"1st to Die" has a very simple format and short chapters (averaging about 3-4 pages a chapter), which makes this book a breeze to read. The narrative alternates between the first-person (the protagonist: Lindsay) and the second-person (her friends and the killer). The book is set up in four parts, as explained below: Book One--A newlywed couple is murdered on their honeymoon, and Inspector Lindsay Boxer of the San Francisco Police Department is assigned to the case, along with a new partner: Chris Raleigh, who becomes Lindsays love interest. Book Two--Another two newlywed couples are killed. Lindsay organizes a womens murder club to help her solve the three murders, consisting of her best friend (Claire Washburn, a medical examiner) and recently-made friend (Cindy Thomas, a newspaper reporter). How these latter two women become friends is a bit unbelievable--Cindy finds Lindsay crying in the bathroom, and Lindsay just decides to befriend this random reporter. I would have expected more caution from Lindsay, but there it is. Also in this second part, a suspect is fingered--prominent novelist, Nicholas Jenks. Book Three--Jill Bernhardt, the assistant district attorney, is added to the "club," and the investigation gets into full swing. Book Four, of course, reveals the true identity of the killer--which I wont give away. Even though I wasnt able to guess the killer, I did suspicion something about him/her during the first murder investigation (despite the name of the killer thats given), mainly because of the type of sexual deviance performed on the bride. (A clue.) Nevertheless, the ending is certainly surprising; I wasnt expecting it. This is my first Patterson book (though I have seen a couple of his movies), and if his others are as suspenseful and quick as this one, then Ill probably continue reading his mysteries.
Do I think this is Pattersons best effort? No. Do I think this is the best book of the year? No. Did I enjoy reading this novel? Absolutely! This is a fast page-turner with plenty of Pattersons twists and turns as well as his short chapters from different points of view. Lindsay Boxer is a tough-as-nails homicide inspector in San Francisco. Her eyes are set on the next promotion when the city is suddenly rocked by the gruesome murders of a young newly married couple on their wedding night. Struggling with some devastating personal news, Lindsay is determined to put all her effort into finding the maniac who slaughters honeymooners. Along the way she teams up with her handsome new partner, Chris, and she forms a bond of friendship with Claire, Jill and Cindy. The four women join forces in the Womens Murder Club to try to find the murderer before he strikes again. The murders are grisly, and this is a killer who takes perverse pleasure in leaving his victims in sexually degrading positions. Patterson once again creates an insanely crafty villain, and the novel has a couple of Patterson-esque twists. This is a very fast-paced read perfect for a lazy weekend or a rainy night. Im curious to see how Patterson will develop these characters in future installments of the Womens Murder Club series. This is an enjoyable read. Check it out--you wont be disappointed.
I checked this book out from my local library just before heading out to Hawaii on vacation. I had read another book by James Patterson before (Jester), and I enjoyed it. So, I figured I would try another one. The book captured my attention immediately and I could not put it down until I finished. I burned a whole day in Hawaii on this book---beware! (it was that good!).
