The 23rd Midnight by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club #23)

Synopsis

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.

Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke in jail.

Reporter Cindy Thomas put Burke on the bestseller list, in her true-crime book about the case.

An obsessed fan is studying every detail-and committing fresh horrors that carry Burke's signature.

Now Lindsay's tracking an elusive suspect, one who's penning a deadly playbook featuring Cindy's name in blood-red ink.

'The 23rd Midnight' was a great follow up to a very solid '22 Seconds' novel. I said in my review of that one that I expected it to be more intense from the synopsis. Where that one lacked in some tension, suspense, and intensity - 'The 23rd Midnight' made up for it PLUS some. 

And appealing to my personal wants, we got a classic "Women's Murder Club" meetup to sift through evidence and bounce ideas around. But this time, Cindy was not there - because it was her they needed to save.

Speaking of the Women's Murder Club, it was a good novel for most of them - 

Lindsay Boxer

We got to see a new side of Lindsay. After so many years and so much pain and trauma, she's not quite sure if she wants to continue with her job or move on. If there is a plan for this series to continue, I have to imagine she takes a vacation and comes back ready to take down more criminals. It wouldn't be the same if Lindsay wasn't working cases as a cop. 

Cindy Thomas

Cindy is who this novel revolves around. She's seeing some great success due to her new True Crime novel, but it also puts her life in danger. While she may not have actually appeared in as many scenes as she sometimes does, a good majority of the chapters touched on how the story goes back to her, her novel, and her connection to a psychotic serial killer. 

Yuki Castellano

I love the books in this series that have one of Yuki's court cases as a heavy feature. The chapters are always interesting and keep me turning the page fast to see if she comes out on the victorious side. 'The 23rd Midnight' was full of tension and suspense with Cindy in danger. But Yuki's chapters were almost more gripping to me. Almost. She's a great character and isn't always super involved in the books. It's a treat when she is. 

Claire Washburn

Unfortunately, with so many strong story lines featuring the other three, Claire didn't see as much time in this one. That was the only thing I was bummed about. But, it wouldn't have made sense with the flow of the story to insert her randomly where she wouldn't normally be. 

A classic, thrilling Women's Murder Club installment. 

5/5 Stars

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22 Seconds by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club #22)

Synopsis

22 seconds... until Lindsay Boxer loses her badge—or her life.

SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind.

There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home.

Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies:

You talk, you die.

Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose.

Ah, it is always so wonderful to jump back into a world that you love. It always kind of feels like coming home when I open up a new Women's Murder Club novel. The good thing about finishing this one today is that #23 was just released today! So, I get to jump into the next one immediately! What a treat. 

Jumping into this one after reading the synopsis, I knew there was going to be a seriously trying case that Lindsay would be getting mixed up in. And there certainly was. The scale of said case was enormous, and there were so many moving parts and so many dead bodies showing up. It was chaos!

But also from the synopsis, I was anticipating it to be a bit more intense and anxiety-inducing than it was. Once I got to the part that gave the novel the title '22 Seconds', it wasn't at all what I was expecting. 

Saying that, it was still a good story. There were so many agencies working together that we got to see many returning characters. That's always fun! I was hoping for more scenes of the Women's Murder Club being together, but there was so many going on it made sense that they didn't have much time. 

Overall, I enjoyed the ride - I finished all of it but 9 chapters in one go. But it was lacking some of the tension and intensity of other installments even with Lindsay and Joe in the crosshairs of some dangerous people.

4/5 Stars

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Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

 Synopsis

"Speak up for yourself--we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication.

In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

From reading the synopsis of 'Speak', I knew it was going to be a heavy read. But with how highly regarded it is, I could only assume that it was written well and the tough topics were handled gently. Thankfully I was right. 

There are definitely some graphic moments and the writing really puts you in the mind of Melinda as she lives her Freshman year of highschool as an outcast carrying around a horrible, traumatic secret. Even for readers who have not experienced sexual assault or rape, I think everyone can find a piece of themselves in this book. It's a great lesson about treating everyone with kindness because you never truly know what someone is going through. 

Melinda's highschool experience and the way she views the things going on around her is very real and is a good representation of a kid trying to find their way. That makes the book more impactful. Because it feels so real. 

I can see why this book is so highly rated and how it can speak to so many people on a deep level. If you jump in to it, you have to be prepared for a couple graphic scenes and a very real representation of trauma. So, if you are prepared for that and are in the right mindset to handle it, I highly recommend. 

5/5 stars

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Triple Cross by James Patterson (Alex Cross #30)

 Synopsis

Detective Alex Cross hunts down a serial killer who’s murdering entire families—and who will next be coming for Cross.

A methodical killer is targeting multigenerational families in and around Washington, DC—striking under cover of darkness, triggering no alarms, leaving no physical evidence of any kind.  

Alex isn’t the only one investigating. Also on the case is a charismatic true-crime author who sees patterns the detectives miss. 

The writer calls “The Family Man” a perfect crime story. Alex knows there is no perfect crime—the investigation should never become the story. Unless the ending falls somewhere between fact and fiction.

PHEW! If you read my review of the previous book in this series, 'Fear No Evil', you saw that I was disappointed in not fully enjoying an Alex Cross novel. 

In comes Triple Cross! And it more than made up for the poor experience I had with #29. 

Around DC, Alex Cross and his long-time partner John Sampson are trying to solve "The Family Man" murders. A ruthless killer is slipping into family homes at night, murdering them all, and slipping out while leaving zero evidence or trace of his existence (outside of the crime scene) behind. 

Bree is spending time in New York City on contract to figure out the secrets behind a large fashion company and trying to dig up the skeletons they've left behind. 

While all of this is going on, a big-name true-crime writer contacts Alex and John trying to get the scoop on the Family Man for his next novel. They have to deal with this distraction and figure out if this energetic author is responsible in some way. He HAS gotten super close to many criminal investigations and always seems to find new clues. 

'Triple Cross' was a wild ride from start to finish and had notes of the wonderful family dynamic that we have all come to love about the Cross Family. This book was fast-paced and remained interesting until the last page. 

5/5 Stars

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Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #3)

 Synopsis:

When six young prostitutes are found strangled in Los Angeles, an investigation begins that takes the reader on a wild ride involving powerful families and close friends. Child-psychologist Alex Delaware has received a garbled, middle-of-the-night crisis call from an ex-patient. As Dr. Delaware becomes involved, he stumbles on a deep secret, one that has existed for over forty years. Along with detective Milo Sturgis, Delaware is about to find himself on a journey into an unforgettably brutal world of madness and murderous passion.

The Alex Delaware series is a great mystery series because it gives readers a new perspective. Alex is a psychologist. So these books dig into what makes the bad characters act the way they do or commit the crimes that they do. 

This can sometimes be extremely brutal, because a lot of crime stems from childhood trauma. So, while it's interesting, it can be tough to read. The first two books delivered a high level of intrigue and the story moved at a good pace. This third novel, "Over the Edge", moved at an absolute snail pace to me. 

I was interested in the core story of Alex's ex-patient, Jamey Cadmus. He seemingly went from a troubled genius to a babbling serial murderer who was drugged into the stratosphere despite no drugs showing up on any tests. Sounds interesting, right?

I thought so too until I was actually reading the book and it went nowhere fast. There could have been so much cut out of this to make it a much more fast-paced and engaging book. Thankfully the end of it ramped it up a bit and it was a good conclusion to the story. 

But it was so slow to me that it put me in a mini reading slump. 

2/5 Stars

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Color Blind by Jonathan Santlofer (Kate McKinnon #2)

 Synopsis:

Kate McKinnon is back -- and this time it's personal. When two hideously eviscerated bodies are discovered and the only link between them is a bizarre painting left at each crime scene, the NYPD turns to former cop Kate McKinnon, the woman who brought the serial killer the Death Artist to justice. Having settled back into her satisfying life as art historian, published author, host of a weekly PBS television series, and wife of one of New York's top lawyers, Kate wants no part of it. But Kate's sense of tranquillity is shattered when this new sequence of murders strikes too close to home. With grief and fury to fuel her, she rejoins her former partner, detective Floyd Brown, and his elite homicide squad on the hunt for a vicious psychopath known as the Color-Blind Killer. In her rage and desperation, Kate allows herself to be drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. She abandons her glamorous life for the gritty streets of Manhattan, immersing herself in a world where brutality and madness appear to be the norm, where those closest to her may have betrayed her -- and where, in the end, nothing is what it seems.

After greatly enjoying the first book in this series, 'The Death Artist', I was excited to find the sequel and jump into it. 

Kate McKinnon is a great protagonist. A former NYPD cop, not a big shot in the NYC art scene. Her experience brings a unique perspective to the cases she gets involved in, as they all revolve around art. 

In this second book, there are people all around New York City being brutally murdered. At each crime scene, the killer leaves a bizarre painting in which the color schemes make no sense. 

As if a deranged killer on the loose wasn't a big enough problem for Kate to get involved in . . . a murder with seemingly the same M.O. targets her own family. Suddenly, it all becomes personal and she has to try to push her emotions to the side so she can analyze these paintings hoping to find clues. 

The story is intriguing. Kate remains a great protagonist. The book pulls you in and makes you keep turning the page. Even the killer was interesting and I wanted to know what the full story was. 

In other words, it was a great read that keeps your attention until the end. 

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: "Well, you could try one of the merchants who deal in this stuff." He plucked the glasses off his beak and peered at the ceiling. There's that little shop that's recently relocated to Chelsea, the Gallery of Outsider Art, though, if you ask me, it's not nearly outside enough - perhaps New Jersey would be best- and naturally I have never, nor will I ever, step foot inside it.”

"Kate stared past the traffic and passerby, lost in thought. She believed that every artist was searching for something, often trying to understand the world more clearly through their artwork."

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And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here comes an exquisitely moving portrait of an elderly man’s struggle to hold on to his most precious memories, and his family’s efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

With all the same charm of his bestselling full-length novels, here Fredrik Backman once again reveals his unrivaled understanding of human nature and deep compassion for people in difficult circumstances. This is a tiny gem with a message you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

I'm kicking off 2023 with a beautiful novella by Fredrik Backman. 'And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer' is super short, but it really packs a big punch in its few pages. 

It tells the story of love, loss, and a lifetime of beautiful memories that you desperately want to hold on to. I think anyone who picks up this story could get something wonderful, heartwarming, and meaningful out of it. 

Due to the subject, it does have an aura of sadness, but it's written in a beautiful way that brings a sense of peace to the heartache. 

I highly recommend this for a rainy weekend afternoon when you want to get in touch with your feelings. I'd recommend most of Backman's work in the same way though. 

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: 

"Isn't that the best of all life's ages, an old man thinks as he looks at his grandchild. When a boy is just big enough to know how the world works but still young enough to refuse to accept it. Noah's feet don't touch the ground when his legs dangle over the edge of the bench, but his head reaches all the way to space, because he hasn't been alive long enough to allow anyone to keep his thoughts on Earth. His grandpa is next to him and is incredibly old, of course, so old now that people have given up and no longer nag him to start acting like an adult. So old that it's too late to grow up. It's not so bad either, that age.

“A great brain can never be kept on Earth.”

“It’s a big universe to be angry at but a long life to have company in.” 

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First Degree by David Rosenfelt (Andy Carpenter #2)

Synopsis

No one can separate defense attorney Andy Carpenter from his golden retriever, Tara, who stands loyally beside him through every investigation, no matter how dangerous or puzzling-and he is about to be confronted with one of his most difficult cases yet.

When a cop's body is found burned and decapitated, the last thing Andy expects is for a stranger to waltz into his office and confess to the crime. For the wisecracking millionaire attorney suffering from "lawyer's block," the case looks like a no-brainer, that is until the cops pick up another suspect: Andy's lead P.I., Laurie Collins, who happens to be the love of his life. Soon Laurie's case is looking bleak and Andy is becoming increasingly desperate. All he had wanted was a case to sink his teeth into. Now he gets one that's a kick in the head . . . and the heart.

First of all, one of the main characters is a golden retriever. I automatically love it. 

More than that, it was interesting to read a mystery book from the POV of a defense attorney. Most of the books I read are mysteries, and a good deal of them are from the POV of a detective or investigator. I enjoyed the change of pace. 

To add another layer, said attorney is faced with the task of getting his girlfriend found not-guilty of a brutal murder. 

'First Degree provided an interesting story with fun characters PLUS a golden retriever. 

I haven't decided if I want to give the rest of the series a shot or just appreciate this book for what it is alone. I didn't realize it was the second book in a series when I started it, oops. 

5/5 stars

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Nearly Gone by Elle Casimano (Nearly Boswell #1)

Synopsis

Keeping secrets is second nature to Nearly Boswell. Living in a trailer park outside Washington, DC, with a mom who works as an exotic dancer, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Only her best friends know about her obsession with the personal ads, and Nearly hasn't told anyone about the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin.

Then a serial killer goes on a murder spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper. Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it out soon - she'll be next.

'Nearly Gone' is one of those stories that grabs you and pulls you in until you finish it. Just imagine being able to feel people's emotions and thoughts if you touch them! With this book you get to follow a main character who has that very blessing/curse. 

It goes from a quirky YA novel to a mystery with lives on the line. I enjoyed it, and I just found out there is a second one. I hope to pick that one up as well. 

3.5/5 stars

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Slated by Teri Terry (Slated #1)

Synopsis

KYLA HAS BEEN SLATED - her memory erased, her personality wiped blank. This is the government's way of dealing with teen terrorists: give them a fresh start as a new person. They teach Kyla how to walk and talk again, give her a new identity and a new family, and tell her to be grateful for this second chance.

It's also her last chance, and to ensure that she plays by their rules, Kyla is fitted with a Levo, a bracelet that monitors her mood and will stun - or even kill - her if her levels of anger or violence rise too high.

As she adjusts to her new life, Kyla can see she is different from the other Slateds. She asks too many questions and is plagued by nightmares that feel like memories - even though she shouldn't have memories. Who is she, really? Has her Slating gone wrong? And if only criminals are Slated, why are innocent people disappearing? Torn between the need to understand more and her instinct for self-peservation, Kyla knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she's determined not to let anyone see her make the wrong move...

Slated presents a really intriguing, yet exceptionally terrifying concept. The government outfits kids they consider terrorists with devices called Levos. If their mood sways in a way that is considered unacceptable, it can shock them or potentially kill them. 

This book follows the main character, Kyla, as she attempts to adjust to the slated life while still having too many questions for her own good, according to those in charge. She wants to remember who she is, or was. But, another rule is that their memory must be wiped and they aren't supposed to remember anything. 

Eventually, things get a bit out of hand. Is the slated life really worthwhile?

I really enjoyed the story because it was new and interesting. I found the characters intriguing as well which made me want to know what happens to them. 'Slated' is an easy book to get into and get lost in for a little bit. 

It's a super easy read. So if you're looking to escape to a weird, different version of the world we live in - give it a shot. 

4/5 stars

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