What do you think?
Rate this book
Women's Murder Club #20
20th Victim
Three victims, three bullets, three cities. The shooters' aim is as fearsomely precise as their target selection. When Lindsay realizes that the fallen men and women excel in a lucrative, criminal activity, she leads the charge in the manhunt for the killers. As the casualty list expands, fear and fascination with this suspicious shooting gallery galvanizes the country.
The victims were no angels, but are the shooters villains . . . or heroes?
The victims were no angels, but are the shooters villains . . . or heroes?
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2020
12205 people are currently reading
27019 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
950 books356k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,934 reviews
May 24, 2020
Why do I do this to myself?
I said the last one (19) was the last and then I found myself out of actual books due to library closures. The 20th Victim became available via my library's audiobook collection...all I can say is thank goodness I never paid for the book.
The Woman's Murder Club at least features all four female characters this time, but the same old, same old everything. It read more like a set of four stories cobbled together to make one with no exciting crime (or at least nothing interesting). The events unfold predictably and the conclusion is bland. And yes, there are 20 victims.
The audiobook had me hating Cindy, which even though she has always been a pushy journalist she hasn't annoyed to the extent I felt in this book, maybe it was just the voice/tone of the narrator. Yuki wasn't far behind.
On the upside, the ending read like a conclusion to the series...one can live in hope.
I said the last one (19) was the last and then I found myself out of actual books due to library closures. The 20th Victim became available via my library's audiobook collection...all I can say is thank goodness I never paid for the book.
The Woman's Murder Club at least features all four female characters this time, but the same old, same old everything. It read more like a set of four stories cobbled together to make one with no exciting crime (or at least nothing interesting). The events unfold predictably and the conclusion is bland. And yes, there are 20 victims.
The audiobook had me hating Cindy, which even though she has always been a pushy journalist she hasn't annoyed to the extent I felt in this book, maybe it was just the voice/tone of the narrator. Yuki wasn't far behind.
On the upside, the ending read like a conclusion to the series...one can live in hope.
April 14, 2021
Not exactly what I expect when I pick up a James Patterson book. This story felt...forced. The separate "case" that Sargent Boxer's husband was on seemed superfluous and somewhat distrtacitng.
March 12, 2020
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro are back with another instalment of the Women’s Murder Club, keeping fans entertained throughout with their insightful plots and character development. San Francisco is buzzing with an odd series of sniper murders, which forces Sergeant Lindsay Boxer to take notice. What’s worse is that these sniper killings seem to be happening all over the country, timed to occur simultaneously. While Boxer and the SFPD work to track down a killer or at least a motive, Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas is contacted anonymously by someone with information about the crimes and predicts some of the future attacks. While she runs down her own story, Boxer seeks to better understand the victims, soon learning that they are all small-time (and somewhat secretive) drug dealers in their own right. Boxer’s husband, Joe, has his own plate overfilling when a best friend has some information about a local doctor that could have large implications. While all this is taking place, one of the cornerstone members of the Club receives horrible news that could derail her and cause the four central members to fall apart. With a killer communicating through an interesting fashion and calling soldiers to arms, Boxer and her team will have to work quickly to shut it down before the blood keeps flowing. A well-crafted piece that will have readers eager to race through to the end, where truth is apparent. Recommended to series fans, as well as those who need a lighter crime thriller.
I have often struggled with Patterson’s work, as many will know. I find that too often he sees to churn things out too quickly, leaving his collaborators to suffer my wrath as well. After a less than stellar 19th novel (many felt the same), these two have been able to redeem themselves and put on a wonderful instalment of the Women’s Murder Club. The stories were well developed and kept the reader’s attention, which makes the book flow all the better. Countless sub-plots keep the reader entertained, even when there was little movement on the main murder theme. Patterson and Paetro use some of the backstories of these core characters to their advantage, allowing for a little growth or at least some advancement in ongoing plots, without bogging things down too much. I would love to see something truly earth shattering that would force the group to rethink their place and how the Club works, though I am not sure if the authors are ready to pull out such a major event quiet yet. With short chapters and a story that has no time to catch its breath, this book serves as a treat for those who are dedicated to the series, as well as potentially making new fans want to go back and piece this complex web together for themselves. I cannot wait to see what else is on the horizon for this series, and yet would love to see Patterson meld his three great series (Boxer-Cross-Bennett) into a well-timed crossover. That may be too Herculean an effort, but I am hoping.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam Paetro, for a great piece that adds to this series that has been part of my reading experience for many years.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I have often struggled with Patterson’s work, as many will know. I find that too often he sees to churn things out too quickly, leaving his collaborators to suffer my wrath as well. After a less than stellar 19th novel (many felt the same), these two have been able to redeem themselves and put on a wonderful instalment of the Women’s Murder Club. The stories were well developed and kept the reader’s attention, which makes the book flow all the better. Countless sub-plots keep the reader entertained, even when there was little movement on the main murder theme. Patterson and Paetro use some of the backstories of these core characters to their advantage, allowing for a little growth or at least some advancement in ongoing plots, without bogging things down too much. I would love to see something truly earth shattering that would force the group to rethink their place and how the Club works, though I am not sure if the authors are ready to pull out such a major event quiet yet. With short chapters and a story that has no time to catch its breath, this book serves as a treat for those who are dedicated to the series, as well as potentially making new fans want to go back and piece this complex web together for themselves. I cannot wait to see what else is on the horizon for this series, and yet would love to see Patterson meld his three great series (Boxer-Cross-Bennett) into a well-timed crossover. That may be too Herculean an effort, but I am hoping.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam Paetro, for a great piece that adds to this series that has been part of my reading experience for many years.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 5, 2020
20th Victim is the twentieth instalment in the Women's Murder Club series and is a fast-paced, pulse-pounding treat of a thriller from beginning to denouement. Each of these riveting instalments can be read as a standalone without any issues whatsoever but this is a series you will end up addicted to like many readers. There is a madman on the loose and police officer Lindsay Boxer is the one who has to investigate. The shooters’ aim is as fearsomely precise as their target selection so it is clear he knows what he's doing and may be ex-military. The killer decides to contact local reporter Cindy who then becomes completely embroiled in the whole situation. The women face the most intense, high-octane confrontation of their lives and their toughest challenge to date. Can they identify and catch this serial killer before he strikes again and another ”innocent” life is lost.
There's a reason why James Patterson's books are so popular and successful; they are accessible to all and offer high drama, fast pacy plots, engaging characters, twists and turns, and are fiendishly good fun. The plot is easy to follow and the ideal entertainment for crime connoisseurs. You simply know what you're getting before you even touch it. This one is no exception and despite it being the twentieth book the series shows no signs of flagging or losing steam. The short, snappy chapters are his trademark and work superbly to allow for that ”just one more” mentality to take root. One thing you can count on going into a JP books is that you're guaranteed a taut, well-told, riveting, twisty tale and a rollicking good read.
I don't know how he does it but he constantly blindsides you with new twists, turns and red herrings and something notable happens in every single chapter making it a cracking read that easily takes over your mind and has you feverishly flipping the pages. His books don't exactly score highly on the scale of believability but if you can just let it go then you are treated to a raucously good read. It's compulsive and I must admit reading right through the night as all of the hints had me desperate to find out what actually happened. His casual writing style and short, snappy chapters are second to none and he knows how to get you hook, line and sinker within a few pages. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Century for an ARC.
There's a reason why James Patterson's books are so popular and successful; they are accessible to all and offer high drama, fast pacy plots, engaging characters, twists and turns, and are fiendishly good fun. The plot is easy to follow and the ideal entertainment for crime connoisseurs. You simply know what you're getting before you even touch it. This one is no exception and despite it being the twentieth book the series shows no signs of flagging or losing steam. The short, snappy chapters are his trademark and work superbly to allow for that ”just one more” mentality to take root. One thing you can count on going into a JP books is that you're guaranteed a taut, well-told, riveting, twisty tale and a rollicking good read.
I don't know how he does it but he constantly blindsides you with new twists, turns and red herrings and something notable happens in every single chapter making it a cracking read that easily takes over your mind and has you feverishly flipping the pages. His books don't exactly score highly on the scale of believability but if you can just let it go then you are treated to a raucously good read. It's compulsive and I must admit reading right through the night as all of the hints had me desperate to find out what actually happened. His casual writing style and short, snappy chapters are second to none and he knows how to get you hook, line and sinker within a few pages. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Century for an ARC.
March 20, 2020
Patterson rarely disappoints me. I do love the Murder Club and hope this series never ends. Another twisty ride for all the ladies and I loved it
August 21, 2020
Picked this up by mistake. Repetitive and predictable. 2 of 10 stars
March 16, 2020
One of the most disjointed WMC books. It was like reading 3 or 4 poorly written books all at once. Plot so thin that to meet requirement of number of pages, every time the narrative runs thin, there are a few more murders. They could have added 20 more bodies and made a 1000 page book and not been any more boring that what it is now.
October 23, 2024
On a detective’s investigation: “Got a whole lot of parts on the floor of the shop, but can’t make a car”!
I’ve said it before in other WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB reviews but nothing has changed. In short a formulaic review works just fine for a formulaic series. That said, the series is thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining. In fact, for my money, it’s the best that James Patterson and his writing machine team have ever produced.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet THE WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB - Lindsay Boxer, police sergeant and homicide detective; Yuki Castellano, prosecutor and assistant district attorney; Claire Washburn, medical examiner and forensic scientist; Cindy Thomas, writer and investigative journalist. Their novels are as predictably formulaic as the proverbial Hallmark movie but that formula (as of the writing of THE 20TH VICTIM) is working like a well-oiled high speed machine so don’t expect authors Paetro and Patterson to be breaking the pattern any time soon.
Think of a WMC novel as a mash-up of two or three novellas or short stories, each involving one of the WMC ladies as a lead protagonist – a murder, trial or legal issue, medical drama, rape, breaking news story, kidnapping, bombing, arson, social issue … you get the idea. The stories weave in and out of one another in real time to produce a single larger novel but the interaction between stories is typically minor, incidental, or coincidental.
Sprinkle in a generous helping of personal issues interrupting the ladies’ professional lives – marital difficulties; flagging sex lives; questions of professional integrity or self esteem; pregnancy; professional discord in their employment; divorce or separation; commitment; changing personal objectives; morality; illness … once again, all pretty predictable stuff!
Last but not least, toss in at least one or two coffee klatch, dinner and drinks, or purely pub meetings over booze during which the ladies meet and discuss their issues and brainstorm potential ideas and solutions with one another.
In a pretty real sense, if you’ve read one WMC novel, you’ve read them all but, darn it, they’re entertaining as hell, they manage to be quite gripping, and THE 20TH VICTIM is no exception to this astonishing string of successes. The story lines in this one? First, vigilante assassins, presumably from a military background with exquisite long-range sniping skills (and, it must be said, with more than a little public applause), team together to take down top dogs in the illegal drug market. Second, in a quasi-medical thriller, Joe Molinari lends a hand to his best friend who is certain that a doctor murdered his father. Third, Yuki Castellano deals with the moral and ethical difficulties of prosecuting a slam-dunk felony case against a young man who is clearly guilty but seems to have been innocently set up by circumstances. And, finally, in a fourth case, Medical Examiner Claire Washburn deals with the devastating fallout of a diagnosis of cancer.
Up next, 21ST BIRTHDAY.
Paul Weiss
I’ve said it before in other WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB reviews but nothing has changed. In short a formulaic review works just fine for a formulaic series. That said, the series is thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining. In fact, for my money, it’s the best that James Patterson and his writing machine team have ever produced.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet THE WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB - Lindsay Boxer, police sergeant and homicide detective; Yuki Castellano, prosecutor and assistant district attorney; Claire Washburn, medical examiner and forensic scientist; Cindy Thomas, writer and investigative journalist. Their novels are as predictably formulaic as the proverbial Hallmark movie but that formula (as of the writing of THE 20TH VICTIM) is working like a well-oiled high speed machine so don’t expect authors Paetro and Patterson to be breaking the pattern any time soon.
Think of a WMC novel as a mash-up of two or three novellas or short stories, each involving one of the WMC ladies as a lead protagonist – a murder, trial or legal issue, medical drama, rape, breaking news story, kidnapping, bombing, arson, social issue … you get the idea. The stories weave in and out of one another in real time to produce a single larger novel but the interaction between stories is typically minor, incidental, or coincidental.
Sprinkle in a generous helping of personal issues interrupting the ladies’ professional lives – marital difficulties; flagging sex lives; questions of professional integrity or self esteem; pregnancy; professional discord in their employment; divorce or separation; commitment; changing personal objectives; morality; illness … once again, all pretty predictable stuff!
Last but not least, toss in at least one or two coffee klatch, dinner and drinks, or purely pub meetings over booze during which the ladies meet and discuss their issues and brainstorm potential ideas and solutions with one another.
In a pretty real sense, if you’ve read one WMC novel, you’ve read them all but, darn it, they’re entertaining as hell, they manage to be quite gripping, and THE 20TH VICTIM is no exception to this astonishing string of successes. The story lines in this one? First, vigilante assassins, presumably from a military background with exquisite long-range sniping skills (and, it must be said, with more than a little public applause), team together to take down top dogs in the illegal drug market. Second, in a quasi-medical thriller, Joe Molinari lends a hand to his best friend who is certain that a doctor murdered his father. Third, Yuki Castellano deals with the moral and ethical difficulties of prosecuting a slam-dunk felony case against a young man who is clearly guilty but seems to have been innocently set up by circumstances. And, finally, in a fourth case, Medical Examiner Claire Washburn deals with the devastating fallout of a diagnosis of cancer.
Up next, 21ST BIRTHDAY.
Paul Weiss
July 8, 2020
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three victims, three bullets, three cities. That’s how it starts out anyway!
The victims aren’t the most upstanding members of society, but are the shooters just as bad? Some say no...these victims are getting what they deserve!
I really love this series and always look forward to the next one. They are mostly hit or miss as of late, but I still really enjoy the series. I miss the early books!
I took away some stars because there were way too many irrelevant subplots in this book. It was kinda all over the place! There were also a couple of questionable actions that had me scratching my head and asking myself “why”? Last but not least, Cindy is getting increasingly annoying with each new book. She reminds me of a whiny, pushy teenager. If the Women’s Murder Club series were to do away with her, I wouldn’t be disappointed!
Three victims, three bullets, three cities. That’s how it starts out anyway!
The victims aren’t the most upstanding members of society, but are the shooters just as bad? Some say no...these victims are getting what they deserve!
I really love this series and always look forward to the next one. They are mostly hit or miss as of late, but I still really enjoy the series. I miss the early books!
I took away some stars because there were way too many irrelevant subplots in this book. It was kinda all over the place! There were also a couple of questionable actions that had me scratching my head and asking myself “why”? Last but not least, Cindy is getting increasingly annoying with each new book. She reminds me of a whiny, pushy teenager. If the Women’s Murder Club series were to do away with her, I wouldn’t be disappointed!
February 15, 2021
People were being killed – a single gunshot was all that was needed. A sniper? When investigated, the victims were all drug dealers. Was it a vigilante group operating in their own ‘war on drugs’?
Sergeant Lindsay Boxer and partner Rich Conklin worked each case – they combined with other forces when killings occurred in other states. Would they find the killer or killers?
20th Victim is the 20th in the Women’s Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro and I enjoyed it once again. Plenty of action in this one, with all four of the Murder Club involved in some way. With Lindsay’s Joe off helping an old friend, he wasn’t around as much as Lindsay liked. But we kept up with what he was doing. I enjoy this series – a comfortable, easy read – and am looking forward to #21 in the near future. Recommended.
Sergeant Lindsay Boxer and partner Rich Conklin worked each case – they combined with other forces when killings occurred in other states. Would they find the killer or killers?
20th Victim is the 20th in the Women’s Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro and I enjoyed it once again. Plenty of action in this one, with all four of the Murder Club involved in some way. With Lindsay’s Joe off helping an old friend, he wasn’t around as much as Lindsay liked. But we kept up with what he was doing. I enjoy this series – a comfortable, easy read – and am looking forward to #21 in the near future. Recommended.
March 14, 2020
I find James Patterson very hit and miss. His earlier stuff was great but sometimes the more recent work feels phones in. I'm struggling to categorise this one. I liked the story, it's an interesting premise but the details of the Women's Murder Club did little for me. I've not read that many of this series so I was hoping for hooks to make me want to know more about the women to read the rest. There's also hardly anything about the killers and while I understand the reasons for the kills it is simply a throwaway line. Normally I love being able to add authors to my ever growing TBR pile but I think I'm at the point now where I'm taking this one off it.
June 12, 2020
Thank You to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this free ebook!!
When three murders in three different cities happen at the same time Sergeant Lindsay Boxer of SFPD takes the lead in trying to identify the shooters. As the casualty list expands, fear and fascination with this shocking spree provoke debate across the country.
James Patterson is one of my favourite authors and The Women's Murder Club is a series that I enjoy reading. In this installment of the series, the plot is good and the leading ladies are amazing as always but I felt something was missing.
Overall 20th Victim is a good read but the earlier books are slightly better so it didn't excite me much.
When three murders in three different cities happen at the same time Sergeant Lindsay Boxer of SFPD takes the lead in trying to identify the shooters. As the casualty list expands, fear and fascination with this shocking spree provoke debate across the country.
James Patterson is one of my favourite authors and The Women's Murder Club is a series that I enjoy reading. In this installment of the series, the plot is good and the leading ladies are amazing as always but I felt something was missing.
Overall 20th Victim is a good read but the earlier books are slightly better so it didn't excite me much.
March 31, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel it was one of the better ones in this series. I should add that I have read them all so was very excited to get this one prior to being published as an e-arc. Thankyou Netgalley and publishers.
Great storyline, and thoroughly enjoyed it but I do have one or two little niggles this time. The main character seemed to leave her little daughter at home alone a few times. Not sure if this was done on purpose by the author, but there were at least two occasions when the neighbour Mrs Rose who usually helps with babysitting wasn't there and Lindsay gave daughter her a kiss and went out for a run while she was asleep or went for a walk. What would have happened if she woke up? Her husband wasn't at home. Not sure this is the right thing to be advertising or doing personally, particularly in the city she lives with all these murders going on.!!
Additionally Cindy, the crime reporter who works for the paper, seemed to be very attached to her police radio scanner. Since when? I don't recall any mention of this in any previous book, but the authors couldn't stop talking about it in this one and seemed to never leave her side.
Sorry for my issues but you wanted an honest review.
Great storyline, and thoroughly enjoyed it but I do have one or two little niggles this time. The main character seemed to leave her little daughter at home alone a few times. Not sure if this was done on purpose by the author, but there were at least two occasions when the neighbour Mrs Rose who usually helps with babysitting wasn't there and Lindsay gave daughter her a kiss and went out for a run while she was asleep or went for a walk. What would have happened if she woke up? Her husband wasn't at home. Not sure this is the right thing to be advertising or doing personally, particularly in the city she lives with all these murders going on.!!
Additionally Cindy, the crime reporter who works for the paper, seemed to be very attached to her police radio scanner. Since when? I don't recall any mention of this in any previous book, but the authors couldn't stop talking about it in this one and seemed to never leave her side.
Sorry for my issues but you wanted an honest review.
May 11, 2020
20th Victim is slightly better than 19. There are gathering of the women at their local joint. The other positive is that all four ladies have their story in this one, some better than others. Overall, the series hasn't been as good as it used to.
October 11, 2021
Last couple books of this Women's Murder club series were little boring to me. But I enjoyed this #20. Each characters Lindsay, Cindy, Yuki, Clair and Joe has their own case they need to solve. Each case are interesting. Good balance of 5 cases built this book.
April 23, 2020
I was sadly underwhelmed by this book. At about 20% in I nearly gave up but I did finish it because the storyline was very good. I just didn't like the execution. It felt a bit disjointed at times. Some lines were repeated and it jumped around too much.
I think the story had a lot of potential it just needed better execution.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I think the story had a lot of potential it just needed better execution.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 6, 2020
I read this book for the 2020 PopSugar challenge. It was quick and fun. As per usual the women's murder series is fast paced with lots of action and girl woman power. It was the perfect palate cleanser between finals.
October 3, 2020
So, as many of you know, I’m a huge fan of this series. This was not my favorite but was still amazing in the fabtastic Patterson fashion that I’ve come to know and love. The ending left you knowing we’re gonna have a #21.❤️ I giggled to myself as I pondered the short yet sweet title for #21.🤣🤷♀️💯4.1 stars
August 20, 2024
20th Victim is book 20 in the Women's Murder Club series and threw us back into their world with two major cases ( one legal one vigilante serial killers) and a side case involving Joe (Lindsays husband) as he digs into another case involving his friend and a possible medical serial killer. Amongst these cases, we see personal and professional challenges unfold as Claire has a life changing secret to share, and Cindy deals with a male 'problem' at work. I really liked how Cindy was supported as a female in her working environment without question and how the women grouped together both professionally and personally through different scenes and events in the book. I do feel that Claire will be leaving the series going off the vibes of the last few books in the series and am unsure if this would be a positive or negative change.
May 13, 2020
The main story involves systematic killings of seemingly unconnected people in different professions, in different cities; however, Lindsay Boxer and the SFPD are quickly able to determine that all of the victims are drug dealers, and much like Death Wish, the public starts rooting for the killer or killers. Meanwhile, Yuki is prosecuting a drug dealer's wheelman as an accomplice in a cop killing because he is too scared to identify the drug dealer who pulled the trigger. Crime reporter Cindy, of course, is working on the drug dealer killings, while battling a new male colleague, who wants her position at the SF Chronicle. Chief Medical Examiner Claire continues to be almost absent from the WMC series, except for her own troubles, and Joe Molinari has his own subplot in this book, involving a close friend, who thinks his father was murdered by his doctor while in the hospital. The main story was better than average, but there were too many stories in process, leading to a disjointed novel.
May 17, 2020
2...Yep, I can honestly say these novels have went downhill for me! This book was filled with nothing but news headlines and drama you knew would end up just fine...therefore it's overdone! And what happened to the days when the Women's Mirder Club sat together and SOLVED a crime TOGETHER?? Yeesh!!!
January 11, 2021
I get excited when a new addition to the Women's Murder Club is released. James Patterson and Maxine Paetro are agreat team. While this wasn't my favorite, there are still the signiture twists and great dialog with the ladies. This one does take a serious turn for one of the women. Another great read that I raced through!
September 6, 2025
Entertaining.
January 10, 2021
2*
7/80. Not a bad book, as such, it’s just very much a case of same-old-same-old for me. I think it’s time to accept that I’ve finally had my fill of the Women’s Murder Club in the same way I’ve had to accept I’ve had my fill of Alex Cross 😔
7/80. Not a bad book, as such, it’s just very much a case of same-old-same-old for me. I think it’s time to accept that I’ve finally had my fill of the Women’s Murder Club in the same way I’ve had to accept I’ve had my fill of Alex Cross 😔
May 2, 2020
I got what I wanted from this book. They turned it back a bit into what it was from the start. The woman’s murder club. Sad for Clare it it bought something different to the story. It was a good story this time and made more
Sense.
Sense.
August 19, 2020
Hold on tight it’s a breathless roller coaster ride of a book.
SUMMARY
Sergeant Lindsey Boxer catches the lead in the case of a lifetime. Mysterious murders are piling up in a San Francisco, L.A. and Chicago. All victims executed with uncanny precision and all seemingly linked to drug dealing. It’s can’t possible be one person responsible for all the murders at the same time so what is happening here?
San Francisco chronically crime reporter Cindy Thomas is diligently listening to her police scanner when the scanner screams with news of the murders. She is quickly on the scene and looks to Lindsey with help for her story. Lindsey’s inability to help her friend causes a major rift in their friendship The other two members of the Women Murder Club Yuki Castellano and Claire Washburn are fighting life and death battles all their own.
At the same time, Lindsay’s husband Joe Molinari is called to investigate the death of his best friend Dave’s elderly father. Joe has a hard time believing that there was any foul play in the old man’s death, after all Dave father was in the hospital for a bad heart. Perhaps his friend and college roommate is just overcome by the grief of loosing his father. Or perhaps not.
“Cindy was an investigative journalist, top dog on the crime beat. Her assistance was definitely not requested, but she was responding anyway. Tips don’t get any hotter than ones that came right off the scanner. “
REVIEW
Hold on tight when you open this book. The 20th victim is a breathless rollercoaster of a ride. As the number of bodies pile up, the multiple story lines evolve faster and faster. You won’t be able to stop reading this dizzying carousel of a plot.
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s writing is taut, clever and satisfying. Thanks to the short chapters it’s a fast and furious read. The Women’s Murder Club characters are all delightfully unique and are strong female characters capable of carrying their own weight in the story. I never tire of reading about the drive and determination of these smart and fiery women. Keep them coming!
Of course January LaVoy does a fabulous job with narration on the audio book!
“That was another thing. McGowan was pushy. OK, the same had been said of her. But in Cindy’s opinion, McSmarty was no team player and would love to shove her under a speeding bus and snatch the top spot. Or maybe he’s just stick around, like gum under her shoe, and simply annoy her to death. ”
Publisher Little, Brown & Company
Published May 4, 2020
Narrated January LaVoy
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
Sergeant Lindsey Boxer catches the lead in the case of a lifetime. Mysterious murders are piling up in a San Francisco, L.A. and Chicago. All victims executed with uncanny precision and all seemingly linked to drug dealing. It’s can’t possible be one person responsible for all the murders at the same time so what is happening here?
San Francisco chronically crime reporter Cindy Thomas is diligently listening to her police scanner when the scanner screams with news of the murders. She is quickly on the scene and looks to Lindsey with help for her story. Lindsey’s inability to help her friend causes a major rift in their friendship The other two members of the Women Murder Club Yuki Castellano and Claire Washburn are fighting life and death battles all their own.
At the same time, Lindsay’s husband Joe Molinari is called to investigate the death of his best friend Dave’s elderly father. Joe has a hard time believing that there was any foul play in the old man’s death, after all Dave father was in the hospital for a bad heart. Perhaps his friend and college roommate is just overcome by the grief of loosing his father. Or perhaps not.
“Cindy was an investigative journalist, top dog on the crime beat. Her assistance was definitely not requested, but she was responding anyway. Tips don’t get any hotter than ones that came right off the scanner. “
REVIEW
Hold on tight when you open this book. The 20th victim is a breathless rollercoaster of a ride. As the number of bodies pile up, the multiple story lines evolve faster and faster. You won’t be able to stop reading this dizzying carousel of a plot.
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s writing is taut, clever and satisfying. Thanks to the short chapters it’s a fast and furious read. The Women’s Murder Club characters are all delightfully unique and are strong female characters capable of carrying their own weight in the story. I never tire of reading about the drive and determination of these smart and fiery women. Keep them coming!
Of course January LaVoy does a fabulous job with narration on the audio book!
“That was another thing. McGowan was pushy. OK, the same had been said of her. But in Cindy’s opinion, McSmarty was no team player and would love to shove her under a speeding bus and snatch the top spot. Or maybe he’s just stick around, like gum under her shoe, and simply annoy her to death. ”
Publisher Little, Brown & Company
Published May 4, 2020
Narrated January LaVoy
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
June 17, 2020
Getting fast food turns out to be fatal for one man who is taken out by a sniper as he is leaving the drive through on morning. His wife in the seat next to him is left physically unharmed. It’s a perfect sniper shot. While Lindsay gets the case as part of her job as a San Francisco homicide detective, reporter Cindy gets a key clue. Someone wrote “Rehearsal” in the dust of the car’s back window. The question is, rehearsal for what? Meanwhile, Claire has some scary news of her own to deal with, and Yuki has to prosecute the case of a teenage getaway driver who won’t flip on the real criminals. Even Lindsay’s husband, Joe, has a case of his own when his college roommate thinks his father was murdered.
The book has one plot too many (and a repetitive one at that), and it would have been better served to eliminate that plot since the climax was rushed on all the stories but especially the main one. Still, the multiple stories kept thing moving as always, and I had a hard time putting the book down when I sat down to read. The characters are just developed enough for us to care, but could use more depth. This is a common issue with the series, and those who have kept up with the books know the characters well enough to care for them. In other words, this is a typical James Patterson thriller. If you are a fan, you’ll enjoy this one, too.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book has one plot too many (and a repetitive one at that), and it would have been better served to eliminate that plot since the climax was rushed on all the stories but especially the main one. Still, the multiple stories kept thing moving as always, and I had a hard time putting the book down when I sat down to read. The characters are just developed enough for us to care, but could use more depth. This is a common issue with the series, and those who have kept up with the books know the characters well enough to care for them. In other words, this is a typical James Patterson thriller. If you are a fan, you’ll enjoy this one, too.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 8, 2021
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Filed Under: They’re Still Writing More of These, FFS
I mean, what can I say? Y’all should know how I feel about this series by now. It’s just the most mediocre crime fiction meets soap opera ever. It reads like Patterson and Paetro aren’t even trying anymore. But, I guess why would you when you can just phone it in and make lots of money? Someone find me a job posting for a similar career and I’ll shut the fuck up about it.
The 20th Victim is the same old, same old that you get from the WMC. The four main women are moving closer and closer to just becoming Lifetime movie characters. The personal drama and multiple subplots are overdone and sometimes silly. It’s basically four separate stories, four separate lives, smashed together to create 300+ pages. That’s usually fine with me as long as the central crime is super intriguing, but I wasn’t too wrapped up in this one so this novel is really one of the most disjointed instalments in the series.
Three victims, three different cities, but the same killer and only Lindsay can figure it out, because of course.
Really, if Patterson and Paetro can’t find a way to inject new life into this series, it’s probably time to call Time of Death.
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded up
Filed Under: They’re Still Writing More of These, FFS
I mean, what can I say? Y’all should know how I feel about this series by now. It’s just the most mediocre crime fiction meets soap opera ever. It reads like Patterson and Paetro aren’t even trying anymore. But, I guess why would you when you can just phone it in and make lots of money? Someone find me a job posting for a similar career and I’ll shut the fuck up about it.
The 20th Victim is the same old, same old that you get from the WMC. The four main women are moving closer and closer to just becoming Lifetime movie characters. The personal drama and multiple subplots are overdone and sometimes silly. It’s basically four separate stories, four separate lives, smashed together to create 300+ pages. That’s usually fine with me as long as the central crime is super intriguing, but I wasn’t too wrapped up in this one so this novel is really one of the most disjointed instalments in the series.
Three victims, three different cities, but the same killer and only Lindsay can figure it out, because of course.
Really, if Patterson and Paetro can’t find a way to inject new life into this series, it’s probably time to call Time of Death.
The vibe for this one:
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded up
March 24, 2021
Coordinated Sniper Kills with military precision across four cities. All victims with a dubious record and every kill comes with a message as if someone is cleaning up society. SFPD Detective Lindsay Boxer has to get to the bottom of it all before more people are killed. The Women's Murder Club is involved in their own way to solve this spree of killings....
Please click on the link here https://rb.gy/mfnedn to read the detailed review. Like, Comment or Share 🚩🙏
#womensmurderclub #jamespatterson #maxinepaetro #policethriller #crime #thrillernovel
Please click on the link here https://rb.gy/mfnedn to read the detailed review. Like, Comment or Share 🚩🙏
#womensmurderclub #jamespatterson #maxinepaetro #policethriller #crime #thrillernovel
May 5, 2020
So....I love the women's murder club stories but this was not one of his best. Lindsay on target, Yuki a little whiny, Claire stoic as always but Cindy needs to go. She is not an equal partner in this series any more. One would think she was merely posing as a friend and a girl friend to get her scoop. Maybe just this particular story was irritating. As some of the other reviews I have read....he seems to be phoning it in. Please bring back the four gals who would do anything for each other.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,934 reviews