Three cities. Three bullets. Three victims.
20th Victim is the next instalment in the thrilling Women’s Murder Club series written by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. It’s a fast-paced, compelling read with complex characters often grappling with ethical dilemmas. It can easily be read as a stand-alone but if this is your first taste of the series then you will inevitably be back for more!
To set the scene, Lindsay Boxer, Cindy Thomas, Claire Washburn and Jill Bernhardt are the formidable women who make up the Women’s Murder Club. Together, they solve crimes in the city of San Francisco, and they are also good friends. Lindsay is a homicide detective for the San Francisco Police Department, Cindy a crime desk reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Claire is the Chief Medical Examiner for San Francisco and Yuki an ambitious young district attorney.
In 20th Victim simultaneous murders hit LA, Chicago and San Francisco. SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer is tasked with uncovering what links these precise and calculated killings. She soon discovers that the victims are all connected to the drug trade. While Lindsay and her team are trying to make sense of the shootings, Cindy is contacted by someone claiming to be the killer and that the killings are being conducted by a group of vigilantes who are intent on crushing drug dealers. The shooters are precise, as is their target selection. As the casualty list expands, fear and fascination with this shocking spree provoke debate across the country. The question is, are the killers villains or heroes?
You will love the characters in these books. The story follows the crimes but also the women through their personal issues. Claire is grappling with health issues, Yuki is having to prosecute someone she knows has been set up as a patsy for a serious criminal and Cindy is in direct communication with someone claiming to be the shooter. Lindsay definitely has her hands full but there are also complicated issues to deal with on the home front when a long-time friend of her husband becomes overly demanding after the death of his father.
If you’re not familiar with the series and you are a crime lover then this is a gift – there are 20 of them to rip through. If you are a fan then 20th Victim will definitely not disappoint. When you pick up a book in this series there is no question about what you will find within the pages – a guaranteed great read that will be a perfect escape for the upcoming Easter break or a weekend treat. Make sure that you set aside time to really immerse yourself as you may find that you can’t put it down. I was up late and early in my race to the end; the suspense was just too much!
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