7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
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Book Reviews of 7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club)
Book Review: Riveting
Summary: 5 Stars
I happily will confess that I am addicted to the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Intriguing characters and a fascinating setting give the authors the opportunity to paint on a broad canvas, one that certainly is not wasted in 7th HEAVEN.
The series focuses on San Francisco Homicide Detective Lindsay Boxer, with the other members of the Club --- Assistant D.A. Yuki Castellano, medical examiner Claire Washburn and newspaper reporter Cindy Thomas --- rotating from book to book in a co-starring role. The focus in 7th HEAVEN is on Castellano, who is prosecuting a high-profile murder trial that is lacking a body, among other things. Michael Campion, the teenaged son of a former governor, has gone missing. He is a celebrity of a bittersweet nature due to his good looks and an unfortunately inoperable heart defect.
Some three months after his disappearance, the police department receives an anonymous tip that on the night in question he was seen entering the home of a San Francisco prostitute named Junie Moon. At first Moon denies knowing anything about Campion, but then confesses that he died during a sexual encounter with her, after which she and her erstwhile boyfriend disposed of the body. But then Moon recants her confession. Notwithstanding that Moon's apartment bears no trace of Campion's remains and that his body cannot be found, Castellano proceeds with the prosecution.
Meanwhile, Boxer and partner Rich Conklin are busy investigating a series of fires around the city. Occurring in some of San Francisco's most expensive homes, at first they seem to be unrelated. However, the presence of victims, cryptic Latin phrases and apparent contemporaneous burglaries tie the incidents together. Boxer and Conklin race against time, even as a bit of ironic symmetry threatens to dovetail Boxer's case into Conklin's trial, and an unexpected clue leads to a conclusion for one of the cases.
7th HEAVEN, as with the other Women's Murder Club books, moves at breakneck speed, though not at the expense of the plot, which, as always, is riveting. There are additional touches --- the presence of a collection of Charles Bukowski's poetry at one of the fires, a cameo appearance by one of San Francisco's most offbeat bookstores --- that make this series a must read.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Book Review: Another Patterson winner
Summary: 5 Stars
America's mega-millionaires live in Seventh Heaven. In 7th Heaven they are consumed by fire.
The title reminds readers this novel is the seventh in the series featuring the self-proclaimed Women's Murder Club. In The Prologue, the first victims, the wealthy Jablonskys, are bound and burned to death in their palatial home. Since this book is a thriller, not a whodunit murder mystery, the authors even reveal the identities of the killers, a pair of preppy young men nicknamed Hawk and Pidge who leave one of their signature Latin quotations in a book found at the crime scene.
Two parallel stories unfold in 7th Heaven. Sergeant Lindsay Boxer of the SFPD and her partner Rich Conklin are tracking the murderous perpetrators of the recent spate of fatal fires in the San Francisco area. Simultaneously, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano--like Lindsay, a member of the Woman's Murder Club--is prosecuting Junie Moon, the young prostitute charged in connection with the disappearance of an unhealthy rich boy, Michael Campion.
Frustrated by the lack of helpful clues evident at the crime scenes, Lindsay is on the brink of despair. Further complicating matters is the uncertainty of her relationship with her lover Joe, who has already proposed marriage, and the sexual chemistry she shares with Rich Conklin. Then the proverbial final straw is stacked on Lindsay's shoulders--apparently the arsonists/killers make their attacks personal.
In court, Yuki is facing off with legendary Defense Attorney L. Diana Davis. Outside court, she is involved with the questionably charming Jason Twilly, a journalist writing a book about Michael Campion.
Structurally, 7th Heaven is composed of Patterson's trademark brief chapters, a characteristic readers love. What might annoy some readers are the unannounced shifts in point of view. Without any indication, such as titled chapters, point of view switches from Lindsay's first person narration to third person. Sometimes you may be a paragraph or more into the new chapter before becoming aware of this shift.
Likely, I am being needlessly pedantic. 7th Heaven is a fast-paced thriller, a swift and pleasurable read whether one is ensconced in a Lay-Z-Boy or flying coach in a fully booked aircraft.
Armchair Interviews says: Patterson fans will be most happy.
Book Review: The subplot adds more of a personal touch to the story
Summary: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (1/08)
"7th Heaven" is the story of four close-knit female friends who include: a cop, the Assistant District Attorney, a crime reporter, and a medical examiner. Collectively, they refer to themselves as the Women's Murder Club. Two high-profile cases are currently keeping these women busy. One case involves the disappearance of a well-loved member of the community. Despite a recanted confession to his murder, a trial is conducted even though there is no body or physical evidence to support what had been confessed. The second case involves a string of arsons in which wealthy middle-aged couples are first robbed and then left to die in the fires. These two exciting cases find the women searching for answers in order to solve these crimes.
This book is the seventh in a series involving the Women's Murder Club. Although I have not yet read the other six, I do not feel as if I am missing any relevant information about the main characters. Their roles and backgrounds are well presented and easy to follow. I liked the characters and the ways they interact with each other, especially how they spend most of the little free time they have socializing with each other to discuss their cases. Aside from the murders, there is another interesting storyline. Lindsay, the policewoman, is having difficulty deciding who she is most attracted to, her boyfriend or her partner. This subplot adds more of a personal touch to the story, one to which those who are not in the field of criminal justice can easily relate.
Patterson's use of short chapters (usually three to four pages) accelerates the pace of the story because there is always something happening. He left me anticipating what would happen next. There were many unexpected turns throughout the book, but the ending was a complete shock. I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read more of Patterson's work.
"7th Heaven" is aimed towards adult females, but anyone who enjoys reading a good mystery novel will be impressed by this work. It offers sideline sleuths the opportunity to piece together the evidence and attempt to come up with the correct solution. However, the true answer may not always be where the clues lead.
Book Review: The WMC Rules!
Summary: 5 Stars
If it's the New Year it must be time for a new James Patterson novel, and the Women's Murder Club returns in great form. Frequent collaborator Maxine Paetro and Patterson spin another devilish and delightful addition to the WMC canon.
All the Women make appearances: Lindsay Boxer is adjusting to life having her long-distance boyfriend now living in the same city (and often the same apartment); coroner Claire Washburn is very pregnant and up to her ever-expanding belly in victims of arson-murders; Yuki Castellano is prosecuting the confessed murderer of the former governor's son; and reporter Cindy Thomas continues to cement her status as a valued member of the Club.
Conner Campion, born with a degenerative and incurable heart disease, has been a media and public darling his entire life, a la John F, Kennedy, Jr. When he suddenly disappears, the worst is feared, and an eventual tip leads to the last person to see him alive, a young hooker named Junie Moon. She makes a shocking and disturbing confession which she quickly recants, and Yuki is forced to prosecute this less than airtight case.
Meanwhile, two young men who answer to the names Hawk and Pidge are tying up well-off couples and torching their homes--while the victims are still inside. The resulting conflagrations leave little useful evidence save one thing: a book, inscribed in Latin with cryptic sayings, is left at each scene.
As with the previous titles in the series, the characters share equal importance with the mysteries they solve. The authors are in top form here, expounding believably on the now well-known lives of the WMC members, and Lindsay's new partner Rich Conklin makes a welcome--and compelling--return.
Who are the menacing arsonists, whose trail of death leads literally to Lindsay's door? Can Yuki successfully convict a young murderess who is aided by a high-profile, media-savvy woman attorney? Will Lindsay finally say yes to Joe's proposal? Read Seventh Heaven and you'll know those answers and will be anxiously awaiting the next installment.
Book Review: Another hit
Summary: 5 Stars
Fires are being set to homes of the wealthy, leaving the residents dead. Detective Lindsay Boxer and her partner, Rich Conklin, are trying to find the murdering arsonists when they get a tip on another prominent case. The case involving the disappearance of Michael Campion, the son of a former governor, has been at a standstill but an anonymous tipster provides a new lead. Soon, Boxer and Conklin have a confession, but will it stand up in court? Women's Murder Club member and Assistant District Attorney, Yuki Castellano, will have the case of her life as the trial starts. Meanwhile, will Boxer and Conklin find the deadly arsonists?
The members of the Women's Murder Club are at it yet again in 7TH HEAVEN. Each book is written to stand alone although the friendship of these women has grown throughout the series. There are hints about past incidents that fans of the series will appreciate. It should be noted that newcomers to the series will miss the character development that has built slowly throughout the series, as some of the members of the Women's Murder Club only make brief appearances in 7TH HEAVEN.
Patterson and Paetro delve a bit further into Lindsay Boxer's psyche, this time examining her relationship to Joe versus her commitment to work. Yuki's insecurities are also examined as she is up against a female attorney not known for losing. Will these two members grow stronger as they face adversity?
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro deliver another fantastic thriller with 7th HEAVEN. The fast pace will have readers rapidly turning pages to see just how things will unfold. 7TH HEAVEN is yet another hit from these two talented authors and is easily recommended.
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES