I initiated this series an extremely long time ago. Of course, it was out of sequence. At that time, I had no idea that there were several others.

So far, the first book has been delivered precisely in the style of James Patterson, filled with provocation, danger, mystery, and suspense. The lead inspector is handling death in two distinct ways; one is personal and the other is professional. She is a competent cop, yet she has been dealt a difficult hand since childhood. Now, love is emerging in the picture, but she is not in a position to embrace it.

The case involves a murder plot to kill brides and grooms. It is very well thought out and planned. In the end, there is a twist that you simply did not anticipate. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing and wondering what will happen next. The characters are well-developed, and you can't help but become invested in their lives and fates. It's a thrilling read that will satisfy any mystery lover.

Meh. This book is quite forgettable, to be honest. But it was precisely what I required after the emotional upheaval I endured following my previous read. I craved fluff, either a hilarious romantic comedy or a conventional, highly predictable "thriller". And truly, I wasn't in the mood for romance.

Anyway, this book was "high-octane", overly dramatic, and extremely fast-paced. I mean, I'm being generous here because this book really doesn't merit two stars. But, sigh, due to circumstances.

I'm certain Patterson is a bestselling author for the same reason as John Grisham or Dan Brown. Okay, well, I don't know the reason, but I'm sure it's the same. When I figure it out, I'll let you all know. So this book is supposed to be dark, gritty, and action-packed. But truth be told, it was long, rambling, and unnecessarily dramatic. No, really, I was a bit put off by the prologue, but I persevered because I'm a bit of a trooper. I wasn't disappointed per se because I was expecting this. But sometimes, I wish these guys would try just a little to surprise me. There's only one place where I see Patterson actually attempt, and he fails quite miserably there as well. You see, he tries too hard to imitate the voice of a woman, which he really can't do. Maybe just stick to third person POV, yeah, buddy? That's bearable. The first person POV is not. It's quite insipid and irritating, in fact.

If you watch crime procedurals as much as I do, firstly, you need to stop. It's unhealthy. But secondly and more importantly, you'll be able to figure this out quite quickly. Basically, there's a serial killer who enjoys killing newlywed couples and pays special attention to the brides. Basically. The twists were dull and uninteresting. The "strong, female characters" were caricatures of any number of female cops, medical examiners, DAs, and crime reporters you would see on criminal procedurals. There's a helluva lot of drama, and that gave me a headache. The romance is gratuitous, as is its unexpected end. Lindsay has far too many problems and far too much baggage. And why Patterson wants to make the poor woman suffer more is beyond me.

If you want to read good fictional thrillers about serial killers, read The Alienist by Caleb Carr or the Inspector Thomas Lynley series by Elizabeth George. Look, I didn't read this book to trash it. Truthfully. I knew what I was getting into, and I wanted it, not because I'm a masochist (which I am), but because I needed a palate cleanser. So I'm going to refrain from saying more. I mean, it served its purpose well, so all isn't lost. I don't recommend it unless you want to read something with the same level of detachment I did. Then, by all means, lose yourself in the book. Or maybe just lose the book. That would be a lot better for your health.

4.5 stars

This product truly deserves a 4.5-star rating. Its quality is outstanding, with every detail meticulously crafted. The design is not only sleek and modern but also highly functional. It offers a seamless user experience, making it a joy to use. The performance is top-notch, exceeding expectations in every aspect. Whether it's speed, efficiency, or reliability, this product delivers. The materials used are of the highest quality, ensuring durability and longevity. Additionally, the customer service provided is excellent, always ready to assist with any queries or concerns. Overall, this is a product that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a high-quality, reliable, and user-friendly option. It truly stands out from the competition and is well worth the investment.

This is the first book of Patterson's "Women's Murder Club" series.

I initially planned to rate it 4 stars. However, two unexpected surprises near the conclusion of the book compelled me to upgrade it to 5 stars. There was a plot twist that I had half anticipated, but following that, I was completely caught off guard.

The criminal in the story was targeting and eliminating couples who had just gotten married, on the very same night. The question of why remained unanswered until the end of the book.

Well, now I'm completely hooked on this series. I already have books #2 and #3 in my possession.

If you have a penchant for thrillers, I highly recommend this book!

Ron

Lindsay Boxer is an Inspector in the San Francisco Police Department. In this, the initial novel of the Women's Murder Club Series, she is grappling with multiple challenges. Firstly, she is suffering from a severe medical condition, Negli's aplastic anemia. Secondly, a serial killer is preying on newly married couples. Thirdly, she has an attraction to a new partner she has to work with on the case.

This is an engaging mystery, filled with numerous twists and turns. However, the author appears to be indecisive about whether to focus on the plot or the characters. He endows Lindsey with a plethora of personal issues and friendships, including those with the women in her so-called murder club. Nevertheless, the characters are never fully developed, although they might, of course, become more well-rounded in future novels. Additionally, Lindsay seems oddly reluctant to disclose her medical problems to anyone, including her superiors, which I found rather implausible. That being said, the book was interesting enough to make me want to continue reading the series, but I derived more enjoyment from it when it centered on the investigation rather than on Lindsay.

I was absolutely itching to read this series. The main reason was that I was deeply intrigued by the whole "Women's Murder Club" angle. And I have to say, I really, really enjoyed it.

Actually, I have never read Patterson before, which is kind of weird considering I do read a lot of this genre. I wouldn't say he's my favorite (yet). The short, choppy chapters felt a little unnecessary to me. Also, there were a few moments where I didn't think he was writing "women" very well.

But for the most part, it was a purely entertaining, swift-paced, good old-fashioned murder mystery. And of course, I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the 4 main characters even more. I can't wait to see what this quad of powerful ladies are up to in the next book. It's going to be exciting!

I'm sure there will be more thrilling mysteries and adventures waiting for them. I'm eager to follow their story and see how they solve the next case. I have a feeling it's going to be another great read.

First Read:

I've truly relished this series. I didn't commence from the very beginning but rather from a point in the middle. Now, finally going back to the start, I discover that a significant number of readers haven't held this series in high regard. However, I have, and I've established a sense of kinship with the characters, both women and men, within these stories. I've derived great amusement from this series and have a genuine fondness for the players (the good guys) in the books. Since I've read a considerable number ahead, it will be a pleasure to catch up with the others that I haven't read yet. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Second Read:

I don't recall a great deal about my initial reading of this. It serves to demonstrate that as readers, we evolve, which is indeed a positive aspect. I awarded this book 5 stars upon my first reading. For example, the insanity of the murders and the motivation behind it seem rather tenuous. You might argue that a psychopath often has no rational reason to cause pain or to kill. He simply delights in it - but to influence others? I'm not so sure.

This is an audio book that I listened to many, many years ago.

It's narrated by Suzanne Toren who did an excellent job. I remember that I was so captivated by it that I listened to the entire series back to back.

Or at least up until the point where I had to wait impatiently for the next one to come out. And as soon as it did, I listened to it immediately.

This was published in 2002 and I own all of them on Audible audio books.

Now, the 16th one, 16th Seduction, is out. So I've decided to embark on a journey back to the beginning of the series for the second time.

I didn't remember the intricate twists and turns it takes all the way up to the very end. But I can definitely say that it was a great decision!

I'm currently on to the second one, 2nd Chance.

Now about this book. I absolutely loved it!

What an incredible ending!! James Patterson and Maxine Paetro have coauthored an ingenious novel starring Lindsey Boxer.

It slowly unfolds how the Woman's Murder Club gets started, all the way through to a dynamic ending that I guarantee you will NOT forsee!!

You will have to read it to find out anything more.

Couples are being brutally murdered on their wedding night, and these are not just ordinary couples but rich and successful individuals.

The first couple's case is particularly disturbing as the bride was not only murdered but the killer also left some incriminating evidence behind. The killer is in a hurry and has already moved on to couple number two.

Lindsay, a homicide inspector, is determined to link the two murders. She uses all her available resources but initially finds no clues to connect them.

Deciding to seek advice, Lindsay calls a few of her female friends who are knowledgeable in different fields. She calls Claire, a medical examiner, and Cindy, a reporter she has just recently met. These three women form their own investigation club, and it proves to be a great team.

With their diverse skills, they start piecing together the leads and make some progress. However, just as they are getting closer to the truth, another newlywed couple is found dead.

Lindsay then calls upon an assistant D.A, Jill, to join the club. Now, with Jill on board, these four women work together to stop the murders before more victims are found.

I really liked the fast pace of this novel. There were different viewpoints to follow, which added to the excitement as the story progressed rapidly. Lindsay and her team were quick to try and link the murders, but identifying the killer took them some effort.

I also liked how Lindsay formed this elite group and how the women supported and relied on each other. Each of them had their own area of expertise, and they encouraged one another, bringing valuable contributions to the table.

The novel had many twists and turns, which kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought things were starting to make sense, something unexpected would happen, and the story would take a new direction.

I'm sorry I put off reading this series for so long. My daughter had read all of them and gave them to me a while ago, but I forgot about them. Now I understand why she got hooked on them and read them all. As for me, I'm excited to move on to book #2. I would rate this novel 4.5 stars.

Early on, Patterson was indeed one of my favorites. I had a deep affection for the first five or so of the Alex Cross books, such as "Along Came a Spider" and "Kiss the Girls". These stories were truly great, filled with captivating plots and remarkable characters. I remained a loyal reader of Patterson until in one of his books, twin brothers were using an albino tiger as a weapon in serial killings. At that moment, he seemed to have crossed the line, so to speak.

Currently, I'm in the process of writing a new series with a strong female protagonist. I was seeking good examples from both readers and authors, and Patterson's "The Murder Club" was mentioned not just once but several times. So, I decided to pick up a copy and give it a try. To my surprise, I really liked it. The writing was clean and concise, and Patterson managed to draw me right into the story and make me fond of the characters within the first few pages. The structure and writing were truly masterful. I devoured the book in just three sittings. I could see the set-ups and the foreshadowing, yet he still managed to fool me with the endings. However, he did flip the ending a bit too many times for my taste.

What I wasn't too keen on was the lack of attention to detail in the police procedural part. It felt as if he just made it up on the spot without doing any proper research. For instance, three times the character flipped off the safety on a .38, even though they don't have safeties. He also referred to a murder as a One eight Oh, when it should be 187. There were other similar errors, but you get the idea. Additionally, the use of an earthquake as a plot tool to advance an important plot point seemed a bit far-fetched, much like the albino tiger incident in his previous book. Normally, this kind of thing would have pulled me out of the story, but not this time. The characters were so likable that I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

For me, with really great books, I often find myself thinking about the characters long after I've finished reading. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with this book. Although the characters were likable enough to keep me engaged in the story, they weren't quite developed enough to feel real. I think this might be due to the structure. The short chapters made the story move at a very fast pace, almost too fast. While this can be good in some ways, in this case, it seemed to be a drawback to the overall impact of the book.

Nevertheless, I've already purchased the next book in the Murder Club series, "2nd Chance", and it's waiting to be read. I'll continue with the series until something completely outlandish happens, like that albino tiger jumping out and biting me. So, overall, I would recommend this book with some reservations.

David Putnam

Author of the Bruno Johnson series.

There were indeed certain parts that took me completely by surprise and some subject matter that I had not anticipated at all.

If you are sensitive to anything that might be disturbing, I would highly recommend checking the warnings.

Nonetheless, I considered it to be a rather decent read.

I might be somewhat biased as I have spent a significant portion of my life in the locations described in the book.

Therefore, it was truly enjoyable to hear about the areas of my hometown.

I will definitely give another book in this series a try since I really liked the group of women characters.

They added a lot of depth and charm to the story, making it engaging and interesting from start to finish.

I am looking forward to seeing what other adventures and experiences the author has in store for us in the next installment.

A serial killer in San Francisco murders newlywed couples within 24 hours of their wedding ceremony. Linzi Boxer is a homicide detective in the city, and this case is very difficult. By her side is her friend of ten years, Claire Washburn, the chief medical examiner of the city. Journalist Cindy Thomas works for the local newspaper San Francisco Chronicle and takes on the reporting of the case. And when all the evidence starts to point to the culprit, Linzi informs Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt. With this case, the Women's Murder Club begins its work, a unique group of four women who discover common reference points and a chemistry that will help them solve the cases that present themselves by sharing opinions and information.

Classic, beloved Patterson, classic beloved police procedural. With its twists, its cinematic, almost script-like writing, the race against time, the escalation of the case, the closing of the loop, everything one could want to find in a book by a beloved author. So far, I've heard conflicting opinions about Patterson, from that he repeats himself to that he writes formulaic books or even that he writes superficially. Personally, I haven't gotten tired yet. He has exactly what I like to read in thrillers of this kind, and the fact that I almost immediately understood that the culprit wasn't the culprit and that the case was rigged didn't disappoint me at all because I just wanted more!

The first crime is a thrilling mystery, full of suspense and surprises from the very first to the literal last page. I was pleased to note that the four women didn't create the Women's Murder Club to drink tea and chat, nor to engage in uninteresting social commentary. With the case that Linzi is called upon to solve, a heterogeneous group is formed that has some common reference points, and this very group has the ingredients that truly solve the case or at least move it forward. So far, at least 12 books have been written, and I wholeheartedly hope that this idea doesn't fizzle out.

Linzi engages us a little more here, since she knows love in the eyes of a colleague on the case while at the same time struggling with a rare illness, so she is reserved in her feelings since she doesn't want to start something doomed to end soon. This love story didn't have much emotion, on the contrary, it followed the frenzied pace of the case and went through all the stages of a relationship. It didn't delve deep enough, didn't pay attention to character development, but it did move me, although the ending of this relationship seemed a bit cliched to me. Will Linzi win the battle against the illness? Does she have the right to her dreams at the very moment when a remorseless killer is shattering the dreams of young children?

The identity of the killer was a difficult puzzle, which reminded me a lot of another thriller, by William Diehl, as far as the upside-down twists and the unpleasant surprises. The clues one by one and the indications that gradually turn into evidence point to only one killer, but is this true or is someone trying to frame him? And if it's an old enemy of his, why does he want to destroy him? How are these two people connected in the web? How will the great truth be revealed, which left me speechless and won me over completely?

The first book in the Women's Murder Club series is a fast-paced book, with stormy action, fast rhythms, twists, and intensity. As soon as I finished it, I rushed to the shelf of my library to read the next one!