Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Fabulous Read
Review: James Patterson, where have you been all my life? Was I the last person on the planet who did not know how incredibly good you are? No matter...I'm zipping through your books as fast as I can go."1st to Die" is not of the calibre of the Alex Cross series, but no matter. Like my introduction to the Cross series, I idly picked up this book (in a beauty parlor, no less), and read the first chapter or so while waiting for my turn under the scissors. Hmmm....bad analogy. Because the killer in this thriller, centered in San Francisco and environs, often uses a knife to dispatch his victims--brand new brides and grooms. Each couple is gruesomely murdered during the honeymoon, and each bride is sexually violated. The case couldn't be worse, and ace homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer is dying to solve it--literally. Young and beautiful, she has just been given devastating medical news about her own state of health. Unable to face her own mortality, Lindsay obsesses about catching the vicious person who is committing the heinous crimes. She races against time in two areas--the murderer's timetable is heating up, and her own health is failing. Enter the Women's Murder Club--what an ingenious plot device! The "club" consists of Lindsay and three contemporaries who are as smart, strong, and determined as she. One is a reporter (Cindy), one is a medical examiner (Claire) and the last is an up-and-coming superstar in the DA's office (Jill). Lindsay takes strength from her friends, and for the first time in her life, is actually willing to accept help, as each woman uses her particular area of expertise to find and solve clues. There's a love interest as well: a hunky fellow cop who's been assigned to replace Lindsay's regular partner. What makes an otherwise interesting read totally compelling is Patterson's genius with the plot. Think you know who the murderer is? So did I. Think you know why the horrible crimes are being committed? So did I. Think you can predict the ending? Fugeddaboudit. Patterson is three steps ahead of you. I'm ordering the sequel, 2nd Chance, immediately; can't wait to see what new case stymies the Women's Murder Club.
Rating:
Summary: 4.5 stars actually
Review: Found this to be a good fast moving book.A few twists at the end which I enjoyed.Short chapters make the book quick and easy to read-seems to be Patterson's style and I enjoy it. It makes it quick to get in to the story and the book seems to move at a quick pace this way.It's so easy to read'just one more chapter'.I'll be reading more of his work.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: This books grabs from the start and you can't put it down. Lots of twist and turns filled drama, suspense and tragedy. I hardly read books and this was a great one.
Rating:
Summary: fun thriller with women sleuths
Review: James Patterson writes fast-paced thrillers and this is no exception. Short chapters keep the pace moving as we meet four professional women who have formed the Women's Murder Club. The police detective, medical examiner, district attorney and journalist pool their resources over margaritas as they try to solve the murders of newlyweds in the San Francisco area. Each in turn discovers valuable information that brings the investigation forward, and Patterson writes insightfully about each profession as the killer's identity is revealed. Or is it? This is a fun thriller and well-written. I will definitely read more books by this author and look forward to others in this series.
Rating:
Summary: The start of another promising series.......
Review: This is the fourth book of JP's I've read this summer...okay, I was late to join his fan club and have a lot of catching up to do.
Having read so many of his books in such a short span of time I can tell you what draws me to want to read the rest of what he's written. 1) He's the master of suspense. He knows how to construct a plot that keeps you turning the pages. 2) He creates characters you really care about. You find yourself cheering for them, whether it's Alex Cross or one of his "one-off" characters in his stand alone novels. 3) He's very kind to other authors and is constantly plugging other books he likes within his own novels.....I find this very generous. 4) He seems like a really nice guy.....last night I finished "Cradle and All" and was impressed by his sympathy for others. He's the kind of guy you wish there were more of in the world....especially single guys! (yes, I know he's married.) But he's the type you'd love to invite to a dinner party, he comes off as smart, entertaining, and compassionate towards those around him. 5) And finally, he writes really fun, fast-paced novels. They are an absolute pleasure to read! Bottom line.....I recommend all of his books!
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: I loved this book. It moved along so quickly that I read it in three days. Of course, that may be because I found it hard to put down. I'm looking foward to reading another of James Patterson's books.
Rating:
Summary: awesome!!!
Review: I am not a hard core reader and usually find it easy to read a few chapters and put a book down for a couple of hours or days. Not with this one! This book went from very interesting to very intense. I had not read James Patterson before so I didn't now what to expect. Trying to find a good place to stop reading was almost impossible. Very entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Full of Snap Zap
Review: 8 out of 10 on the ZAP scale fully aligned in the Snap category. Thoroughly enjoyed the book ! A real "ripper". Buzzed through it in 2 days. Easy reading, but that's because Patterson's writing is so conversational, so much like the way we talk. Couldn't put it down. Great fun, I've already picked up my next Patterson book, "Violets Are Blue". Hope it's as good.
Rating: 
Summary: Promising premise, [poor] execution
Review: The idea of 4 women: chief detective, prosecutor, medical examiner and investigative reporter (ok this one is laughable) solving a serial murders of newlyweds seems like a promising one. The execution, however, [was poor].
(1) The main heroine has a life-threatening disease (which actually doesn't exist), but she promptly recovers just in time for a sequel.
(2) The rest of the women are sketched poorly, except maybe for the perky reporter who gets to be a plucky ingenue when the movie comes out. It is already in production.
(3) The story is so convoluted you'll know who dun't about half-way in. Not to mention all the side characters "obliviously" drop clues along the way just to hammer it in good.
(4) The dialogue is so cheesy no woman would actually utter those words. I hope someone else is writing the screenplay.
(5) The romance (b/c what crime novel could be without one) belongs in a supermarket "trashy books." Please don't waste your money or your brain cells. Read anything by Michael Connelly or Dennis Lehane instead. I guarantee you'll have a much better time. If you really want to know what happened wait untill the movie comes out. At least that way you'll only waste 2 hours of your life.
Rating:
Summary: Patterson does it again! Couldn't put this one down!
Review: James Patterson proves again that he's not afraid of exploring new territory. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire ride. He delves into the woman's mind and shows why he is on top of the world of suspense. These characters are easy to get to know and hard to let go of. I couldn't put it down and once finished, I immediately began "2nd Chance" because I couldn't get enoough of the Women's Murder Club. I can hardly wait to see where he takes these ladies next!
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