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Women's Murder Club #4
4th of July
The world's bestselling detective series has never been more suspenseful. Trapped in deadly showdowns, courtroom trials, and dangerous secrets, the Women's Murder Club must fight for their lives.
In a deadly late-night showdown, San Francisco police lieutenant Lindsay Boxer fires her weapon and sets off a dramatic chain of events that leaves a police force disgraced, a family destroyed, and Lindsay herself at the mercy of twelve jurors. During a break in the trial, she retreats to a picturesque town that is reeling from a string of grisly murders-crimes that bear a link to a haunting, unsolved case from her rookie years.
Now, with her friends in the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay must battle for her life on two in a trial rushing to a climax, and against an unknown adversary willing to do anything to hide the truth about the homicides-including kill again?
In a deadly late-night showdown, San Francisco police lieutenant Lindsay Boxer fires her weapon and sets off a dramatic chain of events that leaves a police force disgraced, a family destroyed, and Lindsay herself at the mercy of twelve jurors. During a break in the trial, she retreats to a picturesque town that is reeling from a string of grisly murders-crimes that bear a link to a haunting, unsolved case from her rookie years.
Now, with her friends in the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay must battle for her life on two in a trial rushing to a climax, and against an unknown adversary willing to do anything to hide the truth about the homicides-including kill again?
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 2, 2005
About the author
James Patterson
1,103 books347k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received 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. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received 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 2,671 reviews
August 14, 2023
4th of July
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is part legal thriller and part crime thriller. After a late-night car chase, San Francisco police lieutenant Linsday Boxer fires her weapon leading to a family in turmoil and Lindsay facing a civil trial with her fate in the hands of twelve jurors. Before and during a trial break, she goes to her sister’s home in nearby Half Moon Bay, California to get away from the press. Unfortunately, the town is experiencing a string of murders that seem linked to an unsolved case from her rookie years.
With the usual short chapters, this story progressed quickly with other members of the Women’s Murder Club putting in cameo appearances. It was fast-paced and filled with action. Additionally, it has a shocking twist that completely caught me by surprise.
Overall, this was entertaining, thought-provoking, and a page-turner. This is the eighth book in the series that I have read.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was May 2, 2005.
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My 4.21 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
With the usual short chapters, this story progressed quickly with other members of the Women’s Murder Club putting in cameo appearances. It was fast-paced and filled with action. Additionally, it has a shocking twist that completely caught me by surprise.
Overall, this was entertaining, thought-provoking, and a page-turner. This is the eighth book in the series that I have read.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was May 2, 2005.
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My 4.21 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
February 22, 2017
James Patterson has joined up with Maxine Paetro in this 4th in the Women's Murder Club series and I'm pleased to say I enjoyed this much better than the last one which was written with Andrew Gross.
Although I would have like to have seen more input from the other members of the club (this one was all about Lt Lindsay Boxer) it was still a cracking book, fast paced, kept you guessing until the end and with an unexpected killer I hadn't foreseen it was certainly the traditional James Patterson style thriller.
I would recommend "The 4th July" and I'd say this could quite easily be read as a standalone too and I'm now looking forward to "The 5th Horseman" now that the books seem to have got back on track.
Although I would have like to have seen more input from the other members of the club (this one was all about Lt Lindsay Boxer) it was still a cracking book, fast paced, kept you guessing until the end and with an unexpected killer I hadn't foreseen it was certainly the traditional James Patterson style thriller.
I would recommend "The 4th July" and I'd say this could quite easily be read as a standalone too and I'm now looking forward to "The 5th Horseman" now that the books seem to have got back on track.
December 23, 2016
The 4th book in the Women's murder club by Maxine Paetro and probably the best so far.
Usual James Patterson proven formula, fast paced, short chapters etc.
Usual James Patterson proven formula, fast paced, short chapters etc.
August 13, 2011
If this isn't the last James Patterson book I read, I invite you to punch me in the face.
I can't take these books seriously. There is no depth whatsoever to the characters, and after four books, I would expect to have more familiarity with them. Lindsay's romantic "relationships" are a joke. Dinner and sex does not = love and a lasting commitment.
The best thing that can be said about this book is that it reads very quickly and that you don't have to pause to look up any words ou don't know. It makes obvious, trite, and stereotypical pop culture references that require no further explanation.
In fact, no explanation required applies to most of the book. Chapter divisions make no sense, other than to add length.
This book is not worth the time it took to read it, the $0.20 I paid for it, or the paper it was printed on. If I could give it zero stars, I would.
I can't take these books seriously. There is no depth whatsoever to the characters, and after four books, I would expect to have more familiarity with them. Lindsay's romantic "relationships" are a joke. Dinner and sex does not = love and a lasting commitment.
The best thing that can be said about this book is that it reads very quickly and that you don't have to pause to look up any words ou don't know. It makes obvious, trite, and stereotypical pop culture references that require no further explanation.
In fact, no explanation required applies to most of the book. Chapter divisions make no sense, other than to add length.
This book is not worth the time it took to read it, the $0.20 I paid for it, or the paper it was printed on. If I could give it zero stars, I would.
August 5, 2019
Another excellent instalment of the Woman's Murder Club series by Maxine Paetro.* I listened to this Audible audio book many years ago and all that I remembered was that I really, really liked it! Now I remember why! Fast paced and exciting the whole way through. And the revelation at the end was quite shocking and took me completely by surprise! What a great book! I have no reservations in recommending not only this book, but the entire Woman's Murder Club series! One of my all time favorite series! I enjoy the narrator, Carolyn McCormick, who did a great job as always!
*Note: While James Patterson is listed as the coauthor, this book was written primarily by Maxine Paetro. I just wanted to give credit where credit is due.
*Note: While James Patterson is listed as the coauthor, this book was written primarily by Maxine Paetro. I just wanted to give credit where credit is due.
December 28, 2023
These books are in the category of "beach/vacation read.”
They’re a quick read but not the most thrilling of mysteries... I thought the first few were the best in the series. But if you like a book you don't have to think too hard to read, then these mysteries are for you.
(reviewed 5/27/19)
They’re a quick read but not the most thrilling of mysteries... I thought the first few were the best in the series. But if you like a book you don't have to think too hard to read, then these mysteries are for you.
(reviewed 5/27/19)
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July 4, 2024i'm binge-reading through this series MULTIPLE TIMES for a work thing right now, so i'm not gonna review them properly, but this one teaches a pretty good lesson about what happens when you underestimate a teenage girl. you have been warned.
rereading these for another work project ON THE ACTUAL FOURTH OF JULY OH MY
rereading these for another work project ON THE ACTUAL FOURTH OF JULY OH MY
June 29, 2024
Chalk up another winner for Patterson.
In 4TH OF JULY, the fourth installment of Patterson's Women's Murder Club, SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer finds herself on trial for her professional life. A pull-over after a wild car chase goes entirely sour and results in Lindsay killing a female minor and seriously wounding a male minor condemning him to life as a wheelchair-confined machine-assisted quadriplegic. Boxer finds herself staring down the barrel of a lawsuit for "wrongful death, excessive use of force, and professional misconduct" filed by the parents with a potential price tag of $100 million in damages. While Boxer's attorney, Yuki Castellano, the newest initiate to the Women's Murder Club, is outwardly poised and confident that she can clear her client, the trial's outcome is far from certain and Patterson has treated us to some truly electric courtroom drama!
Plot number two - on administrative leave to deal with the trial, Boxer has sought seclusion in the quaint town of Half Moon Bay. But the peaceful quiet of her chosen cloister is shattered as the town's residents are menaced by a series of brutal murders. Boxer twigs to an uncanny resemblance to an unsolved John Doe murder from very early in the rookie stages of her career and she reaches the decision to involve herself in the investigation. From that point, Patterson takes Boxer, the local police force, Half Moon Bay's local population and his unsuspecting readers careening down a taut, tension-filled road that's chock-a-block full of twists and turns and slams us all into a climax that nobody but nobody will see coming.
While the two plots are very loosely connected only through the literary device of Boxer's administrative leave, they are cleverly juxtaposed and the two stories become nicely crafted into a seamless whole. Story #2 is a typically well-done thriller that easily succeeds in fulfilling any expectations Patterson fans will have as a result of his long list of past best-sellers but I think Story #1 is the more interesting of the two. Not your typical thriller brain candy, Patterson raises some serious hot-button issues related to minors and violent crime that won't leave a single reader sitting on the sidelines. As I read, there was more than one occasion on which my own opinions on the issues surfaced and I found myself getting quite warm under the collar. Well done, Patterson!
While I look forward to the next two Women's Murder Club novels, THE 5TH HORSEMAN and THE 6TH TARGET, it is my critical hope that Patterson will return to the original style of 1ST TO DIE and let the entire club figure more prominently in the novels and the solution to their plots. 4TH OF JULY was clearly a Lindsay Boxer novel with the other members of her "club" being granted no more than token cameo walk-ons. Think of Baldacci's writing a CAMEL CLUB novel in which Oliver Stone battles the bad guys all by himself and ignores Caleb, Milton and Reuben! Well, it just isn't the same thing, is it?
That said, 4TH OF JULY worked well and comes recommended from this reader. Enjoy!
Paul Weiss
In 4TH OF JULY, the fourth installment of Patterson's Women's Murder Club, SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer finds herself on trial for her professional life. A pull-over after a wild car chase goes entirely sour and results in Lindsay killing a female minor and seriously wounding a male minor condemning him to life as a wheelchair-confined machine-assisted quadriplegic. Boxer finds herself staring down the barrel of a lawsuit for "wrongful death, excessive use of force, and professional misconduct" filed by the parents with a potential price tag of $100 million in damages. While Boxer's attorney, Yuki Castellano, the newest initiate to the Women's Murder Club, is outwardly poised and confident that she can clear her client, the trial's outcome is far from certain and Patterson has treated us to some truly electric courtroom drama!
Plot number two - on administrative leave to deal with the trial, Boxer has sought seclusion in the quaint town of Half Moon Bay. But the peaceful quiet of her chosen cloister is shattered as the town's residents are menaced by a series of brutal murders. Boxer twigs to an uncanny resemblance to an unsolved John Doe murder from very early in the rookie stages of her career and she reaches the decision to involve herself in the investigation. From that point, Patterson takes Boxer, the local police force, Half Moon Bay's local population and his unsuspecting readers careening down a taut, tension-filled road that's chock-a-block full of twists and turns and slams us all into a climax that nobody but nobody will see coming.
While the two plots are very loosely connected only through the literary device of Boxer's administrative leave, they are cleverly juxtaposed and the two stories become nicely crafted into a seamless whole. Story #2 is a typically well-done thriller that easily succeeds in fulfilling any expectations Patterson fans will have as a result of his long list of past best-sellers but I think Story #1 is the more interesting of the two. Not your typical thriller brain candy, Patterson raises some serious hot-button issues related to minors and violent crime that won't leave a single reader sitting on the sidelines. As I read, there was more than one occasion on which my own opinions on the issues surfaced and I found myself getting quite warm under the collar. Well done, Patterson!
While I look forward to the next two Women's Murder Club novels, THE 5TH HORSEMAN and THE 6TH TARGET, it is my critical hope that Patterson will return to the original style of 1ST TO DIE and let the entire club figure more prominently in the novels and the solution to their plots. 4TH OF JULY was clearly a Lindsay Boxer novel with the other members of her "club" being granted no more than token cameo walk-ons. Think of Baldacci's writing a CAMEL CLUB novel in which Oliver Stone battles the bad guys all by himself and ignores Caleb, Milton and Reuben! Well, it just isn't the same thing, is it?
That said, 4TH OF JULY worked well and comes recommended from this reader. Enjoy!
Paul Weiss
July 27, 2014
James Patterson's books are either really good or just average and this was one of the really good ones. Short, choppy chapters made it fast reading and the thrilling story line made it a page turner that was impossible to put down. The identity of the murderers came completely from left field. I had not even considered two of them as possibilities. Just the way it should be in a competently written mystery thriller. I have not read any of the earlier Women's Murder Club series but it did not matter. This book stood well on its own.
August 28, 2021
Book 4 in The Women’s Murder Club series published 2005
A light easy 4 star read
This proved to be another book by JP that I enjoyed.
There is never anything too difficult or too demanding in a JP book just easy, light entertainment.
You’ve read it all before but it still holds your interest and the pages keep turning as your need to know grows.
A bit of change in the scenario this time. Apart from Lindsay Boxer the rest of the women’s murder club were absent for the most part.
Lindsay is up to her neck in it right from the get go.
Lindsay finds herself in court charged with shooting two teenagers when she was drunk!!
Shock horror!!!
Lindsay, in need of some me time, takes a break to get some much needed rest only to find herself in the middle of some very nasty serial killings. Killings that bring to mind an unsolved murder case from twenty years ago. The cold case and the new murders have the exact same M.O. So similar, in fact, they have to be the work of the same killer. Her failure to solve the case from twenty years ago has haunted Lindsay ever since. So the chance to put to bed the old case and solve the new murders is just too overpowering for Lindsay to ignore.
Before this ends blood will flow as a community lives in fear of what will happen next.
A light easy 4 star read
This proved to be another book by JP that I enjoyed.
There is never anything too difficult or too demanding in a JP book just easy, light entertainment.
You’ve read it all before but it still holds your interest and the pages keep turning as your need to know grows.
A bit of change in the scenario this time. Apart from Lindsay Boxer the rest of the women’s murder club were absent for the most part.
Lindsay is up to her neck in it right from the get go.
Lindsay finds herself in court charged with shooting two teenagers when she was drunk!!
Shock horror!!!
Lindsay, in need of some me time, takes a break to get some much needed rest only to find herself in the middle of some very nasty serial killings. Killings that bring to mind an unsolved murder case from twenty years ago. The cold case and the new murders have the exact same M.O. So similar, in fact, they have to be the work of the same killer. Her failure to solve the case from twenty years ago has haunted Lindsay ever since. So the chance to put to bed the old case and solve the new murders is just too overpowering for Lindsay to ignore.
Before this ends blood will flow as a community lives in fear of what will happen next.
March 10, 2023
Lindsay sigue investigando algunos de los crimenes que ocurren en su ciudad, sobre todo aquellos donde las pistas son escasas y el crimen es visiblemente atroz. Pero no se imagina, que una noche en un persecusion para atrapar a un asesino, su vida cambia bruscamente. Ahora en espera de un juicio por "Abuso Policial" y "Exceso de fuerza", con su vida en standby, decide ir a casa de su hermana a decansar. Y aunque su intencion no es mas que esa, un par de asesinatos en el pueblo le llaman la atencion, y su investigadora interior no puede dejarlos pasar porque tienen relacion con el primer caso en el que trabajo como detective. Pero sera capaz de ayudar a atrapar a estos criminales? Sera capaz de sobrevivir al juicio? Podra continuar con su trabajo despues que todo esto acabe o decidira que debe cambiar de vida por su bien?
En este libro vemos muchos puntos ciegos en cuanto a la investigacion, se intenta enfocar mas en el problema psicologico de la prota, pero sin lograrlo por completo. Ademas de intentar tambien enfocarse en 2 casos, sin estar totalmente involucrado en ninguno, lo que me dio la sensacion de que faltaban muchas cosas, muchos detalles que quedaron en el aire de ambos casos.
En fin, el libro fue entretenido, pero no tanto como los anteriores, asi que voy a dejar esta serie hasta aqui por ahora, tal vez mas adelante la continue.
En este libro vemos muchos puntos ciegos en cuanto a la investigacion, se intenta enfocar mas en el problema psicologico de la prota, pero sin lograrlo por completo. Ademas de intentar tambien enfocarse en 2 casos, sin estar totalmente involucrado en ninguno, lo que me dio la sensacion de que faltaban muchas cosas, muchos detalles que quedaron en el aire de ambos casos.
En fin, el libro fue entretenido, pero no tanto como los anteriores, asi que voy a dejar esta serie hasta aqui por ahora, tal vez mas adelante la continue.
February 20, 2024
(2024 me - back when this series was good! I miss this!)
No doubt the best in the series so far. There were plenty of short and fast-pace chapters which made this a quick and easy read.
‘A decision had to be made about Lindsay Boxer. A tough one. The woman was a cop.’
‘Their slashed partially nude bodies were found by their thirteen-year-old son’
‘Who is doing this chief? Who the hell is murdering all these people?’
Full of suspense, thrill and of course murder. This book was predominantly based on Lt Lindsey Boxer and the only thing that would’ve got this book a five star for me is for the other women of the murder club to be more involved (but Martha will do). Nevertheless this book in my opinion is a great read – especially if you like James Patterson as this has all the characteristics of a great Patterson.
I think you could read this book as a standalone but the Women’s Murder Club series is worth reading.
On to the next!
No doubt the best in the series so far. There were plenty of short and fast-pace chapters which made this a quick and easy read.
‘A decision had to be made about Lindsay Boxer. A tough one. The woman was a cop.’
‘Their slashed partially nude bodies were found by their thirteen-year-old son’
‘Who is doing this chief? Who the hell is murdering all these people?’
Full of suspense, thrill and of course murder. This book was predominantly based on Lt Lindsey Boxer and the only thing that would’ve got this book a five star for me is for the other women of the murder club to be more involved (but Martha will do). Nevertheless this book in my opinion is a great read – especially if you like James Patterson as this has all the characteristics of a great Patterson.
I think you could read this book as a standalone but the Women’s Murder Club series is worth reading.
On to the next!
July 14, 2023
Slightly, just slightly better than others from the series, the plots (two, as usual) have some consistency, the pace is alert, which make the book quite readable. The final, a weird one, is hard to be guessed and does increase the value of the novel. However, there are three facts I dislike:
- the romancing part of the series, in which I' m not interested at all
- Lindsay's disability in making DECENT (at least...) arrests, see "The Fifth Rider" too
- Lindsay's poor management of the mobile phone, which makes her look like an truly idiot, puts her life in danger more than once and her relations in peril.
PS: The four stars are in fact just three and (maybe...) a half, but sometimes we have to defend our choices...
- the romancing part of the series, in which I' m not interested at all
- Lindsay's disability in making DECENT (at least...) arrests, see "The Fifth Rider" too
- Lindsay's poor management of the mobile phone, which makes her look like an truly idiot, puts her life in danger more than once and her relations in peril.
PS: The four stars are in fact just three and (maybe...) a half, but sometimes we have to defend our choices...
December 23, 2022
This book in the Women's Murder Club series was very different from the first 3 books in the series. In this book, Lindsey is put on administrative leave during a trial while she is being investigated for shooting her police gun at two children. The charges are found to be bogus and Lindsey is found to be innocent (no shock there). What makes this book different is that we learn about Lindsey in her free time. In the previous books, besides working A LOT, she dates, cooks amazing meals, works out and hangs out with the girls. However, in this book we suddenly learn that she is a song writer, plays the acoustic guitar, and is a whiz at fixing/repairing old cars. What?!? Did I miss something in the previous books? Also, Martha her dog goes from being sweet, and loyal to being a super-trained sheep herder who enjoys "herding" children for fun. Really?? Where do Lindsey and Martha find time to practice that in San Francisco? Towards the end of the book after what Lindsey believes is an attempted break-in and Martha tries to save her, Lindsey says, "That'll do Martha! That'll do." I found myself chortling here because Patterson had to have been channeling "Babe the Pig" when he wrote that!!! I was shocked to find out who the killers were - never suspected them at all! I have already started reading the 5th book in this series and its style is back to what the earlier books were.
December 18, 2022: It was enjoyable to listen to this book while driving back and forth to work. Martha the Dog was not believable in the book and I think Evanovitch lost her mind a bit while writing the dog in this book. Still enjoyable and I'll be listening to the next book in the series.
December 18, 2022: It was enjoyable to listen to this book while driving back and forth to work. Martha the Dog was not believable in the book and I think Evanovitch lost her mind a bit while writing the dog in this book. Still enjoyable and I'll be listening to the next book in the series.
April 17, 2020
Women's Murder Club #4): The Woman's Murder Club find themselves on the shelf, as this ones all about Lt. Lindsay Boxer as she's in court… accused of murder! A real page-turner from Patterson this time… way, way best in the series so far. 6 out of 12
August 4, 2020
This is the 4th book in the Women's Murder Club series. I still think they killed off the wrong person in the last book, but I really enjoyed this book. Wow... There was a ton of action. I listen to the audiobook, and the narrator was really good. I enjoyed the audiobook. The book as short characters and I think it is a fast read. Great series. (*)
April 13, 2017
I love James Patterson. His style of writing is fun and easy to read. And the Women's Murder Club is great! That said, this book slugged in a few places. Lindsey's trial felt a bit bogged down, and the extra murder investigation didn't get as much of the story as it needed to build suspense.
But, it's still a good addition to the series and worth reading.
But, it's still a good addition to the series and worth reading.
June 9, 2023
Dang! This was the most intense of the series so far and my favorite.
The action was mostly nonstop; The trial was awesome I really could have seen the verdict going either way and it was a shock.
Can't wait to get into book #5!
5 Stars
The action was mostly nonstop; The trial was awesome I really could have seen the verdict going either way and it was a shock.
Can't wait to get into book #5!
5 Stars
November 2, 2019
I hoped to get further into my re-read but stopped here. I forgot how bad the writing and character development is in these books. I managed to get up to the 9th book before and threw in the towel at this point.
There is way too much happening in this one. We have Lindsay on trial after the shooting of two civilians. The case could leave Lindsay bankrupt if the jury rules against her. She and the rest of the ladies of the Women's Murder Club are still reeling from Jill's death in the last book. And there seems to be a serial killer out there killing homeless people, but also linked to a case of Lindsay's from 10 years ago.
No one gets any development in this one besides Lindsay. That's okay, she's the lead, but the whole women getting together to solve crime aspect is missing in this one. Lindsay is on suspension and trying to relax after the shooting and goes to stay at her sister's place in Half Moon Bay. If you were hoping for Lindsay to interact with her sister and maybe talk about their father and what he was involved with, too bad, so sad, not happening.
Lindsay's love interest, Joe, is still around, and able to fly back and forth from D.C. it seems at the drop of a hat.
The reveal behind some of the murders made zero sense and we don't even follow up to figure out if what was being said is true.
We get an introduction to a lawyer named Yuki who Patterson is setting up to be Jill's replacement in the Club. Not too much happening here, and not enough to keep me reading.
There is way too much happening in this one. We have Lindsay on trial after the shooting of two civilians. The case could leave Lindsay bankrupt if the jury rules against her. She and the rest of the ladies of the Women's Murder Club are still reeling from Jill's death in the last book. And there seems to be a serial killer out there killing homeless people, but also linked to a case of Lindsay's from 10 years ago.
No one gets any development in this one besides Lindsay. That's okay, she's the lead, but the whole women getting together to solve crime aspect is missing in this one. Lindsay is on suspension and trying to relax after the shooting and goes to stay at her sister's place in Half Moon Bay. If you were hoping for Lindsay to interact with her sister and maybe talk about their father and what he was involved with, too bad, so sad, not happening.
Lindsay's love interest, Joe, is still around, and able to fly back and forth from D.C. it seems at the drop of a hat.
The reveal behind some of the murders made zero sense and we don't even follow up to figure out if what was being said is true.
We get an introduction to a lawyer named Yuki who Patterson is setting up to be Jill's replacement in the Club. Not too much happening here, and not enough to keep me reading.
February 10, 2024
4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is the 4th book in the Women's Murder Club mystery series. Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is sued after shooting two teenagers in self-defence and while on leave investigates recent homicides linked to a cold case of hers from the past. Another fast paced book that you cannot put down. This time Lindsay is on her own for most of the investigation but comes out on top in the end.
January 10, 2019
Book 4 of the Women’s Murder Club seemed to get back on track for me. Part of this book includes an exciting courtroom drama storyline. Lindsay goes off on her own for a bit and ends up investigating crimes without the girls. 4th of July is back to the fast-paced, what’s going to happen next style I liked about the first couple of books in this series.
October 24, 2020
A strong addition to the Women's Murder Club series. Lindsay Boxer is mostly flying solo in this one and her story line includes a nail biter of a trial, a few visits from her Homeland Honey, and a twisty turny murder cluster in a coastal town. Entertaining with promise of a 4th club member for the 5th book. Yay!
August 20, 2010
So far seems like the same fare from the James Patterson sweat shop as the other novels he has people write for him. Two page chapters make for easy reading. Some of the chapters aren't even a full page. I guess the sweat shop cranks out a hundred pages and then some editorhas to divide it up so it seems like a full book. They will break up moments into a couple single page chapters for some reason.
As for the story itself, I find it hard to believe that everyone forgets she had beend rinking except the people who are suing her. I am pretty sure if you shoot someone in the line of duty there is an investigation by some internal department and they would have questioned her about her blood alcohol.
Also that was the fastest trial date ever set in the history of mankind. In the past Alex Cross novels he had no problem letting the story ran the course over a lond period of time but when you are just churning out books for the money I guess you don't have the time write a full story.
Also when you have people forgetting/misplacing cell phones and guns you really lose credibility with me.
The end of the book was some tacked on garabage. The little girl not only has the details of the next crime she can guide the police to the killers in time to catch them in the act. Truly amazing.
Thank you lending library for saving me money.
As for the story itself, I find it hard to believe that everyone forgets she had beend rinking except the people who are suing her. I am pretty sure if you shoot someone in the line of duty there is an investigation by some internal department and they would have questioned her about her blood alcohol.
Also that was the fastest trial date ever set in the history of mankind. In the past Alex Cross novels he had no problem letting the story ran the course over a lond period of time but when you are just churning out books for the money I guess you don't have the time write a full story.
Also when you have people forgetting/misplacing cell phones and guns you really lose credibility with me.
The end of the book was some tacked on garabage. The little girl not only has the details of the next crime she can guide the police to the killers in time to catch them in the act. Truly amazing.
Thank you lending library for saving me money.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2024
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This series is my easy, cheesy, mindless escape, but this one takes on a little more serious tone. Do I like that this was a little more of a legit novel? Or am I sad that my cheese has been taken away?
The lack of cheese is not the only way in which 4th of July is different from its predecessors. Instead of being a straight police procedural following the "a crime is committed, clues are found, twists are thrown in, the killer is caught" method, this is more of a courtroom drama with a serial killer side-plot woven in to open up a twist ending.
I don't know, dare I say I actually liked this book... like, in a real way?!? Nah...
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
This series is my easy, cheesy, mindless escape, but this one takes on a little more serious tone. Do I like that this was a little more of a legit novel? Or am I sad that my cheese has been taken away?
The lack of cheese is not the only way in which 4th of July is different from its predecessors. Instead of being a straight police procedural following the "a crime is committed, clues are found, twists are thrown in, the killer is caught" method, this is more of a courtroom drama with a serial killer side-plot woven in to open up a twist ending.
I don't know, dare I say I actually liked this book... like, in a real way?!? Nah...
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
March 10, 2018
Not my favorite Women's Murder Club novel but definitely not the worst. Overall decent. The story was divided into 2 plots. The first plot being Lindsay's trial and the second being a murder case. I didn't like the constant back and forth between the trial and the case since there wasn't a connection between the two. I found that both plots wrapped up very quickly and I would have liked to know more about the murderers and their reasons for doing what they did.
Maxine Paetro picks up the series from Andrew Gross. She introduces a new character, Yuki Castellano, who ends up joining the club and they become close.
The bulk of this book features Lindsay on trial for a wrongful death suit. The courtroom stuff was a which is to say it was obviously dramatized but sufficiently convincing to me.
There was the obligatory serial killer plot thrown in, with a decent twist ending. I'm not the best at guessing who the killers are but they always hide in plain sight and follow the book version of Ebert's Law of Economy of Characters. ("All characters in a movie are necessary to the story - even those who do not seem to be. Sophisticated viewers can use this Law to deduce the identity of the person being kept secret by the movie's plot: this 'mystery' person is always the only character in the movie who seems otherwise extraneous. Cf. the friendly neighbor.")
Joe Molinari, Lindsey's love interest, reappears periodically to visit with Lindsay (he's in DC, she's in SF) but their relationship doesn't really move forward at this time. I'd like to see them working together again. I'm still trying to get all caught up. I'm filling a hole here, I haven't been reading them in order, so will be sporadic for a little longer. Recommend.
Maxine Paetro picks up the series from Andrew Gross. She introduces a new character, Yuki Castellano, who ends up joining the club and they become close.
The bulk of this book features Lindsay on trial for a wrongful death suit. The courtroom stuff was a which is to say it was obviously dramatized but sufficiently convincing to me.
There was the obligatory serial killer plot thrown in, with a decent twist ending. I'm not the best at guessing who the killers are but they always hide in plain sight and follow the book version of Ebert's Law of Economy of Characters. ("All characters in a movie are necessary to the story - even those who do not seem to be. Sophisticated viewers can use this Law to deduce the identity of the person being kept secret by the movie's plot: this 'mystery' person is always the only character in the movie who seems otherwise extraneous. Cf. the friendly neighbor.")
Joe Molinari, Lindsey's love interest, reappears periodically to visit with Lindsay (he's in DC, she's in SF) but their relationship doesn't really move forward at this time. I'd like to see them working together again. I'm still trying to get all caught up. I'm filling a hole here, I haven't been reading them in order, so will be sporadic for a little longer. Recommend.
March 25, 2017
Wow, didn't see that one coming. As usual, this series has got me picking up the next book in anticipation. The last book we lost one girl, this book, we seem to have adopted another in the women's murder club. Not all the girls assist Lindsay in this brutal crime but she holds her own. Her and her partner are shot down, but it didn't stop either of them from solving the crime after recovery. Lindsay is then put on trial and I have to say, I LOVED IT. One of the better novels of the women's murder club.
July 8, 2017
Η υπαστυνόμος Λίνζι Μπόξερ καταδιώκει υπόπτους για μια υπόθεση δολοφονιών και ανακαλύπτει πως πρόκειται για ανήλικους εφήβους, οι οποίοι επιπλέον την πυροβολούν! Η Μπόξερ επιτίθεται εν αμύνη, με αποτέλεσμα το κορίτσι να σκοτωθεί και το αγόρι να μείνει παράλυτο σε όλη του τη ζωή. Σα να μη φτάναν όλα αυτά, στη Λίνζι Μπόξερ ασκείται αγωγή από τους γονείς του αγοριού, μια κίνηση που κινδυνεύει να τινάξει στον άερα όλη της την καριέρα και τη ζωή. Πάνω στην ώρα, η αδελφή της, Κατ, της προτείνει να ξεκουραστεί στο εξοχικό της, στο Χαφ Μουν Μπέι και να ανασυντάξει τις δυνάμεις της. Εκεί όμως εμφανίζεται ένας κατά συρροήν δολοφόνος που αφήνει ίχνη παρόμοια με την πρώτη υπόθεση δολοφονίας που ανέλαβε η Μπόξερ δέκα χρόνια πριν κι η οποία παραμένει άλυτη!
Μετά το αξεπέραστο προηγούμενο βιβλίο της σειράς, «Το τρίτο χτύπημα», εδώ παρατήρησα μια κάθετη πτώση στην πρωτοτυπία και τις ανατροπές. Εκτός του ότι το μισό σχεδόν βιβλίο είναι τα πρακτικά μιας δίκης, γραμμένα μεν με συναρπαστικό τρόπο, νομικές ορολογίες που βοηθούν στο σασπένς κλπ. όμως έχουμε στατικές εικόνες και σκηνικά, το υπόλοιπο βιβλίο είναι η εξιχνίαση των δολοφονιών σε μια περιοχή εκτός δικαιοδοσίας της Μπόξερ, η οποία επιπλέον έχει προσωρινά παυθεί από την ενεργό δράση ως την απόφαση των ενόρκων. Η κεντρική ιδέα των δολοφονιών είναι αρκετά ανατριχιαστική και δείχνει πως σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις ο άνθρωπος οδηγείται να πάρει τον νόμο στα χέρια του, όσο κι αν αυτό είναι ηθικά και ανθρωπιστικά μεμπτό. Κατά τα άλλα, η Γυναικεία Λέσχη απλώς δείχνει τη συμπαράστασή της στην Μπόξερ ενώ η δικηγόρος της, Γιούκι Καστελάνο, εντάσσεται σταδιακά ως τέταρτο μέλος στην παρέα μετά τη δολοφονία της εισαγγελέως στο προηγούμενο βιβλίο και ο Τζο Μολινάρι μόλις βρίσκει χρόνο στέκεται στο πλάι της γυναίκας που αγαπάει.
Από την άλλη, η υπόθεση λύνεται με έναν περίεργο κατ’ εμέ τρόπο, σχεδόν εντελώς συμπτωματικά, έτσι που δείχνει πως ο πανούργος ως τότε δολοφόνος απλώς αφαιρείται! Επίσης, δεν κατάλαβα πώς γίνεται και γιατί ένας μικρός χαρακτήρας να οδηγεί την Μπόξερ ακριβώς την ώρα που διαπτράττονται τα εγκλήματα. Και μάλιστα χωρίς αυτός ο χαρακτήρας να δείχνει ότι έχει ψυχολογικά προβλήματα και ότι όλα αυτά που ζούσε (;) τον επηρέσασαν ψυχολογικά. Ένιωσα λες και διάβαζα το «Άσε το κακό να μπει» που εκεί δικαιολγοημένα κάτι τέτοιο φάνηκε αληθινό. Για να μη θυμηθώ την έκφραση: «Η μέρα ξετυλίχτηκε σαν κίτρινη πετσέτα θαλάσσης» (σελ. 106). Περιμένω με μεγάλη αγωνία να διαβάσω το πέμπτο βιβλίο της σειράς και ευελπιστώ κάποια στιγμή να ζήσουμε μια περιπέτεια με πρωταγωνίστρια και κάποιες άλλες από τις κοπέλες.
Μετά το αξεπέραστο προηγούμενο βιβλίο της σειράς, «Το τρίτο χτύπημα», εδώ παρατήρησα μια κάθετη πτώση στην πρωτοτυπία και τις ανατροπές. Εκτός του ότι το μισό σχεδόν βιβλίο είναι τα πρακτικά μιας δίκης, γραμμένα μεν με συναρπαστικό τρόπο, νομικές ορολογίες που βοηθούν στο σασπένς κλπ. όμως έχουμε στατικές εικόνες και σκηνικά, το υπόλοιπο βιβλίο είναι η εξιχνίαση των δολοφονιών σε μια περιοχή εκτός δικαιοδοσίας της Μπόξερ, η οποία επιπλέον έχει προσωρινά παυθεί από την ενεργό δράση ως την απόφαση των ενόρκων. Η κεντρική ιδέα των δολοφονιών είναι αρκετά ανατριχιαστική και δείχνει πως σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις ο άνθρωπος οδηγείται να πάρει τον νόμο στα χέρια του, όσο κι αν αυτό είναι ηθικά και ανθρωπιστικά μεμπτό. Κατά τα άλλα, η Γυναικεία Λέσχη απλώς δείχνει τη συμπαράστασή της στην Μπόξερ ενώ η δικηγόρος της, Γιούκι Καστελάνο, εντάσσεται σταδιακά ως τέταρτο μέλος στην παρέα μετά τη δολοφονία της εισαγγελέως στο προηγούμενο βιβλίο και ο Τζο Μολινάρι μόλις βρίσκει χρόνο στέκεται στο πλάι της γυναίκας που αγαπάει.
Από την άλλη, η υπόθεση λύνεται με έναν περίεργο κατ’ εμέ τρόπο, σχεδόν εντελώς συμπτωματικά, έτσι που δείχνει πως ο πανούργος ως τότε δολοφόνος απλώς αφαιρείται! Επίσης, δεν κατάλαβα πώς γίνεται και γιατί ένας μικρός χαρακτήρας να οδηγεί την Μπόξερ ακριβώς την ώρα που διαπτράττονται τα εγκλήματα. Και μάλιστα χωρίς αυτός ο χαρακτήρας να δείχνει ότι έχει ψυχολογικά προβλήματα και ότι όλα αυτά που ζούσε (;) τον επηρέσασαν ψυχολογικά. Ένιωσα λες και διάβαζα το «Άσε το κακό να μπει» που εκεί δικαιολγοημένα κάτι τέτοιο φάνηκε αληθινό. Για να μη θυμηθώ την έκφραση: «Η μέρα ξετυλίχτηκε σαν κίτρινη πετσέτα θαλάσσης» (σελ. 106). Περιμένω με μεγάλη αγωνία να διαβάσω το πέμπτο βιβλίο της σειράς και ευελπιστώ κάποια στιγμή να ζήσουμε μια περιπέτεια με πρωταγωνίστρια και κάποιες άλλες από τις κοπέλες.
March 25, 2008
Maxine Paetro picks up the series from Andrew Gross. She introduces a new character, Yuki Castellano, who I think might end up joining the Club.
The bulk of this book features Lindsay on trial for a wrongful death suit. The courtroom stuff was about as good as in an episode of Law & Order, which is to say it was obviously dramatized but sufficiently convincing to me.
There was the obligatory serial killer plot thrown in, with a decent twist ending. I'm not great at guessing who the killers are but they always hide in plain sight and follow the book version of Ebert's Law of Economy of Characters. ("All characters in a movie are necessary to the story - even those who do not seem to be. Sophisticated viewers can use this Law to deduce the identity of the person being kept secret by the movie's plot: this 'mystery' person is always the only character in the movie who seems otherwise extraneous. Cf. the friendly neighbor.")
Joe Molinari, the love interest from Book 3, reappears periodically to jump into bed with Lindsay (he's in DC, she's in SF) but their relationship doesn't really move forward. I'd like to see them working together again.
The bulk of this book features Lindsay on trial for a wrongful death suit. The courtroom stuff was about as good as in an episode of Law & Order, which is to say it was obviously dramatized but sufficiently convincing to me.
There was the obligatory serial killer plot thrown in, with a decent twist ending. I'm not great at guessing who the killers are but they always hide in plain sight and follow the book version of Ebert's Law of Economy of Characters. ("All characters in a movie are necessary to the story - even those who do not seem to be. Sophisticated viewers can use this Law to deduce the identity of the person being kept secret by the movie's plot: this 'mystery' person is always the only character in the movie who seems otherwise extraneous. Cf. the friendly neighbor.")
Joe Molinari, the love interest from Book 3, reappears periodically to jump into bed with Lindsay (he's in DC, she's in SF) but their relationship doesn't really move forward. I'd like to see them working together again.
March 5, 2020
The first book was fantastic, 2-4 were just mediocre. I think I’m going to give “The 5th Horseman” a try and unless it’s mind-blowing then maybe take a little break from the series!
3 stars, full review to come.
3 stars, full review to come.
May 13, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
Review pending.
*****update*****
I liked Jill's replacement. I also liked having Lindsay be off duty for this one.
Review pending.
*****update*****
I liked Jill's replacement. I also liked having Lindsay be off duty for this one.
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