2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club (Audio))

Rating:
Summary: He's back in the saddle again!
Review: If you're looking for great fiction, don't read James
Patterson. If you're looking for a fast-paced, fast-read
mystery, then you might want to pick up this book. "First
to Die" was the first in the Women's Murder Club mysteries.
Loved it! This one didn't disappoint me. The premise of
a homicide detective, D.A., coroner, and news writer combining their talents and intellect to solve a mystery is quite innovative. "2nd Chance" begins with a murder that might be
viewed as a hate crime. However, with the help of her best
friend the coroner, Lindsey the detective sees another pattern forming. Another killing that leads in a totally different direction. Then, just when you think you know the
outcome...yikes! there are still 70 pages to go. Lindsey's dad returns after a 20 year hiatus. Sympathize or suspect
While I love those books that I can savor over a week's time,
I also love those I can't put down until I finish it the same
day. Patterson is a same day read...

Rating:
Summary: One of his better books...
Review: Lately, I've been doubting James Patterson's ability to turn out a decent read. "When the Wind Blows" didn't work for me. "Cradle and All" just seemed silly. "1st to Die" was a great thriller, and it is followed by another great thriller, "2nd Chance."

The Women's Murder Club is back in business when a killer strikes San Francisco, commiting hate crimes. Lindsay Boxer, the newly appointed Lieutenant, joins her pals Cindy, Claire, and Jill to solve the mystery.

The plot of "2nd Chance" moves along rather quickly, rarely stopping for a breather. When Lindsay isn't dealing with the stresses of her job, her personal life is there to stress over. Her father returns to get a second chance at being a good dad, she finds out one of her friends is pregnant, and she still is trying to cope with the fact that Chris Raleigh is dead.

"2nd Chance" is one of Patterson's better books. It moves the plot forward with every page, but doesn't feel rushed. It reassured me that the Patterson that wrote amazing thrillers wasn't dead... he was just sleeping. Here's to hoping he continues this series with another strong installment.

Rating:
Summary: Okay
Review: ROSES ARE RED, being my favorite book of Patterson's, has somehow spoiled me. I expect all of his work to live up to that. And while 2ND CHANCE is good, it's not his best effort. The story, in a nutshell: The sensational killings that have rocked San Francisco appear to be unrelated except in their brutality. Detective Lindsay Boxer senses that there's some thread connecting them all. She calls her friends in the Women's Murder Club together to see if they can discover what it is. But doing so, involves a lot of risksThe story itself was great, and definitely showcases Patterson's ability to write murder mysteries. However, there were a couple of things that threw me off. First, something I noticed in the prequel, is that while Patterson is great when writing from the perspective of a male, such as with his Alex Cross novels, he is really horrible at a female narrative. There were some female bonding scenes that were so corny that I wanted to puke. My second complaint could be considered more a matter of opinion. There was a romance between the female reporter and the minister of the church where the first shooting occurred. Although a sexual relationship was never described in detail, it was definitely hinted at. Patterson made this minister out to be so perfect, yet any minister who really was perfect would never enter into a sexual relationship before marriage. I do not know if Patterson did this out of ignorance or if he did realize this conflict and this is why he avoided a detailed sex scene but still left it open to interpretation. Would like to recommend Patterson's ROSES ARE RED and a book titled THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD (very funny, suspensful, and well-written) for those looking for a great summer read.

Rating:
Summary: Same Old Plot
Review: The book is the second in the Women's Murder Club Series, who got together to solve the bride and groom murders in '1st to die.'

In '2nd Chance,' Lindsey, still grieving over the death of her Chris, was promoted lieutenant of her department. Other changes were happening in her friends' life, with a surprise pregnancy popped up by one of them in the middle of the book. However, their personal lives took second fiddle when they got together again to solve another puzzling murder.

It all started when a choir group, upon leaving church, were shot by an unknown assailant. One black girl lay dead. Though apparently it was made to show that it was a random shooting, Lt. Lindsay and her team found out it was not. The black girl was a target. When this fact was leaked out, everybody presumed it was a racially-charged murder. Patterson guides the viewers in realizing that her death and those of others were not only based on race.

This book will never disappoint diehard Patterson fans, but sadly it will never whet their appetite for more, either. As a reader, I avidly follow new releases of my favorite authors, and James Patterson is one of them. However, when I finished this book, I felt something that I never felt after reading his books before. I've always felt the mind-tingling suspense, the excitement in finding out whodunnit, and a sense of justice when the lead character gets the bad guy/girl. After reading '2nd Chance," however, I started feeling discontented about his plots. It's all the same old stuff! Brilliant and endearing protagonist, a sinister baddie, more twists and turns to boggle your head, enough misery heaped on the protagonist that even Job cannot take, and the most tiring of all is the use of twinning to thwart the audience in determining who the killer really is.
The 'twinning' method of Patterson was very effective in his earlier books, especially 'Kiss the Girls' but using such method over and over and over again makes this old fan tired.

All in all, the book is fast paced and suspenseful enough, and a good book to enjoy when you have time in your hands. But beware to the old fans, though, its a 2nd serving of the same old, same old.

Rating:
Summary: No, thank you
Review: This is a feminist novel through and through. I 've never aspired to be one and anyone who is makes me very irritable. Get off your man hating horse, ladies. Story is not bad but female circle thing ruins it for me completely.