4th of July (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
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Book Reviews of 4th of July (Women's Murder Club)
Book Review: Stays fresh with new locale and a pig
Summary: 4 Stars
The book has a pig in it, that's worth a star by itself. This moved quickly and developed the characters well. I enjoyed somewhat of a different locale for parts of the book, which added freshness to the series. A little predictable towards the end, but still very good.Book Review: A good read, worth the (short) time.
Summary: 4 Stars
Another Women's Murder Club story, introducing our new friend Yuki to the club...although I thought the outcome of the trial was a little unbelievable, it's really the only way it could have ended.
The eventual killer(s) were a huge surprise to me.
Book Review: Fun, Quick Read
Summary: 3 Stars
4TH Of July
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Book Review by Jay Gilbertson
If you're looking for something with depth of character, fascinating setting, amazing plot lines and an ending so enthralling you nearly scream--skip this one. BUT, if want to disappear into a fast-paced murder mystery with entertainingly fun women at the wheel; hop aboard.
The basic reason for my picking this baby up and giving it a read is that author Patterson in the past has penned some truly amazing novels that simply creeped me out. Read; I highly enjoyed. In this series, which is obviously the fourth, the story reads like a script right off the set of Charlie's Angles, but with less emphasis on fashion and more wallop on murder, and boy are there murders. Lots of mangled bodies, tons of red-herrings and more twists and turns than Lombard Street all dished out in three page chapters that really cook.
This particular installment mostly featured detective Lindsey Boxer as the starring character along with her supporting cast of doctor Claire Washburn and news reporter Cindy Thomas. The reader is literally thrown into the action from the start:
"...My mind was racing even before Jacobi nosed our car up in front of the Lorenzo, a grungy rent-by-the-hour `tourist hotel' on a block in San Francisco's Tenderloin district that's so forbidding even the sun won't cross the street..."
While detective Boxer is in hot pursuit of an ominous black Mercedes, she shoots down two really rotten killers who, of course, turn out to be some hot-shot doctor's twisted kids. All hell breaks loose. Boxer is sent away while the court case boils; lawyers hunch shoulders in hopes of proving she did indeed follow police protocol to a T. Knowing, as the informed reader that you are, not only had she had a few drinks prior to the all-important car chase, but in the midst of nearly being killed herself, Boxer forgot to read the murdering children their Miranda rights. She had a really bad hair day, shall we say?
No arm-chair murder mystery starring an all-woman cast would be complete without the occasional appearance of the male lead. Joe Molinari literally pops out of his car, zooms into Boxer's kitchen, whips up Julia Child-like dishes and then whisks away our star for some romance and then poof--he dashes off stage left only to re-appear when the pacing permits. And this story has pacing.
Naturally, when Boxer leaves town and cozies away in her sister's really well appointed cottage south of the city in Half Moon Bay, more murders happen right down the lane. The poor woman seems to pull murderous energy with her wherever her long, luxurious, wind-whipped chestnut hair seems to fall. Thank goodness she's able to solve this one too and all in time for the reader to be so confused by all the plot twists and turns that when the murder's identity is finally revealed not only are you surprised (I was) but happy there's still time to catch a re-run of Charlie's Angles.
Would I read another one of these? You betcha.
Book Review: Yawn!!!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
I had pretty much given up on Patterson a few years back, but given that this book was set in a place I used to live I decided to check it out. I can't say that things have gotten much better. The sad part is Mr. Patterson has the talent, but it is hard to keep up the quality when you churn out four books a year (but then again the general reading public keeps swallowing this stuff). I have not read the whole Woman's Murder club series, but I did read 1st to Die (one of the last Patterson books I really enjoyed) so I do not know the whole Lindsey Boxer story, but I do not think that effects my ability to review this book. The story follows Boxer, who is taking a little R and R from SFPD, and from an upcoming trial involving a wrongful death suit. She heads for Half Moon Bay (which is a little to close and too foggy for a vacation for most San Franciscans, she would at least have headed for the sunshine of Santa Cruz, or better yet Mexico!), and of course is immediately is embroiled in a murder investigation. Residents of the small town are being murdered in a gruesome fashion. and of course it is up to Boxer to figure things out. The plot is mildly entertaining, on the level of a made for TV movie of the week. The short chapters do nothing for me and I thought the level of detail insufficient, but that is a matter of taste. The Half Moon Bay is that of 25 years ago. The locals can no longer afford to live there as the place has become a bedroom community for San Francisco. I wouldn't say to not buy this book, if you are a fan of this series you probably will enjoy it, but if you are a casual reader or someone like me who has noted the decline in this author's quality, you might want to wait for paperback or a used copy. AND PLEASE MR. PATTERSON TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS OFF AND WRITE A TRUELY WONDERFUL THRILLER! (you need the rest and so do we).
Book Review: Lindsay Flies Solo
Summary: 3 Stars
San Francisco appears to be facing a new serial killer. But when a big clue comes in, Homicide Inspector Lindsay Boxer goes on a high speed chase that ends with one suspect dead and the other paralyzed. And yet Lindsay is the one facing a lawsuit for police brutality over the events.
On leave from the force, Lindsay attempts to escape the media circus by getting away to Half Moon Bay. But this small community is being rocked by its own string of murders. Murders that bear a striking resemblance to a 10 year old cold case that has haunted Lindsay. Even though she has no jurisdiction, she begins to nose around. Can she help find the killer and win the lawsuit?
I had an interesting reaction to this book. On the one hand, the flaws were pretty big. Lindsay is pretty much on her own in this book. Clair and Cindy, the other members of the series titular Women's Murder Club are reduced to cameos here. Heck, Lindsay's dog gets more page time. This is really two stories combined in one cover. And the ending of the second story is very weak.
However, I just couldn't put this book down. I needed to know what would happen next. There were a couple nice twists I didn't see coming. And, as always, the pages just flew by, meaning I didn't spend very long reading it.
This is a light book in a light series. Oh, don't get the wrong. The subject matter is dark and intense. We are dealing with serial killers after all. But there is little here that will stick with you after you put the book down at the end.