Book Review: “16th Seduction” by James Patterson (Women’s Murder Club #16)

Title:  16th Seduction

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Women’s Murder Club #16

Synopsis (from bn.com): 

Detective Lindsay Boxer faces a heart-stopping threat in the newest Women’s Murder Club thriller.

Fifteen months ago, Detective Lindsay Boxer’s life was perfect—she had a beautiful child and a doting husband, Joe, who helped her catch a criminal who’d brazenly detonated a bomb in downtown San Francisco, killing twenty-five people. But Joe wasn’t everything that Lindsay thought he was, and she’s still reeling from his betrayal as a wave of mysterious, and possibly unnatural, heart attacks claims seemingly unrelated victims across San Francisco. As if that weren’t enough, the bomber she and Joe captured is about to go on trial, and his defense raises damning questions about Lindsay and Joe’s investigation. Not knowing whom to trust, and struggling to accept the truth about the man she thought she knew, Lindsay must connect the dots of a deadly conspiracy before a brilliant criminal puts her on trial.

My thoughts:

I don’t care how much others make fun of James Patterson and his writing, I just love a couple of his series including of course the Alex Cross series, NYPD Red, and this series . . . the Women’s Murder Club.

I find all of his writing extremely fast paced, interesting, with great characters and interesting story lines.

In this novel he again weaves together at least 2 storylines that while seemingly wonderful separate, don’t always seem to fit together nicely into one cohesive story.

I felt as if in this book Patterson was really keeping the focus on one of the Women’s Murder Club – Lindsay Boxer and her struggling relationship with her husband.  Therefore, although the other 3 women were woven into the story – I could have used a bit more of their camaraderie in this one!

Overall, a great offering in a wonderful series!  Give it a try if you haven’t.

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

 

 

NYPD Red 1 & 2 by James Patterson

 

Title:  NYPD Red

Author:  James Patterson

Series: (NYPD Red #1)

Synopsis:

It’s the start of Hollywood on Hudson, and New York City is swept up in the glamour. Every night, the red carpet rolls out for movie stars arriving at premieres in limos; the most exclusive restaurants close for private parties for wealthy producers and preeminent directors; and thousands of fans gather with the paparazzi, hoping to catch a glimpse of the most famous and beautiful faces in the world. With this many celebrities in town, special task force NYPD Red is on high alert-and they can’t afford to make a single mistake.

Then a world-renowned producer fatally collapses at his power breakfast, and top NYPD Red Detective Zach Jordan is the first one on the scene. Zach works with his beautiful new partner, Detective Kylie MacDonald-who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend-to discover who the murderer might be. But this is only the beginning: the most brutal, public, and horrifyingly spectacular crimes they’ve ever encountered are about to send all of New York into chaos, putting NYPD Red on the ropes.

Zach and Kylie know there’s no way of telling what a killer this deranged will do next. With the whole world watching, they have to find a way to stop a psychopath who has scripted his finale down to the last explosive detail. With larger-than-life action, relentless speed, and white-knuckle twists, NYPD Red is the next mega-blockbuster from “The Man Who Can’t Miss.” (TIME)

 

Title:  NYPD Red 2

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  NYPD Red #2

Synopsis (from bn.com):

When NYPD Red arrives at a crime scene, everyone takes notice. Known as the protectors of the rich, famous, and connected, NYPD Red is the elite task force called in only for New York City’s most high-profile crimes. And Detective Zach Jordan is the best of the best, a brilliant and relentless pursuer of justice. He puts professionalism above all, ignoring his feelings for his partner, Detective Kylie MacDonald, the woman who broke his heart when they first met in the academy.

But even with their top-notch training, Zach and Kylie aren’t prepared for what they see when they’re called to a crime scene in the heart of Central Park. They arrive to find a carousel spinning round and round, its painted horses grinning eerily in the early morning dark. There is only one rider: a brutally slaughtered woman, her body tied up and dressed in a Hazmat suit, on display for the world to see.

The victim, a woman of vast wealth and even greater connections, is the fourth in a string of shocking murders that have hit the city. As the public pressure mounts, and political and personal secrets of the highest order hang in the balance, Zach and Kylie must find out what’s really behind the murderer’s rampage. But Kylie has been acting strange recently—and Zach knows whatever she’s hiding could threaten the biggest case of their careers.

NYPD Red 2 is the next outstanding novel in James Patterson’s newest series, a thriller that careens through New York City and deep into the psyche of a depraved killer you’ve never seen before.

 

My thoughts:  I am a huge fan of James Patterson’s Alex Cross series and Women’s Murder club series and I admit I was skeptical about another new series from him for fear it wouldn’t live up to what I love!   Well thankfully, I really love this NYPD Red series.

The series follows Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald, two of the top NYPD Red detectives, as they investigate high profile crimes of the very rich and famous.   I was worried that with the theme of having the main characters all be incredibly rich, high profile individuals that the storylines would come off us incredibly pretentious and annoying, but luckily that is not at all the case.

I find this series incredibly fast-paced with great lead characters!  Working my way through #3 now and of course like any good reader I have #4 on my nightstand!

I highly suggest this series for fans of Patterson!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

 

 

Book Review: “14th Deadly Sin” by James Patterson (Women’s Murder Club #14)

 

Title:  14th Deadly Sin

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Women’s Murder Club #14

Synopsis (from bn.com):

With San Francisco under siege and everyone a suspect, the Women’s Murder Club must risk their lives to save the city-and each other.

With a beautiful baby daughter and a devoted husband, Detective Lindsay Boxer can safely say that her life has never been better. In fact (for a change), things seem to be going well for all the members of the Women’s Murder Club as they gather to celebrate San Francisco Medical Examiner Claire Washburn’s birthday. But the party is cut short when Lindsay is called to a gruesome crime scene, where a woman has been murdered in broad daylight.

As Lindsay investigates, shocking video footage of another crime surfaces. A video so horrific that it shakes the city to its core. Their faces obscured by masks, the cold-blooded criminals on the tape could be anyone-and now all of Lindsay’s co-workers are suspects. As a rash of violence sweeps through San Francisco, and public fear and anger grow, Lindsay and her friends must risk their lives in the name of justice-before it’s too late.

With shocking twists and riveting suspense, 14th DEADLY SIN proves yet again that when it comes to suspense fiction, in the words or Jeffery Deaver: “nobody does it better” than James Patterson.

 

 

My thoughts:  I really enjoy James Patterson and the Women’s Murder Club mystery series – but I must say this wasn’t my favorite in the series.   This one just fell a bit flat for me.

In this series, Patterson always sets up about 3 different storylines throughout the course of the book and then of course ties them up nicely at the end.   The storylines in this particular book didn’t fit together all that nicely, weren’t all that page-turning exciting, and don’t get me started on how they all ended up.  I’m sorry but the ending of this book was horrible. . . I turned the page to continue reading and it was done . . . what . . . that was the ending, no way!  It was supposed to be a cliffhanger, but it didn’t really turn out that way.  The ending of all three storylines was just too abrupt, didn’t work for me.

 

Hmmmmm, knowing my love of Patterson, I will go back for the 15th installment of this series. . . but #14 was not Patterson’s finest hour.

 

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

 

Book Review: “Unlucky 13” by James Patterson (Women’s Murder Club #13)

 

Title:  Unlucky 13

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Women’s Murder Club #13

Synopsis (from bn.com):

The Women’s Murder Club is stalked by a killer with nothing to lose.

San Francisco Detective Lindsay Boxer is loving her life as a new mother. With an attentive husband, a job she loves, plus best friends who can talk about anything from sex to murder, things couldn’t be better.

Then the FBI sends Lindsay a photo of a killer from her past, and her happy world is shattered. The picture captures a beautiful woman at a stoplight. But all Lindsay sees is the psychopath behind those seductive eyes: Mackie Morales, the most deranged and dangerous mind the Women’s Murder Club has ever encountered.

In this pulse-racing, emotionally charged novel by James Patterson, the Women’s Murder Club must find a killer—before she finds them first.

 

My thoughts:  Well, perhaps I am in a reading slump, but I normally love, love this series, but this one just didn’t it for me.  Here’s why.  During this particular series, the author always sets up a series of three separate plot lines and normally weaves them together in some connected way or at least adds some excitement to the reading.  Not this time.  The three separate plot lines – Yuki’s cruise experience, the Morales returns plot, and then the random belly bomber storyline – were all seemingly disparate and had absolutely no connection with one another.  The belly bomber story line didn’t even really end and had absolutely no purpose in the book at all.

Overall a disappointing fail for this one . . . ugh, I hate when books fail me.

But there are always a thousand more books just waiting to be read,

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

Book Review: “12th of Never” by James Patterson (Women’s Murder Club #12)

Title:  12th of Never

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Women’s Murder Club #12

Synopsis (from bn.com):

It’s finally time! Detective Lindsay Boxer is in labor—while two killers are on the loose.

Lindsay Boxer’s beautiful baby daughter is born! While Lindsay and Joe are at home in bliss, San Francisco gets hit with multiple killings. An eccentric English professor has been having vivid nightmares about a murder that he claims is real. No one believes him-until a vicious shooting fits the man’s description to the last detail.

Then the girlfriend of a star player for the San Francisco 49ers is found dead in her car, making the athlete the prime suspect. This seems like an open-and-shut case-until the body inexplicably vanishes from the morgue. When the desperate chief of police calls for help, Lindsay is forced to return to work after only one week at home with her newborn.

But all the crimes in the world will seem like nothing when she suddenly faces the most devastating loss of her life. With heart-pounding emotion and suspense, 12TH OF NEVER is James Patterson’s most shocking and sensational Women’s Murder Club novel yet.

 

My thoughts:  I decided to jump back into this series after some time away (after I lost my mojo with it after a disappointing #10) and I’m certainly glad I did.  I really enjoyed this book and of course flew through it like I do most Patterson books.

I love jumping back into a storyline with a cast of characters that I know . . . its like returning home!

I also truly enjoyed the overall plot lines of this book.  There were two or more simultaneous storylines that flowed well together and played off one another beautifully.

 

I know Patterson takes quite a bit of flack for publishing so many books, and basically having other authors write them while is name is on them . . . but let’s face it, if you love them you love them.  Read on!

 

Very much looking forward to #13 which happens to come out days before I get on a plane for Hawaii!  Can’t wait to read it.

 

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

 

Book review: “11th Hour” by James Patterson (Women’s Murder Club #11)

Title:  11th Hour

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Women’s Murder Club #11

Synopsis (from bn.com):

Your best friend

Lindsay Boxer is pregnant at last! But her work doesn’t slow for a second. When millionaire Chaz Smith is mercilessly gunned down, she discovers that the murder weapon is linked to the deaths of four of San Francisco’s most untouchable criminals. And it was taken from her own department’s evidence locker. Anyone could be the killer—even her closest friends.

Or a vicious killer?

Lindsay is called next to the most bizarre crime scene she’s ever seen: two bodiless heads elaborately displayed in the garden of a world-famous actor. Another head is unearthed in the garden, and Lindsay realizes that the ground could hide hundreds of victims.

You won’t know until the 11^th hour

A reporter launches a series of vicious articles about the cases and Lindsay’s personal life is laid bare. But this time she has no one to turn to—especially not Joe. 11^TH HOUR is the most shocking, most emotional, and most thrilling Women’s Murder Club novel ever.

 

My thoughts:  I am so very glad I got back into this series . . . I really, truly enjoyed this installment in James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club Series.  Frankly, after the 10th book in the serious which fell a bit flat for me I was hesitant to get back in and finish up the series.  I am glad I did!

I love James Patterson, particularly the Alex Cross series, . . . and this series is a close second for me.

I love coming back to good, comfortable, familiar characters in these novels.

I love how the 2 or 3 seemingly separate storylines play off one another, work well together, and keep the plot moving quickly ahead.

I flew through this book, which is exactly what I needed for this little reading slump that I am in.

On to number 12 in the series . . . full speed ahead!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

Book Review: Hope to Die by James Patterson (Alex Cross #22)

 

Title:  Hope to Die

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Alex Cross #22

 

Synopsis (from bn.com): Detective Alex Cross is being stalked by a psychotic genius, forced to play the deadliest game of his career. Cross’s family–his loving wife Bree, the wise and lively Nana Mama, and his precious children–have been ripped away. Terrified and desperate, Cross must give this mad man what he wants if he has any chance of saving the most important people in his life. The stakes have never been higher: What will Cross sacrifice to save the ones he loves?

Widely praised by the greatest crime and thriller writers of our time, Cross My Heart set a jaw-dropping story in motion. Hope to Die propels Alex Cross’s greatest challenge to its astonishing finish, proving why Jeffery Deaver says “nobody does it better” than James Patterson.

 

My thoughts:  I absolutely love James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.  I will admit however that the last couple of books it felt a little forced and stale to me.  I always feel like his focus on some of his many other series was negatively effecting the Alex Cross series.  However, in my opinion Patterson is back at his best with this latest installment of the Alex Cross series!

Wow!  is all I have to say about Hope to Die!  The plot is exciting, incredibly fast, intriguing, scary, twisted . . . excellent!!!

If you are a fan of Patterson . . . this book is not to be missed!

Another superb, fantastic read . . . go get your hands on it now!!!!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

Book Review: “Cross My Heart” by James Patterson SPOILER ALERT

Title:  Cross My Heart

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Alex Cross #21

 

Synopsis (from bn.com):

Detective Alex Cross is a family man at heart–nothing matters more to him than his children, his grandmother, and his wife Bree. His love of his family is his anchor, and gives him the strength to confront evil in his work. One man knows this deeply, and uses Alex’s strength as a weapon against him in the most unsettling and unexpected novel of James Patterson’s career.

When the ones Cross loves are in danger, he will do anything to protect them. If he does anything to protect them, they will die.

CROSS MY HEART is the most powerful Alex Cross novel ever, propelled by the ever-ingenious mind of James Patterson, the world’s #1 bestselling writer.

My thoughts:  I will say hands down that this was one of my favorite Alex Cross books yet.  In a word it was AMAZING!!!  There are books that you say that you can’t put down, and then there are books such as “Cross My Heart” where you literally, actually can’t put it down!  Usually, any book in the Alex Cross series is a one day read for me and this was no exception!

I am not ashamed to admit that I had an actual physical reaction and felt actually nauseous during the final 30 pages or so of this book as I wondering where the storyline was heading.  It took a dark and completely unexpected twist in my opinion.  My self-talk in my head was going something like this, “Are you kidding me with this?  He has to be kidding me, he has to resolve this.  This isn’t going to resolve.  They are . . . WHAT?!?  No, this can’t be happening!”   I read a lot and there are very few books that truly leave the reader feeling as if they have been on a roller coaster ride and are ready to get off, exhilarated, exhausted, confused . . . Cross My Heart fits the bill!  Phew, loved it and I was exhausted after the final 30 pages.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

Now I must say that I am completely shocked and appalled by many of the online reviews that I have read about this book.  Many readers feel as if the author let them down somehow by no resolving this book and providing a satisfactory ending.  Many were complaining that they felt like the author was just trying to make money by making the reader buy the next book to see how it ends.   I really have to say . . . Get Over It!  Haven’t these reviewers ever heard of cliffhangers . . . those fabulous endings that leave you with your mouth agape wondering what is next.  Television and other authors do it all the time.  No one is making you buy the next book or for that matter making you even read the next book.  If you somehow feel betrayed by this author . . . then simply don’t read it.

I for one thought the ending, or shall I say non-ending, was spectacular!  It was really the ending that made the book for me.  It was a truly bold, dramatic, jaw-dropping move by this author . . . and I for one can’t wait to read more.

So yes, it is absolutely true that this book doesn’t have a nice, neat ending!  This book is a prequel and hopefully #22 will take us on another thrill ride!

If anyone thought that the Alex Cross series was getting old, dry, and lacked excitement . . . put those thoughts aside!  Lucky #21, Cross My Heart, will take you on an exciting journey that leaves you wanting more!

And remember,

Books Are Life

Heather

Book Review – “Alex Cross, Run” by James Patterson

  Title:  Run Cross, Run

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Alex Cross #20

Publisher:  Little, Brown & Co.

Synopsis (from bn.com):

Kill Alex Cross was “Patterson at the top of his game” (Washington Post). Alex Cross, Run is even better.

DON’T LOOK, ALEX CROSS

Top plastic surgeon Elijah Creem is renowned for his skills in the operating room, and for his wild, no-expense-spared “industry parties,” bringing in underage exotic dancers and models for nights of drugs, champagne, and uninhibited sex. That is, until Detective Alex Cross busts one of Creem’s lavish soirees and ruins his fun. Now Creem is willing to do anything to avoid going to jail.

DON’T THINK, ALEX CROSS

But Alex doesn’t have time to dwell on that case. A beautiful woman has been found murdered in her car, a lock of her hair viciously ripped off. Then a second woman is found hanging from a sixth-floor window with a brutal scar slashed across her stomach. When a third mutilated body is discovered, rumors of three serial killers on the loose send Washington D.C. into an all-out frenzy.

JUST RUN

Alex is under so much pressure to solve these three grim cases that he hasn’t noticed that someone else investigating him-someone so obsessed and so twisted that they’ll do anything-ANYTHING- to get the vengeance they require. Alex Cross, Run is James Patterson’s most unrelenting story yet-a white-hot, sensational thrill ride with the most extreme and gripping characters Patterson has ever brought to life.

My thoughts:  I love James Patterson’s Alex Cross series and this was another excellent installment in the series.  A number of fast-paced plots playing off one another throughout the entire book.  Not to mention the fact that as Alex Cross attempts to solve these cases, there just may be someone tracking him!  As with the other books in this series, I was able to fly through this great book in less than a day of reading – who doesn’t love this!

I thought this was a fast-paced, exciting quick read!

If you haven’t ever read the Alex Cross series, do yourself a favor and pick them up!  You will not regret it.

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather

Book Review – “Merry Christmas Alex Cross” by James Patterson

  Title: Merry Christmas Alex Cross

Author:  James Patterson

Series:  Alex Cross # 19

Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company

 

Synopsis (from bn.com): It’s Christmas Eve and Detective Alex Cross has been called out to catch someone who’s robbing his church’s poor box. That mission behind him, Alex returns home to celebrate with Bree, Nana, and his children. The tree decorating is barely underway before his phone rings again—a horrific hostage situation is quickly spiraling out of control. Away from his own family on the most precious of days, Alex calls upon every ounce of his training, creativity, and daring to save another family. Alex risks everything—and he may not make it back alive on this most sacred of family days. Alex Cross is a hero for our time, and never more so than in this story of family, action, and the deepest moral choices. MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALEX CROSS will be a holiday classic for years to come.

 

My thoughts:  There is no way around it, I simply LOVE this Alex Cross series.  I know some would say that they are rather simplistic and that they are getting cookie cutter over time, but that doesn’t stop me from loving them.  With all the reading I do, James Patterson’s Alex Cross series is guaranteed that I can sit down and read the entire book in about 5 hours!  The same held true for this one!

I love that sense of coming home to these characters that I know so well, Alex, Nana Mama, Alex’s children, Bree, and Sampson!  The action in this latest installment was fast-paced, exciting, and a great thrill ride!

This being said, there did seem to be a great disconnect between the first part of the book and the last part of the book.  There were two distinct story lines in this book and unfortunately there was absolutely no connection between them at all.  They were both exciting and thrilling by themselves, but it did end up feeling like two short stories rather than a unified story.

I was also really looking forward to some type of typical James Patterson twist on the last page – you know the one liner where Alex Cross takes a phone call and you end up going “What, did that just happen?” or the last page that leaves you salivating for the next book!  Not this time, but I am certain that the next book will be just as thrilling!

A great, exciting, action-packed read you won’t want to put down!

And remember,

Books Are Life,

Heather