The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club, #9)

Title: The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club, #9)

Author: James Patterson

Published in: 2010

Date read: 1st December 2015

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Detective

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The 9th Judgment" by James Patterson (co-authored with Maxine Paetro) finds Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer facing one of her most disturbing and perplexing cases yet, as a serial killer targets entire families, while a new wave of jewel thefts also demands her attention.

The story opens with a horrific discovery: a seemingly idyllic San Francisco family, including their young children, is found brutally murdered in their home. This is not an isolated incident. Soon after, another family, equally innocent, suffers the same devastating fate. The method of killing is chillingly precise, leaving little forensic evidence, and no apparent motive. The killer, dubbed "The Family Man," seems to wipe out entire households without a trace, sending shockwaves of terror through the city.

Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is assigned to lead the investigation, but the lack of clues and the sheer brutality of the crimes make it an incredibly difficult and emotionally draining case. The pressure on the police department is immense, as citizens fear their own families could be next.

Adding to the chaos, a series of high-profile, daring jewellery heists begin to occur across San Francisco. These robberies are sophisticated and meticulously planned, suggesting a professional and highly organised crew. While seemingly unrelated to the family murders, Lindsay and her team find themselves stretched thin trying to investigate both escalating crime waves.

As "The Family Man" continues his reign of terror, and the jewel thieves grow bolder, the Women's Murder Club must work against time to connect the seemingly disparate threads of the investigations. They begin to uncover a chilling link between the victims, leading them to a revelation that is as surprising as it is terrifying, forcing them to confront a truly remorseless and cunning killer. The book combines intense police procedural elements with the evolving personal lives and unwavering bond of the four friends.

Comments:
Great story - just "different enough" to not be repetitive. These books are more like an emotional reset tool, a comfort blanket to the soul.

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)