Three short stories for the price of one novel!
I certainly wouldn't go so far as to say THE 6TH TARGET reaches the level of a breath-taking, spine-chilling thriller! It definitely doesn't! But compared to some of the wretched dreck that the "James Patterson et al" publishing machine has been cranking out in mass quantity of late (The execrable YOU'VE BEEN WARNED comes to mind as a noteworthy example!), THE 6TH TARGET is quite enjoyable and makes for some fun diversionary, if unmemorable, lightweight reading. Of course, this would be especially true for continuing fans of The Women's Murder Club stories.
The plot, or perhaps I should more accurately say, the plots are far from deep. In fact, THE 6TH TARGET is comprised of three short and only moderately intertwined sub-plots each of which might have enough oomph to be turned into a lengthy stand-alone short story or novella.
The first is the story of the apprehension and trial of Fred Brinkley who, under the beguiling orders of the threatening voices he hears in his head, fires six shots at the passengers of a landing ferry, killing four and seriously wounding medical examiner, Claire Washburn. Prosecuting attorney, Yuki Castellano, fellow member of the WMC, is going to do her best to cut him off at the knees and deprive him of the obvious insanity defense.
In the second tale, we see Lindsay Boxer on the trail of a serial kidnapper who targets nannies and children together. But the nannies end up dead and the children simply disappear without a trace. A workmanlike and interesting police procedural sub-plot which involves the white slave trade and the particularly obscene perversion of sexual trafficking in children.
The final, and least interesting tale of the trio, focuses on animal cruelty that escalates to murder but strictly within the confines of the apartment in which the final member of the WMC, reporter Cindy Thomas, hangs her hat at night.
Six workmanlike successes in a row in a series that continues strongly! I'm surprised to say that I'm looking forward to the opportunity to read the next one in the series, 7TH HEAVEN.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss