1st to Die

😴

Almost immediate DNF for me, but my reasons not to read may be your reasons to pick it up... I know that this is a murder mystery, and dark turns are to be expected, but for me, personally, the first chapter was just too much all at once. I think it was well crafted, in that it was very visceral for both positive and negative emotions, but again, just too intense for what I can take. Trigger Warnings for Prologue and Chapter 1: talk of suicide/contemplating suicide, violence, implied SA. I've read other Patterson books and don't by any means think he's a bad writer, I was just not nearly prepared for what this book dished out page one. But that may be just what you're looking for, so I won't write it off for other people.

This series has been in my TBR for over ten years. I've had the first three books on my bookshelf for a while. But for, whatever reason, I never found the time to start reading it. I am happy I finally grabbed the first book. I loved it!

I just love the Women's Murder Club. How awesome is this group of smart women supporting each other... and kicking ass. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas is a crime reporter in the San Francisco Chronicle. The four of them solving crimes one margarita at a time...

Absolute trash writing. I got two or three chapters in and had to stop because I couldn't stomach how bad the writing is.

This will be my first and last experience with James Patterson. His popularity will remain the true mystery.

1st to Die by James Patterson
features a tough yet empathetic homicide detective who, with the help of three friends, attempts to solve gruesome murders. As someone targets newlyweds on their honeymoons, Lindsay and her friends establish the Women's Murder Club, determined to apprehend the killer before another attack occurs.

1st to Die by James Patterson
features a tough yet empathetic homicide detective who, with the help of three friends, attempts to solve gruesome murders. As someone targets newlyweds on their honeymoons, Lindsay and her friends establish the Women's Murder Club, determined to apprehend the killer before another attack occurs.

Lindsay is an inspector for the San Francisco Police Department. She gets hit with world shattering news about her health the same day she meets Chris Raleigh, who has been assigned to work with her on a potentially messy case. He works for the mayor and his job is to keep things neat and contained as much as possible while also helping with the case. They are trying to catch a killer who murders newly weds. Cindy, a reporter for the Chronicle who is trying to get a scoop on the case somehow manages to get up to floor of the hotel where the first murders were committed. She gets a peek at the groom on the floor by the door before she is found and hauled out. Later, Cindy sees Lindsay go into the ladies room in an emotional mess and follows her. She didn´t just push for details though, she was kind. She is smart and a good reporter but also seems to be human and possibly a good friend. Later when they meet again where another newly married couple have been reported missing Lindsay decides to make a deal with Cindy to keep things under control. They end up becoming friends. Lindsay, who is dealing with this new shock about her health decides she has to solve this case and decides to ask some female friends for help. She and three other women who have also clawed their way to the top in their respected fields decide to put their heads together and work on the case independently. They meet regularly to discuss the details of the case while Lindsay and her partner track down more leads officially. It was the start of the Women´s Murder Club.

Hoping the mystery really pans out.

Things this book has taught me about being a woman, so far:
1. Woman easily form strong fast bonds with other women.
2. Men are not to be trusted, the things they do are to keep woman down. (Even if you are top investigator this applies to anything your boss does that you don't like.)
3. Any man who is not boorish is a love interest, if that doesn't work or you are not interested see #2.
4. When ever you are alone try and cry a little.

....

Nope didn't get better and the mystery didnt pull it through. Figured out who done it at about 50% through.

BLUF: While I did not like this book, I am likely to read the next in the series at some point in the distant future.
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“We have been sort of working together,” I admitted, “outside of the investigation.” Over margaritas, I explained how we had originally gotten together. How we had come upon this case, trying to solve it, sharing what we knew freelance. How it had become a sort of bond. How things had just gotten a bit deeper. Jill arched her eyebrows. “I assume you're sharing all this with the investigation?”.

I have never read a James Patterson novel before, in fact it's about as far removed from my normal book diet of chicklit novels as you can get. I've heard good things about The Women's Murder Club series and thought maybe I'd give one a try.

Somehow with 4 children I still managed to devour this in 24 hours. It was gripping, I just had to keep turning the pages. The story was fraught with tension and cracked along at such a pace it seemed to be over before I realised what had happened.

The criticism here is it doesn't compare to Pattersons other novels but as I've not read them then all that makes me think is they must be truly sensational in comparison.

I have the second one to read also but I want to keep it and not rush in otherwise I suspect I may not move from my armchair tomorrow

I have been watching the very short lived TV series based on these novels and have been really enjoying it, so I thought I'd check out the books it was based on. I have to say that I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy read with a nice twist at the end. The characters were likable and well developed and the plot is fast passed and has some of the shortest chapters I have ever seen in a book! lol I'll definitely be checking out the others in this series....