Review - 1st to Die by James Patterson

Title: 1st To Die
Author: James Patterson
Women's Murder Club Series #1
Publish Date: May 2001
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
424 Pages; eBook Copy

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FINALLY!! I waited forever to get this book from the digital library. It is kind of ironic actually that I received this book to read on the same week the next book came out - 10th Anniversary.

It was everything I expected it to be and more. It was fun and exciting. It was sweet and had good romantic moments in it too. It was sad and really gruesome with the parts of the dead bodies. (serious ew!) I thought it was so great that it highlighted four fabulously smart women who get together to figure things out, together, while supporting each other.

Lindsay is a really stunning character. She is so many facets that it made me feel I knew her. She was tough and yet had a vulnerable side that I cherish. She kept so many cards close to her heart that when she does open up, it is painful to listen to. Lindsay is an inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. She is a workaholic, has no relationships and friends are even harder to come by. Her one ally is Claire, the head medical examiner that she works with on cases. Out of nowhere this nosy reporter falls into their circle and immediately shows her worth. Cindy is good at her job, when given the chance and even helps out in the tough of times coming back with information FBI couldn't find. Finally, there is Jill, the assistant district attorney who is a bit more stringent about their relationship outside of work. But together they all make a fierce team and I enjoy the girl talk too.

This book was great because it felt like a book I would read as a child, like the Babysitter Club, only it is for grown-up women. I felt a bond to this book and the women characters in it like I haven't felt in ages. Probably since Iris Johansen and her series with Eve Duncan Series. Big Fist pump for this series and I have only just finished the first book. WOHOO!! I was lucky enough to pick up Books 2, 3 and 4 at the used bookstore for only $1 each!! Nice find. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend it.

Summary -
James Patterson, bestselling author of the Alex Cross novels Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, and Pop Goes the Weasel, offers the first of a new series dubbed The Women s Murder Club, featuring a four-woman team that occasionally works outside the system. None of the gritty darkness or frenzied action is lost in 1st to Die, although the female protagonists offer an even deeper emotional context to this suspense thriller.

Inspector Lindsay Boxer of the San Francisco Police Department suddenly finds herself in the middle of two horrifying situations: The first is that she s just learned she has an often-fatal blood disease. The second is a double homicide case she s now heading up that involves the murder of newlyweds on their wedding night. Burdened with Chris Raleigh, a new partner reassigned from the mayor s office, Lindsay finds that she has too much to deal with and turns to her best friend, Claire, the head ME on the case. Claire offers helpful advice and human, friendly contact amid a job filled with violence, cruelty, and fear.

Soon a fledgling newspaper reporter, Cindy, makes contact with Lindsay looking for a career-making story. Although Lindsay can t officially comment on the case, the two women form a rapport, and Cindy joins Lindsay and Claire for their weekly meeting. When a second pair of newlyweds is murdered, and later a third, the investigation leads to a prominent crime writer, Nicholas Jenks, who has a history of spousal abuse and a predilection for kinky, dangerous sex games. With the help of an understanding assistant D.A., Jill Bernhardt, Lindsay tries to make a case against Jenks, who even had an affair with one of the slain women. Eventually Jill joins the Murder Club, and the four ladies share private interdepartmental information in an effort to track and stop the killer before he strikes again.

The major subplot -- Lindsay's facing up to her illness even while she learns to fall in love again -- carefully compensates for the novel s coarse scenes of brutality. Lindsay Boxer isn t merely an obsessed cop trailing a maniac; she s also a terrified woman confronting the onslaught of disease. The story lines balance out to show us the true mettle of someone who puts the safety of others before her own.

Again, Patterson s skill for producing furiously paced fiction are evident as the novel breezes by rapidly. The short chapters keep the narrative leaping with increasingly taut plot elements, but there s an emotional commitment that makes our protagonist even more amiable and involving. 1st to Die is a novel that works as an intense series of character portraits that will leave the reader touched and delighted.

The Sweatshirt

I found a sweatshirt at a really fun little boutique that I fancy. It has great low rise jeans, really cheap tees and tanks and occasionally I grab their yoga pants. When I saw this sweatshirt I fell deeply in love. It is skinny rather than large, so it doesn't make me look like borrowed my brother's shirt. It is so soft and the stitching is on the outside so it doesn't itch. It is cute and fun. I would love to have more, but frankly even time I think about it, I realize all I need is one. I wear it all the time. It can be worn on a cold day, on a windy day, on a day with a tank, with a tee. You name it and I can wear it. Oh how I have fallen hard for this sweatshirt . . . until one day -

One day, my boyfriend, Saint asked me, "Is that a new sweatshirt?"

I looked down at the sweatshirt, thinking how could he miss this? I love this sweatshirt. I wear it all the time. "No," I said, "I've had this for awhile."

"I know!" he said, "You wear it all the time!"

"Oh." I laughed, but secretly I really didn't care. I am going to wear what I want to wear, when I want to wear it.

And I have. I wear that damn sweatshirt most days I have off of work. He'll get used to seeing me in it. (smirk)

So we are going on vacation later in the summer and he is so excited that where we will be going it will be hot, too hot for the sweatshirt. Little does he know I get cold on planes, so I plan to take it!!

Wordlesss Wednesday - The "Not A" Door

I was searching for a bathroom in a tiny coffee shop with a very long hallway and came upon this. Good thing they told me or I would have thought different.

Wordless Wednesday

Hi, my name is Heidi and I am a hair snob

I grew up watching my mother and all the other mothers get their hair just right and then hairspray the crap out of it. My friends and I called this helmet head. Kind of a Jane Jetson look.

I have seen many of girls who wear their hair long and luscious and flowy.


I pretty much grew up in school watching these girls walk by and swing their gorgeous long hair. I, on the other hand, was a swimmer and if I dried my hair that was a bonus. Mostly it got pulled up in a scrunchy to stay out of my face.

As I got into college and moved into a career in retail, I realized from much pushing that I should do something with my hair. All the girls around me were part time makeup girls wearing short dresses (black of course), six in heels and makeup that would have lasted me years. They felt so much pity for me, the girl who wore white polos, khaki pants and comfortable, sensible shoes (ie: ugly).

Since then, I have come in to my own. I still have quite a few khaki pants, though now they are not only cotton, but silky, linen or with beautiful ribbons as ties. I do not own a polo anymore, sans my awesomely large and comfy UPS polo acquired at the Golf Open one year that I love to wear on those oh, so relaxing days. I do still buy incredibly comfy shoes, but have moved up in the world realizing Hans Cole has the cute, but comfy shoes with Nike Air. I still rarely wear make-up. I just hate the stuff. Why do we spend hours trying to get the natural look, when all we have to do is NOT WEAR ANY? Confusing to me.

As far as my hair goes, I am a total hair snob. I can take shower, pick out my clothes in less than 10 minutes, but I can spend hours on my hair. I like to play with it adding hair clips, putting it up in a twist or bun, then pulling it down and braiding it. Sadly, most days it ends up just being straight. I have been trying for years to redo this hairdo from the movie Bourne with all her clips and twists and beautiful tendrils falling down. Finally, I GOT IT!! Just the other day, it just worked and what's more I was lucky enough to wander into a boutique that sells feathers additions to my hair - so it looks like it has a beautiful streak or two.



I am also a huge fan of this hair style from the movie, Transformers. She wears her hair pulled back with a rubber band, but with tendrils falling around her face and ears.


Although if I am working really hard (ie: sweating) eventually it will look like this -

When I get tired of my hair and want to just be able to blow dry it and not worry too much about style, I fall back on the Sandra Bullock hair cut from the movie, Lake House. It is such a cute and simply style and I can still use basic hair clips if I want. Only problem with this hair cut is I wake up with major bedhead.


Though I must say the cool thing about longer hair is that I can pull it back in so many different methods and there are examples all over.


I should probably get one of those braiding books so I can do more than just a regular french braid.



Although one of these years I hope I get the courage to get my hair cut like this -

Sigh, is it just me or does anyone else have a day dependent on whether or not their hair looks and feels good??

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday. What did you win, receive, buy or borrow this week?

Soooooooooo, I won this book from the very awesome who always takes spectacular pics, Caite with A Lovely Shore Breeze. THANKS lady!! I love to win things especially books. I have yet to ready any of Laura Lippman and am so excited to be induced into her book world.

I received these from GoodReads FirstReads -



I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
This Life Is In Your Hands by Melissa Coleman
A Race To Splendor by Ciji Ware

On My Wish List

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

Born without magic, seventeen-year-old Helena “Hex” Wayward is an embarrassment to her power-hungry relatives. As the weakest member of the world’s most deadly magical family, Hex learns early how to avoid confrontation. There’s no defending herself against an errant curse or the pit-demon that her cousins like to summon during family reunions. When the dark magic inside of her -- magic that she never dreamt even existed -- erupts in a violent display, it kills a member of a rival family. Now, Hex's family hopes to use her magic for their own sinister purposes and their enemies just want her dead. Abandoning her magic will leave her defenseless but Hex knows how quickly power corrupts even the best intentions. Hex has to make a choice: Save her life or save her soul.




When Sissy was six, she had her first vision of her sister’s (Misty) disappearance. Her mother (Tina) said she had a bad dream, but not long after that Misty vanished before Sissy’s eyes. No one believed her, so Sissy pretend to act like everyone else, like Misty never disappeared and never existed. For the past fifteen years Misty’s disappearance has haunted Sissy’s dreams. She could hear the ear piercing screams at night of her sister begging for help. Sissy tries to help her, but never succeeds. Sicily “Sissy” Monroe attends the University of Washington and is in her senior year majoring in Psychology. She has all the makings of a perfect young lady, ageless skin, flawless long black hair, full kissable lips and eyes that are shaped like almonds. She is almost where she wants to be in life. But laying deep in the pupil of her eye’s hold something that she cannot get rid of, which interferes with her plans. In addition to the nightmares, Sissy has found that as she gets older her visions became stronger and more vivid than before. Because of the first vision of Misty, and the second of a teacher in high school, Sissy wants no part in another person’s death. For years, Sissy tried to avoid having friends and relationships because she feared their fate. Most importantly she tries to avoid her family. She has no plans of ever going back home to California. When her mother calls her to tell her about her granny’s birthday party, she is reluctant to go. Going back home was not on her list of priorities, but she is going for her mother. Little did Sissy know she cannot run from her past. During her weekend at home, new developments surface. Her mother has been dating (Mark) for the past two years; her grandmother has the same gift she does; an old high school fling (Chris) comes clean about his love for Sissy; and an unknown girl from the grave begins stalking her dreams. Sissy begs for someone to admit her to the hospital, but she can’t get the words out. Her grandmother is the only one who can help her, but even then it’s too late. Two days after her birthday party, Sissy’s grandmother dies. However, it’s no shock to Sissy, because she knew death was coming for her grandmother—leaving Sissy alone once again. She finds that her sister Misty, the visions, and the dreams of the unknown girl were just a mere image of herself.



For Jane Jones, being a vampire is nothing like you read about in books. In fact, it kind of sucks. She's not beautiful, she's not rich, and she doesn't "sparkle." She's just an average, slightly nerdy girl from an ordinary suburban family (who happens to be vampires.) Jane's from the wrong side of the tracks (not to mention stuck in the world's longest awkward phase), so she doesn't fit in with the cool vampire kids at school or with the humans kids. To top it all off, she's battling an overprotective mom, a clique of high school mean girls (the kind who really do have fangs), and the most embarrassing allergy in the history of the undead, she's blood intolerant. So no one's more surprised than Jane when for the first time in her life, things start to heat up (as much as they can for a walking corpse, anyway) with not one, but two boys. Eli's a geeky, but cute real-live boy in her history class, and Timothy is a beautiful, brooding bloodsucker, who might just hold the key to a possible "cure" for vampirism. Facing an eternity of high school pressure, fumbling first dates, or a mere lifetime together with Timothy, what's a 90-something year-old teen vampire to do?

Fans of the Vladmir Tod Chronicles, You are So Undead to Me, and Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side will feast on this deliciously readable, smart, and fantastically funny debut.


WHAT ARE YOU WISHING FOR??

Review - The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky

Title: The Secret Between Us
Author: Barbara Delinsky
Publish Date: Jan 2008
Publisher: Doubleday
Audio Book

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I never actually thought I would enjoy listening to an audio book. I have tried it in the past and ended up never listening to the end. But I had to take a car trip that I knew would be long enough and the radio stations tend to be horrible in between towns, so I thought I'd give it a try. I don't know when or where I picked up this audio book, but I loaded it on my Nook, plugged the card into the ear phone jack and then using my auxiliary cord, plugged it in to my car and out it came through the speakers in the car. Wow, pretty darn simply if you ask me. It was easy to hear and I didn't mind the reader's voice so much.

This was an incredibly sad story of an accident that rocks two families - one, the people in the car and the other, the person who is hit by the car. It is amazing the secrets we keep from each other and more importantly, the secrets we keep to protect our family. I wasn't sure when this would end or how, but I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't so much a happy ending as it just made me feel good that things were going in the right direction. This story is the difference between right and wrong and how even the people in the right can feel wrong. And there isn't always a right and wrong. It also is hard to define right and wrong. What is a lie really, when it is protecting someone you love? Is it really still a lie if you don't come out and say it, but let others believe what they want?

Deborah is a mother of two, who has way too much on her plate dealing with her sister who is a bit estranged from their father and her father who is the stanch, "I am always right" type of father. She is also still entangled with her ex-husband who has no problem voicing his opinion whether it is wanted or not. She is a physician who works with her father in a joint practice, which makes it that much harder for her to deal with. Her daughter, Grace is within months of getting her license when things go seriously wrong for her one night driving in the rain. Her mother takes the blame because it is safer and easier to not admit the truth than to just allow people to make their own assumptions. From that one decision, a nightmare ensues.

I found that even though I am a stanch believer in the truth always comes out eventually, I felt for Deborah and her need to always protect her family, especially her daughter in this darkest of moments. I felt that I would be torn on what decision I would make, but ultimately it is their undoing.

I can't remember ever reading Barbara Delinsky, but can't imagine I haven't. I enjoyed this book so much and equally that I could drive while reading, killing two birds with one stone. I am sold on audio books and will always try to have some in the car for the car rides that I tend to take every couple weeks. I am also really excited to read Barbara Delinsky's other books. Such wonderful depth and emotion.

Summary -
Nothing will break this mother-daughter bond. Not even the truth.

Deborah Monroe and her daughter, Grace, are driving home from a party when their car hits a man running in the dark. Grace was at the wheel, but Deborah sends her home before the police arrive, determined to shoulder the blame for the accident. Her decision then turns into a deception that takes on a life of its own and threatens the special bond between mother and daughter.

The Secret Between Us is an unforgettable story about making bad choices for the right reasons and the terrible consequences of a lie gone wrong. Once again, Barbara Delinksy has delivered a riveting study of family and a superbly crafted novel, perfectly targeted to reading groups and fans of provocative fiction.

What about you? Ever try audio books?