2nd Chance

Second book in the Women's Murder Club, and I'm still not completely sold on this series. As I write this, there are 22 books total, and I do not think I will make it through all of them. The crimes/mysteries are interesting with some nice twists and turns, but I just can't get over the fact that I do not care one ounce about any of these characters. Also, changing the main point of view through the four main characters more often would be a good addition. It's supposed to be about a group of women, but three of them are there for a total of maybe 20 pages in a 400 page book. That's not a group of women solving crimes, those are just side characters with no real purpose.

All in all, as much as I would like to say that I recommend this show more series, I can't fully get behind that statement. If you are already a James Patterson fan, then by all means read this series. If you are looking for a crime series with a strong female protagonist, I would recommend Marie Force, Christina Dodd, or Karin Slaughter for that. show less

Another roller coaster ride of a novel with almost non-stop action. Told from the point of view of the murderer, giving clues that only become obvious when the mystery is solved, and Lindsay Boxer from the first of these novels. Along with her friends that comprise the Women's Murder Club she has to find out who is murdering people and why before it gets too close for comfort. With details of the lives of the women involved it's quite interesting and appealing. A worthy sequel to an excellent read.

Review: Second Chance by James Patterson. Even though Patterson hasn’t kept up to creating great thrillers lately I still pick up and read some of his older novels. This one turned out to be a great thriller. I couldn’t put it down. His creative juices came alive in this one.

There was a lot of content to navigate through. You only have time for a few quick inhale/exhale pauses between crimes. The story surges forward with twist and some remarkably strong scenes down to the single most telling detail that defines a character or moves a plot along page after page.

It started with one symbol: a lions head, a goats head and a body winding down into a snakes tail. How does it coincide with one murder or maybe a few others? The show more inspectors can’t seem to find a connection. The people who are harmed come from every walk of life. How is Lindsay Boxer, the homicide inspector, linked to all this madness? I think she may be on the same roller coaster ride that James Patterson has the rest of us on…It’s a thriller ride because the brakes don’t work…….

This novel was a real enjoyable read. One of Patterson’s best entertaining novels. show less

Book on CD performed by Melissa Leo & Jeremy Piven.
2**

From the book jacket: The Women’s Murder Club is back! a brilliantly diabolical killer is murdering people from every walk of life. The deaths seem unrelated but police homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer senses a connection and , together with medical examiner Claire, assistant D.A. Jill, and Chronicle reporter Cindy, finds a link that sends a chill through the entire nation. This killer’s motives are unspeakable.

MY REACTIONS
The hyperbole of the jacket is indicative of the quality of the writing. I didn’t feel any tension or suspense. I do not agree that the killer was “brilliantly diabolical” or that his motives “are unspeakable.” If anything the hackneyed attempt at show more suspense makes it laughably melodramatic (think Carol Burnett’s talented ensemble cast).

The interaction between the women was what saved the first book for me (still only gave it 2.5**). Not so this time. Patterson gives us more medical issues for “the girls” ... including a couple of gunshot wounds. Interestingly enough, Lindsay has apparently completely recovered from the terminal illness she had in book one.

Patterson is just phoning it in these days. He has a team of writers who churn this stuff out with his name getting top billing (and top sales). That’s too bad. His early Alex Cross novels (when he was writing them himself) were quite good.

Melissa Leo and Jeremy Piven do a good job of performing the audio version. I’d given them 4**** for their skill as voice artists and pacing. But they had terrible material to work with. Because the book was due back at the library, I gave up on the audio and read the last 100 pages. Patterson’s short sentences and short chapters make this a fast read, thank heavens. show less

Lindsay Boxer and her Women's murder club are back for another go round. This time there is a serial killer who seems to be racially motivated but Lindsay and her crew believe there is a deeper reason for the killings. Lindsays dad also pops back into her life. A decent thriller but there are a few big editorial bloopers the biggest being when Lindsay goes from only having a brother to only having a sister in the space of one pragraph.

Another Exciting Entrée

Take four professional women--Lindsay, a homicide inspector who receives some bad personal news; Claire, a medical examiner and Lindsay's best friend; Jill, a tough assistant DA; and Cindy, a persistent reporter from the Chronicle--mix them together and you've got: The Women's Murder Club.

With a serial killer dubbed 'Chimera', we are given a glimpse of pure evil--a killer whose targets appear to be random, with nothing obvious to connect them. But of course, Lindsay and her friends slowly begin to put the pieces together. And when the targets become more personal, especially to Lindsay, you are left wondering if there will be a Women's Murder Club by the time the story has ended.

With engrossing and 'real' show more characters, whose only fault is that they may be just a bit too intelligent and a bit too perfect, Patterson captures the camaraderie of female friendships. But it is the relationship between Lindsay and her estranged father that is key to this story.

In this second smoothly crafted installment, I am please to report that James Patterson and his mysterious co-author Andrew Gross have yet again captured my imagination and kept me up late at night. I couldn't wait to read it after I finished the first in the series--1st to Die--and I'll be running out for the third immediately. The plot races along at breakneck speed, with enough twists to make your stomach churn. I've been a longtime fan of Patterson's Alex Cross series, but I have to say...'Alex Cross move over! There's a new gal in town...and her name is Lt. Lindsay Boxer!'

I have a few questions regarding the co-author. Why is there no biography at the back for Andrew Gross? And why is his name in such tiny print? I also wonder how much of this novel he actually wrote. And this leads me to my final question--What does it take to co-write a novel with James Patterson (because as an author myself I am always looking for new options!) :)

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention show less

The second book of James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club is just as exciting as the others. Lindsay has been on a leave of absence since her tragedy only months before. Unsure if she wants to return to work, or when, she finds herself agreeing earlier than anticipated when a new case arises.

When a church is shot up in broad daylight and a young girl is killed, many questions arise as to what and who caused such a crime. All signs point to race but they soon find looks can be deceiving when other cases and murders soon confirm suspicions that something is definitely wrong.

And amidst all the chaos of returning to work, Lindsay finds herself face to face with a past she wished to forget, and new dangers present themselves when she show more least expects it. Boxer has to rely on her friends and colleagues to keep her safe while trying to piece together a difficult case that keeps throwing her curve balls. show less