My rating:

add to my books

4th of July (Women's Murder Club #4)

by James Patterson (Goodreads Author), Maxine Paetro

3.93 · rating details · 19,703 ratings · 686 reviews

A young girl is killed in crossfire after a routine arrest goes terribly wrong, and Lt. Lindsay Boxer has to defend herself against a charge of police brutality. In a landmark trial that transfixes the nation, Lindsay fights to save her career and her sanity. While awaiting trial, Lindsay escapes to the beautiful town of Half Moon Bay, but the peaceful community there is r...more

Compact Disc, 0 pages

Published February 5th 2008 by Hachette Audio (first published January 1st 2005)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 26,773)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 25, 2008

Rachel C. rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: pop-fic

Maxine Paetro picks up the series from Andrew Gross. She introduces a new character, Yuki Castellano, who I think might end up joining the Club.

The bulk of this book features Lindsay on trial for a wrongful death suit. The courtroom stuff was about as good as in an episode of Law & Order, which is to say it was obviously dramatized but sufficiently convincing to me.

There was the obligatory serial killer plot thrown in, with a decent twist ending. I'm not great at guess...more

like 5 likes

· see review

Mar 25, 2008

Kevin rated it

· review of another edition

Lindsay Boxer is on the trail of a killer with her one of her ex-partners when the unthinkable happens... while chasing down a suspect's car, it crashes. When they go to help, they find two pre-teen kids in the front seat. But as they try to get them out of the car, both kids pull guns and shoot the two cops. Lindsay fires back, killing one and paralyzing the other from the neck down before passing out herself due to her injuries. While on forced leave from the SFPD during her trial, she takes a...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Feb 12, 2011

Tony rated it

· review of another edition

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro- 4th of July (Little, Brown and Company 2005) 4 Stars

A brutal unsolved murder still bothers Lieutenant Boxer and now there are fresh killings that she is convinced are connected. She must try to hunt down the killers before they strike again. Meanwhile she has a pending lawsuit against her after being forced into a self-defence killing and crippling of two young teens. She is now fighting on two fronts.

This was a pretty good book. Patters...more

· see review

Jan 15, 2011

Liz Abinante rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: xyz-2011, kindle, fiction-mystery

Don't think I didn't notice that you killed a black female lawyer and replaced her with a bi-racial Japanese-Italian female lawyer, Patterson. Because I did.

This is when the series turned in a direction that I didn't care for. Maybe it was the addition of the new co-writer? Whatever it is, I don't like it.

This novel was really fractured. It tried to cram two plots into one book without paying adequate attention to either of them. Lindsay's wrongful death trial was complete sh...more

like 7 likes

· see review

Nov 26, 2010

Jay rated it

· review of another edition

4TH Of July
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Book Review by Jay Gilbertson

If you’re looking for something with depth of character, fascinating setting, amazing plot lines and an ending so enthralling you nearly scream—skip this one. BUT, if want to disappear into a fast-paced murder mystery with entertainingly fun women at the wheel; hop aboard.
The basic reason for my picking this baby...more4TH Of July
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Book Review by Jay Gilbertson

If you’re looking for something with depth of character, fascinating setting, amazing plot lines and an ending so enthralling you nearly scream—skip this one. BUT, if want to disappear into a fast-paced murder mystery with entertainingly fun women at the wheel; hop aboard.
The basic reason for my picking this baby up and giving it a read is that author Patterson in the past has penned some truly amazing novels that simply creeped me out. Read; I highly enjoyed. In this series, which is obviously the fourth, the story reads like a script right off the set of Charlie’s Angles, but with less emphasis on fashion and more wallop on murder, and boy are there murders. Lots of mangled bodies, tons of red-herrings and more twists and turns than Lombard Street all dished out in three page chapters that really cook.
This particular installment mostly featured detective Lindsey Boxer as the starring character along with her supporting cast of doctor Claire Washburn and news reporter Cindy Thomas. The reader is literally thrown into the action from the start:

“…My mind was racing even before Jacobi nosed our car up in front of the Lorenzo, a grungy rent-by-the-hour ‘tourist hotel’ on a block in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district that’s so forbidding even the sun won’t cross the street...”

While detective Boxer is in hot pursuit of an ominous black Mercedes, she shoots down two really rotten killers who, of course, turn out to be some hot-shot doctor’s twisted kids. All hell breaks loose. Boxer is sent away while the court case boils; lawyers hunch shoulders in hopes of proving she did indeed follow police protocol to a T. Knowing, as the informed reader that you are, not only had she had a few drinks prior to the all-important car chase, but in the midst of nearly being killed herself, Boxer forgot to read the murdering children their Miranda rights. She had a really bad hair day, shall we say?
No arm-chair murder mystery starring an all-woman cast would be complete without the occasional appearance of the male lead. Joe Molinari literally pops out of his car, zooms into Boxer’s kitchen, whips up Julia Child-like dishes and then whisks away our star for some romance and then poof—he dashes off stage left only to re-appear when the pacing permits. And this story has pacing.
Naturally, when Boxer leaves town and cozies away in her sister’s really well appointed cottage south of the city in Half Moon Bay, more murders happen right down the lane. The poor woman seems to pull murderous energy with her wherever her long, luxurious, wind-whipped chestnut hair seems to fall. Thank goodness she’s able to solve this one too and all in time for the reader to be so confused by all the plot twists and turns that when the murder’s identity is finally revealed not only are you surprised (I was) but happy there’s still time to catch a re-run of Charlie’s Angles.

Would I read another one of these? You betcha.
(less)

· see review

Aug 20, 2010

Kavyen rated it

· review of another edition

Lindsay Boxer is involved in a near-fatal car chase causing her to make an instantaneous decision. She repents the action very soon afterwards. Finding her partner in the hospital bed, having the guilt of shooting dead a teenager and almost paralyzing another leaves her running for some solace and peace to her sister’s place in the picturesque town of Half Moon Bay.

Soon after she reaches there, her instincts sets in when a string of murders rocks the little peaceful town. Does she solv...more

· see review

Jul 04, 2010

Jerry rated it

· review of another edition

"Murder Club" takes back seat to Lt. Lindsay Boxer in twisty fourth outing!

Patterson is sustaining his popularity with the new, four-book (to date) series featuring LAPD Homicide Lt. Lindsay Boxer, and her gal pals Claire (Medical Examiner), Cindy (News Reporter) and Jill (Asst. DA). [That this foursome has like three built-in conflicts of interest doesn't seem to bother anybody but us!:] In "1st to Die" and "2nd Chance", we came to enjoy the affable gro...more"Murder Club" takes back seat to Lt. Lindsay Boxer in twisty fourth outing!

Patterson is sustaining his popularity with the new, four-book (to date) series featuring LAPD Homicide Lt. Lindsay Boxer, and her gal pals Claire (Medical Examiner), Cindy (News Reporter) and Jill (Asst. DA). [That this foursome has like three built-in conflicts of interest doesn't seem to bother anybody but us!:] In "1st to Die" and "2nd Chance", we came to enjoy the affable group and their solving perplexing murder mysteries, despite Lindsay's frequent departures from standard police procedures. We enjoyed "3rd Degree" best of all for its complex and shocking plot, but ironically quibbled that the women's dialogue seemed awfully adolescent for four professionals. We suggested perhaps a woman co-author might fix that, instead of Patterson's stalwart cohort Andrew Gross. To our amazement, "4th" does feature a new writer to the set, namely Maxine Paetro - was the author listening ??!!

Unfortunately, the club, now one member short after the events of the preceding tale, didn't get much play in this their fourth outing. The beginning of the novel features a deadly encounter between Boxer and an old partner, who chase and then get into a shootout with two teenagers, leaving three injured and one dead, 15-year-old Sara. A lawsuit by the parents for wrongful death is almost more suspenseful than the murder mystery that followed, although the case seemed clearly an open and shut self-defense considering the girl fired first, with the policewoman's gun holstered. {However, we know what goes on in LA courtrooms!}

Meanwhile, a series of serial killings are taking place, apparently at random, with the unusual twist that the victims are whipped near or after death. Boxer recognizes a similarity to a cold case from ten years ago, and despite being on leave, then on vacation resting from the trauma of the shooting and the court case, she inserts herself into the local investigation and helps solve the case. We rather suspected one of the perps early on, but the ultimate outcome was pretty shocking. Despite treading on risky ground procedurally (as usual), Boxer comes out the heroine once again.

While we thought the interactions of the woman to be more professional as hoped, the club really got short shift in this story. Moreover, with Patterson's typical 146 chapters in a 380-page book, there's an awful lot of blank space that makes this actually rather short novel a quick read. We would have preferred a little more character work, especially with what appears to be the new addition to the club, an interesting persona with whom our acquaintance barely scratches the surface. While no doubt most will enjoy this new addition to the set, we'd like to see a more substantive story next time out, and one that involves all the women in the solution. If they are just going to be drinking buddies, we fear Boxer and her antics per se may get a little tiring. Meanwhile, undoubtedly Patterson and Paetro have another hit on their hands!
(less)

· see review

Feb 03, 2010

Lauren rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

· see review

Dec 27, 2009

Jodi rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Patterson fans

Shelves: books-in-a-series, thrillers

This book in the Women's Murder Club series was very different from the first 3 books in the series. In this book, Lindsey is put on administrative leave during a trial while she is being investigated for shooting her police gun at two children. The charges are found to be bogus and Lindsey is found to be innocent (no shock there). What makes this book different is that we learn about Lindsey in her free time. In the previous books, besides working A LOT, she dates, cooks amazing meals, works ...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Sep 01, 2009

Aaron rated it

· review of another edition

In the fourth installment of the Ladies Murder Club series, readers will find Lindsay Boxer heading out of time. This is largely because she has come under scrutiny when she is sued for police brutality. She and her long-time partner Jacobi were hunting down a murder with the only really clue being a reference to a high end car with a partial license plate.

After just having had a couple of drinks with Cindy and Claire, she gets a call from Jacobi indicating the car had been seen. He ...moreIn the fourth installment of the Ladies Murder Club series, readers will find Lindsay Boxer heading out of time. This is largely because she has come under scrutiny when she is sued for police brutality. She and her long-time partner Jacobi were hunting down a murder with the only really clue being a reference to a high end car with a partial license plate.

After just having had a couple of drinks with Cindy and Claire, she gets a call from Jacobi indicating the car had been seen. He quickly picks her up, and they end up on a chase when they find the car. It leads to an accident. Lindsay and Jacobi find two kids in the car. After putting their weapons away, the older sister starts firing. It leads to a shoot out. She ends up dead, the younger brother ends up in a wheel chair, and both Lindsay and her partner are shot as well. The kids' parents are suing her since they claim she was drunk at the time and didn't follow proper procedure. They leave out the fact= the kids are suspects in the murders being investigated.

Upon advice from her lawyer and soon to be new friend and the newest member of the murder club, Yuki, Lindsay finds herself heading to the seclusion of her sister's home in Half Moon. While things start of nice and relaxing, it does not take long for Lindsay to find herself being drawn into another investigation.

Couples throughout the community have been murdered over the course of recent years, and the pace of the murders is picking up. There seems to be very little tying the victims together other than the fact that all of their throats have been cut, and they were whipped as they lay dying.

The MO reminds Lindsay of her first case, which ended up becoming a cold case. That case did not involve a couple, but a young teen boy, but otherwise the MO was exactly the same.

Lindsay also finds herself catching the eye of a slimy, former porn star. He thinks she is exactly what she needs to relax, but she thinks he is just a jerk. She also meets a really nice, younger auto mechanic who she befriends over a shared interest of fixing up cars.

The book is as quick-paced and interesting as the earlier books in the series. I was a little disappointed because it really focused only on Lindsay. Claire pops up periodically because as the chief medical examiner she must testify in Lindsay's case. Cindy is barely in the book. Fuki does get a nice introduction, but it is not clear that she will step up to be a full replacement for Jill in the club after the former-assistant DA's murder in the previous book. There is generally a lack of the strong teamwork between the various women that has made the series so strong.

I am not sure if the changes are due to the fact that Patterson has switched writing partners or if it was just a result of the storyline itself, which is very possible. It does not mean that it is not a good book, but it was not what I have come to expect from the series.(less)

· see review

Aug 04, 2009

Hongbin added it · review of another edition

I got this book from used store near UTA because I was noticed by the front cover the author name, James Peterson. I had read Maximum Ride and really liked the way of his wording. That unintended choice brought me a new exciting of reading English books. I have gone through more than 150 pages of this book in just only one night with a lot of interesting.

This book was about a female detective Lindsay Boxer who shot 2 kids after a long way of chasing in self-defense. However, acciden...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jun 14, 2009

Don Voorhees rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: novels, read-since-may-2009

After losing one of its own, Lindsay Boxer and the Womens Murder Club make a courageous return for their fourth and most chilling case ever--one that could easily be their last. A young girl is killed in crossfire after a routine arrest goes terribly wrong, and Lt. Lindsay Boxer has to defend herself against a charge of police brutality. In a landmark trial that transfixes the nation, Lindsay fights to save her career and her sanity. While awaiting trial, Lindsay escapes to the beautiful town of...more

· see review

Apr 20, 2011

R. Faye rated it

· review of another edition

So let me just say, I had once picked up a James Patterson book....and was not all that impressed. It's not that his writing style isn't good, but it was a book out of a series of his which is more fantasy based. Which I'm not a big fan of reading. I had no idea that he wrote completely, entirely different kinds of series. If you like mysteries and female lead characters...this one will have you hooked.

Though this series like most is probably better read in order, between his writi...more

· see review

Aug 20, 2010

Bob rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: james-patterson

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like 2 likes

· see review

Jan 17, 2010

Holly Lee (Bellas Novella) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

This is by far my favorite of the series thus far. Lindsay Boxer finds her life thrown into a tailspin when her judgement as a cop is questioned.

The newly dubbed "Dirty Harriet" must fight a very public court case to save her position on the force as well as her reputation and her finances. To top everything off, her vacation spot at her sisters home is surrounded by families being murdered in a bizarre style that mimics a cold case she had come across over a decade previous....more

like 1 like

· see review

Nov 29, 2008

Duy Nguyen added it · review of another edition

· see review

Oct 07, 2011

Dyana rated it

· review of another edition

The first three books in the Women's Murder Club series was co-authored with Andrew Gross. The 2nd had bad dialogue and poor writing. The third was much much better. Now we have to start all over again as this book, the fourth, is co-authored with Maxine Paetro. The book is back to bad dialogue and mediocre writing. I hope her writing improves like her predecessor was achieving.

Once again this story centers around Lindsay Boxer, a lieutenant with the SFPD, who responds to a late-n...more

· see review

Sep 18, 2009

Jan rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: crime/mystery readers

Recommended to Jan by: Sally

A friend gave me the 5th book in this series and now I've caught up having read the first four books. Doing so, I'll probably take a break for awhile. Some of the storyline travels sequentially, but the books are easy to read out of sequence.

The setting is in San Fransisco Bay area, so it adds more interest for me as I live nearby and know the area well.

I like the short chapters, making it an easy-to-read bedtime or travel book. The author adds new main characters to eac...more

· see review

Apr 08, 2011

Elizabeth rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: people who like lite James Patterson

Shelves: library-shelf, books-read-in-2011

This was a very quick read because it was a very good book. It lives up to the name of page turner as both of the authors are known to write. I do recommend it to people who don't like reading the main series that James Patterson has because they're too gory or other reasons. Do start with 1st to Die because that starts the series and you'll get a look into who the characters are.

I will say that the books are easy to pick up again. It's been more than a year since I read 3rd Degree ...more

· see review

Dec 28, 2009

Cheryl Beran rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-patterson

Definitely a good read! Takes place in SF and Half Moon Bay. Two young punks/teens are out terrorizing the town - sister and her younger brother, who are from a wealthy family - so think spoiled rich kids with a drug problem and no morals. Lindsey Boxer, the main character gets shot by the girl after Lindsey pulls her from a wrecked Mercedes. Lindsey's partner pulls the boy out. As Jacobi is calling for an ambulance, the girl shoots Lindsey and her brother shoots Jacobi. Lindsey yells for th...more

· see review

Dec 09, 2011

Jenny Busby rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: american-setting, borrowed, series

I didn't like this book as much as I liked his other books in the series. As other reviewers mentioned, there seemed to be too much crammed into this book and not enough meaning into what was being done. The serial killers started out interesting but it doesn't even go into how they really got together to start killing in the first place except for the revenge of the person who started the murders years before when Lindsey was a rookie.

I also was disappointed at the end of the book...more

· see review

Mar 16, 2009

Susan rated it

· review of another edition

This is the best of the Women's Murder Club books that I have read to date. I loved the feel of the landscape in the San Francisco area. Patterson's descriptions make you almost smelling the salt air.

There is a great continuity in this one with the trial juxtaposed with the horrific series of murders in the sleepy Half Moon Bay area. Patterson must do a lot of research of the locale that he writes of. What I cannot believe is that Patterson is a man writing about the internal liv...more

· see review

Jan 15, 2010

Avigail rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: american-litrature, bookmooch, contemporary, crime, drama, favorite, fiction, light, litrature, mysteries-thrilers, series, suspense

A very good book, fast reading. This book continues the Ladies Murder Club. Patterson's characters are well developed and quite believable as well as likable. I look forward to his next foray with Lindsay Boxer a recommend to all mystery/detective fans.
4th of July, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is a very good book. It's a classic suspense novel with an extremely eerie vibe. This makes a hard book to put down.I enjoyed this book. Especially the two storylines, which go in parallel (t...more

· see review

Dec 19, 2009

Barbra rated it

· review of another edition

This is the 4th in the Women's Murder Club series. Good quick read and page-turner.

Back Cover Blurb:
In a late-night showdown, Lindsay has to make an instantaneous decision: in self-defence she fires her weapon - and sets off a chain of events that leaves a police force disgraced, a city divided and a family destroyed. Now everything she's worked for her entire life hinges on the decision of twelve jurors.
To escape the media circus, Lindsay retreats to the picturesque to...more

· see review

Aug 13, 2011

Lauren rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: rather-be-punched-in-the-face, read-in-2011

If this isn't the last James Patterson book I read, I invite you to punch me in the face.

I can't take these books seriously. There is no depth whatsoever to the characters, and after four books, I would expect to have more familiarity with them. Lindsay's romantic "relationships" are a joke. Dinner and sex does not = love and a lasting commitment.

The best thing that can be said about this book is that it reads very quickly and that you don't have to pause to look ...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Feb 01, 2012

Stefan rated it

· review of another edition

This is a typical James Patterson book, but nothing really special. As in most of his books, 4th of July is a good read. It held my attention throughout and I had trouble putting it down as usual. However this is not his strongest offering. I found some of the events in the book to be a little contrived in that so many things happen to be inter-related. I also was able to quickly figure out some of the major "twists" fairly early on, so I wasn't constantly trying to figure things out b...more

· see review

Nov 28, 2009

Heather rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, contemporary-fiction, library-book, united-states, mystery

Detective Lindsay Boxer is in for the fight of her life. A seemingly routine police chase ends up with her and her partner shot and two kids critically injured. She now must face the trial and hope that her actions don’t come back to haunt her. While waiting for her trial, Lindsay goes to visit her sister and gets caught up in a local case that sounds very similar to one she had worked on in the past.

I quickly got sucked into the court trial, looking at how different aspects could...more

· see review

Jun 24, 2009

Becky rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 999-challenge

I think that this is my least favorite one of the Murder Club so far. It was a good book, and the suspense was there as always, but I didn't like that Lindsey was on trial for actions during an investigation. I'm not getting into too much detail here to avoid spoiling it, but I did not think that it enhanced the story. I would have liked this book much better with a little more in the other plot instead of having split plots.

The one good thing that came out of Lindsey's trial is tha...more

· see review

May 25, 2009

Donna rated it

· review of another edition

Lindsey is pursuing a vehicle that has been linked to the scene of several murders of homeless adolescents. When the vehicle crashes, to adolescents are found sobbing in the front scene. Linsey and Jacobi holster their weapons to deliver aid. The adolescents once out of the vehicle, draw guns and shoot both Lindsey and Jacobi. Lindsey manages to draw her weapon, warn them to drop theirs, and then shoots them both when they countinue firing. The girl is killed and the boy is paralysed. The father...more

· see review

Sep 24, 2009

Tara Chevrestt rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

I am seeing a pattern now coming into the fourth novel of the Women's Murder Club series. Seems like homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer is always running into volatile situations with no back up or cell phone but still manages to save the day everytime. I also notice that in every single story, she thinks the case is closed and receives recommendation or awards only to discover there a few missing links yet and the missing link is of course, trying to kill her. However, I was still entertained. Cl...more

· see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 892 893 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (40)

More editions...

Genres

Mystery

289 users

Mystery > Crime

61 users

Thriller

56 users

Suspense

46 users

Mystery > Murder Mystery

39 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

39 users

Mystery > Detective

15 users

Adult

13 users

Action

10 users

Novels

9 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

About James Patterson

Offical US Site
Offical UK Site

The subject of a Time magazine feature called, "The Man Who Can't Miss," James Patterson is the bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 16 million books sold in North America alone. In 2007, one of every fifteen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. In the past three years, James has sold more books than ...more

More about James Patterson...

Books by James Patterson

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

Trivia About 4th of July

8 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Groups That Shelved 4th of July

Challenge: 50 Books

3937 members

last activity 4 minutes ago

shelf: read

Pick-a-Shelf

731 members

last activity 4 hours, 6 min ago

shelf: read

James Patterson Book Club

449 members

last activity Feb 07, 2012 11:24am

shelf: read

title link	preview: 4th of July
avg rating	preview: 4th of July Goodreads rating: 3.93 (19703 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2963772-4th-of-july?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255731184m/2963772.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2963772-4th-of-july?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]4th of July by James Patterson[/url]

4th of July (Women's Murder Club #4)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website