1st to Die

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. James B. Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an award-winning American author. Formerly an advertising executive for J. W. Thompson in the early 1990s, Patterson came up with the slogan "Toys R Us Kid". Shortly after his success with Along Came A Spider he retired from the firm and devoted his time to writing. The novels featuring his character, Alex Cross, a black forensic psychologist formerly of the Washington, D.C. Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, now working as a private psychologist and government consultant, are the most popular books among Patterson readers. James Patterson has been criticized by Stephen King, who called Patterson's books "dopey thrillers".[citation needed] Patterson shrugged off the comments, stating that he wants to be the "thrillingest thriller writer of all time".[citation needed] James Patterson has also been put as one of Forbes magazine's top 100 celebrities. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. 1st to Die By James Patterson Time Warner AudioBooks Copyright © 2001 James PattersonAll right reserved. ISBN: 9781586210533 Prologue INSPECTORLINDSAY BOXER IT IS AN UNUSUALLY WARM NIGHT in July, but I'm shivering badly as Istand on the substantial gray stone terrace outside my apartment.I'm looking out over glorious San Francisco and I have my servicerevolver pressed against the side of my temple. "Goddamn you, God!" I whisper. Quite a sentiment, but appropriateand just, I think. I hear Sweet Martha whimpering. I turn and see she is watching methrough the glass doors that lead to the terrace. She knows thatsomething is wrong. "It's okay," I call to her through the door."I'm okay. Go lie down, girl." Martha won't leave, though, won't look away. She's a good, loyalfriend who's been nuzzling me good-night every single night for thepast six years. As I stare into the Border collie's eyes, I think that maybe Ishould go inside and call the girls. Claire, Cindy, and Jill wouldbe here almost before I hung up the phone. They would hold me, hugme, say all the right things. You're special, Lindsay. Everybodyloves you, Lindsay. Only I'm pretty sure that I'd be back out here tomorrow night, orthe night after. I just don't see a way out of this mess. I havethought it all through a hundred times. I can be as logical as hell,but I am also highly emotional, obviously. That was my strength asan inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. It is a rarecombination, and I think it is why I was more successful than any ofthe males in Homicide. Of course, none of them are up here gettingready to blow their brains out with their own guns. I lightly brush the barrel of the revolver down my cheek and then upto my temple again. Oh God, oh God, oh God. I am reminded of softhands, of Chris, and that starts me crying. Lots of images are coming way too fast for me to handle. The terrible, indelible honeymoon murders that terrified our city,mixed with close-ups of my mom and even a few flashes of my father.My best girls - Claire, Cindy, and Jill - our crazy club. I can evensee myself, the way I used to be, anyway. Nobody ever, ever thoughtthat I looked like an inspector, the only woman homicide inspectorin the entire SFPD. My friends always said I was more like HelenHunt married to Paul Reiser in Mad About You . I was married once. Iwas no Helen Hunt; he sure was no Paul Reiser. This is so hard, so bad, so wrong. It's so unlike me. I keep seeingDavid and Melanie Brandt, the first couple who were killed, in theMandarin Suite of the Grand Hyatt. I see that horrifying hotel room,where they died senselessly and needlessly. That was the beginning. Continues... Excerpted from 1st to Die by James Patterson Copyright © 2001 by James Patterson. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Read more