10th Anniversary

April 15, 2011

Gone, baby, gone. Patterson's tenth novel in the Women's Murder Club (WMC) series (after The 9th Judgment) opens with a missing baby. Sgt. Lindsay Boxer is assigned a case that leaves her little time to enjoy her new marriage. A nearly naked teenage girl, bleeding and incoherent, is found stumbling out of the woods by passing motorists. Hospital tests reveal that she had recently given birth. So where is the baby? Meanwhile, Boxer's friend, attorney Yuki Castellano, is prosecuting the case of a doctor accused of murdering her husband. But did she really do it? Castellano is unhappy when Boxer starts questioning the foundations of her case. Another friend, crime reporter Cindy Thomas, might have gotten herself in too deep when she starts investigating a local rapist. VERDICT Patterson and coauthor Paetro spin a fast-paced triple mystery that expertly weaves the stories together. It is the distinct yet complementary personalities of the WMC members that make the story's heart beat. Highly recommended for series fans as well as readers who enjoy David Baldacci, Patricia Cornwell, and John Grisham.--Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s., MD

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2011
The tenth entry in Pattersons Womens Murder Club series opens with the wedding of Sergeant Lindsay Boxer to her longtime love, Joe Molinari. Soon after exchanging vows with Joe, Lindsay is on the trail of a missing baby whose 15-year-old mother was found wandering the streets in the rain, dazed and disoriented. ADA Yuki Castellano is trying an important case that could make or break her career; it involves a wealthy doctor accused of fatally shooting her unfaithful husband in cold blood. Yuki is none too pleased when Lindsay looks into the case at the behest of the womans attorney, but Yuki has a secret of her own: shes started dating Lindsays boss. Reporter Cindy Thomas is working on a story about several women who have been drugged and raped in the San Francisco area, but the big lead she uncovers threatens to make her a target. With the quick pace and short, sharp chapters readers have come to expect, Patterson and Paetros latest will keep fans of the series turning pages long into the night. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Ten is a landmark number, and the bestselling Patterson franchise will make sure fans of the Womens Murder Club series celebrate with this anniversary thriller. The web site even offers a recipe for a MURDERtini.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)