A Fast-Moving Thriller

The books in the Women's Murder Club series have grabbed the reader quickly, kept tension high, and raced to an unexpected ending. This latest installment is no exception. I had a difficult time putting the book down. The main difference in 4th of July is that it mostly concerns only one of the club members, Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer of the San Francisco Police Department. She gets into a shoot-out with two, gun-toting children of a wealthy doctor. Wounded by the kids, she returns fire and kills one. The doctor files a lawsuit against Lindsay and the Police Department. His attorneys paint Lindsay as an irresponsible murderer. To escape a media circus, she retreats to her sister's house in picturesque Half Moon Bay, but immediately runs into a series of brutal murders. As she helps the local police, she becomes a target, leading to a surprising solution of the murders. The book has Patterson's characteristic, short chapters (145 in all) with snappy endings, and I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable story.

Another Bestseller from the Master

"4th of July" will keep you up till dawn and that's a fact. I don't know how James Patterson keeps churning out bestseller after bestseller so quickly, but he does and in my opinion, they are all excellent. In this one, since one of the members of the Woman's Murder Club was killed in "3rd Degree", the Club kind of takes a back seat. However, this story about Police Lt. Lindsay Boxer is as mesmerizing as the three that preceded it. You won't need any coffee to stay awake with this one. Five stars to be sure.

Maxine Paetro is no Alex Cross

I enjoyed the Women's Murder Club until I read 4th of July. It's a quick read, but that doesn't necessarily make it an enjoyable read. This book is predictable and it just was not as good as 3rd Degree. I was disappointed. BRING BACK ALEX CROSS!