1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1)

Title: 1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2001

Date read: 5th November 2004

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Detective

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"1st to Die" by James Patterson is the inaugural novel in the popular Women's Murder Club series. The story introduces four distinct women who come together to solve a horrifying series of murders plaguing San Francisco.

The central figure is **Lindsay Boxer**, a homicide inspector for the San Francisco Police Department. She's a seasoned detective, but her life takes a dramatic turn when she's diagnosed with a serious and rare blood disorder, forcing her to confront her own mortality while battling a formidable killer.

The case that draws her in involves a series of brutal murders of newlywed couples. The crimes are particularly gruesome, leaving the police baffled and the city terrified. As Lindsay and her new partner, Chris Raleigh, investigate, traditional police procedures aren't yielding results.

Frustrated by the lack of progress and seeking new perspectives, Lindsay informally teams up with three other professional women:
• Claire Washburn**, a sharp-witted medical examiner who provides crucial forensic insights.
• Cindy Thomas, a determined crime reporter who uses her journalistic skills to dig up information and connect the dots.
• Jill Bernhardt, an ambitious Assistant District Attorney who offers legal expertise and helps navigate the complexities of the justice system.

These four women form an unconventional "Women's Murder Club," collaborating outside official channels to pool their unique skills, share clues, and brainstorm theories. As they delve deeper into the twisted mind of the killer, they uncover shocking secrets and face unexpected twists, all while navigating their personal lives and forming a strong bond of friendship.

Comments:
Like so many books, I read this so long ago that I am currently struggling to remember the plot. I do, however, remember having to go out and get a copy of the 2nd Chance before I had even finished this one.

Books that we've read by James Patterson (32):
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1) (1993), Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2) (1995), Jack & Jill (Alex Cross, #3) (1996), Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross, #4) (1997), Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross, #5) (1999), Roses Are Red (Alex Cross, #6) (2000), 1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1) (2001), Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, #7) (2001), 2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2) (2002), Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross, #8) (2002), The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross, #9) (2003), The Jester (2003), 3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club, #3) (2004), London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10) (2004), 4th of July (Women's Murder Club, #4) (2005), Mary, Mary (Alex Cross, #11) (2005), 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club, #5) (2006), Cross (Alex Cross, #12) (2006), The 6th Target (Women's Murder Club, #6) (2007), Double Cross (Alex Cross, #13) (2007), 7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club, #7) (2008), Cross Country (Alex Cross, #14) (2008), 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club, #8) (2009), Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross, #15) (2009), I, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #16) (2009), The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club, #9) (2010), Cross Fire (Alex Cross, #17) (2010), 10th Anniversary (Women's Murder Club, #10) (2011), Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #18) (2011), 11th Hour (Women's Murder Club, #11) (2012), Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #19) (2012), Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, #20) (2013)