Customer Reviews

The 9th Judgment (The Women's Murder Club)

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(41)

 

 

I've read all of the Women's Murder Club novels - some were excellent (books 1-5 and book 7), some were awful (books 6 and 8) and I'm so glad I went with my gut on this one and bought it as I thoroughly enjoyed it, in fact I'd go as far as saying that this was my favourite of the whole series.

Like most of the others in the series, there's two main cases going on - the first is a psychopath known as "The Lipstick Killer" who is terrorising San Francisco by murdering mothers and their babies on the street and at random. The next is a cat burglar called "Hello Kitty" who is being framed for murder when a well known movie star shoots his wife following a robbery at their home. Lindsey and the gang have their hands full in this one, so there isn't a slow moment. Some of the scenes were so exciting I was flying through the pages as I just couldn't stop reading - a quick hour's read turned into a whole evening's binge and I had the book finished in 4 hours! Some bits of the story were a little predictable, maybe because I read a lot of James Patterson novels so I am very familiar with his formulas now, but that didn't stop it from being one of the best I've read from him for a while.

One thing I noticed in this book was that the main attention has been turned to Lindsay again, which is great as some of the other characters - Cindy and Yuki in particular - make the stories in the previous novels quite dull and I find these characters to be too arrogant and generally annoying, so didn't enjoy the ones when they were in the spotlight so much.

Although it is the ninth in the series, this could still be picked up by someone new to the Women's Murder Club novels and easily get into the characters and the gripping story. Fans of the series, like myself, should find this very satisfying and will have their faith in the series restored after the below average attempts over the past few years (excluding 7th Heaven (The Women's Murder Club)). I definitely recommend reading this book!

Sergeant Lindsay Boxes and her team of co-workers, friends and outside influences are battling two horrific crime scenes simultaneous. There is only so much of Lindsay to go around which is why she has surrounded herself with great friends and women who are as supportive as they are brutally honest. This time though Lindsay is truly out there on her own as she battles a high profile robbery turned homicide and serial killer who is targeting young mothers and their babies.

While the burglary seems to be part of a string performed by the Hello Kitty bandit the question of why someone got killed this time is puzzling. The husband is an actor that may be putting on a great performance for the police as his story is so well rehearsed that it might not be believable and his excuses too flimsy. But the truly baffling crime spree seems to be coming from someone who is shooting women and their children leaving cryptic messages at each crime scene with the same letters but in different order. Nothing matches anything ever witnessed before and Lindsay is willing to put everything she has on the line to get this one closed even take her clothes off and prance around just to prove to the killer she is serious about stopping him.

While the murder of the rich socialite gets the attention the serial killer is escalating his behavior and making less sense at each crime scene. Lindsay tries to stay on top of both fronts but when the demands from the serial killer make it seem like he is less about vengeance and more about money she turns her attention in that direction because this person is truly more dangerous.

But just as things seem to be completely out of control the Hello Kitty bandit calls Lindsay and confesses to the burglaries but not the murder and convinces Lindsay that something is not adding up on any front with any of the husband's story. Yet just when you think nothing can get stranger it does and in the minute it takes to open a package or ring a doorbell everything explodes and goes into every other direction you thought it might lead.

Pay attention readers because this book moves fast, furious and in 10 different directions which lead you on a journey of unexpected conclusion. While this series has every woman plays a specific and critical role in this book Lindsay is the character that plays out as the lead. She is running two cases, trying to manage a personal life that seems to finally come together and dealing with departmental politics something she is not particularly good at. Her friends are there to keep the storyline flavorful and add some touches of honesty but overall Lindsay shines as the one woman in the group that does hold her own among everyone.

Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at [...].

3 1/2 stars

My rating on this novel was on the plus side of three so I gave it a 3 1/2 star rating.

The Prologue of the novel reveals a cat burglar who is stealing valuable jewels from Casey Dowling, the wife of movie star, Marcus Dowling. As the thief leaves, she knocks over the console table and wakes the Dowlings. Their marriage was on the rocks and Markus realizes that he has a chance to murder his wife and ger away with it. He kills Casey and blames the thief.

Another case involves a psychopatathic killer whose motto is "Women and Children First." He kills women with their babies and then, needlessly, kills the baby. He becomes know an The Lipstick Killer and terrorizes San Francisco.

Detective Lindsay Boxer of the homicide division is working with her partner, Rick Conklin, to catch both killers.

As the killer of the woman and baby strikes again, Det. Boxer intensifies her search but is hindered by the lack of witnesses.

Spending more time together, Lindsay and her partner, Rick find their emotions toward each other growing and they have difficulty concentrating on the cases and not giving in to their feelings toward each other.

Lindsay is an well described character who is easy to like with her courage and determination. The plot had plenty of action but was predictable.

It's after reading books like this that I'm ashamed to admit I still read James Patterson's work. Lindsay Boxer, a character who was once strong and heroic, has become soft by this installment of the Women's Murder Club. It was insulting to see that she's now being portrayed as a stereotypical female - weak and wishy-washy - in many scenes. The other three members of the club were barely present at all, and they certainly didn't help solve the case when they were there. Plus, the actual cases involved in this book were laughable at best.

First, I really dislike when a mystery novel reveals the killer/bad guy early on and we spend the rest of the book watching the story unfold from parallel perspectives. Second, the scenarios in this story (particularly the one involving the cat burglar) were so far-fetched that I couldn't mentally suspend reality enough to ever enjoy the story. Third, there was no solid resolution. This would be fine if it also appeared that the story could be continued (I love a good hunt for a serial killer), but I feel that too much has been revealed for this plot to continue in further installments. Frankly, I hope I'm right in thinking that way and that a continuation has not already been planned.

Very, VERY disappointing read.

I could hardly wait for this book to be released and was not disappointed. The combinations of an attorney, a detective, medical examiner, and a journalist make these stories interesting from all angles. Lindsey Boxer and crew are among my favorite fictional characters. Cindy the journalist does get on my nerves though. She is pushy, arrogrant, and insecure. It is an okay book if you are Women's Murder Mystery Club fan. If you are, you will recognize the formula and writing pattern. Some aspects of the story are predictable. Clues being leaked, the medical examiner's disgust, and the attorney's threats to put someone away are common. However the murders of the babies was nauseating and unfortunately too real for me. Some nut will pick up on this and duplicate it in real life. I listen to these stories for escapism and excitement. I will watch television, read the newspaper, or listen to the radio if I want to know about murder. That is my issue though and not a reflection of the authors'writing. I know the content of Patterson's work. He has to include some possible or realistic touches to keep the stories plausible.

This story was a fast listen. Completed it in a couple of days while preparing meals, doing housework, yardwork, etc. The narrator who is usually good was particularly annoying with this story. This time she sounded she was testifying--too much like her character on her television series. The pauses in between the chapters were too long...almost disarming. I though that my player was defective.

Although I have read all of the Women's Murder Club mysteries this one left a lot to be desired. There was so much going on, a serial killer that seemed for no reason to be killing women and babies, a cat burglar stealing jewelry during dinner parties, an actor using hello kitty as a cover to kill his wife. 2 women teachers in unhappy marriages having lesbian relationship. You'd think it was great, but I must say I had no sympathy for any of the characters, I really didn't even like Lindsey, Clare or Cindy in this book. I will probably give up on this series if Patterson decides to continue with the Women's Murder Club. I would normally be so anxious to finish one of these books just to find out what happened this one I'm finding it very hard to finish, I've only got about 25 pages to go but I'm really find it hard to pick the book up, I'm not sure I even care if they catch the bad guys.

I bought this book, excited to sink my teeth into a new WMC case. Unfortunately, this installment left me feeling as if someone else wrote it - someone who isn't a top-notch writer.

Someone else mentioned the ridiculous amounts of chapters in this book and I have to agree. I don't feel its necessary to throw a chapter break in between a scene. In my opinion, it's distracting to the reader.

The storyline is great, but it's the amateur-like writing in this one that blows it. "Kiddo" and "stink bomb" and other continuous lame references stood out in my mind and annoyed me throughout the read.

Boxer's cat and mouse game with The Lipstick Killer was the only highlight of the book, but it's a shame that it ended as fast as it began. I would have liked to have seen more action and more intensity like in the other installments.

Overall, this book was really disappointing.

I was first introduced to the Women's Murder Club on a summer vacation 3 years ago. How low this series has sunk!! SPOILERS AHEAD - At this point, who even knows how these books come to be. Is it Mr. Patterson writing them? Ms. Paetro? One of their children? My goodness. I really struggled with the premise of this book--an Iraq war veteran who is traumatized by the death of his close friend after an IED explodes, transforming into a sadistic serial killer with a limited vocabulary who singles out and shoots defenseless women and children dead?!? One can really hardly believe this, I find it almost insulting. Add to this the killer's habit of referring to Lindsay Boxer as "Sweet Meat." It's just too much. What happened to Lindsay Boxer's character anyway? Tough female cop becomes fragile female stereotype who vomits in the grass in the face of danger and walks around her apartment while wearing a "red kimono" and a "green face mask," cooking for her male partner who consistently calls her "Blondie?" It's just horrific. Cindy and Rich Conklin are moving into together, and Lindsay is happy that they've made their "debut?" What happened to the tension between Lindsay and Cindy? What happened to Yuki's boyfriend with the ambiguous genitalia from the 8th Confession? How does Claire, the medical examiner, not lose her job after she recommends (on the record) that women start packing heat on the streets of San Francisco? It's just too much. I can only imagine that the one thing worse than having to read this book is what I did, which was listen to it on CD. If I had to hear Carolyn McCormick say "Sweet Meat" one more time, I think I might have been forced to drive my car off the road.

I have read all of the WMC books but I'm getting tired of them. The two murder stories in this book are GREAT - had me sitting on the edge of my seat. But the extended relationships - Joe, Rich, Joe, Rich - are mind-numbing. And why did the readers need that ridiculous "airplane incident" at the end??? It served no purpose bc Lindsey had already chosen which man she wants to be with! I'm fed up with all 4 of the girl's love lives. Why ruin a good mystery with inane romance stories? I probably won't be reading "10".

After an assailant guns down a mother and her infant at a shopping mall and a cat burglar kills the wife of an A-List actor, Lindsay Boxer and her partner Rich must pick up the pieces, but not before Lindsay's feelings for Rich threaten her marriage and one of the killers forces Lindsay to put her life on the line.
Like most of Patterson's books you get the feeling you're watching a 2 hour thriller, which is about how long it takes to read, give or take. It's fast, entertaining, and very satisfying. This was obviously the ninth in the series and I thought it to be one of the best, or close to it. To see a review about the Kindle, look elsewhere.