Rating: 
Summary: Boring, over hyped book
Review: This book is by far the most boring "mystery" I've ever read. I am new to Patterson; after hearing the hype, I had to read one of his books. I couldn't believe that the chapters are 2 pages long at best (and he feels the need to end each one with a bang, which lends itself to a rollercoaster affect), the characters are poorly defined, the conversations abismal ("honey", "sister", "girl", etc.)and the story line just plain boring. I read it in 2 hours, too, which isn't always a good sign.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Sure
Review: I'm not sure what I think of this book. On the surface it was entertaining, and I liked it. It had some really good action scenes, and a decent plot. The plot in 1st To Die was a lot stronger, and I liked it a lot better. I think the author(s) sacrified some on the plot to try to do a little more character development. I understand wanting to do that to try to strengthen the series as a whole, but I'm not sure they pulled it off. I'm not sure I feel I "know" any of the characters any better than I did in 1st To Die. Maybe Patterson needs to think about the old adage "write what you know". He has always tried to write from the point of view of a woman or an african-american when he is neither. I don't think he pulls it off as well as he thinks he does. Anyway, I guess this one is worth the read for the entertainment value, but for something better try anything by John Sandford, Jeffery Deaver, or Greg Iles. Also don't miss Tell No One by Harlan Coben and Plum Island by Nelson DeMille.
Rating:
Summary: Last Chance
Review: This is the last time I read a James Patterson novel. They seem to keep getting worse. This time I read the LARGE PRINT edition hoping it would make the characters jump out at me but that didn't work either. I give up.
Mary
Huntington Beach, CA
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for a plane ride
Review: As the series continues I'm impressed! I enjoyed the first and I'm glad I took the 2nd Chance. A quick read that keeps you interested.
Rating: 
Summary: Last Chance
Review: The first meeting of the murder club, was different from A. Cross, but fast and enjoyable. This one doesn't make sense even in San Francisco, there are times when the group can find clues where none exists and at other times can't figure how to pick up a suspect that is a parole violator. I realize Mr. Patterson had a coauthor on this book, it seems the "co" did most the authoring.
Rating:
Summary: Who REALLY wrote this book?
Review: 2nd Chance w/ Andrew Gross. I would say that Mr. Patterson should be grossly embarrassed. "1st To Die" is pretty much up to Patterson standard. This (2nd Chance)is several levels below that standard. Example - what good writer uses the worn out "I had no choice but to ---" in sequential paragraghs! That was just one example of many that just rubbed me the wrong way, took me away from the story. Sophomoric writing. I finished only because I am a compulsive reader. A high school freshman might enjoy this.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was not happy with this book. In fact, I was so disappointed I am not reading anymore of his work, although I have read many of his books. The Women's Murder Club, silly in the first book, is even less believable in this one. The writing is is stilted, and full of cliches. I don't think Mr. Patterson should make his main characters be women, as he doesn't really think like one. I finished the book because I wanted to see who the real killer was, but I suffered through it. Lindsey seems very stupid to me, not some super cop like Patterson wants her to be. I think in the next book Lindsey should get killed by the dangerous suspect when she follows him with no back-up. Now that would be a twist we wouldn't expect!
Rating:
Summary: Elementary drivel
Review: I have been a long time Patterson fan but this book is nothing short of literary drivel. The diaglog is juvenile, the plot thin and the book in general, boring. I would be thrilled to see Mr. Patterson return to what he does best - creating solo rather than co-authoring. Maybe other things are influencing this drop in caliber but whatever, I won't be purchasing anymore unless something changes. Thank you,
Melle Sensiaugh
Rating:
Summary: i didnt like this book..
Review: I did not like this book, James Patterson wote a terrible mystery. Lindsey is not a very good detective. Whenever the killers number shows up on claires caller ID, no one thinks about looking at it. Things like this made me not like the book at all. Whenever i found out who the murdere was i didnt realy care to read anymore. Why would a women chase after a murderer without backup or anything at all? ok pointless....
Rating:
Summary: The Patterson Brand
Review: I have been troubled about this book ever since I read it. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong...until I read the May 14, 2002 Wall Street Journal. The book itself is an enjoyable piece of fluff, quite unlike the dark steamy thrillers of Michael Connelly, a true master. My discomfort about Patterson and his "co-author" Andrew Gross seems to have been well-founded. As Gross told the WSJ, "I don't want to go into what I do, but we both add value." Added value is not a literary term; it is the language of business, of marketing, of advertising. And it should sound like it, since it turns out Patterson is the former CEO of J. Walter Thompson USA, one of the largest ad agencies in the world. This book, and by implication the inchoate series of which it is a part, exist to sell more books on the West Coast, according to the Journal. Other audience grabbers that do not add at lot of value to the plot is the continuation of "The Women's Murder Club." This sounds like some Nancy Drew type grown ups playing detective, not the improbable convergence of female cop, prosecutor, reporter and coroner. None if this seems to trouble Patterson, who expressly likens his books to cereal brands. As he told the Journal, "The key to a brand is trust...The trust is that I will deliver a very commercial book that you won't find disappointing." Well Jim, Andrew, whoever, I am disappointed. And I feel a bit used.
| 
