Product Description

A young mother is recuperating in a top San Francisco hospital when suddenly she's gasping for breath. The call button fails to bring help in time. How and why did this happen? With help from the newest member of the Women's Murder Club, Yuki Castellano, Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer discovers that this is not the hospital's first suspicious case. Other patients have taken unexpected and devastating turns for the worse just as they're planning to go home. Are these just appalling coincidences? Or is a maniac playing God with people's lives? When someone close begins to exhibit the same terrifying symptoms, Lindsay fears no one is safe. In a wild race against time she must fight an administration determined to shield its reputation even it means hiding a killer...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #613665 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

From AudioFile
San Francisco PD Detective Lindsay Boxer is suspicious about unexpected deaths at a local hospital--especially after the mother of one of her friends inexplicably succumbs. The Women's Murder Club is soon involved in finding the person responsible--and at risk to themselves. Carolyn McCormack's performance is superb. Her ability to capture the essence of each of the main characters is impressive; her skill at fleshing out even minor characters is rare. Her spirit, enthusiasm, and emotional involvement help the novel, which has its predictable moments. Overall, McCormack's ability to keep each moment fresh and alive makes this program a real treat for the listener. M.A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"'Ticks like a time bomb - full of threat and terror' Los Angeles Times; 'Brilliantly terrifying...so exciting I had to stay up all night to finish it' Daily Mail"

About the Author
James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past decade: the Women's Murder Club, the Alex Cross novels and Maximum Ride, and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers. He has won an Edgar Award, the mystery world's highest honour. He lives in Florida with his wife and son.

Customer Reviews

Very enjoyable and entirely forgettable!
Patterson and Paetro gave it away on the dust jacket blurb, "The Women's Murder Club faces an unspeakable horror in an irresistible hospital and courtroom thriller ...". The problem is, they weren't talking about one novel being two things at once. They were talking about two separate novellas that had nothing to do with one another being tossed into a blender and combined into a single novel.

The bad news first! The first story is a typical and seriously overused hospital plot - a series of inexplicable hospital deaths that ultimately and not particularly surprisingly come down to the runaway serial murderer roaming the halls of a creepy hospital. The other is an uninspired police procedural about the apprehension of a kinky serial killer who liked to kill young girls and dress them up a little after they were already dead.

The good news is that, unlike "You've Been Warned" which was a complete waste of even the energy needed to turn the pages, the writing in "The 5th Horseman" manages to be snappy, entertaining and actually quite compelling. The novel is diverting and enjoyable despite its obvious shortcomings. At the same time as I was aware of the weaknesses in the plot's originality, I was definitely hooked and unwilling to put the book down and let it go. I can't help but admit that's a good thing!

Despite the fact that Patterson's reputation as a novelist is hanging by the thinnest of threads, I recommend "The 5th Horseman" as a thoroughly enjoyable, if entirely forgettable piece of literary brain candy. Take it on the plane or to the beach by all means.

Paul Weiss

Page turner
I like it but not Patterson's best

The story flows smoothly throughout the book; the topic is enticing and thrilling, it gives you that extra twist to keep you turning the pages and eager to read the next novel.

THE 5TH HORSEMAN is a terrific suspense chiller
THE 5TH HORSEMAN is a terrific suspense chiller that starts off at hyperspeed with Keiko's collapse and subsequent death and picks up speed as beleaguered cop Lindsay struggles to stop two apparent serial killers. The story line is action packed as is the trademark of the series (and any work including collaborations that James Paterson writes) while the female members of the Women's Murder Club retain their individual personalities that make them seem genuine even while being super crime stoppers. Also, if you missed reading TINO GEORGIOU'S masterpiece--THE FATES, go and read it.