I thoroughly enjoyed 23rd Midnight, which is another high octane hunt for a serial killer, with the added bonus of interactions between Lindsay and Burke. It is told from Lindsay’s first person point of view and various other characters in the third person. It works well, mixing the personal reactions with a more distant view of events. Midnight is the twenty third book in James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's Women's Murder Club series and I am always excited when a new title in this series comes out as I have really enjoyed them all. The key charcters making up the women's murder club are. Detective Lindsay Boxer , Prosecutor Yuki Castellano, Chief medical examiner Claire Washburn and Journalist Cindy Thomas. For the first time I'm not giving 5*. Not because of anything negative but in all honesty it's got to the point where alot of what is happening (bar the actual plot) I've come to sort of predict.

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. 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. 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.As expected the chapters are short and punchy, just making you want to read on and on and because they are short you keep promising yourself 'just one more chapter ' which turns into 5, 6, 7....

In a separate case Yuki is prosecuting a domestic violence case against Lewis Sullivan for the attempted murder of his wife who is left with horrific injuries. 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. Cindy has just promoting her published her new true crime novel and becomes embroiled when an obsessed fan starts causing problems that mirror the original serial killers actions. Lindsay has to try and catch the criminal.

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. 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.