Book Review: 1st to Die

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

1st to Die     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon US Audio Book Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC Amazon Canada Audio Book
James Patterson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Police Procedural
Series: Women's Murder Club # 1
Little, Brown; Apr 2001; $26.95; 424 pp.

In San Francisco's Grand Hyatt Mandarin Suite, David Brandt feels he must be the luckiest person on the earth as he celebrates his honeymoon with his new wife Melanie. However, Phillip Campbell ends that happiness by killing the couple in their honeymoon suite. This is the first crime of a vicious serial killer.

San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer struggles with a dangerous blood condition while striving to solve the difficult case before the killer strikes again. She forges an alliance with three other women (a reporter, a medical examiner, and an assistant DA) in order to uncover the identity of the culprit without the continual interference of her male superiors and those of her new partners, also mostly men.

1ST TO DIE is an exciting investigative tale that debuts a new crime fighting team of four females, The Women's Murder Club. The story line never slows down even with the use of flashbacks and interchanging first and third cases. Though formulaic in nature, readers will enjoy the heart pumping plot and root for the quartet of ladies to succeed as the audience begins to learn what makes each of them tick.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner