Amazon.com
The Women's Murder Club pits four San Francisco women professionals against a serial killer who's stalking and murdering newlyweds in bestselling author James Patterson's newest thriller. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector who's just gotten some very bad news. She deals with it by immersing herself in her newest case and soliciting the personal as well as professional support of her closest friend, who happens to be the city's medical examiner. The two women, along with an ambitious and sympathetic reporter and an assistant DA, form an unlikely alliance, pooling their information and bypassing the chain of command in an engaging, suspenseful story whose gruesome setup is vintage Patterson.

"What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?" the killer muses to himself early in the narrative. "Am I capable of doing it? Do I have what it takes?" Answering his own question, he embarks on a murderous spree that takes him from the bridal suite in a Nob Hill hotel to a honeymoon destination in the Napa Valley and thence to a wedding reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Dispatching his victims on the happiest day of their lives, he purposefully leaves enough clues for his distaff trackers to discover his identity and put him behind bars. But just when the women think they've got the case all wrapped up, the killer turns the tables on them in a bloody denouement that even the most discerning reader won't see coming. Patterson, author of the popular Alex Cross mysteries, promises future adventures for the Women's Murder Club, which may give him an opportunity to develop his heroines' characters more completely and win new fans among those who prefer their detectives in high heels and lipstick. --Jane Adams --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal
Lindsay Boxer is an inspector on the San Francisco Homicide Squad. Her healthy, optimistic outlook is given a jolt when she is diagnosed with aplastic anemia, which is potentially fatal. While dealing with her first treatments, she takes on a new case. Someone has killed a bride and groom during the first hours of their honeymoon. The killer strikes again in Napa Valley and a third time in Cleveland. Lindsay gathers her girlfriends, all of whom work in related areas of the justice system, to circumvent the bureaucracy of police business and solve the crimes. There are a number of loose ends that never get tied up, and a number of actions that don't seem to fit the characters' persona. The unabridged version of the story moves along well but seems contrived and somewhat sloppy, though well read by Suzanne Toren. Lack of detail in the abridgment, which is well read in alternate chapters by Melissa Leo and Dylan Baker, does not significantly hamper the telling of the tale; the loose ends and inconsistent characters are less apparent and bothersome. Recommended for large, well-funded collections. Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From AudioFile
"I know it's a cliché," narrator Lindsay Boxer says, "but that night I made love as if it might never happen again." James Patterson's novel about four women who form a Women's Murder Club to catch a serial killer preying on newlyweds features a cover-to-cover supply of situational and verbal clichés in addition to the one it admits to. Suzanne Toren manages to create some subtleties with her presentation of the four females, especially with the narration of Lindsay Boxer. The voices for the male sidekicks, however, are badly overdone, the audio equivalent of mugging for the camera. The novel is for the most loyal Patterson fans only. G.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From Booklist
Patterson, best known for his thrillers featuring Alex Cross, is banking on his legions of fans coming on board for this novel, the first in a new crime series. Don't be surprised if they come in droves. 1st to Die sets up the premise of the series--a group of four successful women coming together to solve murder cases--while offering a heinous killer and a fast-paced mystery. The story opens in San Francisco, with the gruesome murder of a bride and groom on their wedding night. Detective Lindsay Boxer is called to the scene, just after learning she is suffering from a rare and potentially life-threatening blood disease. For help with the case, she calls on her best friend, Claire, a medical examiner, and, reluctantly at first, Cindy, a newspaper reporter who is covering the story. Two more bride-and-groom killings lead them to the doorstep of Nicholas Jenks, a prominent writer who was having an affair with one of the murdered brides. Given Jenks' prestige, the assistant D.A., Jill Bernhardt, is reluctant to prosecute without substantial evidence. When Cindy gets a hold of a manuscript copy of Jenks' unpublished first novel, which details murders almost exactly like the bride-and-groom killings, the case starts to come together. Patterson keeps up the suspense until the very last page and will have readers looking forward to the second installment in the series. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book, March/April 2001
"...the part that just plain enjoys a good, fast-paced read said, 'Forget it, who cares, this is fun.'" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Sunday Oregonian, 3/4/01
"...polished, briskly written entertainment that's more complicated than it at first seems..." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Austin American Statesman, 3/1/01
"...Patterson has shown skill at developing characters and crafting ingenious tales. I'm betting this series will only get better.." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Roanoke Times, 3/25/01
"...[Patterson] ably displays the storytelling talent that is the source of his popularity..." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Providence Sunday Journal 4/1/01
"...a great book...a gripper, right from the opening pages...a great thriller and a terrific read..." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Chicago Tribune, 4/8/01
"...delivers a sharp punch..." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Publishers Weekly, 2/5/01
"...clever kickoff to a new series...Patterson...isn't afraid to reach as a writer..." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description
The Women's Murder Club pits four San Francisco women professionalsagainst a serial killer who's stalking and murdering newlyweds in bestsellingauthor James Patterson's newest thriller. Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspectorwho's just gotten some very bad news. She deals with it by immersing herself inher newest case and soliciting the personal as well as professional support ofher closest friend, who happens to be the city's medical examiner. The twowomen, along with an ambitious and sympathetic reporter and an assistant DA,form an unlikely alliance, pooling their information and bypassing the chain ofcommand in an engaging, suspenseful story whose gruesome setup is vintagePatterson. "What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?" the killer muses to himselfearly in the narrative. "Am I capable of doing it? Do I have what it takes?"Answering his own question, he embarks on a murderous spree that takes him fromthe bridal suite in a Nob Hill hotel to a honeymoon destination in the NapaValley and thence to a wedding reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame andMuseum in Cleveland, Ohio. Dispatching his victims on the happiest day of theirlives, he purposefully leaves enough clues for his distaff trackers to discoverhis identity and put him behind bars. But just when the women think they've gotthe case all wrapped up, the killer turns the tables on them in a bloodydenouement that even the most discerning reader won't see coming. Patterson,author of the popular Alex Cross mysteries, promises future adventures for theWomen's Murder Club, which may give him an opportunity to develop his heroines'characters more completely and win new fans among those who prefer theirdetectives in high heels and lipstick. --Jane Adams