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Women's Fiction
1st to Die: A Novel

1st to Die: A Novel

List Price: $7.99
Your Price: $7.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another Masterpiece
Review: They only get better. Twists and turns abound and with his "short chapters" your reading seems to scury along like a jack rabbit.This is the first book I have read with a female as the lead, I will read more in the future. Now I will stop and make sure i have not missed reading any of Mr. Patterson's earlier books.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Page-turning plotlines are the mainstay of this series
Review: Heroines: varied

  Follow San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer, investigative reporter Cindy Thomas, medical examiner Claire Washburn, and assistant district attorney Jill Bernhardt as they work together to solve heinous crimes committed around the Bay area.
  
What worked for me:

  I loved the concept of a group of women from various areas of the legal system pooling their resources to put an end to chilling murder sprees. And though they ran a bit thin in spots, the plots were intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages.

  Physical descriptions of the ladies were vague enough to make this series fit into the "everywoman" category, with the exception of Claire Washburn who qualifies as plus-sized.
   
What didn't work for me:

I was somewhat disappointed when I discovered that the books mainly center around police officer Lindsay Boxer. We only hear from the other gals intermittently, and never in the first person as we do with Lindsay. Because of this I never quite felt connected with the characters, despite the harrowing situations they found themselves in. In fact, none of the ladies really felt like real women to me. Stephanie Plum, for all her ineptitude at her chosen career, seems more realistic because I can relate to the way she thinks and feels.

Also, the writing style in the "Women's Murder Club" didn't mesh with my reading preferences for very detailed and descriptive writing. This series seems more like it wants to be an updated, feminista version of those stark, old-time gumshoe narratives. (However, I must add that I am not well-read in this genre, so have few comparisons to make. The only other truly spine-tingling, chilling thriller I have read to-date is Peter Straub's "KOKO". In his case he had the vivid writing technique and character development I crave, but his plotting went astray and in the end he overwrote the book. Frankly, I'd love to see Mr. Patterson and Mr. Straub team up and write a novel together. They have the potential to balance out each other's weaknesses and produce an amazing piece of work!)

Overall:

The "Women's Murder Club" books have plenty of suspense and intrigue, and are worth reading if you don't mind plot-driven stories. I will continue to follow the series, but I sincerely hope that the characters become better fleshed-out in the future. Perhaps Mr. Patterson could work with a female author when he writes book number three?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Read
Review: I've read a couple of James Patterson's novels before, but this one might top my all time favorite list. I started it on a Friday night and finished it by Saturday. It may be a cliche, but I seriously could not put it down! As a die hard Yankee fan, I found myself reading it in between innings of a game. With every chapter something new pops out at you, and you're at the edge of your seat until the very last page. This book was excellent and I enjoyed the woman narrator very much. If you start this, plan on not putting it down until you've found everything the book has to offer!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow !!!!
Review: I've just finished my first James Patterson book and am still reeling at the pace and punchiness of the short chapters.Four women ,a police officer,a medical examiner,a reporter and a prosecuting attorney,band togrther to form "The Murder Club",to solve particularly baffling cases.A serial killer is systematically butchering brides and their grooms ,soon after their wedding. The pace of this book will leave you breathless and unable to put it down. I can't wait to get the next in this series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Patterson's best yet
Review: As a fan of the Alex Cross series I was supprised to find that this was even better. This book is one of my all time favorites and I'll be reading it again soon, it's that good. Like all Patterson thrillers, this one starts fast and never lets up. He's created some of his most interesting characters yet and you quickly begin to love each of them. Do yourself a favor and get this book along with the second in the series - 2nd Chance. I just hope he writes another soon.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: 1st to die
Review: James Patterson would do well to stick to his Cross characters.this was a story about women, written by a man and it was obvious that it was a man....I was very disapointed. I gave it a 3 stars only because it was well written as usual, and the pace was quick and slick.still, I was disapointed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great story
Review: I love Patterson's work. I own most of his novels, and enjoyed each one, but this one was definitely one of his better works.
I found it hard to stop reading this book. The story was captivating.
I loved the way he chose to have his villain choose newly weds as his victims, it gave the character a much more insouciant attitude towards life and people.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Starting my vacation out on the edge...
Review: Read this on a plane on my way to vacation. Let's just say my vacation didn't start out very relaxed after reading this book! True to form, Patterson kept me on the edge of my seat. I really loved his characters and can't wait to read more about the murder club.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Edge of your seat!
Review: I could not put this book down! I'm not the type of person to read mystery/thriller fiction type of books. But from the first page to the very end... I was on the edge of my seat while reading this book on the train every morning to work. James Patterson has this ability to keep the reader wanting more. I could not believe how good this book was going to be. Every twist and turn the author takes you on is such a treat. Mr. Patterson is damn good! His attention to detail with each and every character is spectacular. I'm so flustered because I did not want this thriller to come to an end. Trust me, you will me enthralled.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Who is 1st to Die?
Review: The first book in a series featuring four females, 1st to Die by James Patterson, is a hair raising action packed title. Known for his detective novels featuring Alex Cross and now the romantic novel Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Patterson once again pleases his reading audience with this thriller title.

The book which begins as a flashback features four women, with interesting careers who form a a club to investigate similar murders. It seems as though newlyweds are systematically being killed on their wedding nights confounding the authorities in San Francisco as well as other nearby areas.

Lindsay, a police detective has recently been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Determined to continue her life as before, she seeks the help of three other women. Her other cohorts include Claire a medical examiner, Cindy a young reporter assigned to cover the case and Jill a district attorney who may very well prosecute the possible murderer.

As the women bond topgether and alliances are forged, the women find themselves looking for a very crafty and cagey serial killer. They also continue to deal with their own personal lives. And when they finally are closing in on the probable suspect, each of them faces the possibility of their own demise.

Once again Patterson has written a fast paced book where the pages virtually turn themselves. As he did in his series featuring Alex Cross, the author provides readers with interesting characters and twists and turns its hard to imagine. I for one can't wait to read the next intallment of this series to find out how life is treating these women.


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