Rating: 
Summary: Decent but not his best
Review: As a fan of James Patterson's Alex Cross series I was eager to read his new series which has four women as the strong "heroes" of the book. I was disappointed by the style of the book with its short chapters and rather choppy style. While I WILL read the second book and hope it is better written, in general I was disappointed with the quality of the writing and definitely do not think it is James Patterson's best effort. I would have even guessed, had I not known the author beforehand, that it was indeed written by someone else.
The four main characters will assuredly be more defined in the coming book or books but we got enough of a sense of each one to truly be interested in them.
I didn't figure out the end in advance and that is always a plus to me in any mystery that I read.
Rating: 
Summary: This book stinks
Review: I've been following Patterson for 10 years. His first book got my attention. This guy hasn't got better, in fact; he got worse. Never again will I spend money for this clown. He reminds me of Stephen King. That means I will never buy any one of their books ever again. Adios.
John Etienne
Rating: 
Summary: WOW
Review: This book was unbelivable!! There were so many twists and turns that I couldn't believe what I was reading! This book isn't one of those books that follow the pattern of most suspense/mystery books. The end is what shocked me the most. I hated the ending because it is not what I wanted, but it was all for the better. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to try something sinfully good.
Rating:
Summary: Reliable Patterson does it again!
Review: James Patterson's style of murder/mystery/thriller fiction takes a new turn in his novel, "1st To Die". Using female FBI agent, Lindsay Boxer, as the main character, Patterson brings out his feminine side in Boxer's attempt to catch a serial killer who preys on newlyweds. Boxer must not only try and outthink the crafty murderer, but deal with her own health problems and a potential romance along the way.Fortunately for Boxer, (and the reader because this story needed a few more characters) she is able to enlist the help of a team of "experts" (a medical examiner, a news reporter, and an assistant D.A.) who help her finally catch the bad guy in the end. Along the way, Patterson moves us along at warp-speed to the ultimate climax. His short, staccato chapters (and some great writing) make his books almost impossible to put down because you always feel you can read just a little longer. Without giving away too much of the novel, let me simply say that there are a number of the expected twists and turns along the way that Patterson's fans will quickly recognize and expect. And, as usual, Patterson always has ONE MORE big surprise at the end of the book before the reader can finally put the story to rest. If you're a Patterson fan, you'll enjoy "1st To Die". The "tried-and-true" formula that Patterson employs is present in this book and as usual a very quick "read". Female fans may really like the book because of the "Woman's Murder Club" created by the aforementioned characters. Men, on the other hand, will not confuse Lindsay Boxer with Patterson's other main character from earlier novels, Alex Cross, but will enjoy the book nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: King of the Airplane Novelists
Review: Patterson is an amazing writer, you always know more or less exactly what you're going to get and you always know more or less the level of quality that you can expect. It isn't great, it isn't awful, and you usually derive enough entertainment out of it to get you through one reasonable length flight. 1st to die introduces the Women's Murder Club-- four women who band together to try to find a vicious killer of newlyweds. Many nasty explicit deaths, a plethora of tough plucky females, and the obligatory twisted ending. Don't begin boarding without it.
Rating:
Summary: A good read ... with some shortcomings
Review: This new type of story by James Patterson(Womans Murder Club)provides for an entertaining read but does not reach the levels of an Alex Cross novel. Four conspiring women does not equal a well defined and exciting Alex Cross. The characters here are not fully developed, particularly Lindsays 3 girlfriends. While the story involves the pursuit of a serial killer, it could also be about a somewhat lonely female cop. The story could have been better presented but the storyline overall was good.
Rating:
Summary: First is first rate
Review: Have you ever read a mystery thinking you are one step ahead of the author, thinking you were smarter than the average reader who was buying the conventional wisdom that our heroine was onto? Have you ever read such a story, only to discover the author was actually a chessmaster, several steps ahead of you? If not, you must try out this outstanding book. Patterson leads you through a more or less conventional mystery, but then spirals you into a twisted set of plot turns that will leave your head spinning. The book is fast paced and very easy to read. Definitely a first rate effort. It reads like a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Keeps you wanting more
Review: What an amazing book and I was very surprised with the twist at the end.This is a very easy and very fast book to read. The only thing I didn't like is the development of the 4 main characters...it was done in a rush. Very nice book though
Rating:
Summary: How does Patterson do it?
Review: I'm talking about getting away with literary murder! The Alex Cross books were all formula books I thought, so now he's started a new series that will be, no doubt, just as popular. I don't understand the public's passion for his books. In this one, Cindy, the aggressive news reporter, cleverly gets into the crime scene and is immediately tossed out. The next thing you know, she becomes best friends with Lindsay Boxer, the story's detective hero, and becomes part of the newly formed crime fighter group. Hard to believe. V.I. Warshawski uses the press to get information, but not to help her solve crimes the way Lindsay does. How about Lindsay's fatal disease that you knew she would overcome so she could continue to fight crime in the series' next book? One challenge in any good book is to figure out who the protagonist is. It was obvious to me before Lindsay got around to learning who dunnit! I must admit that the epilogue was a bit of a surprise; however, you knew the outcome before it happened. I recently read that Patterson has final approval on his book cover designs for this series. I guess that when you're an author, who generates megabucks for your publisher, you can have just about anything.
Rating:
Summary: great group of women working together
Review: I love the idea of women in typically male fields working together to solve a crime. I usually listen to mysteries in the car from San Francisco to LA and this one definately made the ride FLY by. The SF setting was great and overall the plot was well developed. Enjoy (and then check out 2nd Chances)!
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