The 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club)
by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
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Book Reviews of The 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club)
Book Review: A Really Pacy Novel
Summary: 4 Stars
It may be a little known fact, but James Patterson has written more best selling titles in the past five years than Dan Brown, J.K. Rowling, Tom Clancy and John Grisham put together. He is one of a handful of authors whose sales have been growing over the past two years, even though best selling fiction sales in general have been declining.
A young mother is recuperating in hospital when she is suddenly gasping for breath. The emergency call button fails to bring any help in time. The doctor's in the hospital, some of the finest in the US are completely mystified by the young woman's death, for no apparent medical reason. What happened?
This is not the first time such an occurrence has happened at this particular hospital. Patients are well on the road to a clean bill of health and suddenly their condition worsen and they die. Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer probes deeper into the cases. Could they just be a coincidence or is some maniac playing with people's lives?
Book Review: Ghost writer: James Patterson
Summary: 1 Stars
I found nothing in this book that would let me believe James Patterson wrote any of it. The story line is trite. The characters are flat, predictable and boring. For example, there is a chinese mother/daughter with the chinese mother trying to match (for marriage) the daughter with every available 'single' doctor, with the doctor protesting her "wonderful" old country mom. All the chapters are 2 to 3 pages in length - making it perfect to read in the loo. Many of the chapters say nothing except that the women are scared, or tearful, or worried, or ...
James Patterson should stop lending his name to books by every mystery writer that asks. I will no longer buy these books. His name only adds to the price - and they are expensive. If you want to read something by the co-author, find something where the co-author's name is the only one on the cover. Books co-authored with Patterson have come to mean poorly written and very expensive.
Book Review: Lindsey Boxer and Company Back on Track
Summary: 3 Stars
The Women's Murder Club series tend to be enjoyable but clunky; a reader has to accept certain flaws and coincidences and is rewarded with a pleasant read.
But The Fifth Horseman is a major improvement. The characters have settled into themselves, and are less one-dimensional. The plot, which focuses on mysterious deaths at a San Francisco hospital, works well and combines emotion and intrigue. A subplot about a serial killer who preys on young call girls is woven deftly into the story.
Lt. Lindsay Boxer has taken control, which is nice. The other women in the club are present and accounted for, but there is no question who is running the show. And the backdrop of San Francisco, with its fog and neighborhoods and quirks, is put to wonderful use.
This is an excellent book, enjoyable for a mystery, especially if one is a fan of the series, or for someone who likes strong women who can solve crime and fight for justice.
Book Review: Entertaining read, but has some flaws
Summary: 3 Stars
Police Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is caught up in two sets of serial murders in the 5th. book of the Women's Murder Club Mysteries. In the first, young women are murdered, dressed in expensive clothes, and placed in luxury cars. In the second, patients in a local hospital seem to be doing well, and then they die mysteriously from medicine which is wrongly administered. The second case results in a courtroom battle which produces some of the best action in the book. Although the pages turn quickly and the action is sustained, there are some flaws in this book. First of all, when the perpetrators are identified, there is very little explanation as to their motivation for committing the crimes in the way that they did. There are a few threads left hanging, especially at the end which comes abruptly and without explanation as to how the murderer was apprehended and how the hospital computer system was entered in order to commit the crime.Book Review: Minimalist Reading
Summary: 3 Stars
Although I still love the character of Lindsay Boxer, this series in running on fumes.This is the weakest in the "Women's Murder Club" series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. The problem this time around is the minimalist writing style has gone over the top. There is virtually no detail of time or place. It's more like reading a movie script than a novel.The story has two interesting independent plots involving the serial killings of hospital patients and young women working as escorts. Neither plot is connected and are solved by simple mistakes by the perps. Mistakes that would be red herrings in better written novels. Newcomer Yuki Castellano gets a lot of ink but disapears near the end. The rest of the regular characters make frequent appearances, but contribute little to the plot. The only real winner in this is Lindsay's former partner, Jacobi, who really comes to life in this book. Bottom line: Wait for the paperback.