1st to Die: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Another great effort from James Patterson!
Review: I have read every one of his previous novels and can never wait for the next Alex Cross book. I must admit I was a little leary of him starting a new series - could it really be as good as the others? Well, I just COULD NOT put this book down! I read it in about 24 hours and now I can't wait for the next one. It just goes to show that a good author doesn't have to stick to what has worked before!

Rating:
Summary: Finally a real ending!
Review: A serial killer, a cop with a theory that no one believes, pretty standard fare until it is handled by Patterson. I love Patterson. His writing is interesting, his stories are thrilling, but for the past few books, he has lacked an ending....I was getting tired of the bad guy always slipping away only to reappear in another book - I want my mysteries solved, and justice done! OK - that said, this newest book is great. I like the new cast of characters. It's a good group of women, without being a 'cute' group of women. I am looking forward to more adventures with these ladies!

Rating:
Summary: Needs to do his homework
Review: Listen, this book was great, I had no quibbles with plot elements, or characterization...there were tear-jerking moments here and there, not to mention an intense scream-per-page kind of a residue, but I've got several details I need to point out. There's a plumbing scene where the protagonist goes to fix some pipes because the drip convinces her that the killer lives in the pipes. That's fine. But the way she handles this is totally bizarre. I should know, since I'm a Maintenance Man. I work with plumbers and landscapers, so I know a couple things. When you're screwing on a regimen-4 pipeline, you NEVER, EVER, EVER use your bare hands. You always wear protective gloves. CLEARLY the protagonist was ignorant, (or Patterson, you decide) and she could have gotten burned.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Great story! As much as I love the Alex Cross character, it was wonderful to be introduced to four new (female) characters! And what an introductory story! I wanted the murderer to be Nicholas just as much as Lindsay did. But I wasn't disappointed. I am looking forward to reading more stories with them "in the thick of things!" Great job, James!!! When's the next one coming out?

Rating:
Summary: Great new series!!!
Review: I just finished 1st to Die and can't wait for the next installment of this series. The characters were great and I look forward to learning more about them in the next book! The plot was fast paced and had me second guessing myself right to the end. Well worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: OK Not an award winning novel
Review: I read this quickly. It was ok but I agree it is far from his best. And the Murderer's Club did not seem like a club at all. Just some women doing their jobs and discussing it at lunch. They didn't even meet that many times. Not even crazy about the title. Let's get with it Mr. Patterson. Guess I'm back to Jeffrey Deaver.

Rating:
Summary: Another winner for Patterson
Review: I absolutely loved this book. Fun read...even a good cry at the end. It has it all.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: There's a cruel and sadistic killer lose in the San Fransisco area targeting brides and grooms on their wedding day. Homicide Inspector, Lindsay Boxer, first on the scene and in charge of the task force of this very high profile case, is getting nowhere fast. So she gets together with three friends, Claire, a medical examiner, Jill, an assistant district attorney and Cindy, a newspaper reporter and they decide to run a parallel investigation, outside of the box, to solve these crimes. They dub their group the Women's Murder Club and within days do what the whole police force is unable to do, find the mastermind behind these horrible crimes. But after their suspect is arrested and incriminating evidence is found in his home, members of the Club start to rethink the crimes and change their minds...Do they have the real killer?.....1st To Die is a provocative novel with an interesting premise, but James Patterson just doesn't deliver. The story, told in the first person, by Lindsay, is awkward and just doesn't ring true. The plot, though compelling at times, is predictable and needs to be tightened up and the short chapters that jump around from character to character and scene to scene, take the tension and suspense out of the story. You're never left on the edge of your seat. The characters are one dimensional and you never really get into their heads, especially the murderer's. And, the secondary story lines are superfluous, adding nothing but more pages to the story. 1st To Die is a thriller without the thrills. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Rating:
Summary: a very fast paced entertaining read
Review: thoroughly enjoyable, a tad predictable, but a really fun read. Worth the Costco price but not full pop.

Rating:
Summary: Tough women
Review: A Senior Editor for one of the Penguin Putnam imprints told me that not many writers succeed at cross gender writing. With this in mind I was curious how Mr. Patterson would fair when I purchased his book 1st to Die. I'd hoped that Mr. Patterson's protagonist, policewoman, Lindsey Boxer, would not prove to be the prototypical tough-as-nails superfemale that seems to find her way into so much of our fiction today. How could a policewoman named Boxer not be? The thought of a man writing from the viewpoint of a macho policewoman left me somewhat apprehensive. Placing my apprehensions behind me I fastened my seatbelt, I'd grown accustomed to James Patterson's break neck writing pace. I was not disappointed. The verdict is in. 1st to Die is 1st rate. As to whether or not he was successful as cross writing, the jury is still out