3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club)
by Andrew Gross, James Patterson
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Book Reviews of 3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club)
Book Review: No One is Safe from Patterson!
Summary: 4 Stars
James Patterson is a master in grabbing the reader from page one and not letting go until the very end. The Women's Murder Club books not only grasp you from the beginning, they never release you, leaving you anxiously awaiting the next installment that is months away from publication. 3RD DEGREE is no different.
Lindsay Boxer is jogging with her buddy, assistant DA Jill Barnhardt. Little does she know that her entire life will be tossed upside down in a matter of minutes. She notices bruises on Jill's shoulder but before she can question her, a nearby townhouse blows up. Lindsay rushes inside to save a child (ah, our heroine!), and the chase begins...
Seems August Spies, a group of terrorists, is targeting greedy corporate executives and this attack is only the beginning. Lindsay along with the other members of the Women's Murder Club is on a journey to stop them before the body count increases. This time they have help from a hunky deputy directory of the Office of Homeland Security. Yep, you guessed it, Joe Molinari and Lindsay are smitten.
3RD DEGREE continues with excellent character growth and story development. A difficult transaction takes place in this tale, as Patterson kills off one of the main characters. I found it tough to understand his motive and am hoping in the next book we find out. I'm wondering if the missing member will be replaced, or will the others be left to continually morn her passing. Either way, it makes one wonder at Patterson's purpose.
Could the changing of the make up of the Women's Murder Club be Patterson's downfall? He could have at least waited a few more books like Cornwall did in her Scarpetta series. Hey, maybe with enough complaints, Patterson will have the deceased rising from the dead just like Cornwell did! We'll have to wait for a few more installments in this series before we have the answer to that question.
Overall 3RD DEGREE is a very good book and a must read if you've been following along in this series.
Book Review: Surprise! You won't see it coming!
Summary: 4 Stars
3RD DEGREE is the third book in Patterson's popular Women's Murder Club series. For those who are new to Patterson, let me assure you that this all-female club ain't no Sex in the City. Instead of talking Manolo Blahniks, these women get right down and dirty. Murder, mayhem and intrigue are the things that brought these women together.
In this book, Lt Lindsay Boxer is once again embroiled in chaos that starts off with the bombing of an Internet mogul's home. The only clue they have is a mysterious message from a group that calls themselves "August Spies". With the murder of another business tycoon following days after the bombing, and another cryptic message, Lindsay knows that it is time for the WMC to come together and pool their resources. But as they unravel facts about the so-called "August Spies", the women realize that they are no longer dealing with murder but outright terrorism. And with terrorism comes the involvement of the Federal Government, in which we meet Joe Mollinari, the Deputy Director of Homeland Security. Allow me to deviate for a moment to say that Joe is to die for. Yes, Lindsay gets a new boyfriend for which I am really happy after the death of Chris Raleigh, which saddened me. But do not be discouraged by this, as the romance doesn't get in the way of the suspense. Moving along, with the appearance of these leftist terrorists comes a threat that becomes very personal. And a beloved character becomes an unforeseen target. Boy, I never saw it coming. Lives would be lost, hearts would be shattered, and you would be left wanting to read more about these amazing women.
James Patterson and Andrew Gross' collaboration has once again resulted in a fast-paced and tough-edged thriller that begs for attention. The thing with the WMC series is it is hard to stop once you start. All the books beg to be finished. Although others are stronger and more compelling, you just cannot help but unravel the mystery, find out who the antagonists are and how the story ends.
Book Review: 3rd Degree
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my first James Patterson novel, and not the last. 3rd Degree is a fast moving story with interesting characters and, most importantly, a suspenseful story. His short chapters kept my interest where I didn't want to put the book down. I actually read the book in three days, my first ever!
One morning while Lt. Lindsay Boxer of the San Francisco Police Dept. was jogging with her dog she saw a house explode. Lt. Lindsay Boxer went into the burning house to see if anyone was in trouble. She finds a child a finds out that a baby is missing. A backpack is found at the scene with a note in it. The note says August Spies, a terrorist group, is responsible for this and will keep doing this. Lindsay calls her three friends (Cindy a news writer, Jill a D.A., and Claire a medical examiner) to help her solve the crime. They also get help from Joe Molinari, Homeland Security Deputy Director.
Lt. Lindsay Boxer receives e-mails saying the killers will kill every three days until the government takes responsibility for treating people throughout the world poorly. It becomes a race to catch the murderer since time is running out. Not only is time running out, but one of the Murder Club members is keeping a big secret. Who is it and what will happen to her? I won't tell, but believe me you won't believe it! Of course there has to be a romance! Yes people, Lindsay Boxer and Joe Molinari are involved. For once I'd like to read a thriller without having the main characters romantically involved. By all means, it didn't hurt the story in any way.
In my opinion 3rd Degree was a very good book. GO PATTERSON!
Book Review: A disappointment
Summary: 3 Stars
After the thrill ride of 1st to Die, I was anxious to read the next in the Women's Murder Club series. 2nd Chance wasn't as exciting as the first and 3rd Degree was even worse. The idea of a socialist-ish radical protest group killing off greedy, inhumane, or rotten businessmen was an interesting premise. But I found my interest in the story decreasing as I read. I didn't really care about what they were doing; it all seemed very random and forced. It was never really explained very clearly why they were doing what they were doing and why they were targeting the specific individuals that they were. Like with 2nd Chance, there was a lot more profanity (i.e. the f- word) than 1st to Die. And there was also some odd punctuation that was disconcerting and just plain odd. There were multiple times where an exclamation point was used almost laughably inappropriately. Talk about trying to put some excitement in the wrong way... I was glad that there was some romantic interest for Lindsay and he was a sweet prospect. I hope that they continue on with her having a relationship. I think she needs someone, for support, to come home to more than Sweet Martha. There is some bittersweet, needless tragedy that is handled very poorly- it should've caused more shock and action than it did. I'm still holding out hope that the series will regain the excitement and momentum of the first. Hopefully it doesn't venture even further downhill than this. I would suggest getting these out of the library before you make the investment and are disappointed.
Maybe the new TV show will be better (Fridays at 8pm on ABC starting October 12, 2007).
Book Review: Fast and furious...
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read a number of James Patterson novels, but 3rd Degree is the first book I've read in his Women's Murder Club series.
Lindsay Boxer is a homicide detective who works for the San Francisco Police Department. Boxer's world is blown to bits when she witnesses the explosion of a residence as she is jogging in San Francisco. A backpack left at the scene claims responsibility in the name of a domestic terrorist group. She calls on the skills of her three buddies (news writer Cindy, DA Jill, and medical examiner Claire) to help her solve the crime. Deputy Director of Homeland Security, Joe Molinari, also becomes embroiled in this case. But it quickly becomes more than one instance-as more people are murdered and the broad scope of the crimes increase
There are few clues at the beginning, but Boxer, her Women's Murder Club friends, Molinari, a few errors by the terrorists and a terrorist turncoat allow them to start piecing together this complicated puzzle. The situation is made even more complicated by the budding romance between Boxer and Molinari, along with the possibility that Boxer and her friends are not impervious to becoming victims themselves.
3rd Degree is extremely fast moving with lots of plot and decent characters. It also doesn't get bogged down with too much description (unlike some mystery writers today). It kept me turning pages faster and faster, and reading late into the night. But while it was a fast read, it was also a satisfying book. I guess I'll have to go back and read books one and two in this series.