5th Horseman
James Patterson
(Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
2006 Little, Brown & Co.
ISBN: 0316159778

Lt. Lindsay Boxer & the Women's Murder Club investigate a death in a San Francisco hospital.

Sr. Associate Reviewer Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

The first thought that ran through my mind when I got this book was: where have I seen this title before? Intriguing but not one exactly original. Then I got it -- it's the title of a thermo-nuclear terrorist thriller by Larry Collins & Dominique LaPierre published by Avon Books in the 80s, & now, post-9/11, quaintly dated.

James Patterson's 5th Horseman is in no way similar to the plot or theme of the aforementioned thriller -- this one proves to be an exhilarating mystery -- right from page 1.

As a seasoned Patterson reader (this is my 30th!) & having devoured the early four installments in the Women's Murder Club Series, including 1st To Die, 2nd Change 3rd Degree & 4th of July -- let me tell you -- 5th Horseman is the best -- be it in terms of suspense, thrills, adventure, or anything else.

The new member of the Women's Murder Club lawyer Yuki Castellano (yup, she's taken the place of Jill Bernhardt who was murdered in 3rd Degree) & her mother Keiko are taking a walk with Lindsay Boxer, when suddenly Keiko is taken ill & rushed to the San Francisco Medical Center. Though initial reports indicate that she's on the road to recovery, out of the blue & for no apparent reason, Yuki's mother dies.

Within days the Women's Murder Club uncovers more sudden, suspicious deaths at SFMC all caused, it seems, by medical negligence & it's been going on for some time, & that the medical center & Dr. Dennis Garza, are facing a humongous class action suit, led by the enigmatic lawyer, Maureen O'Mara.

Caught up in this controversy that has suddenly sucked her good friend in, Lt. Boxer is also on the case of a serial killer who has a propensity for leaving his victims' bodies in luxury automobiles.

Is there a connection between the deaths at the medical center & the ‘car murders’? Will the Women's Murder Club succeed in exposing what's really wrong at SFMC? Want to find out? Read the book -- it's truly worth the money & time.

At 410 pages, The 5th Horseman seems to be a lengthy read, however, James Patterson is renown for his speed reads & I polished it off in four hours -- that's how fast-paced & nail-biting the suspense is.

An exhilarating yarn -- not to be missed.

More from James Patterson:
Mary Mary
Maximum Ride
Lifeguard
Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas
Sam's Letters To Jennifer
Hide & Seek
The Beach House
The Big Bad Wolf & many, many more!
(01/29/06)

Narayan
2006©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org