Yet another book today that I have one-starred. I found First to Die extremely boring and not very well-written. It seemed rather amateurish for an author who enjoys such popularity. The story failed to grip me from the very beginning. The characters, especially the protagonist and the killer, lacked depth and complexity. I simply couldn't bring myself to be interested in learning more about them. Their actions and motives felt forced and unconvincing. As a result, I had to DNF (Did Not Finish) this book. It's a real disappointment considering the high expectations I had based on the author's reputation. I hope the author can improve in future works and deliver more engaging and well-crafted stories.

Old reviews seem to have mysteriously gone missing. It's really quite baffling as to how the save function could not be working properly. This is a major inconvenience for both the users and the creators of the platform.

On a more positive note, the series "Women's Murder Club" is truly great. I have a deep affection for it. The storylines are engaging, the characters are well-developed, and it keeps me on the edge of my seat with every episode. It's one of those shows that I look forward to watching whenever I have the chance. The chemistry between the members of the club is palpable, and it adds an extra layer of depth to the overall narrative. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or crime drama.

Hopefully, the issue with the missing reviews and the non-functioning save feature will be resolved soon so that others can also share their thoughts and opinions about this wonderful series.

The first James Patterson book that I ever had the pleasure of reading is truly one of the best I've come across this year. It has far exceeded my initial expectations. To be completely honest, I never thought that serial killer novels could be this incredibly fun and engaging.

The story is filled to the brim with intense suspense and thrilling moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Just when you're convinced that you've witnessed the very last of the mind-bending twists, another one suddenly jumps out at you in the final pages, leaving you utterly shocked and amazed.

The plot centers around a particularly heinous serial killer who preys upon newlyweds on their wedding night. It falls upon the shoulders of the homicide inspector, Lindsay Boxer, to track down this elusive and dangerous criminal. However, in order to achieve this, she requires the assistance of her dear friends in the women's murder club, namely Claire Washburn, Cindy Thomas, and Jill Bernhardt. Together, they work tirelessly and with great determination to bring the killer to justice before he has the opportunity to strike again and claim more innocent lives.

If the speed at which you complete a book is an indication of how awesome it is, then this one was a home run. I finished it in just 2 sessions.

Some may frown at my rating and argue that this novel isn't all that thought-provoking or life-changing. While that may be true, I usually keep a book's genre in mind when deciding on a rating. As a mystery thriller, this one was fantastic.

It takes the less popular approach of letting you see through the killer's eyes as opposed to a true whodunnit. Patterson does this, and I'm telling you, it does not take away from the mystery at all. If anything, it messes with your head and lulls you into a false sense of knowing. There were twists and turns until the very end.

Unlike the train wreck known as The Thursday Murder Club, I really loved the Women's Murder Club. Each member was not only enjoyable but contributed in unique ways. Even with the sometimes clashing personalities, they still held true to their loyalty to one another. Kudos to Patterson for taking the usually annoying reporter character in books and making her likeable. I was a bit skeptical about her in the beginning, but she quickly won me over.

I look forward to reading the sequel just to revisit my friends. It will be exciting to see what new adventures and mysteries await them. I have a feeling it will be just as thrilling as the first book.

I often find myself drawn to Patterson's books when I'm in the mood for a light read that doesn't require too much mental effort. "1st to Die" truly fits the bill in this regard.

I absolutely adored the concept presented in the story. It centered around a remarkable group of females, each with their own unique skills and backgrounds. There was a detective, sharp and intuitive, a lawyer, astute and knowledgeable, and a journalist, tenacious and inquisitive. Together, they joined forces to solve a series of heinous crimes.

The book was an easy-to-read, page-turning thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The killer in the story was a complex and gruesome character, targeting newly-weds with a sick and twisted agenda. The plot was filled with more twists and turns than one could imagine, making it impossible to predict what would happen next. It was a thrilling ride that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have recently posted a much better review on my blog!

This review is truly something special. It delves deep into the details and offers unique insights that you won't find elsewhere.

-If you are reading this then write in the comments which fictional book character you would've hated to babysit you as a kid. For me, I'd choose Camie from The A-List series. She seems like the type who would've called me names and had strange guys over while babysitting! Can you imagine the chaos that would've ensued?

Also, since you are an awesome individual who likes to spread joy, check out my blog post for 1st to Die by James Patterson (SPOILERS). (It only takes three minutes to read and a fraction of a second to click on the link) Here's the link https://thereadrose.blog/2018/09/11/r.... In this blog post, I share my thoughts and opinions on the book, including some major spoilers. So, if you haven't read the book yet and don't want to be spoiled, proceed with caution! But if you're a fan of James Patterson and want to know what I thought of this particular installment, then click on the link and give it a read. I promise you won't be disappointed!

It's truly an excellent thriller. Although on numerous occasions, I find myself lacking the patience for those large-scale mystery thrillers. Consequently, most of the time, I earnestly hope that a movie adaptation will emerge. However, thriller movies are currently out of vogue as this is the era of fantasy and superhero movies. Therefore, I suppose I will have to endure a somewhat longer wait for the film adaptations of many of my beloved thrillers than I initially anticipated.

I went to bed with this book and instantly felt the captivating vibes! There is some truly clever plotting that quickly made it a fast page turner. After reading Scandinavian and some other crime novels, I'm now catching up on contemporary North American thriller writers. And spot on, I found this jewel. What amazed me instantly was Patterson's witty capability of portraying females in a pretty realistic way. None of them were depicted as crazy or depressed. Yes, they had issues, but nonetheless, he painted all of the main females pretty much true to life.

On the first crime scene, we meet Cindy Thomas, a crime desk reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, a smart and sassy journalist. Then we get to know Lindsay Boxer, the only female homicide detective for the San Francisco Police Department who's working the double murder case that Cindy has gotten close to and written about. Lindsay pulls us into the story as a pretty driven, strong-headed gal, a dog person, with a history of solving complicated cases. Divorced, no kids and with a bright future ahead... if it wasn't for an unlucky turn. A sudden complication, a dark cloud, could not just end her career, but her life as well.

When Lindsay is also faced with having to share this case with a new partner, a male, she keeps her distance. But as the murder cases further complicate, she learns to trust him, not even imagining how great a role Raleigh would play later on.

A woman that is already in Lindsay's life is Claire, the Chief Medical Examiner and best friend, and the ones that through the course of the groom and bride multiple murder cases enter her life, engross their clever minds in a closely knotted circle of friendship: the women's murder club. A female bonding is installed in a male-dominated world that appears unbreakable - built on trust, and an undaunted belief in justice coupled with the determination to do everything in their power to succeed in finding the truth. One for all and all for one. There's no bitching, no silly talks, but a few females that successfully cooperate until the end. A great set-up for Patterson's other series.

The investigation eventually leads Lindsay to a famous male crime writer who has had a history of female abuse. Not to deliver any spoilers... but solving the multiple murder cases proves still difficult for Lindsay and her partners in crime. When they think they have the answer, new insights swim to the surface and Lindsay is left in doubt of who really killed these couples. As the story turns and twists it keeps you nailed to your seat (or bed, in my case)... but it's the ending that makes it really a killer read.

4 stars - Girl Gang Fighting Crime

I recently reread this book. I first delved into it during my college days and actually raced through most of the Women's Murder Club series! So, I was curious to see if it still held the same allure for me 13 years later.

I should begin by saying that I have a penchant for any plot line that bears resemblance to Nancy Drew. In this book, you have four remarkable women uniting to seek justice for slain, recently married couples. It is their bond that truly captivates the reader. Lindsay is clearly the main protagonist, but Patterson does an excellent job of spotlighting the other women and Lindsay's partner, Raleigh.

You gain a solid understanding of who each character is and what they represent or stand for, without sacrificing the mystery of the crime itself. The crime is a bit graphic, so consider this a gentle forewarning. However, Patterson doesn't overly fixate on the gory details.

I would highly recommend this to anyone in search of a crime-fighting plot line that extends beyond a single book. What makes this series unique is the character development among Lindsay, Claire, Cindy, and Jill as they take on case after case.

I have just finished rereading this book by James Patterson and I'm still wondering how I didn't keep reading his books.

This story is extremely captivating. It's so engaging that you don't want to put the book down because you're eager to know what happens next.

The truth is, it hooks you in many ways. The story is excellent, and the characters are as well. In this first book of "The Women's Murder Club," the most developed character is Lindsay Boxer, the police officer.

On the other hand, the chapters are very short, which encourages you to keep reading and reading. Moreover, the mystery remains until the end of the book.

Highly recommended.

I literally could not put this book down! It was so captivating that I read it all while walking on the treadmill. The formation of the Women's Murder Club stems from 4 ladies who are intertwined within the justice department. Lindsay Boxer, a Homicide detective in San Francisco, is assigned to a new case. She has to figure out who is killing brides and grooms on their wedding night. When Lindsay arrives at the first scene of the bride and groom killings, she meets her new Women's Murder Club friend Cindy. The story then unfolds with their investigations and the challenges they face. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers. You will be on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I will leave the rest for you to read!

I truly relished this book and the subsequent two in the Women's Murder Club series. However, my enjoyment of the series came to a halt due to remarks made by Patterson himself. He essentially stated that these books were of poor quality and that he only wrote them because he was aware they would sell. This made me feel as if by reading and enjoying them, he was looking down on me. I understand that my reaction might seem a bit excessive, but he truly spoiled this series for me, along with other series like those featuring Alex Cross. It is difficult to take pleasure in the work of an author who condescends to write for the general public. Patterson's comments have left a sour taste in my mouth and have made me question my previous enjoyment of his books. I had previously thought highly of him as an author, but now I am left with a sense of disappointment and disillusionment.