Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5796 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 488 pages

From Amazon.com
The Women's Murder Club pits four San Francisco women professionals against a serial killer who's stalking and murdering newlyweds in bestselling author James Patterson's newest thriller. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector who's just gotten some very bad news. She deals with it by immersing herself in her newest case and soliciting the personal as well as professional support of her closest friend, who happens to be the city's medical examiner. The two women, along with an ambitious and sympathetic reporter and an assistant DA, form an unlikely alliance, pooling their information and bypassing the chain of command in an engaging, suspenseful story whose gruesome setup is vintage Patterson.

"What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?" the killer muses to himself early in the narrative. "Am I capable of doing it? Do I have what it takes?" Answering his own question, he embarks on a murderous spree that takes him from the bridal suite in a Nob Hill hotel to a honeymoon destination in the Napa Valley and thence to a wedding reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Dispatching his victims on the happiest day of their lives, he purposefully leaves enough clues for his distaff trackers to discover his identity and put him behind bars. But just when the women think they've got the case all wrapped up, the killer turns the tables on them in a bloody denouement that even the most discerning reader won't see coming. Patterson, author of the popular Alex Cross mysteries, promises future adventures for the Women's Murder Club, which may give him an opportunity to develop his heroines' characters more completely and win new fans among those who prefer their detectives in high heels and lipstick. --Jane Adams

From Library Journal
Lindsay Boxer is an inspector on the San Francisco Homicide Squad. Her healthy, optimistic outlook is given a jolt when she is diagnosed with aplastic anemia, which is potentially fatal. While dealing with her first treatments, she takes on a new case. Someone has killed a bride and groom during the first hours of their honeymoon. The killer strikes again in Napa Valley and a third time in Cleveland. Lindsay gathers her girlfriends, all of whom work in related areas of the justice system, to circumvent the bureaucracy of police business and solve the crimes. There are a number of loose ends that never get tied up, and a number of actions that don't seem to fit the characters' persona. The unabridged version of the story moves along well but seems contrived and somewhat sloppy, though well read by Suzanne Toren. Lack of detail in the abridgment, which is well read in alternate chapters by Melissa Leo and Dylan Baker, does not significantly hamper the telling of the tale; the loose ends and inconsistent characters are less apparent and bothersome. Recommended for large, well-funded collections. Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
"I know it's a cliché," narrator Lindsay Boxer says, "but that night I made love as if it might never happen again." James Patterson's novel about four women who form a Women's Murder Club to catch a serial killer preying on newlyweds features a cover-to-cover supply of situational and verbal clichés in addition to the one it admits to. Suzanne Toren manages to create some subtleties with her presentation of the four females, especially with the narration of Lindsay Boxer. The voices for the male sidekicks, however, are badly overdone, the audio equivalent of mugging for the camera. The novel is for the most loyal Patterson fans only. G.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Good read
This novel is an exciting tale, the story never slows down, you are kept guessing about the identity of the killer up to the last pages. I found this thriller very engaging and intriguing, I can't wait to read the second book.

Patterson's Murder Club series is riveting!
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.

In the first in the series, the fantastic four meet and decide to share resources and talents. They are plunged headfirst into a series of gruesome murders. Someone is killing off newlyweds.

The twists and turns, even at the very end, will leave you breathless and is enough to give any bride-to-be the jitters. This is one of James Patterson's best, with characters you'll empathize with and actually care about. The humor, relationships and expert crime procedural detail tie this book together neatly.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Author of Whale Song (978-1-60164-007-9)
Available 2007 from Kunati Books

Captivating
I could not put this book down! I'm not the type of person to read mystery/thriller fiction type of books. But from the first page to the very end... I was on the edge of my seat while reading this book on the train every morning to work. James Patterson has this ability to keep the reader wanting more. I could not believe how good this book was going to be. Every twist and turn the author takes you on is such a treat. Mr. Patterson is damn good! His attention to detail with each and every character is spectacular. I'm so flustered because I did not want this thriller to come to an end. Trust me, you will me enthralled. Also recommended: BARK OF THE DOGWOOD