Lindsay is tasked, alongside her partner Rich Conklin, in investigating 'copy cat' murders taking place across many jurisdictions, all somehow linked to past murders of Evan Burke. What does he know and will he talk? At the same time, Cindy Thomas, news reporter and author is attending the first event on her tour promoting her new book on the life of serial killer, Evan Burke, who is serving life in prison. Her fellow members of the Women’s Murder Club – Lindsay, Yuki, and Claire – show up to support her and indulge in a celebratory dinner afterwards.

23rd Midnight - Libby The 23rd Midnight - Libby

This is a fast paced thriller which draws the reader in and is, in my opinion an unputdownable book. In my opinion, this series, written by Patterson and Paetro since the fifth book has been really hit and miss over the last five to eight outings. At times, it has lost steam, including superficial and ludicrous serial killer villains, repetitive and formulaic storylines that have grown old, and stagnant growth in most of the primary characters. Okay, then. Whatever. I booted up my refurbished Dell and hit “new mail.” I was skimming my inbox when I saw “Ralph Hammer” in a subject line. Yuki Castellano, a Prosecutor, working on an incredibly violent domestic abuse case against Lewis Sullivan.Up front disclosure. I read most of James Patterson’s books and have for several years. Some might ask why and that’s another whole discussion best saved for another day. I have really enjoyed some, liked some, and didn’t really care for others. On a personal level, I must admit that his Women’s Murder Club series – focused on the professional and personal lives of four women in San Francisco - has been very hit and miss over the last couple of years with more weak outings than not. It starts with us watching a killer at work through his own glasses he murders a young mother and her baby, he also murders a nosey old neighbour who tries to see what he’s doing.

23rd Midnight by James Patterson | Waterstones 23rd Midnight by James Patterson | Waterstones

I love James Patterson books and the Women’s murder club ones are usually superb, this one does not disappoint in any way. In fact once I started reading it I couldn’t stop and read it in a day! First of all thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the privilege of reading this book. I hadn’t read any of the books in this series before but reading this one made me want to become better acquainted with journalist Cindy Thomas, Det. Lindsay Boxer, prosecutor Yuki Castellano and chief medical examiner Claire Washburn. A mother and her baby are murdered in broad daylight. A passing jogger who bears witness to the scene is then also killed. All of this is caught on film... by the killer himself! A new serial killer seems to be recreating the most infamous crimes of Evan Burke. This year’s outing - “The 23rd Midnight”- has three primary plots – Lindsey’s police team’s hunt for a serial killer, Cindy’s troubled book tour, and Yuki’s courtroom case involving a battered wife. This time it’s Claire’s turn to play more of a supporting role.Lindsay put prolific serial killer Evan Burke behind bars and her friend, journalist Cindy Thomas, wrote a bestselling book about his crimes. Now a new killer is walking in Burke’s footsteps and recreating his crimes with Cindy in his crosshairs with Lindsay in hot pursuit. I love this series of books having read them . This can be read in isolation but I do recommend that the reader reads the other books in the series so that they have a fuller understanding of the relationships between all of the major charcters. This book has the usual murder that Detective Lindsay Boxer has to try and solve along with her colleagues and usually with her 3 best friends Cindy, a journalist, Yuki a prosecutor and Claire, the Chief Medical Examiner who all get involved in one way or another.

23rd Midnight: A serial killer behind bars. A copycat killer 23rd Midnight: A serial killer behind bars. A copycat killer

The characters a came across as quite one dimensional and I struggled to connect with them or feel anything towards them. I’m aware that this is a part of a series but equally I should’ve been made to feel like I was part of ‘the gang’. Instead I was left utterly confused as to why this group of women ‘the murder club’ felt it was totally okay to talk shop with one another - because they are friends. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a James Patterson mega fan girl 😆 I just love his books, with their short and punchy chapters, characters that feel like family now and killers that you can’t wait to get what is coming to them. I am always thrilled to get approved for early copies of his books, so a massive thank you to Random House UK for feeding my addiction.

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The hunt for the killer is interspersed with another Women’s Murder Club member, prosecutor Yuki Castellano, trying a domestic violence case. That is horrible enough, although fascinating in the way events get interpreted and twisted, but pales in comparison to the senseless, nihilistic murders committed by the killer. Practically speaking in terms of the reading experience this translates into non stop action and a plot full of twists and turns. I got really immersed and could feel the tension and frustration of the characters as the murders pile up and Yuki waits for a verdict. This isn’t always a given in the authors’ work as sometimes they substitute action for emotion, but today I felt it and finished the novel in one sitting, desperate for a successful outcome. That means that I adored the final prison scene and my righteous enjoyment of comeuppance.

James Patterson - The 23rd Midnight James Patterson - The 23rd Midnight

One of Detective Lindsay Boxer’s greatest feats as part of the San Francisco PD was putting serial killer Evan Burke behind bars. Burke’s murder spree was long and complicated, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief. Fellow member of the Wommen’s Murder Club, Cindy Thomas, uses her crime reporting skills to work with Burke to write a tell-all book about the killer’s life and some of the gruesome acts he committed. Now published, the book is selling like mad and Cindy has been on the book signing junket, in hopes of garnering even more press.

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Patterson boils a scene down to a single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind Michael Connelly Inspector Sonia Alvarez is in her early thirties, a leggy brunette recently relocated from Las Vegas MPD, where she used her street smarts working undercover in Vice. She’s funny, brilliant, and can hold a tune. Now she’s with the SFPD, getting an on‐the‐job degree in Homicide. All the while, fellow Murder Club vet, Yuki Castellano is, in court, working on a case with its own dire consequences. A man is accused of depriving his wife of the necessities of life after chaining her up in the basement of their home. While Yuki is sure that this is a slam dunk, the accused tells a story of depravity committed against him and how he was out of his head. Something’s got to give as the case (and Cindy’s kidnapping) come to a head in this electric tale of crime, murder, and the connection of the core four. Patterson and Paetro do well to progress the series and keep me wondering what’s to come. Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke behind bars. Now a new killer has recreated Burke's most infamous crimes-and disappeared without a trace. The good news is that is a pretty good book. Not a great one, but a solid improvement over several of the previous half dozen, building on the multi-book arc involving Evan Burke.