What do you think?
Rate this book
Women's Murder Club #17
The 17th Suspect
In this #1 NYT bestseller, Sergeant Lindsay Boxer puts her life on the line to protect San Francisco from a shrewd and unpredictable killer.
When a series of shootings exposes San Francisco to a mysterious killer, a reluctant woman decides to put her trust in Sergeant Lindsay Boxer. The confidential informant's tip leads Lindsay to a disturbing conclusion: something has gone horribly wrong inside the police department.
The hunt for the killer lures Lindsay out of her jurisdiction and impacts her in dangerous ways. She suffers unsettling medical symptoms, and her friends in the Women's Murder Club warn her against taking the crimes to heart. But with lives at stake, the detective can't help but follow the case into terrifying terrain.
A decorated officer, loving wife, devoted mother, and loyal friend, Lindsay has always acted with unwavering integrity. But now she is confronting a killer who is determined to undermine it all.
When a series of shootings exposes San Francisco to a mysterious killer, a reluctant woman decides to put her trust in Sergeant Lindsay Boxer. The confidential informant's tip leads Lindsay to a disturbing conclusion: something has gone horribly wrong inside the police department.
The hunt for the killer lures Lindsay out of her jurisdiction and impacts her in dangerous ways. She suffers unsettling medical symptoms, and her friends in the Women's Murder Club warn her against taking the crimes to heart. But with lives at stake, the detective can't help but follow the case into terrifying terrain.
A decorated officer, loving wife, devoted mother, and loyal friend, Lindsay has always acted with unwavering integrity. But now she is confronting a killer who is determined to undermine it all.
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2018
12931 people are currently reading
30951 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
938 books355k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of 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 and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,090 reviews
March 9, 2018
A longtime fan of the Women’s Murder Club series, I was pleased to get my hands on its seventeenth instalment. James Patterson and Maxine Paetro have been able to keep the momentum up throughout the years and keep the reader highly entertained. When ADA Yuki Castellano learns that a man is seeking to press charges of rape against his female superior, she’s intrigued and ready to take it to the Grand Jury. Believing that she can make the case, Yuki puts all her efforts into selling it, hoping to dispel the stigma that surrounds sexual assaults with male victims, while bringing justice to someone who feels violated. Meanwhile, on her way to the office, Sergeant Lindsay Boxer encounters a homeless woman who shares a disturbing tale; other transient people have been gunned down over the past month and the police are doing nothing. Boxer begins to look into this, only to discover that two homicide detectives appear to be dragging their feet due to the less than upstanding nature of the victims. Boxer is prepared to go to war and will stop at nothing, even when it dredges up old family politics. When Yuki heads to trial with the rape charge, she is left wondering if she made the right choice, as the evidence begins to muddy the original narrative, though she is not ready to give up just yet. Boxer seeks justice for the homeless, even as the killer lurks in the shadows and has developed a personal vendetta against her. With Lindsay and Yuki both facing personal issues of their own, they cannot let their home lives cloud the cases before them, for these are women who refuse to be victims. Patterson and Paetro deliver a wonderful addition to the series and keep fans quite impressed with the annual gift of another thriller. Recommended to those who enjoy the Women’s Murder Club, as well as readers looking for something light and entertaining.
While this series has been developing for years, it has not lost its lustre. Fans will enjoy having seen the foursome who dub themselves the ‘Murder Club’ grow and develop on their own. Patterson and Paetro not only keep their characters fresh, but also the crimes that fill the pages of each book, taking an interesting spin on events in San Francisco. Lindsay Boxer is, as always, the central character in the series and her dedication to the badge is never in question. She shoots from the hip and gets to the core of the matter, while always having something going on in her personal life to show the reader that she’s human as well. More personal development and a few spikes to keep her character interesting occur throughout, though the reader may be seeking a real shake-up before too long. Yuki Castellano moves to the forefront here, showing her legal skills and trying to impress not only her boss but the others in the Club. While usually a hardworking wallflower, Yuki has made a name for herself and keeps the reader hoping that she will succeed, even when things do not appear to be going her way. Some personal life struggles keep her from being the confident woman her friends know is within her, but it is surely within her grasp, given time. The story was decent and just what one might expect in a Women’s Murder Club piece. Two narratives running parallel that keep the reader entertained and the characters busy, helps pass the time, without taxing the brain too much. Incremental personal epiphanies help shape the central characters and have allowed the authors to keep stacking on new angles with each passing novel. Those familiar with the series (and Patterson) will be pleased to see those short, cliffhanger chapters that propel the story forward and keep the reader wanting to indulge in just a little more. Pleasantly, this is one series that Patterson has not allowed to go stale, with fresh ideas and a great collaborator working alongside him. One can only hope that as the novel count mounts, the stories will remain just as exciting.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madame Paetro, as you dazzle with yet another collaborative success. I am eager to see what else you have in store for us, Club or BookShot related.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
While this series has been developing for years, it has not lost its lustre. Fans will enjoy having seen the foursome who dub themselves the ‘Murder Club’ grow and develop on their own. Patterson and Paetro not only keep their characters fresh, but also the crimes that fill the pages of each book, taking an interesting spin on events in San Francisco. Lindsay Boxer is, as always, the central character in the series and her dedication to the badge is never in question. She shoots from the hip and gets to the core of the matter, while always having something going on in her personal life to show the reader that she’s human as well. More personal development and a few spikes to keep her character interesting occur throughout, though the reader may be seeking a real shake-up before too long. Yuki Castellano moves to the forefront here, showing her legal skills and trying to impress not only her boss but the others in the Club. While usually a hardworking wallflower, Yuki has made a name for herself and keeps the reader hoping that she will succeed, even when things do not appear to be going her way. Some personal life struggles keep her from being the confident woman her friends know is within her, but it is surely within her grasp, given time. The story was decent and just what one might expect in a Women’s Murder Club piece. Two narratives running parallel that keep the reader entertained and the characters busy, helps pass the time, without taxing the brain too much. Incremental personal epiphanies help shape the central characters and have allowed the authors to keep stacking on new angles with each passing novel. Those familiar with the series (and Patterson) will be pleased to see those short, cliffhanger chapters that propel the story forward and keep the reader wanting to indulge in just a little more. Pleasantly, this is one series that Patterson has not allowed to go stale, with fresh ideas and a great collaborator working alongside him. One can only hope that as the novel count mounts, the stories will remain just as exciting.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madame Paetro, as you dazzle with yet another collaborative success. I am eager to see what else you have in store for us, Club or BookShot related.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 2, 2018
3.5 stars.
I’m struggling lately to give any of Patterson’s books more than 3.5 stars. His books are like Writing 101, churned out to the tune of the same template over and over. I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager and discovered Along Came A Spider though, so I’m really reluctant to throw the towel in completely with either Alex Cross or Women’s Murder Club. I’ve given up on everything else that is thrown out with his name attached, but I’ve hung in there with these two series. I’m just not sure for how much longer I will continue 🤔
I’m struggling lately to give any of Patterson’s books more than 3.5 stars. His books are like Writing 101, churned out to the tune of the same template over and over. I’ve been a fan since I was a teenager and discovered Along Came A Spider though, so I’m really reluctant to throw the towel in completely with either Alex Cross or Women’s Murder Club. I’ve given up on everything else that is thrown out with his name attached, but I’ve hung in there with these two series. I’m just not sure for how much longer I will continue 🤔
June 9, 2021
I’ve always liked James Patterson’s style – fun and light with short chapters that make for a quick read. Two of my favorite series are Alex Cross and the Women’s Murder Club. But lately something’s been off. I’m finding myself intrigued enough to start the book, but then it doesn’t hold my attention enough to be compelled to finish it. Usually, it’s past bedtime and I’m eagerly reading just a few more of those super short chapters until I can no longer keep my eyes open. Now, I pick up other books first and when I get back to Patterson, I get back to him. Like other reviewers have said, maybe it’s time for this series to wrap up.
The latest installment of The Women’s Murder Club was an all right read and an improvement over book 16. I found the male rape case storyline the more compelling storyline of the two, even though it was predictable. The serial murderer case was also predictable, but more conspicuously just lacking in everything: investigation, suspects, suspense, and collaboration of the WMC to solve the case. I was disappointed that only 2 of the 4 ladies had roles in this book, Yuki and Lindsay, and the other 2 barely earned mentions. The resolutions to both storylines were anticlimactic; I had been hoping for an exciting finish filled with twists to make up for an otherwise ho-hum read. No such luck though, leaving me to rate this 2.5 stars which I will generously round up to 3. I am invested in this series and I will read book 18 despite the few misses lately. I have high hopes that James Patterson and Maxine Paetro can get this series back on track.
The latest installment of The Women’s Murder Club was an all right read and an improvement over book 16. I found the male rape case storyline the more compelling storyline of the two, even though it was predictable. The serial murderer case was also predictable, but more conspicuously just lacking in everything: investigation, suspects, suspense, and collaboration of the WMC to solve the case. I was disappointed that only 2 of the 4 ladies had roles in this book, Yuki and Lindsay, and the other 2 barely earned mentions. The resolutions to both storylines were anticlimactic; I had been hoping for an exciting finish filled with twists to make up for an otherwise ho-hum read. No such luck though, leaving me to rate this 2.5 stars which I will generously round up to 3. I am invested in this series and I will read book 18 despite the few misses lately. I have high hopes that James Patterson and Maxine Paetro can get this series back on track.
February 15, 2018
Wow, did I just go on an all night emotional rollercoaster or what?! I am so thankful that I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review! I am in total fangirl status right now! The Women's Murder Club Series is the series that rekindled my LOVE for reading. I was slumping around the house and binging on Netflix 24/7 because of some new chronic illnesses. I was just in a total fog and numbed out completely. I got a recommendation from a friend about this series and decided why not try it? I purchased First to Die by James Patterson and fell head over heels in LOVE with these characters. I LOVED everything about the book and read it within a day and proceeded to read all of the series within a month. I still recall all the details of every book in the series and that's when you know a book series is one that you absolutely adore! Well rest assured fans that Patterson and Paetro blew this latest installment out of the water! The characterisation was amazing! I mean, what's not to love about 4 strong and independent leading ladies with their own awesome and custom personalities?
This particular Women's Murder Club book was more special than it's been in years. There is some big game changers in this installment. This novel is focused primarily on Lindsay and Yuki's current situations. As the reader, you get to experience an insane and cringeworthy courtroom case with Yuki and a twisty serial killer case with Lindsay. I enjoyed racing through this novel with not only their intense cases but their intense life experiences! I did not see any of the many twists coming and can't wait for the next installment! If you have read any of these novels, the latest Women's Murder Club installment is not to be missed!!!
This particular Women's Murder Club book was more special than it's been in years. There is some big game changers in this installment. This novel is focused primarily on Lindsay and Yuki's current situations. As the reader, you get to experience an insane and cringeworthy courtroom case with Yuki and a twisty serial killer case with Lindsay. I enjoyed racing through this novel with not only their intense cases but their intense life experiences! I did not see any of the many twists coming and can't wait for the next installment! If you have read any of these novels, the latest Women's Murder Club installment is not to be missed!!!
February 1, 2024
A trial that promises to be “a media supermagnet: a sex scandal with radical social implications”
Ladies and gentlemen, meet THE WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB - Lindsay Boxer, police sergeant and homicide detective; Yuki Castellano, prosecutor and assistant district attorney; Claire Washburn, medical examiner and forensic scientist; Cindy Thomas, writer and investigative journalist. Their novels are as predictably formulaic as the proverbial Hallmark movie but that formula (as of the writing of THE 17TH SUSPECT) is working like a well-oiled high speed machine so don’t expect authors Paetro and Patterson to be breaking the pattern any time soon.
Think of a WMC novel as a mash-up of two or three novellas or short stories, each involving one of the WMC ladies as a lead protagonist – a murder, trial or legal issue, medical drama, rape, breaking news story, kidnapping, bombing, arson, social issue … you get the idea. The stories weave in and out of one another in real time to produce a single larger novel but the interaction between stories is typically minor, incidental, or coincidental.
Sprinkle in a generous helping of personal issues interrupting the ladies’ professional lives – marital difficulties; flagging sex lives; questions of professional integrity or self esteem; pregnancy; professional discord in their employment; divorce or separation; commitment; changing personal objectives; morality … once again, all pretty predictable stuff!
Last but not least, toss in at least one or two coffee klatch, dinner and drinks, or purely pub meetings over booze during which the ladies meet and discuss their issues and brainstorm potential ideas and solutions with one another.
In a pretty real sense, if you’ve read one WMC novel, you’ve read them all but, darn it, they’re entertaining as hell, they manage to be quite gripping, and THE 17TH SUSPECT is no exception to this astonishing string of successes. The story lines in this one? First, the trial of a female executive accused of rape by her male subordinate and, second, the story of a serial murderer targeting homeless victims and the apparent lack of interest by the police force in solving the crimes because the victims have no standing in society. And how about those personal issues? Is Yuki’s marriage on the rocks? Is Lindsay pregnant? How will she fare in the face of an Internal Affairs investigation into her alleged jurisdictional interference in the investigation of another part of the SFPD?
Definitely recommended. Read it and enjoy!
Paul Weiss
Ladies and gentlemen, meet THE WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB - Lindsay Boxer, police sergeant and homicide detective; Yuki Castellano, prosecutor and assistant district attorney; Claire Washburn, medical examiner and forensic scientist; Cindy Thomas, writer and investigative journalist. Their novels are as predictably formulaic as the proverbial Hallmark movie but that formula (as of the writing of THE 17TH SUSPECT) is working like a well-oiled high speed machine so don’t expect authors Paetro and Patterson to be breaking the pattern any time soon.
Think of a WMC novel as a mash-up of two or three novellas or short stories, each involving one of the WMC ladies as a lead protagonist – a murder, trial or legal issue, medical drama, rape, breaking news story, kidnapping, bombing, arson, social issue … you get the idea. The stories weave in and out of one another in real time to produce a single larger novel but the interaction between stories is typically minor, incidental, or coincidental.
Sprinkle in a generous helping of personal issues interrupting the ladies’ professional lives – marital difficulties; flagging sex lives; questions of professional integrity or self esteem; pregnancy; professional discord in their employment; divorce or separation; commitment; changing personal objectives; morality … once again, all pretty predictable stuff!
Last but not least, toss in at least one or two coffee klatch, dinner and drinks, or purely pub meetings over booze during which the ladies meet and discuss their issues and brainstorm potential ideas and solutions with one another.
In a pretty real sense, if you’ve read one WMC novel, you’ve read them all but, darn it, they’re entertaining as hell, they manage to be quite gripping, and THE 17TH SUSPECT is no exception to this astonishing string of successes. The story lines in this one? First, the trial of a female executive accused of rape by her male subordinate and, second, the story of a serial murderer targeting homeless victims and the apparent lack of interest by the police force in solving the crimes because the victims have no standing in society. And how about those personal issues? Is Yuki’s marriage on the rocks? Is Lindsay pregnant? How will she fare in the face of an Internal Affairs investigation into her alleged jurisdictional interference in the investigation of another part of the SFPD?
Definitely recommended. Read it and enjoy!
Paul Weiss
August 31, 2022
Book Blog | Bookstagram
“He’s a terrible writer, but he’s very successful.” – Stephen King on James Patterson.
I continue to read this series because it’s easy to listen to on audio at work and because I have a sick fascination with seeing how terrible things can get for the members of the Women’s Murder Club.
The 17th Suspect (these titles make less sense each time) is, in fact, the seventeenth book in the series. And at this point, it’s laughable the amount of terrible happenstance befall this one small group of people. I mean honestly. Having baby’s in blackout storms, being blown up in a terrorist attack, being stalked, attempted murder, attempted rape, and battling deadly diseases. Not to mention all of the eye-roll-inducing relationship and friendship issues that make me want to barf.
That being said, of all the shitty installments we’ve gotten from this series, I will say this one was less shitty – which is the same thing I said about #16 so maybe things are finally coming up Milhouse!
There are still multiple storylines – something I usually don’t like – but in this book, it feels much more separated and easy to keep track of. Lindsay is investigating what she believes is a serial killer of homeless people. And Yuki is going full bore in a rape case where the accused rapist is a woman.
Yuki's case was the most interesting to me and definitely had a nice twist to it. I’m still not sure why Yuki is consistently written as literally the dumbest prosecutor in the entire U.S. justice system??? The woman has the parachute but is missing the ripcord if you know what I mean. Something even the defence attorneys say to her face but in more subtle terms.
And no spoilers but Lindsay is super sick this time around. She’s worried it may be a deadly disease she used to have, but beat. I have literally no memory of her ever having this disease and I’m not sure if my memory is failing me or if the author(s) is just throwing something dramatic in and hoping no one notices the canon inconsistency. Who knows? I smoke a lot of weed. I don't know anymore.
I mean there are seventeen of these bad boys - who is actually going to remember everything?
Overall, is this a good book? No. But it’s okay.
Patterson and Co. still create emotions/interactions that feel soap-opera-y and juvenile, but some of it was toned down finally. The cases are still tame and in abundance and simple, but there’s hardly enough time to create plotlines with depth when these novels have such a quick turnaround.
If you like easy mysteries this is for you. If you’ve been reading this series forever because you consider yourself a fan in too deep to get out now, this is for you. If you enjoy a decent hate-read, this is for you. If your time is too precious and your TBR is too big, skip everything Patterson for the love of all that is still good in this messed-up world.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
“He’s a terrible writer, but he’s very successful.” – Stephen King on James Patterson.
I continue to read this series because it’s easy to listen to on audio at work and because I have a sick fascination with seeing how terrible things can get for the members of the Women’s Murder Club.
The 17th Suspect (these titles make less sense each time) is, in fact, the seventeenth book in the series. And at this point, it’s laughable the amount of terrible happenstance befall this one small group of people. I mean honestly. Having baby’s in blackout storms, being blown up in a terrorist attack, being stalked, attempted murder, attempted rape, and battling deadly diseases. Not to mention all of the eye-roll-inducing relationship and friendship issues that make me want to barf.
That being said, of all the shitty installments we’ve gotten from this series, I will say this one was less shitty – which is the same thing I said about #16 so maybe things are finally coming up Milhouse!
There are still multiple storylines – something I usually don’t like – but in this book, it feels much more separated and easy to keep track of. Lindsay is investigating what she believes is a serial killer of homeless people. And Yuki is going full bore in a rape case where the accused rapist is a woman.
Yuki's case was the most interesting to me and definitely had a nice twist to it. I’m still not sure why Yuki is consistently written as literally the dumbest prosecutor in the entire U.S. justice system??? The woman has the parachute but is missing the ripcord if you know what I mean. Something even the defence attorneys say to her face but in more subtle terms.
And no spoilers but Lindsay is super sick this time around. She’s worried it may be a deadly disease she used to have, but beat. I have literally no memory of her ever having this disease and I’m not sure if my memory is failing me or if the author(s) is just throwing something dramatic in and hoping no one notices the canon inconsistency. Who knows? I smoke a lot of weed. I don't know anymore.
I mean there are seventeen of these bad boys - who is actually going to remember everything?
Overall, is this a good book? No. But it’s okay.
Patterson and Co. still create emotions/interactions that feel soap-opera-y and juvenile, but some of it was toned down finally. The cases are still tame and in abundance and simple, but there’s hardly enough time to create plotlines with depth when these novels have such a quick turnaround.
If you like easy mysteries this is for you. If you’ve been reading this series forever because you consider yourself a fan in too deep to get out now, this is for you. If you enjoy a decent hate-read, this is for you. If your time is too precious and your TBR is too big, skip everything Patterson for the love of all that is still good in this messed-up world.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
March 15, 2018
17th Suspect by James Patterson is the 17th in the Women's Murder Club series, and this time the focus is mainly on Yuki Castellano and a solid case that had gone to trial - one she was sure she would win - and Sergeant Lindsay Boxer's determination to bring a killer to justice.
When Lindsay was approached by a woman with information about murders that were occurring among the homeless, Lindsay and her partner Rich Conklin made some discoveries that Lindsay found unpalatable. Crossing the jurisdiction line was something they didn't do - but it had to be done.
While Yuki was confident of a result, the nature of the trial was unusual. And her opposing counsel was eager to get under Yuki's skin. What would be the outcome for the people involved?
And what would be the result for Lindsay? She was putting herself in danger and her friends in the Murder Club were trying to convince her to let it go. But that wasn't in her nature...
I thoroughly enjoyed 17th Suspect; right up there with the previous titles. I find the characters - Lindsay, Yuki, Claire and Cindy - extremely likeable; good friends who like a bit of fun but do their jobs well. Plenty of twists in this one, with enough tension to keep me flipping the pages well into the night. Highly recommended.
When Lindsay was approached by a woman with information about murders that were occurring among the homeless, Lindsay and her partner Rich Conklin made some discoveries that Lindsay found unpalatable. Crossing the jurisdiction line was something they didn't do - but it had to be done.
While Yuki was confident of a result, the nature of the trial was unusual. And her opposing counsel was eager to get under Yuki's skin. What would be the outcome for the people involved?
And what would be the result for Lindsay? She was putting herself in danger and her friends in the Murder Club were trying to convince her to let it go. But that wasn't in her nature...
I thoroughly enjoyed 17th Suspect; right up there with the previous titles. I find the characters - Lindsay, Yuki, Claire and Cindy - extremely likeable; good friends who like a bit of fun but do their jobs well. Plenty of twists in this one, with enough tension to keep me flipping the pages well into the night. Highly recommended.
May 8, 2018
The women of the Murder Club handle more baddies in this installment: An a-typical rapist, a hot-dog lawyer with tricks up his sleeve, and an elusive serial killer who is stalking the homeless.
All that sounds interesting enough, but this book was just meh to me.
The arrogant, sexist men in this series just seem to be reiterations of the same foul character with different names and physical descriptions (sometimes not even that).
Plus, I am not a lawyer - not even close, but even I could see through the gaping holes in Yuki's case this time. It almost made me want to root for the defense team. And Lindsay's stubborn insistence on barrelling through everyone without taking a moment to really think through all her options does not endear her to me. And instead of making her appear like a strong character, it instead makes her seem bull-headed and reckless.
I wonder if I'm just not that into the Women's Murder Club anymore?
All that sounds interesting enough, but this book was just meh to me.
The arrogant, sexist men in this series just seem to be reiterations of the same foul character with different names and physical descriptions (sometimes not even that).
Plus, I am not a lawyer - not even close, but even I could see through the gaping holes in Yuki's case this time. It almost made me want to root for the defense team. And Lindsay's stubborn insistence on barrelling through everyone without taking a moment to really think through all her options does not endear her to me. And instead of making her appear like a strong character, it instead makes her seem bull-headed and reckless.
I wonder if I'm just not that into the Women's Murder Club anymore?
March 28, 2018
The second of the James Patterson books I've read recently and I enjoyed it slightly more than NYPD Red 5. My issues with both books are the same though. The author churns out so many books per year I think they lose some of the quality. This is like many of his others in that they are fine for maybe a beach read but you wouldn't want to go back and re-read them over again. There's just not enough plot to make you want to go back time and again.
Free arc from netgalley
Free arc from netgalley
March 2, 2018
Book 17.. wow. I just love this series and it is still going strong. The Women of the Murder Club are like family now.
June 9, 2018
4 stars!
I just love the Women’s Murder Club series so much! From the first book to this one it’s consistently been exciting and fun to read. I’ve always been a really big James Patterson fan. The chapters of his books are super short and I simply fly through the pages. Although a few of his books have been hit or miss, this series is my favorite. If you’ve never read a James Patterson book, I recommend reading this series. You won’t be disappointed!
I just love the Women’s Murder Club series so much! From the first book to this one it’s consistently been exciting and fun to read. I’ve always been a really big James Patterson fan. The chapters of his books are super short and I simply fly through the pages. Although a few of his books have been hit or miss, this series is my favorite. If you’ve never read a James Patterson book, I recommend reading this series. You won’t be disappointed!
May 10, 2019
Waffled between 2 and 3 stars, so I guess it's 2.5 stars, rounded down. Someone is shooting homeless people, and the investigating detectives are putting much effort in. When a homeless woman asks Lindsay Boxer to help, she gets cross-wise with others in the department. Meanwhile, Yuki takes on a case prosecuting a women for raping a subordinate male at gunpoint. Sadly, ME Claire Washburn and reporter Cindy were just bit players, and we heard almost nothing about Richie, Lindsay's long-time cop partner. The serial killer's motivation was pretty lame, but the twists in Yuki's case were interesting.
Shame on Little Brown's editorial staff for not knowing the difference between nauseous and nauseated. Pathetic.
Finally, the B&N special edition was lame: six pages from Book #18. Not very special.
Shame on Little Brown's editorial staff for not knowing the difference between nauseous and nauseated. Pathetic.
Finally, the B&N special edition was lame: six pages from Book #18. Not very special.
August 28, 2025
Just so-so. Two criminal cases in same book that were not very interesting to me. One is a man accusing his boss, a woman of raping him. The other is a man killing homeless people. The writing flows well just not into this one.
May 9, 2018
I don’t know if it was because I missed the character so much while waiting for this installment or what but I loved it! The homeless killings, Boxer’s health concerns, and a male rape case lead to an intriguing read. This is a quick read but I had prior matters to handle so took me a bit longer but a reader could easily read this within a few hours.
My quick and simple overall: intriguing and fast-paced.
My quick and simple overall: intriguing and fast-paced.
March 7, 2018
The annual Women’s Murder Club release is always something I look forward to, even if I don’t always read them on release, there’s something comforting about such a long-running series always being there and this is one of my absolute favourites. 17th Suspect I felt was a good addition to the series, however taking away the WMC, if this had been just a bog-standard crime novel by another author, it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable or as punchy and that’s because it’s the characters that makes these books shine.
This time around and it’s Lindsay and Yuki who take centre stage in this story. Lindsay when she becomes caught up in a case outside of her jurisdiction, that being the murders of homeless people and Yuki when she heads up the prosecution of a woman accused of raping her male colleague at gunpoint. Both dramas I immediately got caught up in but they aren’t anything dramatic or amazing, this book isn’t going to be one of the best crime novels you’ll read this year nor is it particularly memorable but I think a huge part of this series success is that familiarity with the characters and it’s that continuance of their lives that brings me back book after book and I don’t want this series to end yet.
Both of these cases allows the character development of Lindsay and Yuki to continue. After losing her last few cases Yuki really needs this one to essentially save her career and professional reputation. By this point she isn’t a lawyer I would choose to represent me. Lindsay on the other hand is as tenacious as ever and there’s less abandonment of her daughter here due to her husband remaining at home for the foreseeable future. She has to make some difficult decisions here and in terms of where her personal and professional life goes in this story, it has left me wondering just what the future holds for Lindsay and her WMC friends and I can’t wait to find out.
I’m fairly sure there will be an 18th instalment of this series and I sincerely hope that it goes into the twenties because it’s a series I don’t want to end and I never want to not be reading about these characters. There’s always plenty of cheesy moments in these stories, but I can always overlook that because out of all the crime series I have read over the years this has been one of the ones I have enjoyed the most. I remember the day I borrowed 1st to Die from the library and was blown away with how quick I read it. Before then crime novels would take me a few days to read (now my GR friends know I read much faster than that) but the short chapters and fast-paced storytelling that James Patterson delivers meant I was reading them much quicker. That of course isn’t indicative of how good his novels are, he has plenty of critics but in terms of pure enjoyment this series has never failed me and that is why I will continue to return to it again and again, for as long as they are being written.
This time around and it’s Lindsay and Yuki who take centre stage in this story. Lindsay when she becomes caught up in a case outside of her jurisdiction, that being the murders of homeless people and Yuki when she heads up the prosecution of a woman accused of raping her male colleague at gunpoint. Both dramas I immediately got caught up in but they aren’t anything dramatic or amazing, this book isn’t going to be one of the best crime novels you’ll read this year nor is it particularly memorable but I think a huge part of this series success is that familiarity with the characters and it’s that continuance of their lives that brings me back book after book and I don’t want this series to end yet.
Both of these cases allows the character development of Lindsay and Yuki to continue. After losing her last few cases Yuki really needs this one to essentially save her career and professional reputation. By this point she isn’t a lawyer I would choose to represent me. Lindsay on the other hand is as tenacious as ever and there’s less abandonment of her daughter here due to her husband remaining at home for the foreseeable future. She has to make some difficult decisions here and in terms of where her personal and professional life goes in this story, it has left me wondering just what the future holds for Lindsay and her WMC friends and I can’t wait to find out.
I’m fairly sure there will be an 18th instalment of this series and I sincerely hope that it goes into the twenties because it’s a series I don’t want to end and I never want to not be reading about these characters. There’s always plenty of cheesy moments in these stories, but I can always overlook that because out of all the crime series I have read over the years this has been one of the ones I have enjoyed the most. I remember the day I borrowed 1st to Die from the library and was blown away with how quick I read it. Before then crime novels would take me a few days to read (now my GR friends know I read much faster than that) but the short chapters and fast-paced storytelling that James Patterson delivers meant I was reading them much quicker. That of course isn’t indicative of how good his novels are, he has plenty of critics but in terms of pure enjoyment this series has never failed me and that is why I will continue to return to it again and again, for as long as they are being written.
May 26, 2018
Let me be honest up front. I read most of James Patterson’s books and have for several years. Some might ask why and that’s another whole discussion best saved for another day. I have really enjoyed some, liked some, and didn’t really care for others. On a personal level, I must admit that his Women’s Murder Club series – focused on the professional and personal lives of four women in San Francisco - has turned into my least favorite of his ongoing series, and the last book “The 16th Seduction” was a major disappointment for me.
That, my friends, is my honest and transparent mindset going into the new Women’s Murder Club adventure for 2018. Let’s see how it went…
“The 17th Seduction” begins like many of the previous books in the series. A mysterious man guns down an innocent homeless man. A few days later, Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, is contacted by an unknown female confidential informant who informs her that this is not the first shooting, but one of several the San Francisco police department does not seem to be in a hurry to solve. When Lindsay investigates further, she crosses into the jurisdiction of another team and causes severe conflict for herself and her partner.
Boxer is also a member of the Women’s Murder Club, which includes Yuki Castellano, Assistant District Attorney and married to Brady, Lindsay’s police chief boss; Claire Washburn, Chief Medical Examiner; and Cindy Thomas, crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. These four women are more than just close-knit friends – they help each other solve crimes and catch killers in the Bay area.
While Lindsay is trying to discover who is killing the homeless, Yuki is also heavily involved in a high-profile case. She is looking at defending Marc Christopher, an agency producer who is claiming to have been raped at gunpoint by his attractive female boss, Briana Hill, the same woman he had been dating. Although she doesn’t initially believe him, she grows to believe his story after finding out that he was able to video tape part of the rape and the evidence appears strong. Briana’s story is that Marc set the whole thing up as play acting and she fell into his set-up and blackmail trap.
Patterson and Paetro weave Lindsay’s investigation and Yuki’s trial together in a fast moving, and fairly entertaining read. There are the usual twists and turns, challenges and obstacles, and issues on the home front for our fearless club members, but after the really poor taste left in my mouth from the last book, I found this one refreshing and enjoyable again. It wasn’t a classic, but it was a big improvement over last time.
I also enjoyed both of the interesting developments towards the end that will directly involve two of the characters and their families in next book or more. I won’t ruin anyone’s read by spilling the beans, but I like the change and dramatic infusion being added. After 17 books in the series, it’s time to see some serious change and growth opportunities for our four heroes and their spouses. Bring it on.
Overall, Patterson and Paetro got some of their Women’s Murder Club mojo back in a good way. “The 17th Suspect” was like a visit from a good friend. You appreciate the time together.
That, my friends, is my honest and transparent mindset going into the new Women’s Murder Club adventure for 2018. Let’s see how it went…
“The 17th Seduction” begins like many of the previous books in the series. A mysterious man guns down an innocent homeless man. A few days later, Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, is contacted by an unknown female confidential informant who informs her that this is not the first shooting, but one of several the San Francisco police department does not seem to be in a hurry to solve. When Lindsay investigates further, she crosses into the jurisdiction of another team and causes severe conflict for herself and her partner.
Boxer is also a member of the Women’s Murder Club, which includes Yuki Castellano, Assistant District Attorney and married to Brady, Lindsay’s police chief boss; Claire Washburn, Chief Medical Examiner; and Cindy Thomas, crime reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. These four women are more than just close-knit friends – they help each other solve crimes and catch killers in the Bay area.
While Lindsay is trying to discover who is killing the homeless, Yuki is also heavily involved in a high-profile case. She is looking at defending Marc Christopher, an agency producer who is claiming to have been raped at gunpoint by his attractive female boss, Briana Hill, the same woman he had been dating. Although she doesn’t initially believe him, she grows to believe his story after finding out that he was able to video tape part of the rape and the evidence appears strong. Briana’s story is that Marc set the whole thing up as play acting and she fell into his set-up and blackmail trap.
Patterson and Paetro weave Lindsay’s investigation and Yuki’s trial together in a fast moving, and fairly entertaining read. There are the usual twists and turns, challenges and obstacles, and issues on the home front for our fearless club members, but after the really poor taste left in my mouth from the last book, I found this one refreshing and enjoyable again. It wasn’t a classic, but it was a big improvement over last time.
I also enjoyed both of the interesting developments towards the end that will directly involve two of the characters and their families in next book or more. I won’t ruin anyone’s read by spilling the beans, but I like the change and dramatic infusion being added. After 17 books in the series, it’s time to see some serious change and growth opportunities for our four heroes and their spouses. Bring it on.
Overall, Patterson and Paetro got some of their Women’s Murder Club mojo back in a good way. “The 17th Suspect” was like a visit from a good friend. You appreciate the time together.
May 2, 2018
Uggg.....what happened to the Women's Murder Club? They used to keep me on the edge of my seat, now you know exactly what's going to happen from the beginning. This one had absolutely zero suspense. Yuki's court case....more UGGGGG.
May 31, 2018
Welcome to the Lindsay and Yuki show! When the four members of the Women's Murder Club come together in a book - in this case, the 17th in the series - it's a pretty sure bet that San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Lindsay Boxer will snag a leading role. Which of the other three will take the stage with her is up for grabs, but this time out, Attorney Yuki Castellano gets the nod. Their compadres, medical examiner Claire Washburn and crime reporter Cindy Thomas, are pretty much relegated to walk-ons.
There are two cases to follow; murders for Lindsay and her partner, Rich Conklin (who lives with Cindy) to solve and a case with a twist for Yuki: Getting a jury to believe a man who claims to have been sexually abused by a woman. Recently returned to the District Attorney's office, Yuki is convinced that the man is telling the truth and convinces her boss to let her prosecute the high-profile woman, who was the man's boss. On the home front, Yuki is worried by the sudden inattention of Jackson Brady, her main squeeze and Lindsay's boss. So not only is she worried that her case may unravel before her eyes, she's afraid she may be losing the love of her life.
Meanwhile, Lindsay runs straight into seemingly random gun-down of a homeless victim in a neighboring district. When Lindsay learns there have been similar murders that are not, apparently, being taken seriously by the local cops. That the officers tell her to mind her own business angers the ever-professional Lindsay - to the point of taking action that threatens to derail her own career. Still, she can't get involved in a case outside her own playing field, so she's forced to sit on the sidelines until fate intervenes and a homeless person is murdered right on her home turf.
Is it possible that Yuki will lose a big case and her big love all at once? Will Lindsay get sidelined by a suspension before she can catch whoever's shooting down the homeless folks? Get the answers in this easy-to-read book - another more-than-adequate murder lite that's perfect for reading on a beach or waiting for a doctor's appointment.
There are two cases to follow; murders for Lindsay and her partner, Rich Conklin (who lives with Cindy) to solve and a case with a twist for Yuki: Getting a jury to believe a man who claims to have been sexually abused by a woman. Recently returned to the District Attorney's office, Yuki is convinced that the man is telling the truth and convinces her boss to let her prosecute the high-profile woman, who was the man's boss. On the home front, Yuki is worried by the sudden inattention of Jackson Brady, her main squeeze and Lindsay's boss. So not only is she worried that her case may unravel before her eyes, she's afraid she may be losing the love of her life.
Meanwhile, Lindsay runs straight into seemingly random gun-down of a homeless victim in a neighboring district. When Lindsay learns there have been similar murders that are not, apparently, being taken seriously by the local cops. That the officers tell her to mind her own business angers the ever-professional Lindsay - to the point of taking action that threatens to derail her own career. Still, she can't get involved in a case outside her own playing field, so she's forced to sit on the sidelines until fate intervenes and a homeless person is murdered right on her home turf.
Is it possible that Yuki will lose a big case and her big love all at once? Will Lindsay get sidelined by a suspension before she can catch whoever's shooting down the homeless folks? Get the answers in this easy-to-read book - another more-than-adequate murder lite that's perfect for reading on a beach or waiting for a doctor's appointment.
July 16, 2025
I have tried... I just can't do it. I can't stand Yuki. I used to think she had some redeeming qualities, but she is such a weak link in the murder club. She is whiny and honestly really shitty at her job. She is a terrible attorney, which is the real reason she loses so much. She doesn't put in the work to research and misses the most basic information. She is a threat to justice.
I am missing the other ladies who add more intelligence to the club.
Lindsay being sick sucks, it will be interesting to see how this changes the future.
The mystery was okay, but the names of the two villains were too similar. There are so many names that this didn't need to happen.
I don't like the way that they chose to deal with the male Rape case. This could have been an opportunity to actually show support, instead, you cheapened the entire issue that truly affects many men.
James Patterson, you can never kill Nanna Momma, but you can kill Yuki instead.
3 Stars.
I am missing the other ladies who add more intelligence to the club.
Lindsay being sick sucks, it will be interesting to see how this changes the future.
The mystery was okay, but the names of the two villains were too similar. There are so many names that this didn't need to happen.
I don't like the way that they chose to deal with the male Rape case. This could have been an opportunity to actually show support, instead, you cheapened the entire issue that truly affects many men.
James Patterson, you can never kill Nanna Momma, but you can kill Yuki instead.
3 Stars.
August 28, 2022
A re-read. The Women's Murder Club. My favourite series of James Pattersons' many book series. Wonderful reading. I particularly like the relationship of the 4 girlfriends . In addition to a well put together plot and sub plots: showing the pluses and minuses of human behaviour.
February 24, 2018
Predictable
Sadly this one is predictable and dull. Too much filler and not enough story. Such a shame as I used to love his books for their ingenuity
Sadly this one is predictable and dull. Too much filler and not enough story. Such a shame as I used to love his books for their ingenuity
December 20, 2018
Same old good Boxer and her team! Great serie from James Patterson, just like the Alex Cross serie!
February 23, 2020
While this book had a recent start, it dropped sharply with over explanation and mishandling of basic trial rules. When it turned sappy, it was difficult to push through to the end.
May 18, 2018
Is it just me, or have Patterson’s books seriously gone down hill? I wanted to love this book, but it was just so dry and boring that I found myself choosing to do anything other than read it. I used to love the women’s murder club series. Seeing all four women working together to solve a crime, the bonds between them, and always that hit of suspense, not knowing who the murderer is and almost always putting at least one of the ladies in danger. This entry had none of that. Most of the story focuses on Yuki and her trial, and Lindsay working a case that isn’t even hers. Cindy is practically non existent, and Claire makes only a few cameos. Most importantly, there was no suspense, and no gathering of the women to discuss and try to puzzle out anything. I’m seriously disappointed in this latest entry to a series that used to be one of my favorites.
September 5, 2018
Another solid installment in an entertaining series. I adore January LaVoy’s narration, she’s outstanding and it’s always fun catching up with The Women’s Murder Club. This focuses on Yuki giving it a legal thriller vibe and some personal stuff for Lindsay. Fans of the series will be pleased I think!
May 20, 2018
Loved loved loved this book. Can’t wait for the next one out next April. Feel free to check out my full review at: https://tiffyreads.wordpress.com/2018...
September 5, 2025
3.5⭐️ = Quite Good.
Hardback.
It was kind of an alright storyline but the ending was very abrupt and disappointing.
Easy to read, with short chapters.
An ideal ‘pick me up and put me down’ read - without losing the plot thread.
Hardback.
It was kind of an alright storyline but the ending was very abrupt and disappointing.
Easy to read, with short chapters.
An ideal ‘pick me up and put me down’ read - without losing the plot thread.
May 14, 2018
Ugh. I love this series but really? Can we say - predictable? Oy.... still a good read just lacking the “thrill” in thriller. It was more like a ride on the teacups rather than the roller coaster. On to the next one my friends.....❤️
May 13, 2018
A big fan of the series and the 17th Suspect didn't disappoint. Two major plots in book 17:
Lindsay and Conklin solving murder case on homeless people, while Yuki represents a male rape victim. There are many main character development in this installment. The book was fun, fast, and kept me interested all the way to the end.
Lindsay and Conklin solving murder case on homeless people, while Yuki represents a male rape victim. There are many main character development in this installment. The book was fun, fast, and kept me interested all the way to the end.
December 16, 2019
This is my favorite Patterson series and Maxine Paetro did a great job with this one! I was engaged from page 1 and flew through it. The most interesting part for me was Yuki’s storyline and the subject of female-on-male rape. Unfortunately, we don’t see much of Claire (or Cindy) in this one and Lindsay’s storyline is kind of blah, but Yuki carried the book for me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,090 reviews