Ha! I finished two books today and I am immensely proud of myself.

I mostly listened to this one while finishing weeding my garden this weekend

What a disjointed and messy book this is!

The fifth installment of the Women's Murder Club follows Lt. Boxer and her team as they investigate a seemingly endless number of things. The main case involves a series of suspicious deaths at a large hospital in San Francisco. Coincidentally, Yuki's mother, who is a lawyer in the club, was treated at the hospital for a stroke and then died after showing signs of recovery. Additionally, a doctor at the hospital is on trial for malpractice related to these suspicious deaths. Yuki and Cindy, the reporter, attend the trial to see the doctor who treated Yuki's mom face justice.

The secondary case involves the deaths of several hookers over the past few years. However, this plotline has nothing to do with the main plot and is simply pointless filler. It's a waste of time to read the chapters related to this case.

The main case is also poorly written. The courtroom scenes lack any compelling moments, and the investigation into the doctor amounts to little more than stalking and some minor inquiries. Without giving away major spoilers, let's just say that there are some major plot holes and disappointments.

Overall, 5th HORSEMAN makes me question the purpose of this book series. There is no character development, and the story feels rushed and unfinished. It's one of the worst Patterson books I've read.

This book was just "ok" to me.

There were two competing storylines, and in my opinion, really one of them could have been omitted completely. It felt as if it was adding unnecessary complexity rather than enhancing the overall narrative.

Moreover, it also seemed like a lot of the medical/hospital procedures were not well researched. The scenarios presented often seemed somewhat unbelievable, which took away from the authenticity of the story.

However, there was plenty of action in the book, which did keep me engaged to a certain extent. I did want to keep listening (the narration was pretty decent) to see how Patterson would tie it up into a neat little bow though. I was curious to know if the author could salvage the story and bring all the loose ends together in a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, while the book had its moments of excitement, the flaws in the storylines and the lack of proper research in the medical aspects prevented it from being a truly great read for me.

3 STARS

The members of the Women's Murder Club find themselves up against an unthinkable threat in what can be considered the most nail-biting hospital drama since Coma. Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is out shopping with the latest member of the club, lawyer Yuki Castellano, and Yuki's mother, Keiko. Suddenly, Keiko collapses. She is rushed to San Francisco Medical Center where her condition initially stabilizes. However, days later, the hospital delivers devastating news to Yuki. Keiko was administered the wrong medication, which led to a fatal heart attack. Even more astonishing is the fact that this is not the first such error at SFMC. Just as patients are on the verge of being discharged with a clean bill of health, their conditions mysteriously deteriorate. As the hospital comes under intense scrutiny, Lindsay and the Women's Murder Club decide to conduct their own investigation. Is there a deranged individual at work, playing God with people's lives? And has Lindsay unknowingly made the situation even worse? The newest installment in this top-selling mystery series thrusts the Women's Murder Club into the most terrifying predicament they have ever faced.

I must admit that I am not a huge enthusiast of Yuki. This novel is just an okay read with relatively little suspense. It fails to truly grip the reader and keep them on the edge of their seat. The story has its moments, but overall, it lacks the intensity and excitement that one would expect from a mystery novel of this caliber.

I'm not the kind of person who looks down upon a great murder mystery or suspense novel. However, after reading numerous James Patterson books over the years, I have come to the realization that his writing is truly an insult to the intelligence of readers. In fact, a third grader could effortlessly read this book and still find it extremely boring. The plot was so disjointed that it hardly made any sense at all. It was just a jumble of garbage. This experience has reminded me to never be tempted to pick up another Patterson book when I'm in search of a quick read!

I'm not entirely sure why this book angered me to such a great extent. But I simply find it ridiculous and even embarrassing that so many people read and enjoy this kind of crap. This includes my former self, unfortunately.

Lt. Lindsay Boxer and Yuki Castellano, the newest addition to the Women's Murder Club, form a bond in this captivating tale. Yuki, a brilliant lawyer, experiences a great loss when her mother becomes a victim in a series of mysterious deaths at a local hospital. The only clue left behind is medallion-like coins placed on the victims' eyes. A cocky young doctor emerges as the prime suspect, and the DA is determined to convict him. However, the case takes an unexpected turn that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

I appreciate how James Patterson presents a diverse range of murder mysteries, from political intrigues to serial killings. It's refreshing to have at least one major red herring in each story, forcing us to think twice before settling on a suspect. Additionally, the male characters in the books, whether they are partners, friends, or lovers, add an interesting dynamic. Too many female characters in a book can sometimes become monotonous. I'm eagerly anticipating more appearances of Yuki in future installments of this series.

These books are truly remarkable. They are so engaging that they can keep you occupied for an entire afternoon of non-stop reading.

What I particularly love about them is the way in which real and believable things happen to the main characters. It's not like those typical stories where you can easily predict that everything will turn out okay in the end.

In these books, the characters face genuine challenges and obstacles, and their experiences feel authentic. This makes the reading experience all the more thrilling and immersive.

You never quite know what's going to happen next, and that's what keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to turn the page and find out.

Overall, these books are a must-read for anyone who loves a good story that is full of surprises and real emotions.

Fall Nr. 5 for James Patterson's "Women's Murder Club" is an exciting installment. After the dramatic death of one of the four founding members, the club is now strengthened by the young district attorney Yuki Castellano, making it complete again.

Yuki is personally involved in one of the two cases in "The 5th Horseman." To her great shock, her mother is admitted to the San Francisco Hospital. The hospital currently has to answer in court as there have been mysterious deaths in recent weeks and months. Patients who were actually on the way to recovery have died inexplicably in the hospital. Are these a series of tragic medical errors or is there perhaps a killer wreaking havoc in the San Francisco Hospital? For Yuki, this means that her mother is in great danger.

Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer, the main character of the series and again the most prominent of the four women in the "Women's Murder Club," meanwhile has to deal with a murder series where young women are killed and their bodies are placed in cars in a bizarre way. Quick action is also required here as with each day without investigative success, a new murder is threatened.

So it is necessary to solve two murder series at once and both storylines are told excitingly. In the deaths at the hospital, the culprit seems to be quickly identified and the opponent for the four investigators is found. In the case of the murdered women in the cars, however, Lindsay is initially largely in the dark. As a reader, one can certainly not complain about too few murders. Variety is definitely offered here.

With the new member in the club, the characters also develop further. This time, Lindsay (what a surprise) and Yuki are at the center of the story. The latter had already made a first appearance in the previous volume and can now prove herself as a full-fledged team member, which she also does well.

Typical of Patterson, the thriller is again quite straightforward and shows a decent pace, but also offers one or two surprises towards the end. Overall, "The 5th Horseman" certainly does not reinvent the wheel, but again provides entertaining and above all exciting entertainment and successfully develops the series further.

This installment, which focuses on medical malpractice/negligence, had the potential to be a home run. However, it only managed to limp to first base. There was an abundance of glaring misinformation regarding nursing and hospital procedures that I simply could not overlook. I expect even a small amount of research from an author, but it was noticeably absent here.

That being said, I did take pleasure in the courtroom drama, the back and forth between the opposing attorneys. And, as in previous story lines, the pages seemed to turn themselves. I understand that this is light reading, but Mr. Patterson, please do your due diligence when it comes to your subject.

It is important to present accurate information, especially when dealing with a topic as serious as medical malpractice. While the entertainment value is important, it should not come at the expense of truth. A little more research and attention to detail could have made this installment a much stronger and more engaging read.

This is the very first James Patterson novel that I have ever read.

And let me tell you, it was an absolute page-turner, a book that was so gripping that it was incredibly hard to put down.

The plot was truly interesting, filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

The characters were well-developed and engaging, and the dialogue was crisp and snappy, adding to the overall authenticity of the story.

One thing that I really liked about this book was the use of short and punchy chapters. There were a total of 139 chapters, each ranging from about 1/2 to 2 pages in length.

This was a very effective way to keep the story moving at a brisk pace and to maintain my interest from start to finish.

I had always heard great things about Patterson, but until I read this story, I didn't fully understand what all the fuss was about.

Now, however, I can see why he is such a highly regarded author. He has truly earned a spot on my list of favorite authors, and I can't wait to read more of his work.

Spoilers ahead.

I have to say that this fifth book in the series seemed to have an overwhelming amount of things happening. I'm really quite confused about how the hospital (button on the eyes) killer was related to Garza and O'Mara. It just didn't seem to fit in smoothly. In my opinion, this book didn't flow as well as the previous ones. The story felt a bit disjointed at times.

Also, the part about the escort murder was extremely vague and rushed when it came to catching the culprits. It felt like they just glossed over that whole aspect too quickly.

However, I am still enjoying the series as a whole. I really like the characters. Although, I do wish that we could have delved more into the lives of Cindy and Claire instead of solely focusing on Lindsey. I like Yuki so far, but I'm a little salty about Jill, lol.

All in all, these books are easy reads that really make you want to finish the book as fast as you can in order to solve the homicide. They have their flaws, but they still manage to keep you engaged and interested.

I found myself reading at a rather slow pace, yet I managed to figure out the plot extremely quickly. Perhaps this is the very reason why it took me so long to get through the book. I have to admit that I wasn't truly engrossed in it. It was a pleasant enough read, but as I've already mentioned, it wasn't gripping.

However, I don't regret reading it. After all, it had its own charm. So, if you are in the process of reading the series, that's great. But here's the thing, you absolutely NEED to complete the Epilogue. Why? Because it holds the key to the WHAT the WHAT of the book.

The Epilogue provides crucial insights and revelations that tie up loose ends and add a whole new layer of depth to the story. Without reading it, you might feel like you're missing out on something significant. So, don't skip the Epilogue. Give it the attention it deserves and fully immerse yourself in the final chapter of this literary journey.