What's the worst thing anyone has ever done..is this it? (1st to Die - James Patterson)

Member Name: BestMum

Product:	1st to Die - James Patterson
Date:	19/09/02 (163 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Exciting storyline, Easy to follow, no unnecessary flashbacks, etc, The first in a new series following the Womens Murder Club

Disadvantages: Didn't last long enough!

***THE AUTHOR***

James Patterson is one of the top-selling novelists of the present day. His work includes the likes of Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Jack and Gill, Cat and Mouse and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas to name but a few. He's also had much success from film adaptations of Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls and Miracle on the 17th Green (co-written with Peter de Jonge).

Previously he served as chairman of J Walter Thompson, North America from 1990 to 1996; he began his advertising career as a junior copywriter with the company in 1971. He went on to become the youngest executive creative director and youngest chief executive officer in the company's history. Having grown up in New York, he now lives in Palm Beach County, Florida, with his wife and their son.

***THE STORY***

The story is a tale of one womans fight to find a serial killer loose on the streets of San Fransisco, whilst struggling with the devastating news that she has a rare, life threatening blood disorder.

The Honeymoon Murders, is the name that's been given to the sickening wave of homicides in the area. David Brandt, feeling like the luckiest man in the world is overcome with joy at finally marrying his stunning wife Melanie. Spending their wedding night in the luxurious surroundings of the Mandarin Suite at the Grand Hyatt hotel, they were subjected to a vicious attack which resulted in death, and a deplorable sex act.

"What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?" Was this it? Had he just done it? "No, not quite yet.." Philip Campbell said as he lifted the brides beautiful wedding dress...

Having performed his first killing, Philip Campbell sets off in search of his next victim.

Lindsay Boxer, the tough homicide inspector, usually manages to distance herself from the victims, emotionally, but with her illness to think of too, she can't help but be affected m

ore than usual - for all their dreams and hopes of a wonderful future have been stolen on that most precious of nights. But as her illness takes hold, and wanting to prove to her male superiors that she can indeed take the pressure, she forges an alliance with three of her friends, both new and old, to assist in the quest to hunt down the killer. The Women's Murder Club is born.

***THE CHARACTERS***

Lindsay Boxer
As her name suggests, she's confident and full of character - she is the only woman homicide inspector in San Fran after all! Her world is blown apart with the news of her illness, but she just can't find the time to concentrate on getting better - the case is too big for that. Still, off she goes for her regular blood transfusions in the vain hope that it'll make a difference and everything will be okay.

Jacobi
At forty seven years of age he's Lindsays partner, for the moment. She's worked with him for two and a half years. Even though she was senior inspector/sergeant, he had seven years on her in the department, and he reported to her. Jacobi likes to make a joke of everything; he's always got a wisecrack on standby. Maybe he does it to mask the sheer horror they're faced with.

Philip Campbell
The killer. For obvious reasons I won't go into too much detail about this character. Just to say that he is out to shock; he wants to do the most horrible things imaginable, just to see what it feels like. Just to witness the look in the victims eyes as their very last breath departs their body. To see whether or not he has the guts to do it. "Am I capable of doing it? Do I have what it takes?"

Cindy Thomas
Small time reporter with attitude. She's sick of being the coffee-maker and wants a piece of the action. So when she sees a way to gain access to the crime scene of the first murder, she takes her chance. An stormy encounter wit
h Lin
dsay Boxer has a lasting impression and she eventually becomes a member of the Womens Murder Club.

Chris Raleigh
How can you fancy the pants off a fictitious character?! He is the tall, dark handsome, divorced inspector sent by the Mayor's office to partner Lindsay in the case of the honeymoon murderer, in place of Jacobi. Initially greeted with a cold shoulder, Lindsay soon learns to trust him.

Claire Washburn
Lindsays best friend and confidante. For six years she has been the Chief Medical Examiner for the San Fransisco area. Ballsy but with a heart of gold, Claire will tell it how it is, and is a tower of strength to Lindsay in her battle to overcome her illness. Soon to be member of the Womens Murder Club.

Jill Bernhardt
The tough-talking Assistant District Attorney. She fought her way to the top of the career ladder in style. She now has to decide whether or not to put her well-earned job on the line by bringing in the killer, as well as joining the Womens Murder Club.

There is one other main character that appears towards the middle of the book but you'll have to read it to find out just who that is.

***CONCLUSION***

This book was probably the best book I've ever read - certainly for a long time anyway. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to make even Blackpools 'Big One' look tame. It had me on the edge of my sun-lounger right through to the end, whilst I lived every emotion Lindsay felt too.

Pattersons writing style is superb. I'm a bit of a nightmare when it comes to books - I get bored easily. If the story doesn't grab me right from the start and keeps my heart racing, it will take me weeks to finish. Someone recommended James Pattersons books to me a while back, and in the run-up to my holiday, I decided to hunt down one of his novels to take with me. I'm really glad I did.

There are 127 short, sharp chapt
ers to the
book - all moving at lightning speed, and some of them being only two pages long. This is what makes it really special. The story never slows down. It doesn't leap backwards and forwards, following different parts of the story, only to meet up in the middle somewhere.

There are no unnecessary flashbacks like what she ate for breakfast three years ago; each chapter flows gracefully on to the next part. And because you don't have to remember what happened fifty pages earlier, it's very easy to read. This is what will make me hunt out every single book that James Patterson has written, with great urgency.

I urge you to do the same.

Thanks for reading :o)

*I purchased this book (paperback) from ASDA for £3.69
*Published by Headline Book Publishing
*2nd Chance is the next book in this series and is out now

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