The Women's Murder Club is back!
A brutal madman sprays bullets into a crowd of children leaving a San Francisco church. Miraculously-or was it intentionally?-only one person dies. Then an elderly black woman is hung.
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.
Starred review from February 18, 2002
It's been a long time since we've seen a bestselling author of Patterson's clout credit an assistant author on the cover, and good for Patterson for that. The credit is deserved. This is Patterson's richest, most engaging novel since When the Wind Blows
and, as the second in his Women's Murder Club series (after 1st to Die), yet more evidence that this prolific writer can roam beyond Alex Cross with style and success. Like all Pattersons, the narration mixes first and third person—the first here is voiced, as before, by San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer, while the third-person sections cover the doings of the other three members of Boxer's informal club, a reporter, a pathologist and a prosecutor, as well as the villain's shenanigans. The basic story line is vintage Patterson, i.e., a serial killer (here, one known as Chimera) goes on a calculated rampage until stopped by the good guys—or in this case, gals. As the victims—a young girl shot dead, an elderly black woman hanged, two cops—pile up, it becomes clear to Boxer and others that they're up against a racist who hates black cops; is the killer a cop himself? The story ripples with twists and some remarkably strong scenes, particularly Boxer's in-prison interview with a crazed con. But what makes this Patterson stand out above all is the textured storytelling arising from its focus on Boxer's personal issues. In the first novel, Patterson personalized Boxer by dealing with her rare blood disease; here, it's the emotionally powerful introduction of Boxer's long-lost father into her life that galvanizes the plot, particularly as Patterson ties the man into Chimera's rampage. Prime Patterson; first-rate entertainment. (On sale Mar. 4)Forecast:Patterson's name, major ad/promo and a 10-city author tour add up to #1; simultaneous Time Warner Audio and large-print edition.
May 6, 2002
Patterson (1st to Die) aptly commences the audio version of his latest with a foreword warning listeners they may have to "pull over to the side of the road" when the story gets exciting. His frenetically paced second installment to the Women's Murder Club series finds gutsy San Francisco detective Lindsay Boxer on the trail of a "cold-blooded marksman" who's just killed an 11-year-old choir girl. Lindsay suspects a serial killer targeting blacks after a close friend and crime reporter, Cindy Thomas, informs her that an African-American woman has recently been lynched. The only links between the victims seem to be family members in the police department and a symbol of a two-headed creature present at both crime scenes. With the sometimes unduly forceful projection of a stage actress, Leo lends a conviction and distinct voice to the author's lead female characters. There are some painfully silly sound effects, e.g., just as the case is blown open (punctuated with an explosion sound), and Lindsay has tracked down a lead (accompanied by eerie music), her long-lost father—an ex-cop—resurfaces (serenaded by a haunting sax and sentimental piano melody). But Piven's brief but brilliant readings as the killer and the author's cache of unexpected plot twists make this one fans will enjoy. Simultaneous release with the Warner hardcover (Forecasts, Feb. 18).