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Women's Murder Club #22
22 Seconds
22 seconds... until Lindsay Boxer loses her badge—or her life.
SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind.
There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home.
Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies:
You talk, you die.
Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose.
SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind.
There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home.
Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies:
You talk, you die.
Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose.
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2022
4857 people are currently reading
12188 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
955 books355k 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,834 reviews
July 20, 2022
What's going on with my favorite JP and Maxine Paetro series?
Set mostly in San Francisco Bay Area, 22 Seconds main story revolves around stricter laws on military-style guns that cause protests, guns & drugs smuggling. A few ex-cops are found dead in what looks like suicides. Lindsay, SF Det. and her family was stalked and threatened. Other side plots include Claire, SF chief medical examiner, and a dead child. Cindy, a crime reporter works on her True Crime book. Yuki, a prosecutor is lacking behind with almost no story.
This installment is mostly Lindsay and her husband Joe's story and not enough WOMAN'S Murder Club. I like it better when he's with DHS and they were dating. Cindy's character is really uninteresting and annoying (I guess nothing has changed). The only case I liked was Claire's heartwrenching plotline and I decided to give the book 3 stars because of it.
Set mostly in San Francisco Bay Area, 22 Seconds main story revolves around stricter laws on military-style guns that cause protests, guns & drugs smuggling. A few ex-cops are found dead in what looks like suicides. Lindsay, SF Det. and her family was stalked and threatened. Other side plots include Claire, SF chief medical examiner, and a dead child. Cindy, a crime reporter works on her True Crime book. Yuki, a prosecutor is lacking behind with almost no story.
This installment is mostly Lindsay and her husband Joe's story and not enough WOMAN'S Murder Club. I like it better when he's with DHS and they were dating. Cindy's character is really uninteresting and annoying (I guess nothing has changed). The only case I liked was Claire's heartwrenching plotline and I decided to give the book 3 stars because of it.
July 10, 2022
In all honesty this is not going to be a proper review of this book. Actually this book probably deserves two stars. Why the five star rating then?
The reason for it and why I read this book is for my mother. I lost her right before the holidays last year. She was the first person to introduce me into reading for pleasure. I remember her giving me my first Agatha Christie book and Coma by Robin Cook as a young child. My fondest memories of her are talking about books that we were both reading at the same time. While my passion for reading grew hers waned. This was the only series she continued to read. I gave up on this author awhile ago. When I saw this book I picked it up for her. While reading it I had no problem imagining me talking to her and her critiquing what she liked and what she did not. That is why I am giving this five stars. This book allowed me to spend more time with my missed mother.
As you can see this review isn't a proper review. This book means something to me because of the symbol of the book and not the actual story.
The reason for it and why I read this book is for my mother. I lost her right before the holidays last year. She was the first person to introduce me into reading for pleasure. I remember her giving me my first Agatha Christie book and Coma by Robin Cook as a young child. My fondest memories of her are talking about books that we were both reading at the same time. While my passion for reading grew hers waned. This was the only series she continued to read. I gave up on this author awhile ago. When I saw this book I picked it up for her. While reading it I had no problem imagining me talking to her and her critiquing what she liked and what she did not. That is why I am giving this five stars. This book allowed me to spend more time with my missed mother.
As you can see this review isn't a proper review. This book means something to me because of the symbol of the book and not the actual story.
May 13, 2022
I have always enjoyed the Women's Murder Club series, but this one ... WHAT HAPPENED? Did another author come in and ghost write for Maxine Pietro? The writing was amateurish at best. The plot was incomplete and scattered. The characters were barely given a mention ... except of course for Lindsay and Joe and Cindy and Rich. Cindy still remains the most annoying of the characters. AND ... the kicker ... the book advertises that Boxer may lose her badge or her life ... Really??? Was I reading the same book? Because that is the biggest click-baitiest title that I've ever seen! Two very big thumbs down for this one. I usually read these books in one afternoon and this one took me SEVERAL days to slog through.
February 25, 2022
I don’t even bother reading the synopsis for James Patterson books anymore, it is bound to be a fast paced and addictive read. And The Women’s Murder Club is a guaranteed winner for me. 22 books in and they still manage to thrill me right until the very last page.
Lindsay and Joe get the chance to work together in this instalment, to intercept an illegal gun shipment from south of the border. The body count is high and a Lindsay finds herself a target. Meanwhile Cindy is struggling to write her book and. Lairs gets a call to help out with a heartbreaking case. All in a days work for these women.
I will never hesitate to recommend James Patterson books to lovers of crime fiction. Another 5 star read. Thank you Random House UK,, Cornerstone, Century for my advanced copy to read. Published April 28th
Lindsay and Joe get the chance to work together in this instalment, to intercept an illegal gun shipment from south of the border. The body count is high and a Lindsay finds herself a target. Meanwhile Cindy is struggling to write her book and. Lairs gets a call to help out with a heartbreaking case. All in a days work for these women.
I will never hesitate to recommend James Patterson books to lovers of crime fiction. Another 5 star read. Thank you Random House UK,, Cornerstone, Century for my advanced copy to read. Published April 28th
May 22, 2022
The last 1/3 is much better than the rest. 5 of 10 stars
November 22, 2022
Dead bodies, some ex cops, lips stapled - "You Talk, You Die" written on their person somewhere. SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer was frustrated with their inability to find the killer or killers of these men. The link to drugs and illegal guns was high. The new gun law which saw members of the community having to surrender their guns, being paid with grocery coupons, had the gangs, the rebellious and the downtrodden angry. The protests and shouts of "We will not comply" were deafening. But the whisper of a huge shipment of drugs and guns to come across the Mexican border, had all the forces talking, combining their talents. But would it work? Could they take down the criminals? How many more would die?
22 Seconds is the 22nd in the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson and once again, the plot and the characters grabbed me from the beginning. Cindy, Yuki and Claire were in this one, but with more minor parts, as the book centred mostly around Lindsay and Joe. I'm looking forward to #23, due out next year. Highly recommended.
22 Seconds is the 22nd in the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson and once again, the plot and the characters grabbed me from the beginning. Cindy, Yuki and Claire were in this one, but with more minor parts, as the book centred mostly around Lindsay and Joe. I'm looking forward to #23, due out next year. Highly recommended.
May 20, 2022
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro are back for another explosive instalment of the Women’s Murder Club. Detective Lindsay Boxer packs a punch in this piece, alongside her friends, as they unravel numerous mysteries, including a major shipment of drugs and arms fro Mexico. Tossing caution into the wind, Boxer will have to uncover just who’s dirty and protect her family at the same time. Another great piece in the series, showing that the Patterson-Paetro collaboration works wonders.
Word on the street is that a major shipment of drugs and guns have made their way into San Francisco from Mexico, led by members of a dangerous cartel. Detective Lindsay Boxer leads the SFPD portion of a task force into cracking the mystery wide open, while also discovering who is the head of the snake. What she uncovers is baffling and quite worrisome. Not only are the illegal items finding their way onto California streets, but people are being murdered in an apparent attempt to silence any leaks.
It would seem that there are crooked cops all through the shipment’s route, turning head or greasing wheels to ensure these illegal items make their way onto the streets. As Boxer and her husband, a veteran of various US Agencies, work to discover the truth, they come to the realisation that they could be putting themselves and their family at risk.
As the dead bodies mount, there is a troubling sense that this is one fight that cannot end peacefully. All the while, others in the Club tackle their own issues, from the body of a young girl found in a ditch to the daunting task of writing the memoirs of a serial killers. Patterson and Paetro impress with another novel in a series that seems to be working well!
This series has been one of the more reliable collections with Patterson’s name affixed, leaving readers able to predict that something good will come of it. The premise is simple and the delivery quite accurate, especially when there are usually numerous plots taking place in a single novel. Patterson and Paetro offer up some decent writing and keep the characters progressing nicely, something that is surely difficult this far into the series. I’m always eager to see what is to come with Lindsay Boxer and her Women’s Murder Club. This novel solidified that for me.
Twenty-two books into the series. an make it difficult to find development or new backstory that has not been discussed. While the pile of novels is high, the central characters appear to find ways to make things exciting. There is always the progression within Lindsay’s family and the odd mention of certain personal details surrounding the other three, all of which permits the series fan to feel connected to all that is going on. I read, not only for the mystery, but also to see how things will progress with the characters, and am rarely left disappointed at any point. I do wonder what awaits me in novels to come, especially how some of the breadcrumbs left in the narrative will come to fruition.
While the writing and plots are rarely something that I would call stellar, the books are reliable when it comes to entertaining. There is always somehting going on and I can usually get some great action within the pages of the story. A well-plotted narrative keeps the story moving along, as well as some keen twists to keep things from being too predictable. I can usually count on something decent when it comes to character development, all strung together in short chapters, as per Patterson’s trademark. While there have been so many novels, things have yet to go stale, which is nice for a series reader such as myself. I have said it before and will repeat myself here; there needs to be a decent crossover with some of the other Patterson series, pulling together some great detective work with a cast that many fans of Patterson’s work can enjoy.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam Paetro, for another decent addition to the series. Where will you take these ladies from San Fran next, I can only wonder.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Word on the street is that a major shipment of drugs and guns have made their way into San Francisco from Mexico, led by members of a dangerous cartel. Detective Lindsay Boxer leads the SFPD portion of a task force into cracking the mystery wide open, while also discovering who is the head of the snake. What she uncovers is baffling and quite worrisome. Not only are the illegal items finding their way onto California streets, but people are being murdered in an apparent attempt to silence any leaks.
It would seem that there are crooked cops all through the shipment’s route, turning head or greasing wheels to ensure these illegal items make their way onto the streets. As Boxer and her husband, a veteran of various US Agencies, work to discover the truth, they come to the realisation that they could be putting themselves and their family at risk.
As the dead bodies mount, there is a troubling sense that this is one fight that cannot end peacefully. All the while, others in the Club tackle their own issues, from the body of a young girl found in a ditch to the daunting task of writing the memoirs of a serial killers. Patterson and Paetro impress with another novel in a series that seems to be working well!
This series has been one of the more reliable collections with Patterson’s name affixed, leaving readers able to predict that something good will come of it. The premise is simple and the delivery quite accurate, especially when there are usually numerous plots taking place in a single novel. Patterson and Paetro offer up some decent writing and keep the characters progressing nicely, something that is surely difficult this far into the series. I’m always eager to see what is to come with Lindsay Boxer and her Women’s Murder Club. This novel solidified that for me.
Twenty-two books into the series. an make it difficult to find development or new backstory that has not been discussed. While the pile of novels is high, the central characters appear to find ways to make things exciting. There is always the progression within Lindsay’s family and the odd mention of certain personal details surrounding the other three, all of which permits the series fan to feel connected to all that is going on. I read, not only for the mystery, but also to see how things will progress with the characters, and am rarely left disappointed at any point. I do wonder what awaits me in novels to come, especially how some of the breadcrumbs left in the narrative will come to fruition.
While the writing and plots are rarely something that I would call stellar, the books are reliable when it comes to entertaining. There is always somehting going on and I can usually get some great action within the pages of the story. A well-plotted narrative keeps the story moving along, as well as some keen twists to keep things from being too predictable. I can usually count on something decent when it comes to character development, all strung together in short chapters, as per Patterson’s trademark. While there have been so many novels, things have yet to go stale, which is nice for a series reader such as myself. I have said it before and will repeat myself here; there needs to be a decent crossover with some of the other Patterson series, pulling together some great detective work with a cast that many fans of Patterson’s work can enjoy.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madam Paetro, for another decent addition to the series. Where will you take these ladies from San Fran next, I can only wonder.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 20, 2023
I was so excited
I own and have read every single Women's Murder Club books. I was disappointed in the last one because the writing was and characters were flat and formulaic. One more, this just might be my last one, if I could return it I would, that is how disappointed I am.
Patterson has been churning out books and in this series at least, it shows. There is a lack of character development, flat dialogue, the storyline bounces around haphazardly.
He needs to slow down and pay attention to the people he has created in these stories instead of treating them like two dimensional paper dolls he takes out to play with.
I WANT to like this book. But its just not good enough. The vocabulary choices he makes aren't always character appropriate or situational appropriate. Where did the police procedure researcher go?
I'm not even going to address the miraculous completion of Cindy's book, that was just ridiculous. I mean why spend pages and pages of whining about having to write Burke's book and writers block, to practically overnight finishing it a best seller.
I feel like I got cheated.
I own and have read every single Women's Murder Club books. I was disappointed in the last one because the writing was and characters were flat and formulaic. One more, this just might be my last one, if I could return it I would, that is how disappointed I am.
Patterson has been churning out books and in this series at least, it shows. There is a lack of character development, flat dialogue, the storyline bounces around haphazardly.
He needs to slow down and pay attention to the people he has created in these stories instead of treating them like two dimensional paper dolls he takes out to play with.
I WANT to like this book. But its just not good enough. The vocabulary choices he makes aren't always character appropriate or situational appropriate. Where did the police procedure researcher go?
I'm not even going to address the miraculous completion of Cindy's book, that was just ridiculous. I mean why spend pages and pages of whining about having to write Burke's book and writers block, to practically overnight finishing it a best seller.
I feel like I got cheated.
June 20, 2022
Up front disclosure. I read most of James Patterson’s books and have for several years. Some might ask why and that’s another whole discussion best saved for another day. I have really enjoyed some, liked some, and didn’t really care for others. On a personal level, I must admit that his Women’s Murder Club series – focused on the professional and personal lives of four women in San Francisco - has been very hit and miss over the last couple of years with more weak outings than not.
This year’s outing - “22 Seconds”- has two primary plots, involving Lindsay and Joe, and two subplots, involving Claire and Cindy. Yuki plays more of a supporting role this time.
It starts off with a new restrictive gun aw in San Francisco (SF) that is bringing pressure to Lindsay
Boxer and her team of detectives. someone is killing cops in the San Francisco and Oakland area and attaching a mysterious note that reads “You Talk, You Die”.
Her husband, Joe, an FBI consultant is also pulled into the situation when he goes undercover at a local gun show to catch a Mexican arms dealer specializing in illegal guns. Things don’t go well and Joe finds himself not only risking his life, but getting in the middle of a serious guns and drug war.
It doesn’t take long before both Lindsay and Joe have large targets put on their backs, their family members, and close friends.
In addition, to the primary plots, Dr. Claire Washburn, SF’s chief medical examiner has been called in to help autopsy the dead body of a six-year-old girl, found dead under mysterious circumstances in a small rural town a short flight from SF. Before Claire knows it, she finds herself discovering awful secrets that are heartbreaking.
At the same time, Cindy Thomas is working on her true-crime thriller about Evan Burke, a high-profile killer that was caught in the previous book of the series.
This book tried hard to stay busy, moving back and forth between the various storylines, most of the time at full throttle speed. However, it was a bit choppy and messy at times and it continued to add my mixed feelings about this series over the last five to six books.
There were some things that I liked. I liked Patterson and Paetro focusing on a major two-way connecting “A” plotline with a couple of “B” storyline developments with the recurring characters. Each of the primary characters had a focused arc except for Yuki, but that’s okay. It’s hard to have a plotline for everyone in each book. The twist and turns were okay. Not bad, but not great. I really liked the involvement of Ted Swanson, ex-cop and bad-guy from a previous book in the series. How he was brought back and used was an interesting touch to the plotline. And what saved the book for me was how Patterson and Paetro were able to tie everything together in the end when things were looking like a lot loose threads would be left unexplained.
And now for the bad news. There were some things that I didn’t like, and I spent some time really thinking and asking myself why I don’t get as jazzed up when I read this series as I used to. It took me a little bit and then I figured it out what it was that was bothering me. The answer was subtle, but it was right in front of me.
The Women’s Murder Club has tended to use the same structure for the most part. Each book generally has a major plotline involving Lindsay (and sometimes Joe) and two to three secondary plotlines focusing on the other three female characters. In the more recent books, the major plotlines were focused on serial killers, vigilante hit teams, etc. that were proactive and terrorizing SF and making Lindsay run around and react for half of the book or more. While this is going one, the two or three subplots are sprinkled in between to fill things out and provide enough pages to fill the book. Over the last five to six books, there has been a lot more violence and deaths, with Lindsay running around from one scene to another trying to chase the unknown suspect in a reactive and defensive mode. Three are always one or two shootout scenes with Lindsay lucky to make it through (and Joe in this one too). Then in the last eighty pages or so, something breaks and they find out who the killer is or the group of killers are and everything gets wrapped up, the killers caught and our heroes safe.
The problem is that the formula has started to wear out for me. The violent killings in the major plotlines have grown old and lost a level of creativity. I have found myself losing interest in the bad guys, their purpose, and the sense of tension they cause our heroes. They feel like carboard characters who are just evil to be evil and lack authenticity and dimension. The structure has also made parts of the books choppy. For example, in one chapter of this one, Joe has been kidnapped and is in serious danger. When the next chapter begins, he is suddenly at home and no explanation is provided at all of what happened. Was he released? Did he escape? What the heck?
The worst part of all this, at least for me, is the lack of growth and development of the characters over the last ten or more books. They have all flattened out. No matter how dangerous the villains are; no matter how much havoc and death they create; our heroes are basically back in the same place at the beginning of the book as at the end. With all of the focus on action, the characters have become one dimensional and predictable. I am not asking to kill off or seriously maim one of our members of the Women’s Murder Club or their significant others, but how about some change, growth, and development of our characters from book to book? Other than Cindy working on her crime book, which could transition her from newspaper writer to author, everyone else is in the same place they were like ten books or more ago.
There have been some small changes, like Clapper becoming chief of police, but how about some growth opportunities for Boxer, Yuki, Brady, Cochran, or Claire? All of them have been in their same roles and situations for what feels like quite a while now. How about expanding their opportunities for new character development? Or create conflicts that reveal interesting things about their history and background? We don’t really know anything about their character’s history and background. That could be an interesting angle to explore.
As much as I wanted to enjoy this one, as well as other recent books in this series, I just find the formula and structure to be repetitive and predictable. It’s not to say that the book is bad, because it’s not. It’s just not memorable beyond a one-time casual read.
Overall, my rating is 2.5 out of 5 stars.
This year’s outing - “22 Seconds”- has two primary plots, involving Lindsay and Joe, and two subplots, involving Claire and Cindy. Yuki plays more of a supporting role this time.
It starts off with a new restrictive gun aw in San Francisco (SF) that is bringing pressure to Lindsay
Boxer and her team of detectives. someone is killing cops in the San Francisco and Oakland area and attaching a mysterious note that reads “You Talk, You Die”.
Her husband, Joe, an FBI consultant is also pulled into the situation when he goes undercover at a local gun show to catch a Mexican arms dealer specializing in illegal guns. Things don’t go well and Joe finds himself not only risking his life, but getting in the middle of a serious guns and drug war.
It doesn’t take long before both Lindsay and Joe have large targets put on their backs, their family members, and close friends.
In addition, to the primary plots, Dr. Claire Washburn, SF’s chief medical examiner has been called in to help autopsy the dead body of a six-year-old girl, found dead under mysterious circumstances in a small rural town a short flight from SF. Before Claire knows it, she finds herself discovering awful secrets that are heartbreaking.
At the same time, Cindy Thomas is working on her true-crime thriller about Evan Burke, a high-profile killer that was caught in the previous book of the series.
This book tried hard to stay busy, moving back and forth between the various storylines, most of the time at full throttle speed. However, it was a bit choppy and messy at times and it continued to add my mixed feelings about this series over the last five to six books.
There were some things that I liked. I liked Patterson and Paetro focusing on a major two-way connecting “A” plotline with a couple of “B” storyline developments with the recurring characters. Each of the primary characters had a focused arc except for Yuki, but that’s okay. It’s hard to have a plotline for everyone in each book. The twist and turns were okay. Not bad, but not great. I really liked the involvement of Ted Swanson, ex-cop and bad-guy from a previous book in the series. How he was brought back and used was an interesting touch to the plotline. And what saved the book for me was how Patterson and Paetro were able to tie everything together in the end when things were looking like a lot loose threads would be left unexplained.
And now for the bad news. There were some things that I didn’t like, and I spent some time really thinking and asking myself why I don’t get as jazzed up when I read this series as I used to. It took me a little bit and then I figured it out what it was that was bothering me. The answer was subtle, but it was right in front of me.
The Women’s Murder Club has tended to use the same structure for the most part. Each book generally has a major plotline involving Lindsay (and sometimes Joe) and two to three secondary plotlines focusing on the other three female characters. In the more recent books, the major plotlines were focused on serial killers, vigilante hit teams, etc. that were proactive and terrorizing SF and making Lindsay run around and react for half of the book or more. While this is going one, the two or three subplots are sprinkled in between to fill things out and provide enough pages to fill the book. Over the last five to six books, there has been a lot more violence and deaths, with Lindsay running around from one scene to another trying to chase the unknown suspect in a reactive and defensive mode. Three are always one or two shootout scenes with Lindsay lucky to make it through (and Joe in this one too). Then in the last eighty pages or so, something breaks and they find out who the killer is or the group of killers are and everything gets wrapped up, the killers caught and our heroes safe.
The problem is that the formula has started to wear out for me. The violent killings in the major plotlines have grown old and lost a level of creativity. I have found myself losing interest in the bad guys, their purpose, and the sense of tension they cause our heroes. They feel like carboard characters who are just evil to be evil and lack authenticity and dimension. The structure has also made parts of the books choppy. For example, in one chapter of this one, Joe has been kidnapped and is in serious danger. When the next chapter begins, he is suddenly at home and no explanation is provided at all of what happened. Was he released? Did he escape? What the heck?
The worst part of all this, at least for me, is the lack of growth and development of the characters over the last ten or more books. They have all flattened out. No matter how dangerous the villains are; no matter how much havoc and death they create; our heroes are basically back in the same place at the beginning of the book as at the end. With all of the focus on action, the characters have become one dimensional and predictable. I am not asking to kill off or seriously maim one of our members of the Women’s Murder Club or their significant others, but how about some change, growth, and development of our characters from book to book? Other than Cindy working on her crime book, which could transition her from newspaper writer to author, everyone else is in the same place they were like ten books or more ago.
There have been some small changes, like Clapper becoming chief of police, but how about some growth opportunities for Boxer, Yuki, Brady, Cochran, or Claire? All of them have been in their same roles and situations for what feels like quite a while now. How about expanding their opportunities for new character development? Or create conflicts that reveal interesting things about their history and background? We don’t really know anything about their character’s history and background. That could be an interesting angle to explore.
As much as I wanted to enjoy this one, as well as other recent books in this series, I just find the formula and structure to be repetitive and predictable. It’s not to say that the book is bad, because it’s not. It’s just not memorable beyond a one-time casual read.
Overall, my rating is 2.5 out of 5 stars.
June 11, 2022
3.5 stars.
The story is typical of this series. It seemed to read very fast with its short chapters which is Patterson's trademark. Of course, I did read the large print edition so perhaps that helped too. The topic of gun laws is at the top of every newscast these days.
This is #22 in the series which I'm sure Maxine Paetro writes, not Patterson. She's done a pretty good job of keeping the stories and the characters alive. There's a lot of series I could name that I stopped reading by #22 but I'm hanging in there for the 4 ladies that I have liked from the beginning.
The second half is better than the first because of all the action.
The story is typical of this series. It seemed to read very fast with its short chapters which is Patterson's trademark. Of course, I did read the large print edition so perhaps that helped too. The topic of gun laws is at the top of every newscast these days.
This is #22 in the series which I'm sure Maxine Paetro writes, not Patterson. She's done a pretty good job of keeping the stories and the characters alive. There's a lot of series I could name that I stopped reading by #22 but I'm hanging in there for the 4 ladies that I have liked from the beginning.
The second half is better than the first because of all the action.
May 8, 2025
22 Seconds is the 22nd book in the Womens Murder Club series and was filled with action from the start.
When a new gun law comes into force, people in San Francisco are rebelling, and the police are taking the brunt of it. Then information comes in that a huge shipment of guns and drugs is going to be crossing the Mexican border ahead of this new gun law. An informant gives Lindsay information about the shipment, and a visit is made to see an old former police detective in jail. As the case and information twists and turns and different departments become involved, including her husband Joe, Lindsay finds herself benched, and her family and friends' lives become endangered.
I loved how this book came together and had many surprises along the way.
When a new gun law comes into force, people in San Francisco are rebelling, and the police are taking the brunt of it. Then information comes in that a huge shipment of guns and drugs is going to be crossing the Mexican border ahead of this new gun law. An informant gives Lindsay information about the shipment, and a visit is made to see an old former police detective in jail. As the case and information twists and turns and different departments become involved, including her husband Joe, Lindsay finds herself benched, and her family and friends' lives become endangered.
I loved how this book came together and had many surprises along the way.
May 1, 2022
Giving two stars was a kindness
I'm still waiting for an ending ! I've read all the murder club books this was by far the worst . It's like James Patterson is churning books out in a factory , definitely won't be buying any more .
I'm still waiting for an ending ! I've read all the murder club books this was by far the worst . It's like James Patterson is churning books out in a factory , definitely won't be buying any more .
April 10, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, having read all the others in this series and enjoyed them all. I felt the last few in the series weren't quite as good as some of the others but this one picked up the pace and I loved it.
It has all the usual characters Lyndsay Boxer, Cindy, Claire and Yuki who all make up the Women's Murder Club and all Lyndsay's colleagues and family and great to see the character development.
In this book Lyndsay finds out about a shipment of weapons and drugs coming across the border in a case that comes very close to home.
I would imagine this as a one one off tv show/movie.
It has all the usual characters Lyndsay Boxer, Cindy, Claire and Yuki who all make up the Women's Murder Club and all Lyndsay's colleagues and family and great to see the character development.
In this book Lyndsay finds out about a shipment of weapons and drugs coming across the border in a case that comes very close to home.
I would imagine this as a one one off tv show/movie.
April 21, 2022
It doesn’t matter what the book is about, if James Patterson is writing it then I know I’m going to enjoy it. It’s why he’s a master of crime isn’t it? What a crime book? Pick any of his novels up and you’re in for a great read. In this instalment (book 22) of the Women’s Murder Club we have all of our favourites in this book so that we can follow their character growth throughout the series.
Can we please start making this series into a TV show? It would make crime fans fall in love with it. What a fast paced crime read that hooks you from the first page right up to the last one? Read any of James’ books.
Thank you so much to Century for sending me a proof of this one, I’m already thinking about when my re-read will be.
Can we please start making this series into a TV show? It would make crime fans fall in love with it. What a fast paced crime read that hooks you from the first page right up to the last one? Read any of James’ books.
Thank you so much to Century for sending me a proof of this one, I’m already thinking about when my re-read will be.
May 17, 2022
This was the worst of the WMC novels yet, and there have been a couple of clunkers. To start with, it's set in San Francisco, and we're supposed to believe the streets are teeming with pro-automatic rifle rioters? I live here, and I can tell you that while we are being overrun with overpaid, rent-jacking tech assholes of questionable political affiliation, anyone not firmly in the liberal or progressive camp generally stays quiet about it. We may say we're tolerant, but we don't tolerate intolerance or violence. (Don't think about it too long or your head will explode.) Setting aside the unbelievable plot device of a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, which will never happen as long as 2nd Amendment supporters conveniently forget the"well-regulated militia" clause that was the entire reason for the amendment, you would never find enough automatic-toting thugs to spray bullets into the air and at cops in San Francisco. The gang-members aren't that suicidal, and the criminals aren't all that stupid. The "regular" folk know the counter-protesters would humiliate them, film them, and turn them in. And have news crews there to watch.
So two chapters in, I'm thinking, have you heard of San Francisco? The rest of the book continues to be rather silly. There's almost no interaction between the women in the club. It's mostly between Lindsay and her husband, and a couple other agents and cops. Cindy writes a book and gets kidnapped and beaten up. Claire quickly solves a murder in Mendocino County. Yuki does almost nothing. And there's a surprisingly unexciting operation to bust up a huge drug and weapons delivery. It took me a long time to finish this because I kept looking for other things to do to avoid finishing it. If you know nothing about San Francisco, it might be worth reading. If you've ever lived here, I'd skip it. It's just too stupid.
So two chapters in, I'm thinking, have you heard of San Francisco? The rest of the book continues to be rather silly. There's almost no interaction between the women in the club. It's mostly between Lindsay and her husband, and a couple other agents and cops. Cindy writes a book and gets kidnapped and beaten up. Claire quickly solves a murder in Mendocino County. Yuki does almost nothing. And there's a surprisingly unexciting operation to bust up a huge drug and weapons delivery. It took me a long time to finish this because I kept looking for other things to do to avoid finishing it. If you know nothing about San Francisco, it might be worth reading. If you've ever lived here, I'd skip it. It's just too stupid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
1 1/2. Did not finish. Read 3/4. 📚 just seemed like this theme has been done to death.
May 27, 2022
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller which will have you turning pages, then get another book. If however you are looking for a treatment of insomnia, you are in the right place.
The Women's Murder Club seems to have almost lost its identity and given way to an alphabet soup of agencies, the FBI, ATF and the SFPD to carry the story. The pace is slower than ice melting and every time the pace falls even more, a dead body is introduced. Soon you really don't care who the good guys are and who the bad guys but are skipping paragraphs to finish the book.
The Women's Murder Club seems to have almost lost its identity and given way to an alphabet soup of agencies, the FBI, ATF and the SFPD to carry the story. The pace is slower than ice melting and every time the pace falls even more, a dead body is introduced. Soon you really don't care who the good guys are and who the bad guys but are skipping paragraphs to finish the book.
May 9, 2022
I used to love this series, but the writing has gotten so bad! It’s very disjointed, appears rushed and not even realistic anymore. After spending hours reading this piece of trash, I bid adieu to this series here. I will leave you with this stunningly bad bit of writing:
“Joe pulled off the road and turned off the engine. He asked me what happened. I told him. We made a few more calls.”
And end chapter. My eyes rolled so hard at this garbage.
“Joe pulled off the road and turned off the engine. He asked me what happened. I told him. We made a few more calls.”
And end chapter. My eyes rolled so hard at this garbage.
April 19, 2022
I loved this series so much when it started but it really isn’t the same now. There is no real excitement involved now. I wouldn’t recommend it.
June 26, 2022
This novel is good reading. The title eludes me though since the phrase is mentioned only once in the text. The ending has a nice twist.
February 12, 2022
22 Seconds by James Patterson is another must read story in his Woman’s murder club and book number 22.
Cartels, drugs and other mischiefs are just a few clues for the investigation. Each new step in it will bring out more insight into a story that kept me invested throughout this book.
Suspenseful, addictive and unpredictable.
Cartels, drugs and other mischiefs are just a few clues for the investigation. Each new step in it will bring out more insight into a story that kept me invested throughout this book.
Suspenseful, addictive and unpredictable.
July 6, 2022
Not so much The Women’s Murder Club anymore…that’s what drew me to this series. But it was ok.
August 24, 2025
Se parli muori è il 22esimo libro della famosa serie Le donne del Club omicidi. Continuano le avventure delle 4 donne e amiche: la detective Lindsay, la giornalista Cindy, il medico legale Claire e l’avvocatessa Yuki. Di Club delle amiche, però, il lettore ritroverà ben poco. Fatta eccezione per una serata, più una interrotta, le amiche non avranno davvero modo di ritrovarsi attorno ad un tavolo di bar brindando con un Margarita in mano. Sono gli impegni e la vita privata a dividere la squadra al femminile, ma, forse, è anche un po’ colpa della narrazione.
Come negli altri romanzi della serie, la narrazione principale è incentrata prevalentemente su Lindsay, suo è il punto di vista sulle indagini e suo è l’Io narrante che compare di tanto in tanto interrompendo l’impressione di una narrazione da una prospettiva di un narratore in terza persona ed esterno alla vicenda.
Le linee narrative delle amiche, che corrono parallele a quella di Lindsay, sono ridotte all’osso o, come nel caso di Yuki, addirittura mancanti. Non fa eccezione nemmeno la storia della giornalista Cindy, che – seppur la narrazione di Se parli muori inizi e termini con lei alle prese con la scrittura di un libro – non riesce ad acquisire un ruolo di coprotagonista nell’economia del libro. Si distingue, su tutte, la storia che accompagna il medico legale Claire: una piccola e dolorosa gemma di micronarrazione.
Trovate la recensione completa sul blog: https://giochilinguistici.it/se-parli...
Come negli altri romanzi della serie, la narrazione principale è incentrata prevalentemente su Lindsay, suo è il punto di vista sulle indagini e suo è l’Io narrante che compare di tanto in tanto interrompendo l’impressione di una narrazione da una prospettiva di un narratore in terza persona ed esterno alla vicenda.
Le linee narrative delle amiche, che corrono parallele a quella di Lindsay, sono ridotte all’osso o, come nel caso di Yuki, addirittura mancanti. Non fa eccezione nemmeno la storia della giornalista Cindy, che – seppur la narrazione di Se parli muori inizi e termini con lei alle prese con la scrittura di un libro – non riesce ad acquisire un ruolo di coprotagonista nell’economia del libro. Si distingue, su tutte, la storia che accompagna il medico legale Claire: una piccola e dolorosa gemma di micronarrazione.
Trovate la recensione completa sul blog: https://giochilinguistici.it/se-parli...
October 21, 2025
Love, American Style: “We are all armed and, if necessary, we will shoot … So, guns down, out of your vehicle with hands up. Or die tonight resisting arrest.”
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 22 SECONDS) 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 22 SECONDS is no exception to this astonishing string of successes. As a matter of fact, it has the bonus quality of being a very timely commentary on the stupidity of the USA and its (IMO, at least) bone-headed approach to immigration reform, human trafficking, and the modernization of the 2nd Amendment through appropriate gun reform legislation.
The story lines in this one? First, a heart-breaking and all too realistic story of child abuse, neglect, and, sadly, negligent homicide. Second, a very timely and all too realistic police procedural that revolves around today’s front-page issues of racism, illegal immigration and, as mentioned, left vs right on the issue of the 2nd Amendment and reform of assault weapon legislation. Third, Cindy Thomas deals with the devastating mental difficulties of delving into the psyche of a psychopathic serial killer with the ultimate aim of writing a blockbuster true-crime non-fiction “thriller”.
Happily read and happily recommended. I’m a continuing WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB fan. Up next, THE 23RD MIDNIGHT and 23½ LIES.
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 22 SECONDS) 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 22 SECONDS is no exception to this astonishing string of successes. As a matter of fact, it has the bonus quality of being a very timely commentary on the stupidity of the USA and its (IMO, at least) bone-headed approach to immigration reform, human trafficking, and the modernization of the 2nd Amendment through appropriate gun reform legislation.
The story lines in this one? First, a heart-breaking and all too realistic story of child abuse, neglect, and, sadly, negligent homicide. Second, a very timely and all too realistic police procedural that revolves around today’s front-page issues of racism, illegal immigration and, as mentioned, left vs right on the issue of the 2nd Amendment and reform of assault weapon legislation. Third, Cindy Thomas deals with the devastating mental difficulties of delving into the psyche of a psychopathic serial killer with the ultimate aim of writing a blockbuster true-crime non-fiction “thriller”.
Happily read and happily recommended. I’m a continuing WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB fan. Up next, THE 23RD MIDNIGHT and 23½ LIES.
Paul Weiss
September 1, 2022
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I.... liked this?
...but honestly, it wasn't terrible. It was like a normal fucking book? I'm taken aback.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded up
I.... liked this?
...but honestly, it wasn't terrible. It was like a normal fucking book? I'm taken aback.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded up
May 24, 2022
I'm sorry but I just couldn't get into this book. I felt there was too much going on and too many cases the cops and FBI were working on.
I stopped reading most of James Patterson's books; except The Women's Murder Club and NYPD Red, but I just couldn't get into this book.
I stopped reading most of James Patterson's books; except The Women's Murder Club and NYPD Red, but I just couldn't get into this book.
March 8, 2022
Crap!!!!!! Photocopied nonsense. Churned out by monkeys' chained to typewriters.
July 11, 2022
"You Talk, You Die"
Shoot outs, car crashes and explosions accompany unlikely connections, deaths, and deception. It is one hell of a ride!
I love that Lindsay and Joe officially work together on a case again and how their relationship continues to grow. Claire has a sad, special case and Cindy gets caught up in some stuff. Yuki doesn't get a lot of action this time around but is there to support when needed. Julie continues to grow, celebrating four years, and provides some perspective and laughs.
I borrowed a library copy of the audio book. The narrator is January LaVoy. She does a good job with the characters but I keep imagining Angie Harmon as Lindsay Boxer - even though she looks NOTHING like the version described in the book. I mean, Joe's nickname for her is Blondie and Angie is very much a brunette. The short-lived TV series still lives on in my head.
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.6x
Shoot outs, car crashes and explosions accompany unlikely connections, deaths, and deception. It is one hell of a ride!
I love that Lindsay and Joe officially work together on a case again and how their relationship continues to grow. Claire has a sad, special case and Cindy gets caught up in some stuff. Yuki doesn't get a lot of action this time around but is there to support when needed. Julie continues to grow, celebrating four years, and provides some perspective and laughs.
I borrowed a library copy of the audio book. The narrator is January LaVoy. She does a good job with the characters but I keep imagining Angie Harmon as Lindsay Boxer - even though she looks NOTHING like the version described in the book. I mean, Joe's nickname for her is Blondie and Angie is very much a brunette. The short-lived TV series still lives on in my head.
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.6x
October 11, 2022
I really think it's time for this series to stop. Patterson spreads his ideas too thin and puts out too many books in a years time for much if any, of them to be any good any more. This series has gotten repetitive and boring. This will be the last one I read. Would not recommend going past about the 10th book in this series.
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