2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2)

Title: 2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2002

Date read: 28th November 2004

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Detective

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"2nd Chance" by James Patterson (co-authored with Andrew Gross) is the second instalment in the Women's Murder Club series, bringing back the beloved quartet of professional women to tackle a new and chilling case.

The story begins with a horrifying incident: a brutal shooting at a San Francisco church, where a young girl is tragically killed. While many quickly label it a random act of violence, Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer** of the SFPD, still reeling from her previous case, senses something far more sinister and intentional.

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that this isn't an isolated incident. More victims, seemingly unconnected, begin to appear, and Lindsay realizes there's a pattern pointing towards a cunning and racially motivated serial killer. The clues left behind by the murderer are baffling, and the official police force struggles to make progress.

Once again, Lindsay turns to her trusted friends in the Women's Murder Club for their unique perspectives and skills:
• Claire Washburn, the medical examiner, provides crucial forensic insights that help connect the seemingly disparate murders.
• Cindy Thomas, the crime reporter, uses her journalistic network and investigative prowess to uncover hidden details and potential motives.
• Jill Bernhardt, the Assistant District Attorney, offers legal expertise and helps navigate the complex legal landscape of the case, even as she deals with significant personal challenges.

The killer, dubbed "Chimera," appears to be targeting individuals with connections to the police force, raising the stakes and making the case deeply personal for Lindsay and her friends. As they delve deeper, they uncover a terrifying motive rooted in a past injustice, and the race is on to unmask the killer before another life is taken, potentially one of their own. The book blends the fast-paced thriller elements with the continuing development of the Women's Murder Club's personal lives and their strong bond of friendship.

Comments:
This is the book in which this series really gets going. The Alex Cross books were more popular and supposedly better, but in this book, the tables. turn.

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)