Product Description

A young girl is killed in the crossfire after a routine arrest goes terribly wrong, and Lt. Lindsay Boxer has to defend herself against a charge of police brutality. In a landmark trial that transfixes the nation, Lindsay fights to save her career and her sanity.
While awaiting trial, Lindsay escapes to the tranquility of the beautiful town of Half Moon Bay. But the peaceful community there is reeling from a string of unspeakable murders. Working with her friends in the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay finds a link between these killings and a case she worked on years before - an unsolved murder that has haunted her ever since. As summer comes into full swing, Lindsay battles for her life on two fronts: before a judge and jury as her trial comes to a climax and facing unknown adversaries who will do anything to keep her from the truth about the killings. It all comes to a head before the big annual 4th of July celebration on the waterfront at Half Moon Bay.

"Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried. There's no stopping his imagination."
-New York Times Book Review

"Patterson's skill at building suspense is enviable." -Kansas City Star

"When it comes to constructing a harrowing plot, author James Patterson can turn a screw all right."
-New York Daily News

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50498 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-01
• Released on: 2008-07-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Mega-bestseller Patterson teams up with journalist/novelist Paetro for a rousing fourth installment of the Women's Murder Club series. This time, bright, tough SFPD Lt. Lindsay Boxer is battling police brutality charges while chasing down a clan of murderers. When a botched police arrest of two gun-toting minors expands from a shaky preliminary hearing to what promises to be a nerve-rattling jury trial of Lindsay, she flees the pre-trial media frenzy for the serene haven of sister Cat's house in Half Moon Bay. But instead of finding relaxation and romance with her Homeland Security beau, Lindsay becomes embroiled in the ruthless crimes of a troika of killers who've been slashing and flogging victims all over town. With surprisingly little aid from the Murder Club, Lindsay performs her detective handiwork (and steps on the toes of Half Moon's police chief). As more bodies surface, sketchy suspects like a smitten grease monkey and a slimy porn star emerge, then the murderous threesome set their sights on Lindsay. Back in San Francisco, Lindsay is acquitted; she then rushes back to Half Moon Bay to apprehend the elusive villains and put to rest her unresolved first homicide case as well. Heroic super-sleuthing, a steadily gripping plot line and 146 snappy chapters add up to suspense fiction euphoria for Patterson's legion of fans. (One-day laydown May 2)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is involved in a shooting that causes her to be charged with police brutality. Relieved of duty while awaiting trial, Lindsay travels to Half Moon Bay, only to find this community experiencing a rash of murders. With Yuki Castellano fighting for Lindsay in the courtroom and the murders in Half Moon Bay escalating, the Women's Murder Club cranks into full form. Carolyn McCormick drives this fast-paced, high-powered novel right off the printed page into real experience. A whining, pleading injured teen driving with only a learner's permit is so skillfully presented that danger is ignored; a spinal-cord-injured witness whose sobs are interrupted by the sucking of ventilator-initiated breathing is believable even while demonstrating courtroom theatrics. K.A.T. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
After the explosive events of the third entry in the Women's Murder Club series, 3rd Degree (2004), which claimed the life of one of the members, it's understandable that the follow-up might be a bit of a letdown. But only a little. Patterson's characteristic brutal murders and elusive killers are present, keeping the stakes high. Lindsay Boxer, the police lieutenant who brought the club together, is taking some serious heat in this installment. After a car chase goes wrong, Lindsay is forced to shoot two killers after they wound her and her partner. The firefight leaves a 15-year-old girl dead and her 13-year-old brother paralyzed, making way for a police brutality lawsuit. Lindsay hides out in her sister's suburban house, where she hopes to escape the media circus surrounding her trial. But someone has been killing married couples in the upscale community, and the method greatly resembles a case from early in Lindsay's career, one that she was never able to close the book on. Even though the Women's Murder Club itself is consigned to the background, Lindsay's trial and the murders keep the pages turning. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

This author is the best
What can I say that everyone else hasn't already said. This author is the best ... the very best! Kept me on the edge of my seat, reading until I thought my eyes would cross! Patterson just keeps getting better and better. This awesome author is certainly a master of his craft and doesn't need any help keeping me on edge, but the edge seemed to have a bit of a cushion this time. Could the 'plush' difference be the influence of his new co-author, the very talented Maxine Paetro? And did I detect a bit more humor in this book? You bet I did! Paetro again? It must have been a perfect collaboration between these fabulous 'wordsmiths' because the differences from the first three books in this series are so subtle as to be almost undetectable. What an amazing coupling of talents. I hope to hear more from Ms. Paetro in the future. Perhaps another fantastic book with Mr. Patterson ... or a novel of her own? I highly recommend this book ... and ALL of Patterson's books. He's a master of his craft--and Paetro is the co-author dreams are made of. When two talents blend so smoothly (like chocolate and peanut butter?), the result was bound to be a rare reading pleasure. Jog, don't walk, to your closest bookstore and get your copy now. Even though it's titled 4th of July, you won't want to wait until then to read this exciting novel.
I also recommend 'The Quest' by George Kostantinos. ENJOY.

easy read
If you fancy something light and easy to read this is a book for you. It has a steady pace and there is a lot going on at the same time. I love this series although I found the 4th installment not as good as the first 3.

Good solid Patterson
What can be said about a man who has written so many good books? I like everything the guy has done, from the Alex Cross series to his off-the beaten path stuff. Particularly enjoyed his 7th Heaven and Roses are Red. Can't go wrong for a beach read with this guy.