The 8th Confession

Originally on my book blog

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

If I thought the last few books were lacking something, this one brought it all back. I couldn’t stop reading it because the two story lines were intense and interesting. The writing was spectacular in this one as well. I never once thought about giving up on this series, but I am sure glad that I didn’t take a break from it. For anyone that felt like the last few weren’t as good, keep going. It gets better. Now onto the book!

Rich people were dropping dead, but from what? Why were there so many that had paths that crossed but no one knew who the killer was or what killed them? The thing that kept me interested in this story was the mystery in the death. A mystery novel can easily show more get boring if we know how someone was killed, who killed them, and why they killed them. With this story, we didn’t have any of those answers for a lot of the book. It kept me guessing and kept me reading. I was extremely surprised by the ending of this story line. It was unexpected and perfectly orchestrated. Like I said, the writing was great. This book left us guessing until the very end.

Rich people are dying, but so did a homeless man around the same time. The San Francisco Police Department only had enough man power to handle one case, so they went with the rich people. That’s normal. Cindy wasn’t having it though. After Cindy “investigated” the case of the murdered Bagman Jesus on her own, she found too much information and she finally had to show Lindsay what she was working on.

Bagman Jesus is a homeless man that, to many, seemed to be the perfect, loving man that just wanted to help people. The more Cindy, Conklin, and Lindsay looked into his life, the more they found some holes in their perfect and loving theory. Had he actually been a bad person? Did he actually deserve to die? This story kept me interested the whole time because it was just as mysterious. We didn’t know his real name, we didn’t know anything about him except for that he was dead and that other homeless people looked up to him.

I’ve said it twice and I’ll say it again: the writing was incredible. Most mystery books aren’t the best at also including romance, but this series can intertwine them very well. Lindsay and Joe are in love, so why isn’t she running away with him to get married? She feels something for her partner, Conklin, but she won’t admit it. But now, Cindy and Conklin hit it off and are spending some quality time together. Can Lindsay handle seeing her best friend with the guy that she feels something for? Does she have the right to be jealous even though she already has an incredible boyfriend? 8th Confession left that up to the readers.

Here is my take on it: Lindsay, you cannot be mad about their relationship. Sure you can be jealous- it’s not like you can stop that feeling. But YOU are the one that turned Conklin down. YOU are the one that has a boyfriend. YOU are the one that’s still trying to decide if you want to marry him or not. You have no room to be mad about their relationship. Conklin is not yours. He is also not Cindy’s but he could be if you didn’t get mad every time they looked at each other. I understand you feel something for him, but either be honest with him and yourself or move on. It’s not fair to anyone in the situation, including Joe, to sit around and get mad at your friend and partner for something that is only your business because you are their friend and partner.

I feel better now that I got that out.

The further into this series, the less the Women’s Murder Club becomes a way to solve crimes than it is just four best friends talking about their lives. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the change but now that I’ve gotten used to it, I like that the readers get to know more about the characters as people instead of as a group. Unfortunately, that means we may also dislike characters. I do not like Yuki. I’m not sure if it’s because Jill quickly became a favourite of mine or if there is just something about her, but I am not as impressed with her as I am with the others. I do hope this changes further into the series.

8th Confession is a great, easy read that brought me right back into the series. Good story lines, great endings, awesome writing. If there is anyone that gave up this series before this book, you missed out. I hope that one day Maxine Paetro writes her own books so I can read all of them. She has proven to me that she is a gifted writer and will do well in the mystery genre if she decided to pursue it. show less

This installment of the Women's Murder Club is by far the best in the series. It takes off with a bang and never slows down as the authors juggle multiple storylines. Front and center Sergeant Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich Conklin chase after a stealthy murderer in a series of high-profile murders of the rich and famous. The M.E., Clair Washburn, is no help after declaring the autopsy of each body to be negative, meaning no cause of death was found. Prosecutor Yuki Castellano tries her most significant case yet, where nothing goes right. Journalist Cindy Thomas, who has played a minor role in the books so far, takes to the streets to investigate the murder of a homeless man known on the street as Bagman Jesus. There are so many show more surprises and plot twists; I literally couldn't put this book down. show less

Oh James Patterson, where should I begin with you? There's a part of me that keeps coming back for the pain, hoping upon fleeting hope that you (or your "co" authors) will write a book worthy to be placed on the shelf next to some of your early works, only to be disappointed time and time again.

At this point, I'm going to come right out and say that James Patterson is probably a wax figure in somebody's closet that gets trotted out at opportune times to cash in on the name and the name alone. And even lately, the name has become extremely watered down to the point that anyone reading a "new James Patterson" novel is probably reading a high school student's first creative writing essay.

I am so sad to see this happen to formerly great show more authors, and if I may hijack this review to point some of them out: Stuart Woods, Patricia Cornwell, Tess Geritsen to allow that terrible show Rizzoli and Isles to even be made, and Janet Evanovich, you are RIGHT on the edge. Phoning it in. It's a little depressing.

So, in conclusion, if you are in the mood to only use half your brain, this book might be for you. But, if you are looking for a well written, suspenseful novel, please do yourself a favor and check out: Harlan Coben, Robert Crais or John Lescroart - all of whom are still writing quality novels and not churning out the crappy money-makers.... show less

A school bus blows up, taking innocent lives with it. A homeless man is found violently murdered. A rich, well-known couple are found dead in their beds… and the cause of death is a mystery, even after full autopsies.

Reporter Cindy found the homeless man, so when the police (including friend Lindsay) don’t want to spend time or resources on solving it, Cindy turns it into a story to force them to look into it. Lawyer Yuki is trying a case where a girl murdered her father – the pressure is on to get a conviction. All three are in various stages of relationships.

I really liked this one. More than some of the others in the series, but that may (at least in part) be due to usually listening to the audios. The audios aren’t bad, show more but maybe I’m liking it just a bit better in print. Even the relationship interactions were enjoyable, though I can’t say I liked either Lindsay or Yuki’s reactions to various relationship “twists”. However, still really enjoyed the book! show less

The 8th Confession is the eighth book in Patterson's Women's Murder Club series. This novel features our four main characters working more independently than most prior books have. Cindy, the reporter, manages to be walking outside of her apartment and stumble upon a fresh corpse of a homeless man revered by the homeless population and dubbed Bagman Jesus. She calls Lindsay, the detective, to the scene. Naturally, Lindsay and her partner don't have much time to work the case of a homeless man, even one shot repeatedly and likely not the victim of the usual homeless on homeless crime. Still, the two detectives vow to work on it in their spare time. Meanwhile, Yuki, assistant district attorney on a brutal losing streak, is awaiting the show more verdict of a high-profile case of a young woman who allegedly killed her parents for the insurance money. Also, the young, rich and fabulous in San Francisco are suddenly dying while our expert coronor can find no cause of death on their young, fit, healthy bodies, and the tox screens are clean. Soon, Lindsay's working the high-profile cases with little time for Bagman Jesus. Naturally, Cindy decides to solve his murder herself.

There's a lot going on, but not much really happens. The reader is introduced to the killer of the young and fabulous rather early on. I am not opposed to hearing some of the interior monologue of the killer, but knowing the killer's name and reasons for killing took away much of the suspense. Yuki barely got to interact with the other three, and her subplot was rather dull. I would have much rather seen her spend time in the courtroom and be a witness to the actual trial than picking up during jury deliberations. Yuki's other subplot was a blossoming romance that was incredibly awkward, odd and unncessessary, and I want to see her happy. The killer's weapon was interesting, but the early outing of the killer's identity killed the suspense that could have (and should have) accompanied the crimes.

I normally really enjoy the Women's Murder Club series. Some have certainly been better than others, but the stories are usually interesting. Patterson (or Pietro--I'm still not sure how much authoring each one does) is not a great writer. There is usually at least one time I groan out loud at the dialogue. The 8th Confession had a lot of great elements of a good mystery (unique method of killing, the reality of relative morality and importance when it comes to solving crimes against the rich and poor), but I found it to be awkward throughout. For such a short mystery, there were too many storylines, and far too much time spent on the romance lives of Cindy, Yuki and Lindsay. Women's Murder Club is at its best when the four heroines work together, combining their skills and jobs for the greater good. A few meetings for a quick conversation do not drive this series. Yuki needs something to do. She needs some good luck to come her way. Please, Jame and Maxine, stop using italics every other line to emphasize a word. It's sloppy writing, and it makes me think a teenager wrote it. Learn to emphasize like writers.

I'll still read the next Women's Murder Club, but they are on probation after this debacle. The series is still work checking out, if you haven't read it. Start from the beginning (1st to Die), and enjoy.

In a semi-related note, how lame is the cover? I know Patterson's books sell no matter what is inside, or apparently on the cover, but a little effort would be nice, graphic arts department. show less

I recently read Patterson's book "Jester". It wasn't my cup of tea subject-wise, but I did enjoy the pace, flow and style of his writing. I found "The 8th Confession" sitting next to the dumpster. It is in almost new condition. Being the bibliomaniac I am, I picked it up. Hey! Free book!

I was not disappointed. This had the same pace, flow and style. The characters were interesting and had backstories. (Of course this is the 8th book in the series.)

When a homeless man is found brutally murdered on the streets, reporter Cindy Thomas feels it could lead to front page news for her. But things take a turn when she starts into researching his background and his activities in the community. He may not be all that she thinks.

Meanwhile show more Detectives Lindsay Boxer and her partner, Rich Conklin, have had a hot, high profile string of murders dumped on their desks. Seems a number of the glamourous millionaire elites are mysteriously dying. Evidence is scarce to non-existent and the police captain and mayor are screaming for results pronto.

These are just two of the story lines, but they keep you reading till you get to the end! show less

Review: The 8th Confession by James Patterson.

This novel continues with the same fast pace intensity that James Patterson’s has given us before in the previous Women’s Murder Club Series. It’s so enticing with twisting maneuvers and inspirable events that it could be read in one setting. The cases are interesting and offbeat. Patterson gives the reader two separate plotlines to follow. The first being about the police department finds someone is killing off the rich and famous and they simply can’t figure how these people are being killed or why. One death after another is mystifying Lindsey Boxer to extreme bafflement. The second plot involves a supposedly really nice man named Bagman Jesus, a street person who everyone says is show more a great guy, being found dead; shot four times and his face beaten in and a couple of ribs broken. If he was so nice why was he murdered??

The author also gives the reader a bit of everything to chew on here from deadly snakes, to meth dealers and producers to homeless people to the rich and famous to private boarding schools and of course the everyday lives of our courageous women investigators. Oh, I can’t forget there is also a city traveling meth lab on wheels….

Entwined within the story Patterson also brings love, lust, and romance to the forefront as Lindsay, Yuki, and Cindy all find themselves dealing with interesting relationship situations. Lindsay has always been the one with the relationship drama, but now the others are getting in on the action and it’s causing a potential change in dynamics for the Women’s Murder Club group.

This is one of James Patterson’s greater novels in this series. show less