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Women's Murder Club #16
16th Seduction
Fifteen months ago, Detective Lindsay Boxer's life was perfect--she had a beautiful child and a doting husband, Joe, who helped her catch a criminal who'd brazenly detonated a bomb in downtown San Francisco, killing twenty-five people. But Joe wasn't everything that Lindsay thought he was, and she's still reeling from his betrayal as a wave of mysterious, and possibly unnatural, heart attacks claims seemingly unrelated victims across San Francisco. As if that weren't enough, the bomber she and Joe captured is about to go on trial, and his defense raises damning questions about Lindsay and Joe's investigation. Not knowing whom to trust, and struggling to accept the truth about the man she thought she knew, Lindsay must connect the dots of a deadly conspiracy before a brilliant criminal puts her on trial.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2017
About the author
James Patterson
1,038 books350k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,057 reviews
May 18, 2017
I'll give it the 3.5 star bump-up
Another piece that shows that Patterson knows how to choose some of his co-authors to produce entertaining writing. Working alongside Maxine Paetro to craft sixteen novels in the Women's Murder Club, Patterson has been able to present high-impact writing peppered with some interesting legal and criminal angles. The world is beset with a new terrorist organisation, loosely called GAR, the Great Antiestablishment Reset, happy to wreak havoc at every turn. San Francisco is not immune, which leaves Sergeant Lindsay Boxer on high alert. After agreeing to see her estranged husband, Joe, they take a stroll close to Sci-Tron, the city's science museum. An explosion rocks and destroys the building. Soon thereafter, Boxer overhears a man claim responsibility, almost unable to believe her own ears. After arresting him, this Connor Grant denies ever saying anything about being culpable and he is sent to trial for murdering twenty-five innocent people and injuring many more, including Joe. While Boxer braces for what is surely a major situation, Yuki Castellano, the lawyer of the Murder Club, assumes second chair in this major trial, pitting the wily District Attorney against Grant, who has chosen to represent himself. The trial is harrowing and far from a slam-dunk, leaving the verdict in the hands of the twelve-member jury. Meanwhile, Dr. Claire Washburn, the city's Chief Medical Examiner (and, of course, another of the Club's members) contacts Sergeant Boxer about a mysterious string of deaths, originally attributed to heart conditions. Further investigation shows that the deaths are connected by a strange injection in the buttocks that each victim exhibits. Could there be someone in San Francisco injecting people with some unknown narcotic? As the reader discovers, one Neddie Lambo is on the loose, playing up his detention in a psychiatric facility, but actually plotting a number of these random killings to feed his need for control. All this while Cindy Thomas is getting the inside scoop and reporting the news garnered from her fellow Club members, sometimes without their knowledge and consent. How will San Francisco survive all this and can Boxer rise above an Internal Affairs investigation for her actions as they relate to the Sci-Tron bombing? Patterson and Paetro offer an explosive ending to this sixteenth instalment to the series. A great story for series fans and sure to attract some new readers who have a penchant for quick read stories.
There is something about the Women's Murder Club that has always kept me on the edge of my seat. While Patterson has stumbled at times, even with key authors around him, the annual return to this series keeps me believing that there is something worthwhile left in the author (the least of which is surely not Paetro's involvement). The stories are poignant and while the mysteries are not always complex or psychologically thrilling, they move at a quick pace and keep the story from going stale. The strong central cast of characters continue to evolve and there is always a interesting flavour to the one-offs, particularly the criminal element. Patterson and Paetro always leave room for 'just one more', be it a chapter before bed or a new book in the series, fostering an ongoing hunger in the reader. Those short chapters propel the reader forward and can, like me, leave them wondering how they polished the book off in a single day. Surely not foundational work in the genre, but a wonderful escape that keeps pace with the swiftness the outside world has to offer.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madame Paetro for another great novel. I always look forward to what the annual revelation of the Women's Murder Club will bring and you have not let me down.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Another piece that shows that Patterson knows how to choose some of his co-authors to produce entertaining writing. Working alongside Maxine Paetro to craft sixteen novels in the Women's Murder Club, Patterson has been able to present high-impact writing peppered with some interesting legal and criminal angles. The world is beset with a new terrorist organisation, loosely called GAR, the Great Antiestablishment Reset, happy to wreak havoc at every turn. San Francisco is not immune, which leaves Sergeant Lindsay Boxer on high alert. After agreeing to see her estranged husband, Joe, they take a stroll close to Sci-Tron, the city's science museum. An explosion rocks and destroys the building. Soon thereafter, Boxer overhears a man claim responsibility, almost unable to believe her own ears. After arresting him, this Connor Grant denies ever saying anything about being culpable and he is sent to trial for murdering twenty-five innocent people and injuring many more, including Joe. While Boxer braces for what is surely a major situation, Yuki Castellano, the lawyer of the Murder Club, assumes second chair in this major trial, pitting the wily District Attorney against Grant, who has chosen to represent himself. The trial is harrowing and far from a slam-dunk, leaving the verdict in the hands of the twelve-member jury. Meanwhile, Dr. Claire Washburn, the city's Chief Medical Examiner (and, of course, another of the Club's members) contacts Sergeant Boxer about a mysterious string of deaths, originally attributed to heart conditions. Further investigation shows that the deaths are connected by a strange injection in the buttocks that each victim exhibits. Could there be someone in San Francisco injecting people with some unknown narcotic? As the reader discovers, one Neddie Lambo is on the loose, playing up his detention in a psychiatric facility, but actually plotting a number of these random killings to feed his need for control. All this while Cindy Thomas is getting the inside scoop and reporting the news garnered from her fellow Club members, sometimes without their knowledge and consent. How will San Francisco survive all this and can Boxer rise above an Internal Affairs investigation for her actions as they relate to the Sci-Tron bombing? Patterson and Paetro offer an explosive ending to this sixteenth instalment to the series. A great story for series fans and sure to attract some new readers who have a penchant for quick read stories.
There is something about the Women's Murder Club that has always kept me on the edge of my seat. While Patterson has stumbled at times, even with key authors around him, the annual return to this series keeps me believing that there is something worthwhile left in the author (the least of which is surely not Paetro's involvement). The stories are poignant and while the mysteries are not always complex or psychologically thrilling, they move at a quick pace and keep the story from going stale. The strong central cast of characters continue to evolve and there is always a interesting flavour to the one-offs, particularly the criminal element. Patterson and Paetro always leave room for 'just one more', be it a chapter before bed or a new book in the series, fostering an ongoing hunger in the reader. Those short chapters propel the reader forward and can, like me, leave them wondering how they polished the book off in a single day. Surely not foundational work in the genre, but a wonderful escape that keeps pace with the swiftness the outside world has to offer.
Kudos, Mr. Patterson and Madame Paetro for another great novel. I always look forward to what the annual revelation of the Women's Murder Club will bring and you have not let me down.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 7, 2019
Easy read as usual but this book just didn't grab me. Usually I have to force myself to stop reading and get some sleep but this book I almost had to force myself to keep reading.
The main story line and the secondary story line were both interesting on their own but neither one was fully developed enough for a full book. Hence, the introduction of the 2nd story that really added nothing to the overall story. Perhaps the authors needed to throw in something else to make the primary story book length material?
I wanted more collaboration of the Women's Murder Club, more story with Joe and their relationship issues (and a resolution that didn't seem thrown in at the last second), more detective work. And as another reviewer mentioned, what was the seduction? I just wanted more and better than what I got from reading this story. I feel like the book maybe should have been made into 2 separate Bookshots. At least then I know I may be getting a story that isn't necessarily resolved satisfactorily.
Even though I didn't really care for this one, I know I will still read the next one in the series when it comes out. Here's hoping #17 gets back on track.
The main story line and the secondary story line were both interesting on their own but neither one was fully developed enough for a full book. Hence, the introduction of the 2nd story that really added nothing to the overall story. Perhaps the authors needed to throw in something else to make the primary story book length material?
I wanted more collaboration of the Women's Murder Club, more story with Joe and their relationship issues (and a resolution that didn't seem thrown in at the last second), more detective work. And as another reviewer mentioned, what was the seduction? I just wanted more and better than what I got from reading this story. I feel like the book maybe should have been made into 2 separate Bookshots. At least then I know I may be getting a story that isn't necessarily resolved satisfactorily.
Even though I didn't really care for this one, I know I will still read the next one in the series when it comes out. Here's hoping #17 gets back on track.
May 21, 2017
The last book that I reviewed by James Patterson, The Black Book, I commented on how it was one of his best books. However, this one is one of his less stellar ones. I read a lot by Patterson, but I must admit that his Women’s Murder Club series is probably my least favorite, and this entry didn’t help that cause.
Lindsay Boxer, San Francisco Police detective, is currently separated from her husband, Joe, following his last assignment for the federal government that tore their family apart in the last book in the series. Along with three other friends – Claire (Medical Examiner), Yuki (Lawyer), and Cindy (Newspaper reporter) – face two types of criminals. The primary plot involves a man admits to committing a major crime so he can defend himself in court. The secondary plot is about a man faking he is mentally ill so he can hide in a mental hospital, while sneaking out at night to find people he can kill to prove his greatness.
Both of these cases were boring, predictable, and to be honest, a waste of the reader’s time. There was no suspense, the plots felt very disjointed, and everything lacked a consistent or flowing rhythm. Other than finding out whether Lindsay and Joe reunite or not, there was no other really good reason to bother with this outing.
Overall, The 16th Seduction is a real disappointment. Better luck next time James and Maxine.
Lindsay Boxer, San Francisco Police detective, is currently separated from her husband, Joe, following his last assignment for the federal government that tore their family apart in the last book in the series. Along with three other friends – Claire (Medical Examiner), Yuki (Lawyer), and Cindy (Newspaper reporter) – face two types of criminals. The primary plot involves a man admits to committing a major crime so he can defend himself in court. The secondary plot is about a man faking he is mentally ill so he can hide in a mental hospital, while sneaking out at night to find people he can kill to prove his greatness.
Both of these cases were boring, predictable, and to be honest, a waste of the reader’s time. There was no suspense, the plots felt very disjointed, and everything lacked a consistent or flowing rhythm. Other than finding out whether Lindsay and Joe reunite or not, there was no other really good reason to bother with this outing.
Overall, The 16th Seduction is a real disappointment. Better luck next time James and Maxine.
May 29, 2017
Detective Lindsay Boxer was enjoying dinner with her husband Joe Molinari on a rare night off when to their horror the Sci-Tron building in the near distance exploded in a shattering display of glass and rubble. They both ran to the site where they were hit by a scene of absolute carnage. And on the sidewalk in front of the building stood a man surveying the mess with a smile on his face; everyone else was fleeing for their lives while the sounds of sirens screamed closer…
Dr Claire Washburn, the city’s chief medical examiner and one of Lindsay’s best friends had made a startling discovery with a seeming heart attack victim – she deemed it murder. But there was no evidence to support her findings. Once again Lindsay and her partner Detective Rich Conklin had bodies but no evidence and no suspects.
As the trial for the bomber went ahead it was obvious there was trouble ahead – and trouble it turned out to be for Lindsay. Would she lose her beloved job with the SFPD? Would she be out of the police force for life? She couldn’t bear the thought…
16th Seduction is the 16th in the Women’s Murder Club series and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Fast paced non-stop action, the twists and turns were well done. With two cases running side by side and evil emanating from both, it seemed like Lindsay and her team were in over their heads this time! Highly recommended.
Dr Claire Washburn, the city’s chief medical examiner and one of Lindsay’s best friends had made a startling discovery with a seeming heart attack victim – she deemed it murder. But there was no evidence to support her findings. Once again Lindsay and her partner Detective Rich Conklin had bodies but no evidence and no suspects.
As the trial for the bomber went ahead it was obvious there was trouble ahead – and trouble it turned out to be for Lindsay. Would she lose her beloved job with the SFPD? Would she be out of the police force for life? She couldn’t bear the thought…
16th Seduction is the 16th in the Women’s Murder Club series and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Fast paced non-stop action, the twists and turns were well done. With two cases running side by side and evil emanating from both, it seemed like Lindsay and her team were in over their heads this time! Highly recommended.
August 24, 2022
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This book can most aptly be summed up as butt syringes and bombs. All of the metaphors that conjure for you are accurate.
It's basically the same old, same old - romance and relationship trouble, a few different subplots, courtroom drama and murder.
Except, okay, this one wasn't as bad as the usual Patterson books that I hate-read.
Lindsay wasn't as annoying. There were fewer plots to keep track of, streamlining the story in a more satisfying way. The dialogue seemed to have been toned down, cutting out a lot of the over-the-top female clichés. So extra points for that. But, there wasn't as much of the WMC in this one, not a lot of collaboration; Cindy didn't get much page time.
But it was still, like, stupid overall??? I don't know how else to say it.
Imagine, if you will, a small man who goes around stabbing people in the butt with a syringe filled with a lethal drug that stops their hearts. This is after he sneaks out of his insane asylum at night, of course, through a subterranean secret tunnel system.
Add to this a courtroom drama where the city's DA - a man revered for his impressive legal prowess - and Yuki - a lawyer so talented that the DA begged her to come back to work for him and gave in to all her salary demands - are bested by a science teacher. The courtroom drama felt more like a high school mock trial.
If I had to hear "He's so charming and impressive!" one more time...
Maybe if the DA hadn't brought a case to court that was based on literally ZERO evidence, things would have turned out differently and I could have avoided all the contrived Oooo-ing and Awww-ing over a teacher who simply pointed out reasonable doubt is still a thing.
The only real reason to read this would be to find out if Joe and Lindsay get back together or not. Ask me and I'll tell you. But I bet you can guess.
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded up
This book can most aptly be summed up as butt syringes and bombs. All of the metaphors that conjure for you are accurate.
It's basically the same old, same old - romance and relationship trouble, a few different subplots, courtroom drama and murder.
Except, okay, this one wasn't as bad as the usual Patterson books that I hate-read.
Lindsay wasn't as annoying. There were fewer plots to keep track of, streamlining the story in a more satisfying way. The dialogue seemed to have been toned down, cutting out a lot of the over-the-top female clichés. So extra points for that. But, there wasn't as much of the WMC in this one, not a lot of collaboration; Cindy didn't get much page time.
But it was still, like, stupid overall??? I don't know how else to say it.
Imagine, if you will, a small man who goes around stabbing people in the butt with a syringe filled with a lethal drug that stops their hearts. This is after he sneaks out of his insane asylum at night, of course, through a subterranean secret tunnel system.
Add to this a courtroom drama where the city's DA - a man revered for his impressive legal prowess - and Yuki - a lawyer so talented that the DA begged her to come back to work for him and gave in to all her salary demands - are bested by a science teacher. The courtroom drama felt more like a high school mock trial.
If I had to hear "He's so charming and impressive!" one more time...
Maybe if the DA hadn't brought a case to court that was based on literally ZERO evidence, things would have turned out differently and I could have avoided all the contrived Oooo-ing and Awww-ing over a teacher who simply pointed out reasonable doubt is still a thing.
The only real reason to read this would be to find out if Joe and Lindsay get back together or not. Ask me and I'll tell you. But I bet you can guess.
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded up
April 22, 2017
Ultimately, this 16th installment in the WMC series was not such a very satisfying read. First of all, the criminal trial for that bomber took forever (more than half of the book), and then to have that plot fizzle out, towards the end, without giving the readers a true sense of justice. The subplot was even more ridiculous. Imagine a miniature psycho who has kept himself hidden as a mental patient for 40 years, only to go out at night - through secret subterranean tunnels to commit murders; more accurately to syringe plunge people’s butt with a lethal drug in order to stop their hearts.
I thought overall both story-lines were weak. The only redeeming factor are the personal lives of our 4 friends Lindsay, Claire, Yuki and Cindy, and even there, there wasn't much of an actual deep dive. One good thing is that Lindsay makes up her mind about Joe, realizing she might lose him due to the injuries he sustained from the bombing; she finally reconciles with him. The family tableau's with little Julie feel authentic, and are so sweet.
I thought overall both story-lines were weak. The only redeeming factor are the personal lives of our 4 friends Lindsay, Claire, Yuki and Cindy, and even there, there wasn't much of an actual deep dive. One good thing is that Lindsay makes up her mind about Joe, realizing she might lose him due to the injuries he sustained from the bombing; she finally reconciles with him. The family tableau's with little Julie feel authentic, and are so sweet.
June 10, 2017
The Women's Murder Club is back and there's plenty to keep your attention. With a few surprises thrown in, this was not a let down and I'm anxiously waiting for #17!
October 1, 2023
“It was … our first date night since Joe and I had separated six months ago.”
It would take very little to persuade me that authors of detective series have now collectively decided that their novels must contain multiple plot lines. Is there something wrong with focusing on a single plot? Are the plots that these authors create too thin to construct an entire novel around? Or perhaps the authors are afraid that if one of the plots in a novel isn’t the zinger that they had hoped for, the second (or third?) plot will make up for the failings in the first! But I digress.
16TH SEDUCTION follows this by now firmly established series “paradigm”.
PLOT #1: A bomber, alleged to be affiliated with the domestic terrorist organization known as GAR, the Great Antiestablishment Reset, inadvertently confesses to the bombing. In his subsequent trial, he not only undertakes a pro se defense (acting as his own counsel) but he even has the gall to launch a civil suit against Lindsay Boxer for malicious arrest. An internal affairs investigation is launched and Boxer’s career is on the line. PLOT #2: A serial killer is stalking the city with a rather unique MO, using a syringe to inject a poison into his victim’s buttocks. The chosen poison, by the way, for a number of reasons, has the ability to slip by the medical examiner’s tests for toxins. PLOT #3: The mandatory continuation of the soap operas in the lives of the WMC members. The rails are still in place but the status of Lindsay Boxer’s and Joe Molinari’s marriage, definitely de-railed at the end of 15TH AFFAIR, remains in question. Will they get back together again? (Three guesses and the first two don’t count!)
On a side note, I doubt if I’m the only reader who wondered who was being seduced in this particular story and pondered who might have been seduced the previous fifteen times??
Caustic comments and sarcasm aside, 16TH SEDUCTION in spite of itself is a thoroughly entertaining winner and has definitely persuaded me to continue with the series. I’ve got #17, #18, and #19, already lined up on my shelves ready to go. Challenging literary prize winners … NOT! Compelling brain candy … oh, you betcha! On a slightly more serious note, I hope that Paetro and Patterson have not decided to relegate Yuki Castellano, Claire Washburn, and Cindy Thomas to the sidelines and convert the Women’s Murder Club to a series showcasing only Lindsay Boxer as a female homicide detective. The entire WMC team rules!
Paul Weiss
It would take very little to persuade me that authors of detective series have now collectively decided that their novels must contain multiple plot lines. Is there something wrong with focusing on a single plot? Are the plots that these authors create too thin to construct an entire novel around? Or perhaps the authors are afraid that if one of the plots in a novel isn’t the zinger that they had hoped for, the second (or third?) plot will make up for the failings in the first! But I digress.
16TH SEDUCTION follows this by now firmly established series “paradigm”.
PLOT #1: A bomber, alleged to be affiliated with the domestic terrorist organization known as GAR, the Great Antiestablishment Reset, inadvertently confesses to the bombing. In his subsequent trial, he not only undertakes a pro se defense (acting as his own counsel) but he even has the gall to launch a civil suit against Lindsay Boxer for malicious arrest. An internal affairs investigation is launched and Boxer’s career is on the line. PLOT #2: A serial killer is stalking the city with a rather unique MO, using a syringe to inject a poison into his victim’s buttocks. The chosen poison, by the way, for a number of reasons, has the ability to slip by the medical examiner’s tests for toxins. PLOT #3: The mandatory continuation of the soap operas in the lives of the WMC members. The rails are still in place but the status of Lindsay Boxer’s and Joe Molinari’s marriage, definitely de-railed at the end of 15TH AFFAIR, remains in question. Will they get back together again? (Three guesses and the first two don’t count!)
On a side note, I doubt if I’m the only reader who wondered who was being seduced in this particular story and pondered who might have been seduced the previous fifteen times??
Caustic comments and sarcasm aside, 16TH SEDUCTION in spite of itself is a thoroughly entertaining winner and has definitely persuaded me to continue with the series. I’ve got #17, #18, and #19, already lined up on my shelves ready to go. Challenging literary prize winners … NOT! Compelling brain candy … oh, you betcha! On a slightly more serious note, I hope that Paetro and Patterson have not decided to relegate Yuki Castellano, Claire Washburn, and Cindy Thomas to the sidelines and convert the Women’s Murder Club to a series showcasing only Lindsay Boxer as a female homicide detective. The entire WMC team rules!
Paul Weiss
March 20, 2024
Number 16 in the woman's murder club series, this was pretty average book.
As usual two different plotlines run alongside each other. One of which I was quite interested in but it ended to quickly and without much violence or action which was a disappointment.
The other plotline was a arsonist/terrorism story which I found boring. I also don't like the courtroom sections I think they are too slow and really disrupted the other plotline.
Lindsey relationships as always is quite a big portion of this book....this time and felt less forced and extravagate but its not what I look for in a thriller really. I don't feel like Lindsey has had any character developed for a while.
I only own the next two books in the series and I won't be looking to buy the next instalments as these have become a little tedious and dull for me now.
As usual two different plotlines run alongside each other. One of which I was quite interested in but it ended to quickly and without much violence or action which was a disappointment.
The other plotline was a arsonist/terrorism story which I found boring. I also don't like the courtroom sections I think they are too slow and really disrupted the other plotline.
Lindsey relationships as always is quite a big portion of this book....this time and felt less forced and extravagate but its not what I look for in a thriller really. I don't feel like Lindsey has had any character developed for a while.
I only own the next two books in the series and I won't be looking to buy the next instalments as these have become a little tedious and dull for me now.
February 4, 2018
Because of the snobbery surrounding James Patterson’s books I sometimes feel like I have to justify my enjoyment of them. That said, I unashamedly love the Women’s Murder Club series and hope they keep being released for many years to come.
That said I didn’t feel like 16th Seduction was the best book in the series, but I still enjoyed it. There’s two stories going on. One centres around a court case after the bomber of a San Francisco landmark is arrested after inadvertently confessing he set off the bomb to Lindsay Boxer. When you’ve read the court scenes in Michael Connelly’s and John Grisham’s (the good ones that is) then most just seem second best and the court scenes here weren’t wholly believable. The defendant defends himself which I enjoyed reading, but it’s almost comical how poor the prosecution case was and in real life I don’t think a case this serious would be taken to court without lots more evidence. It was laughable in places and whilst it was Yuki’s time to shine, she seemed to take a back seat.
The other story focused on Claire’s discovery of seemingly healthy individuals being injected with something that resulted in their deaths. Whilst I enjoyed this part of the story in the beginning, it all just felt to me that it was added to add page length. It just didn’t add anything to the story or the characterisation, however it did create some animosity between Lindsay and Cindy, albeit for a whole one page. The resolution to this half of the story was satisfying but at the same time it just let me wondering what the point of it all was.
If this was just a generic crime novel I don’t think I would have enjoyed it half as much. Because this is the 16th book featuring some of my favourite characters, I read almost for the nostalgic factor rather than the story. But the last few books I’ve had issues with certain things such as Lindsay’s relationship with Joe and her relationship with her daughter. That girl is going to have serious abandonment issues when she’s older if these two can’t sort out a better work/life balance.
All that said I can’t imagine another year coming round and there not being another WMC book and so I will continue reading them until they are no more because I love the characters and usually enjoy the stories apart from a few that weren’t fantastic. With book 17 just around the corner I’m intrigued to see whether anything fresh can be brought to this series.
That said I didn’t feel like 16th Seduction was the best book in the series, but I still enjoyed it. There’s two stories going on. One centres around a court case after the bomber of a San Francisco landmark is arrested after inadvertently confessing he set off the bomb to Lindsay Boxer. When you’ve read the court scenes in Michael Connelly’s and John Grisham’s (the good ones that is) then most just seem second best and the court scenes here weren’t wholly believable. The defendant defends himself which I enjoyed reading, but it’s almost comical how poor the prosecution case was and in real life I don’t think a case this serious would be taken to court without lots more evidence. It was laughable in places and whilst it was Yuki’s time to shine, she seemed to take a back seat.
The other story focused on Claire’s discovery of seemingly healthy individuals being injected with something that resulted in their deaths. Whilst I enjoyed this part of the story in the beginning, it all just felt to me that it was added to add page length. It just didn’t add anything to the story or the characterisation, however it did create some animosity between Lindsay and Cindy, albeit for a whole one page. The resolution to this half of the story was satisfying but at the same time it just let me wondering what the point of it all was.
If this was just a generic crime novel I don’t think I would have enjoyed it half as much. Because this is the 16th book featuring some of my favourite characters, I read almost for the nostalgic factor rather than the story. But the last few books I’ve had issues with certain things such as Lindsay’s relationship with Joe and her relationship with her daughter. That girl is going to have serious abandonment issues when she’s older if these two can’t sort out a better work/life balance.
All that said I can’t imagine another year coming round and there not being another WMC book and so I will continue reading them until they are no more because I love the characters and usually enjoy the stories apart from a few that weren’t fantastic. With book 17 just around the corner I’m intrigued to see whether anything fresh can be brought to this series.
May 5, 2017
I have generally stopped reading James Patterson books, or any books where the author is now sharing credit another writer. I have however always enjoyed the Women's Murder Club. This book was extremely poorly written. The plot was far fetched. There was limited interaction between the ladies and Joe. The ladies and the relationship with Joe being my motivation for reading. This book was obviously not written by James Patterson, and with deep regret I have to say I will no longer be purchasing this series. It is a real shame when making money comes before readers.
May 20, 2017
#16 in the Women's Murder Club series (and #13 with co-author Maxine Paetro). As always, short chapters; large font; and, plenty of white space, make this entry a quick read. Though engrossing, it was also unsatisfying because it left too many loose ends. What is the status of Lindsay's marriage, and has Joe answered the questions about his absence? Did Yuki just abandon her defense attorney job to rejoin the D.A.? Did Joe forget about Sophie Fields and her message? Why did Lindsay n0t look into attorney Marx and other names uncovered in the investigation of Grant? There are others, but you get the picture.
Women's Murder Club series - A horrific blast destroys a popular San Francisco attraction and has the potential to change Lindsay’s life forever. She and her semi-estranged husband, Joe, are celebrating their wedding anniversary across from the venue when the explosion occurs, and they jump into action. Lindsay’s attention is attracted to an individual whose behavior at the scene is inappropriate. He is a high school science teacher named Connor Grant, who is so much more than that. Grant confesses to Lindsay and Joe that he created the explosion. After his arrest, though, he vehemently denies his confession or any involvement at all in the bombing. Yuki Castellano is recruited back to the District Attorney’s office to prosecute Grant, who insists on representing himself at the trial, which he does with brilliant aplomb. Meanwhile, medical examiner Claire Washburn has discovered that a diabolical serial killer is operating seemingly at will. Otherwise healthy people are suddenly dropping dead. Claire notices an injection mark on the body of one of the deceased and soon detects similar markings on others. The doer is a really, really scary guy, all the more so because he is someone who most of us would outright ignore.
Women's Murder Club series - A horrific blast destroys a popular San Francisco attraction and has the potential to change Lindsay’s life forever. She and her semi-estranged husband, Joe, are celebrating their wedding anniversary across from the venue when the explosion occurs, and they jump into action. Lindsay’s attention is attracted to an individual whose behavior at the scene is inappropriate. He is a high school science teacher named Connor Grant, who is so much more than that. Grant confesses to Lindsay and Joe that he created the explosion. After his arrest, though, he vehemently denies his confession or any involvement at all in the bombing. Yuki Castellano is recruited back to the District Attorney’s office to prosecute Grant, who insists on representing himself at the trial, which he does with brilliant aplomb. Meanwhile, medical examiner Claire Washburn has discovered that a diabolical serial killer is operating seemingly at will. Otherwise healthy people are suddenly dropping dead. Claire notices an injection mark on the body of one of the deceased and soon detects similar markings on others. The doer is a really, really scary guy, all the more so because he is someone who most of us would outright ignore.
December 28, 2018
This book was not one of my favorites. Kind of a disappointment actually. But I can't wait for #17.
June 14, 2017
16th Seduction is book 16 in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. One day Sergeant Lindsay Boxer and her husband Joe Mo was celebrating their wedding anniversary when their world was turned upside down with the bombing of the Sci-Tron Museum. Lindsay through by arresting the number one suspect that same night it is an open and close case. However, that was not the case. The readers of 16th Seduction will follow the investigation of the bombing intertwine with the inquiry of the chief medical office into who is causing people to die on the street after a heart attack.
I have read all the books in this series, and I believe they are getting better. I love the way James Patterson portrays Lindsay, Joe and their daughter. Also, how Lindsay and Joe show the problems people in law enforcement have in juggling family and work. I like that James Patterson made the participants of the Murder Club group all females from all parts of the community, law enforcement, morgue, district attorney office and the press. Reading 16th Seduction made me start to think about how we treat people with physical disability. Also, the weapon use by the serial killer in 16th Seduction it was different which I enjoyed.
Readers of 16th Seduction will learn about the procedures of IAB and how they affect the participants. Also, how time-consuming criminal investigation are. Reading 16th Seduction, you will learn that at times law enforcement has to protect people they know are guilty but can not prove it.
I recommend this book
I have read all the books in this series, and I believe they are getting better. I love the way James Patterson portrays Lindsay, Joe and their daughter. Also, how Lindsay and Joe show the problems people in law enforcement have in juggling family and work. I like that James Patterson made the participants of the Murder Club group all females from all parts of the community, law enforcement, morgue, district attorney office and the press. Reading 16th Seduction made me start to think about how we treat people with physical disability. Also, the weapon use by the serial killer in 16th Seduction it was different which I enjoyed.
Readers of 16th Seduction will learn about the procedures of IAB and how they affect the participants. Also, how time-consuming criminal investigation are. Reading 16th Seduction, you will learn that at times law enforcement has to protect people they know are guilty but can not prove it.
I recommend this book
June 10, 2018
Fifteen months ago, Lindsay Boxer thought that she had the perfect life with a husband who loved her and kept no secrets and a gorgeous daughter. That all came crashing down when those who have read Book #15 remember that Lindsay discovered that Joe had been lying to her and was part of the CIA. Now the pair is trying to get their romance and family back on track when they are witnesses to a bombing at the science museum. As they are trained law enforcement, Lindsay scans the crowd for oddities and Joe rushes in to help. Lindsay gets a strange confession from a member of the crowd and Joe ends up being injured in the bombing. With no other witnesses, this murder trial is going to end up in flames like the bomb as the guy who confessed is a sneaky bugger and his love of fire goes past what Lindsay or anyone could ever imagine. The other storyline running through this book was one of a mental health patient or just plain psychopathic giving people jabs to the bum and killing them. The first we saw more of an interaction between Lindsay and Joe as well as Yuki being brought back into the world of prosecutions and in the second storyline was more of Claire and her ME murder solving skills. I really liked this particular book as it gave us more insight into Lindsay's life as a mother and wife rather than just her tough-woman cop side. The only thing that annoyed me was the ending with the bomber as we never did see the SFPD unravel the aliases which would have been cool, but I do figure that it would have been too much for one book. Another great book in the Women's Murder Club series and I guess like me, if you are still reading at Book #16 you will definitely be continuing and soldiering on with the rest of the series.
April 23, 2024
REREAD on 4/14/2024
I love this series and the characters. Reading this series again has made me feel like I came home to my family and friends. I have been an avid reader of James Patterson books since I was first married and having my own kids, I remember when Joe and Lindsey first got together and I remember that shoot out when we all thought Jacobi and Lindsey were dead. I truly feel like when I read this series I've come home.
I recommend every last book in this series to everyone who loves a good murder mystery book.
I love this series and the characters. Reading this series again has made me feel like I came home to my family and friends. I have been an avid reader of James Patterson books since I was first married and having my own kids, I remember when Joe and Lindsey first got together and I remember that shoot out when we all thought Jacobi and Lindsey were dead. I truly feel like when I read this series I've come home.
I recommend every last book in this series to everyone who loves a good murder mystery book.
April 3, 2018
Lindsey and Joe were out having dinner when a science museum exploded. They rushed to the scene, and of all things, ran into a guy who confessed to being the bomber. Lindsey arrested him in what should be an open and shut case, but the suspect turned out to be more brilliant than anyone expected. As a side story, people were being murdered by the Stealth Killer, an unassuming and unexpected killer.
The 16th book in the Women's Murder Club series. I've read the previous 15 books, and they were all thrilling crime mysteries. This one was no exception. The suspect who nobody was sure they could really convict was a great read. The side story wasn't as good, and I'm not sure why it was included.
A smart crime novel. Fast-paced and exciting.
The 16th book in the Women's Murder Club series. I've read the previous 15 books, and they were all thrilling crime mysteries. This one was no exception. The suspect who nobody was sure they could really convict was a great read. The side story wasn't as good, and I'm not sure why it was included.
A smart crime novel. Fast-paced and exciting.
January 18, 2018
Holy crap that was my favorite installment of the series to date! I loved the domestic terrorism angle. I loved seeing Lindsay and Joe going through the process of mending their relationship while Lindsay's career was in a bit of a peril. This was so fast paced and action packed.
My quick and simple overall: GREAT!
My quick and simple overall: GREAT!
November 28, 2017
Ooh die ‘The women’s murder club’ is een fantastische reeks, korte en vlot lezende hoofdstukken. Geen saai intermezzo maar recht op het doel af...en dan tussendoor die afspraakjes voor aan de kakelende vrouwenclub...ZALIG! Een echt aanrader, je kan ze los lezen maar ik vind door de verhaallijnen door dat je hier en daar iets mist dus van 1-16 en je zal je niet vervelen!
May 28, 2017
Summary:
Lindsay and Joe are having dinner on the pier, and she is seriously considering reconciliation. Can they have a relationship together now? Still, there's good wine, great food, and.... a huge explosion across the way. When they run over to assess the damage, Lindsay notices one man acting strangely. Connor Grant isn't running away. In fact, he seems happy. When she goes to talk to him, Grant takes credit for the bomb and Lindsay has him taken into custody. Meanwhile, Joe goes into the museum to see if he can help anyone. A second explosion hits, and he is badly wounded.
The next morning, Grant is in interrogation denying ever having admitted to anything. As the case goes to trial, he decides to defend himself and Lindsay finds that it is her- her word, and her integrity- that is on trial. In order to protect her job and put Grant away Lindsay must get all her friends together and they have to figure out the mystery of what really happened and who Grant really is before it's too late.
My thoughts:
For me, this was a very fast paced but emotionally taxing book. Over the years I have come to love these characters, and the pain Lindsay is in- both on a job level and in her romantic life- hurts. These are amazing, multifaceted characters that you cannot help but root for; and each one has their own issue in this book as well as trying to help Lindsay through hers.
Grant is an interesting villain. Smart, savvy chameleon that he is, it was interesting to see what he would come up with. The premise was intriguing and the story line had a nice, fast flow. It tied in well with 15th Affair, James Patterson, but seemed to ignore the bookshot in between these two. I have to admit, I was a bit put off by that. I had been waiting to see how they would address the added content in the paper copy of The Trial, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.
That said, I still loved the book and thought it was a great addition to the series. Five stars!
On the adult content scale, there was violence, language and some sexual content. I give it a five.
Lindsay and Joe are having dinner on the pier, and she is seriously considering reconciliation. Can they have a relationship together now? Still, there's good wine, great food, and.... a huge explosion across the way. When they run over to assess the damage, Lindsay notices one man acting strangely. Connor Grant isn't running away. In fact, he seems happy. When she goes to talk to him, Grant takes credit for the bomb and Lindsay has him taken into custody. Meanwhile, Joe goes into the museum to see if he can help anyone. A second explosion hits, and he is badly wounded.
The next morning, Grant is in interrogation denying ever having admitted to anything. As the case goes to trial, he decides to defend himself and Lindsay finds that it is her- her word, and her integrity- that is on trial. In order to protect her job and put Grant away Lindsay must get all her friends together and they have to figure out the mystery of what really happened and who Grant really is before it's too late.
My thoughts:
For me, this was a very fast paced but emotionally taxing book. Over the years I have come to love these characters, and the pain Lindsay is in- both on a job level and in her romantic life- hurts. These are amazing, multifaceted characters that you cannot help but root for; and each one has their own issue in this book as well as trying to help Lindsay through hers.
Grant is an interesting villain. Smart, savvy chameleon that he is, it was interesting to see what he would come up with. The premise was intriguing and the story line had a nice, fast flow. It tied in well with 15th Affair, James Patterson, but seemed to ignore the bookshot in between these two. I have to admit, I was a bit put off by that. I had been waiting to see how they would address the added content in the paper copy of The Trial, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.
That said, I still loved the book and thought it was a great addition to the series. Five stars!
On the adult content scale, there was violence, language and some sexual content. I give it a five.
October 12, 2018
One thing that bugged me about this one is Lindsay and Joe NEVER talked about their underlying issue with their marriage. You know the whole he lied for a long time and was secretly working for the CIA. How do you NOT address that? The whole secondary case in this one was way more interesting. Injecting victims in their butt? Claire is seriously a genius for even realizing their were injection sites. The major case in this one was lacking. This one was not quite as good as the last 2 but still better than some of the others. Maybe I liked the fact we didn't see a lot of Cindy, she is annoying. I also liked seeing a little more of Yuki I didn't used to like her but shes growing on me. But for real a person keeping themselves disguised as a mental patient. That is really a downright genius idea.
July 10, 2017
This was another great Women's Murder Club book. This series just keeps getting better and better. I had a hard time putting this one down.
June 5, 2017
I have loved the Women's Murder Club series from the beginning, but #16 just fell flat. I kept waiting for this 'bombshell' to drop, and obviously it was the one in the very beginning of the book. The drama never pulled me in and hooked me as the others have. The narratives by Yuki and Cindy just seemed so out of place and detached. I feel as if this book was just thrown together to keep the series rolling. I liked the secondary story of Neddie so much better than the headline story of Connor Grant. The entire story just seemed thrown together. Very Disappointed!
May 10, 2017
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July 4, 2017
Lindsay Boxer and estranged husband Joe Molinari are having dinner when the nearby Science Center blows up, killing 25 innocent people. They rush to the catastrophe, and a man is gloating over the beauty of his explosion. After spending the night in jail, he claims it was all a misunderstanding, and demands a speedy trial. Yuki Castellano is asked by DA Len Parisi to return to his office and sit second chair for the trial. Defendant Connor Grant, a high school science teacher, decides to defend himself, and does so ably. Meanwhile, ME Claire Washington discovers a serial killer is on the loose, stabbing people with a hypodermic needle, and Lindsay and partner Joe Conklin have to solve this oddball case, with a surprising perp. 3.5 stars.
April 19, 2017
I give it 4.5 stars. My only disappointment is Julie's treatment. Why did the author make Lindsey a parent and make her so neglectful of her child? I was also glad to see Joe's return. I hope to see more of him in future installments.
May 25, 2017
I've said it before and I'll say it again... this series is the bomb.com! Love the characters, love the plots. Patterson's books are super easy to read and he knows just how to end a chapter so you'll keep turning those pages. I know it's a way off, but I can't wait for book 17!
November 2, 2017
What an amazing story! I love the Woman's Murder Club series! A fast paced read filled with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
June 9, 2017
Detective Lindsey Boxer and husband Joe are working to repair their marriage. As they go out on a date, a science museum near the restaurant is blown up. As the two run toward the building, Lindsey notices a man smiling gleefully and he gives her a full confession as being the bomber. As Joe goes into the building to help survivors, a 2nd bomb explodes. Joe is badly hurt. As the investigation into the terrorist bombing continues, Connor Grant, the confessed bomber, recants his confession but the police have enough to charge him since he's a science teacher and written a book about making bombs. Lindsey will be a main witness at the trial and Yuki is back at the DA's office to prosecute.
As a secondary case, someone is killing people by injecting them with a substance that appears to mimic a heart attack. Lindsey's medical examiner friend Claire pushes to find the killer.
I've read almost every book in this series and I enjoy the interactions between the 4 friends who form the women's murder club. This book reads very quickly. Terroristic attacks seem to be an almost daily occurrence somewhere in the world these days so the subject matter is realistic.
As a secondary case, someone is killing people by injecting them with a substance that appears to mimic a heart attack. Lindsey's medical examiner friend Claire pushes to find the killer.
I've read almost every book in this series and I enjoy the interactions between the 4 friends who form the women's murder club. This book reads very quickly. Terroristic attacks seem to be an almost daily occurrence somewhere in the world these days so the subject matter is realistic.
January 12, 2020
I’ve always blown through these books and often struggled to put them down, but this one I basically had to force myself to finish so I could say I read it. Ha.
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