7th
Heaven (Women's Murder Club) ,
by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Read by Carolyn McCormick)
The Women's Murder Club is pulling double duty
in this latest installment in the series. Not only are the
ladies hoping to solve the mystery of the disappearance and
apparent murder of Michael Campion, the Boy with the Broken
Heart and son of a prominent politician, but the rate of arson-related
homicides is escalating. While Assistant DA Yuki Castellano
conducts her prosecution of Michael's killer, she discovers
what she thought would be a slam-dunk is really the most challenging
case of her career, one that could cost her her life. Lindsay
Boxer, having wrapped up the Campion case, takes on the investigation
of the murders of wealthy couples who are found bound, robbed
and incinerated in their homes.
Early in the book, Patterson reveals the identities
of the killers to the listener, so we follow their reign of
mayhem, knowing who they are, but not what motivates them.
This, and the fact that the story is told from both Lindsay's
and the killers' points of view, makes the listener feel like
an informed, if unwilling, co-conspirator in the murders.
It adds a more intense degree of terror to an already spine-tingling
thriller. Tempering the brutality of the crimes is a romantic
storyline involving Lindsay and the two men to whom she is
drawn. While she may be fearless when it comes to fighting
criminals, she feels vulnerable and confused when it comes
to trusting her ability to love or be loved.
Carolyn McCormick has narrated several of the
books in this series and once again does a commendable job
as she switches between characters and points of view. She
is able to skillfully lead the listener from the scene of
a crime to a bedroom with all the appropriate emotional tension
and delight. 7th Heaven is a thoroughly satisfying
addition to the Women's Murder Club series. The characters
continue to intrigue and charm, and the plots remain unique,
but plausible. Listeners are in for a special treat at the
end of this book when the authors bring the rollercoaster
action to a screeching halt with an unexpected development
that ties everything together and invites personal reflection.
Ruth
Mormon
3/21/08
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