Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable pageturner
Review: In this second installment to Patterson's Women's Murder Club series, the author takes the reader again on an enjoyable ride with a group of likeable characters. The plot twists and turns in true Patterson fashion, and he maintains the short chapters making it easy and quick to read. The only complaints I would have are these, first is his character development is a little lacking. The reader has a hard time getting attached to them. Second is that I've never liked the name Women's Murder Club. It sounds like something out of Scooby Doo. Put those things aside, and you have a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: Patterson returns...finally!
Review: James Patterson writes a great thriller. However...he hit a dry spell with VIOLETS ARE BLUE as a result of his seemingly incredible faux pas at the end of ROSES ARE RED (i.e. he TOLD us the identity of the Mastermind thus rendering one-half of the "BLUE" storyline impotent). Nevertheless, in 2ND CHANCE, the Women's Murder Club theme is solid and has panache. Our new hero, Lindsay Boxer, had her life ripped apart in the first rendition of Patterson's Women's Murder Club, 1ST TO DIE, simply an outstanding thriller if you've not read it. 2ND CHANCE opens with Lindsay, now a Lieutenant, on sabbatical attempting to heal the wounds inflicted upon her, mentally and physically, in 1ST. Although unsure of the timing of her return, it becomes etched in stone when a young girl is gunned downed in front of a church by a sadistic sniper. During her investigation, it quickly becomes apparent that this attack wasn't random rather, the young girl was a specific target. Further investigation leads Lindsay to a symbol, ultimately determined to be a Chimera. Just as quickly as the clues begin to dry up, an apparent suicide in Oakland is suddenly thrust into homicide status when Lindsay finds a chalk drawing of a Chimera at the scene. Lindsay now has her hands full with another serial. However, Lindsay has another problem; with the two murders linked, the murderer appears to be sending a racially-motivated message as both victims were black. The plot thickens with another sniper-like murder, this time the victim is a cop. However, the killer doesn't stop there. In bold fashion, he steps up and delivers an incredible blow to Lindsay and the City with the very public murder of a highly visible individual (I'll leave it to the unsuspecting reader to find out!). With the politicos calling the spree racial, the heat has been turned up to high. Although Lindsay is now incensed, her investigation appears to be sending the message that the murderer isn't targeting race. Just where is this sadistic sniper leading her? As introduced in 1ST, Lindsay calls upon her "investigative team," the members of the Women's Murder Club. Each member brings varied and pertinent skills and experience to the table. Claire is the medical examiner, Cindy, a newspaper reporter and Jill, the assistant D.A. As in 1ST, the Club is able, through its incredible spectrum of informational sources, to break down the mystique behind the Chimera and trace its roots...the prison system. 2ND CHANCE is Patterson's unheralded return to the thriller. While he appeared to be slumping in his last few Alex Cross renditions, 2ND CHANCE has the making of a solid performer. As always and almost in Patterson trademark form, 2ND CHANCE is a fast-paced read (a/k/a Patterson's "short" chapters) which makes the book tough to put down. The storyline remains relatively fresh throughout albeit corny in spots. One off-tangent (which ultimately becomes ON-tangent) line is Lindsay's reunion with her estranged father, Marty. Marty left his family when Lindsay was a teenager and now, he's come back to make amends with his daughter. Marty becomes a beneficial character; as such, its important to know that he was formerly a cop. Although 2ND CHANCE didn't "thrill" me the way 1ST TO DIE did, it is a fun, intriguing read. The members of the Women's Murder Club are intelligent and grounded...and fun. My hope is that Patterson continues to search for storylines which run the edge of the envelope. 2ND CHANCE won't disappoint.
Rating: 
Summary: Weak mystery weak writing
Review: Very disappointing.... Not only very predictable, this book offered little in the way of interesting dialogue between characters, nearly no descriptions of the characters and very little imagination. I started this book and immediatley felt like is was written at a seventh grade reading level. No! I take that back, seventh grade readers would be insulted as I was... Maybe fourth grade is more appropriate. I felt I was misled by who authored the book, the expectation of the quality, and in purchasing this book was scamed. I hope that more readers complain and the author who lent his name takes note.
Rating:
Summary: Patterson's fans won't be disappointed
Review: Fans of author James Patterson know he provides a lot of bang for their bucks and his newest book won't disappoint.The plot, in a nutshell- Detective Lindsay Boxer, recently promoted, is slated to investigate another murder. The killer is particularly cold and calculating, killing a number of black men and women but leaving no clues to his identity. There are unexpected twists and turns along the way to the final riveting moments (would you expect anything less from Patterson?) and enough suspense to keep readers riveted to the very last page.
Rating: 
Summary: 2nd Tops 1st
Review: What I assume is the 2nd of what will become Patterson's "Number Books" again presents a story in quick paced 2-4 page chapters you can breeze right through. Most of it is wallpaper for the story, except that every fifth chapter or so Patterson lays out a piece of the mystery or one of the key characters, and you better pay attention. A San Francisco psycho has killed a young black girl and an older black women, both related to police officers. Soon (actually, in Chapter 43) he will strike closer to home. Lindsay Boxer and her unofficial team of investigators have tied the killings to Chimera, the worst of California's prison gangs. In a Hannibal Lecter-like scene Lindsay is taken to see Chimera leader Weiscz who is "in the Pool" in Pelican Bay and comes away thinking a cop or ex-cop may be their man. Then Patterson introduces dirty ex-cop Frank Coombs, and I started paying attention to every page. Things heat up the rest of the way with great action and more than a few surprises. I thought "1st to Die" was great but liked this one better. The main players and the pace were the same, but "2nd Chance" had one less twist at the end making for a smoother finale.
Rating: 
Summary: 2nd Chance
Review: Compared to Patterson's Alex Cross series, which is usually a veritable roller-coaster ride, this series is more evenly tempered, but just as enjoyable. Lindsey Boxer, now promoted to Lieutenant after solving the Bride and Groom case (from 1st to Die) has to track down a killer who is murdering black people. Are these killings racially motivated or a personal vendetta? Also on the scene is Lindsey's father with whom she hasn't spoken in over 20 years since he walked out on her mother. Lindsey's friends, Claire, Cindy, and Jill are, as always, an integral part of the scenery making 2nd Chance a wonderful continuation to this series. I definitely hope Patterson has plans to continue this series.
Rating:
Summary: A Read is not a Read
Review: This audio version of 2nd Chance is likely to be detrimental to the fine work of the author. The story and storyline are true to the James Patterson mastery of writing. However, the female delivery of the story is bad. Everything sounds forced and forceful - thoughts, words, actions. I thought that I would get beyond her read as I got further into the story, I didn't. It was very distracting and annoying. I have read all of the James Patterson works by audiobook and have thoroughly enjoyed every one, until this one. I would have loved to give this work an additional star, but as I considered doing so I could only hear that reading style echoing in my head.
Rating:
Summary: First rate!
Review: I am an avid reader of James Patterson and this is one of his best! A great addition to the Murder Club series - the book begins where the last one left off. Lindsay is back on the job, promoted to Lt. of Homicide. Her first day on the job is marred by a mass shooting at a church in Oakland. This murder is only the beginning of a series that seem unrelated, until Lindsay and the Murder Club start putting together the pieces. This book continues to give you more insight about Lindsay, Claire, Jill and Cindy. Four strong women, each with very different lives. This book is classic James Patterson - a quick read, lots of twists, great character development and an enjoyable book. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to Patterson's Par
Review: I read everything that James Patterson writes and I must say I was very disappointed with 2nd chance. It was like he just threw it together to sell another book. Certainly not one of his better offerings.
Rating:
Summary: Like a magnet attracts steel .....
Review: so will this intense thriller attract the avid mystery reader. Patterson's style of first person narrative and short chapters is so compelling that it is hard to lay the book down.
This is his second in a series about the Women's Murder Club-a group of four friends; a reporter, an Assistant D.A, a medical xaminer and Lindsay Boxer, who have banded together to not only be there for each other but to share their expertise, especially when solving murders.
Lindsay Boxer, a Homicide Lieutenant is confronted with some difficult cases. This one starting with the schoolyard shooting of a young black girl, seemingly singled out of all the other children present. Murder both precedes and follows this terrible crime and soon it is apparent that a serial killer is at large - one connected to a group who sport an unusually grotesque tattoo, and equally grotesque beliefs.
To add to the mystery, it seems that anyone connected with Lindsay is a target, including the police.
The suspense builds and the journey to unravel the twisted mind of the muderer is cleverly and expertly done. Patterson handles the female sleuths without getting carried away. They show both
their strength and weaknesses which makes them so very true to life and does not compromise his characters in any way.
You won't want to miss this second in the series...and,it is nice to know that yet another is in the works along with a new Alex Cross.
A great read and one that keeps you thinking long after you are finished. You will be intrigued by the many twists in the plot and if you are not already a fan of Patterson, you will be. Enjoy!!!
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