Rating: 
Summary: Great beginning
Review: The story starts off quickly and then it slows in the middle. The ending is alright but but I found some of the "breaks" to be unbelievalbe. Too much time spent on the primary character's sickness which had nothing to do with the crimes.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent beginning to a great new series!
Review: This is the story of a serial killer who murders brides and grooms. Sounds pretty gruesome, and it is, but not in so much descriptive detail that it would make someone more sensitive sick. It was enough to build a taught story and a baffling mystery. Now, the main story is the group of women who come together to try to solve this seemingly unsolvable crime -- The Women's Murder Club: 4 San Francisco professional women, the female homicide detective assigned to the case, the medical examiner, a journalist, and the assistant DA. This is really their story. The story of their interpersonal relationship's, the main character's battle with a crippling disease, a love interest, and a baffling mystery. Mr. Patterson wrote the female emotions so well that I got teary-eyed over one of the scenes; he wrote the story so well that I was left breathless with anticipation of what was going to happen next. I can't tell you much more because it would ruin the mystery. Let's just say there are many plot twists and turns that leave you guessing until the very end.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Worst Way to Pass Some Time
Review: I have to admit that I enjoyed this book; frankly, it was way better than I expected of James Patterson. That said, I must explain that I'd expected absolute drivel, so maybe I like this book more than I should, just because it was not completely unreadable. I haven't really liked the JP books that I've read in the past, mostly because I lose interested before they're finished, and end up skimming chapters in order to get to the end of the book. This time, my attention span and the book were exactly the same length, which I appreciate. Still, I do have some complaints about this book. First, the main character's romantic relationship seems to come practically out of thin air, and I find it almost insulting; it seems that Patterson feels that since he has female protagonists, he ought to throw in a token romance...cause women dig that kind of stuff. It would have been nice if I could understand exactly what the basis for this relationship was; so far as I could tell, a woman was introduced to a man that she'd never before met, and the absolute novelty of the situation made both of them fall in love. Then, the medical aspects of it seemed ripped from a Lifetime movie of the week. I hate convenient illnesses, but I hate miracle cures even more, and this book had both. Dude, what a cheap way to write oneself into and out of trouble. Finally, this book was marketed as the story of four women, but honestly, I felt that three of them were just backup singers. Either they should step up to the mic, or the inside cover blurb needs to be changed. As I said in the title of this review, reading this book wouldn't be the worst way to spend your time; I could think of at least one author (cough, Fern Michaels, cough) about whose work I would never say this.
Rating:
Summary: I l ike this new series!
Review: First of all, I have to give Mr. Patterson kudos for going into the minds of women and getting it pretty accurate. There were many times in the book that I forgot that this was written by a male! I really liked Lindsay Boxer and all her friends were real people. No one was too pretty or too rich or too artificial. The story line was a little imaginative, but it made the book more interesting. The "WOMEN's" club got together and really hammered out the details and nailed the killer. I was cheering by the end. The title did not give away the story at all and it was a bit of a tear jerker. I can't wait to start the next novel. I am still an Alex Cross fan, but I will definitely make room for Lindsay Boxer and her gang!
Rating: 
Summary: Too Many Twists
Review: "First To Die" by James Patterson, Tape read by Melissa Leo and Dylan Baker
Time Warner Audio Books, 2001.Leave it to a murder mystery writer to come up with a murder mystery/thriller where the chief suspect is a mystery writer! Then, in this day of Political Correctness, Patterson develops a team of four women, (one of whom is black) to deal with all the evidence some of which is planted. All of this becomes implausible. For example, the woman's team has the hardest time getting the draft copy of one of the first novels that the suspect has written. This draft of the first novel becomes a key issue, as it is a blueprint for the murders. Then, out of the clear blue, the author has Warren Jacoby, the police partner of the chief protagonist, Inspector Lindsay Boxer, making causal comments on the novel he had read. Seems there were multiple copies available! Too many twists, and the motivation for the killer to do all these Wedding Day Killings is not really, truly developed. The reader of the audio version, Melissa Leo, does a fine job in characterization of all the major female personages, so you think you are really hearing dialogue between actors. I enjoyed this audio book as I drove Interstate 495 around Boston, in my daily commute.
Rating: 
Summary: Shallow and poorly researched
Review: I love murder mysteries. If you do too, skip this one. The plot was painfully predictable. The supposed fatal illness "Nigli's apastic anemia" that the main character has does not exist. I'm an RN and have worked with bone marrow transplant patients for 23 years. To have the chief detective of a serial murder investigation be newly diagnosed with a fatal hematologic illness, not tell her superiors and continue in her position is preposterous and would be unethical in the real world. That this condition is "treated" (and evenually "cured"!) with blood transfusions is ridiculous.
I had similar reactions to the woman's group. No depth, unrealistic.
Rating:
Summary: What a Kickoff to a GREAT New Series
Review: This book was recommended to me by a good friend. I hadn't read a James Patterson novel in over a year. Now I remember why I fell in love with Patterson's style of writing. I can usually pick out where most authors are going with their storyline. NOT JAMES PATTERSON!! JP is never afraid to try new things. I thought four main characters and all are females. I will never relate to these people. How wrong I was. JP is such a great researcher you never can tell where he is going with the storyline. Imagine newlyweds being killed within hours of their wedding by a truly deranged sicko. This story really borrows from a lot of heavily watched and read mediums, yet still is very fresh. Think CSI, NYPD Blue, and Quincy all rolled into one and you are getting the picture. This story HAS to be made into a movie sometime. I sure hope sooner rather than later! I loved this book sooooo much, I have already started on 2nd Chance. Looking forward to more Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club. Recommended BIG TIME!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: It's hard to believe the author of the Alex Cross novels has sunk this low. Most of the plot twists are telegraphed well in advance. But the worse problem is that this book is poorly written. Characters frequently mouth the obvious (in case you missed it), and if that is not enough, there is a movie-style "epilogue" with a gratuitous attack scene, presumably so that the reader can feel good about killing off a particular character. Just dreadful: poor writing, cliché after cliché in the characters, a hokey plot. Shame on you, James Patterson.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I started out reading patterson with all 7 of the Alex Cross series. In about a month and a half I had finished them all (thank god i waited till they were all out). Then i picked this book up and thought it was right up there with Kiss the Girls. It keeps you guessing up to the final page, thats not a lie. This is a great book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers! onto 2nd chance...
Rating: 
Summary: Surprising and Ironic- An Exciting Plot
Review: First to Die is a novel that keeps you guessing until the very end. At the start, the head detective, Lindsay, is assigned to track down a murderer who kills brides and grooms on their wedding night. She and her three friends, all prominant women in the area, form a club to investigate the crimes outside the police department. The evidence is eventually brought together, with the help of the women's club, after many twists and turns. It's full of every emotion: confusion, hope, love, and determination. Plus, a shocker for a conclusion!
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