden gems like this one waiting to be discovered.

This one I actually enjoyed more than the first.

The first one, I had the impression that there was an excessive amount of content being forcefully stuffed into the book.

In this particular installment, the plot pace remains intense, especially with regard to the suspense and mystery elements.

Moreover, I felt that I was able to get to know the ladies on a deeper level.

The plot twists in this were truly excellent - they kept me guessing right until the very end.

There are still a few minor issues that need to be addressed. For instance, it's somewhat puzzling why the main character persists in defying her common sense, considering the not-so-great consequences that follow.

However, I thought the premise of the story and the unique racist-angle were something I hadn't come across before.

Consequently, I was definitely captivated and riveted throughout.

Overall, despite the few flaws, this installment offers an engaging and thrilling read that I would highly recommend to others.

The second installment of the Women's Against Crime Club presents an exciting new case.

Under the leadership of Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer, the four members of the club are determined to solve the mystery.

Just like in the first one, the chapters are very short, the language is simple, and the plot is captivating.

This makes the book a quick read, and before you know it, you've reached the end.

The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

The characters are well-developed, and you can't help but root for them as they work to solve the case.

Overall, this is a great addition to the series and is sure to please fans of mystery and crime novels.

Book two of the Women's Murder Club series - checked!

I had forgotten just how much I truly enjoy this series and these characters. It's important to note that not all of Patterson's work suits my taste (and clearly, I'm not the intended demographic), but so far, I'm 2 out of 2 with this series!

The fast pace, which is Patterson's forte, was not absent in "2nd Chance." It was a delight to read and once I started, it was extremely difficult to put down. The format of short, bite-sized chapters really appeals to me. In fact, every time I read one of these books, I probably break the world record for the number of times the phrase "one more chapter" pops into my mind - haha!

The murders in this book bear an unfortunate resemblance to many of the issues that law enforcement and people of color are facing today. Published 21 years ago in 2002, when I wasn't overly关注 social issues, I found it fascinating and almost disheartening how relevant it still felt. It could have been published at any point in the past 10 years. This relevance was a major factor in my decision to keep reading, but it also struck a chord of sadness.

"2nd Chance" also delved more into the personal lives of each of the four members of "The Club," which was a nice addition to the stress of a homicide case. It provided a good break and made me like them even more.

I have been inspired to continue reading the series and plan to include Lindsay Boxer and her gang in my reading queue.

Another excellent addition to the women's murder club series!

Reading these books in order seems to be a great choice as they are fast-paced and captivating so far.

This particular installment wasn't quite on par with the first one. I suspect that JP wrote the first book on his own, while this one was co-authored. Perhaps that could account for the difference in quality.

The team is hot on the trail of a highly motivated serial killer. But the question remains: is he racist, does he despise cops, or is it both? I thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling pursuit, yet I had a few lingering questions about the killer at the end. For instance, how did he become so proficient at taking those shots? Maybe he had a military background and I simply overlooked that detail.

There were some exciting fighting scenes, and Boxer's dad had an intriguing storyline that added depth to the narrative.

I also believe that JP will have to continuously introduce new characters if he intends to kill one off in every book!

Overall, these books are definitely a great option for quick and entertaining reads in between more serious literary works. They provide a nice break and a dose of excitement.