Product Description

It is a wild race against time as Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer and the newest member of the Women's Murder Club, attorney Yuki Castellano, lead an investigation into a string of mysterious patient deaths--and reveal a hospital administration determined to shield its reputation at all costs. And while the hospital wages an explosive court battle that grips the entire nation, the Women's Murder Club hunts for a merciless killer among its esteemed medical staff. The newest addition to the top selling new mystery series takes the Women's Murder Club to the most terrifying heights of suspense they have yet to encounter. THE 5TH HORSEMAN proves once again that James Patterson is "the page-turningest author in the game right now " (San Francisco Chronicle).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6053 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 464 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780446618199
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
James Patterson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books, including Beach Road, Honeymoon, Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas, and the Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club series of thrillers. More than 100 million of his books are in print around the world, making him one of the top-selling writers of all time.

From AudioFile
San Francisco PD Detective Lindsay Boxer is suspicious about unexpected deaths at a local hospital--especially after the mother of one of her friends inexplicably succumbs. The Women's Murder Club is soon involved in finding the person responsible--and at risk to themselves. Carolyn McCormack's performance is superb. Her ability to capture the essence of each of the main characters is impressive; her skill at fleshing out even minor characters is rare. Her spirit, enthusiasm, and emotional involvement help the novel, which has its predictable moments. Overall, McCormack's ability to keep each moment fresh and alive makes this program a real treat for the listener. M.A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

A Great Thrill Ride, But Where's the Meat?
The 5th Horseman, which is the fifth book in Patterson's best-selling Women's Murder Club books. It's hair-raising. It's fast paced, it's James Pattersons's continuing to string out best-sellers faster than we write checks. Lately his books have been hit or miss. This one is no different, but I'm sorry to say the things that still bug me about Patterson continue to bug me here and they probably always will so long as he keeps pumping out four or five books a year.

At the San Francisio Muncipal Hospital, people have been receiving the wrong medication which induces a heart attack. The latest victim to this string of "accidents" is Yuki Castellano's mother Keiko, who suddenly collapses. After she's taken to the medical hospital, she's given the wrong medication and suddenly dies. Just like several others. Lindsay Boxer decides it's time to investigate. It's been happening too much to be just an accident.

It isn't such a bad book. For the most part, it'll keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like fast-paced movie-like books, The 5th Horseman is perfect. It instantly grabs your attention and takes you away.

Again, however, this book is plagued by what just about every James Patterson book is plagued with these days. Where's the meat? The substance? There's a lot of plot, but what about characters and steady pace? The book, like many of his previous books, moves much faster than it has to. And because it moves so fast, there's little time to feel for these characters.

Look at it like this, Yuki Castellano was introduced in 4th of July, the previous book (which was much better than this one). We learned very little about her. Here, her mother is introduced right after the prologue. When the mother dies, Patterson tries to make us feel sorry for Yuki Castellano. And I probably would've if I actually KNEW Yuki. The reader doesn't feel for these characters anymore. Lindsay Boxer is perhaps the only character who gets developed. But the other characters of the Women's Murder Club (who ARE major characters) receive very little. Being stuck with these characters for 400 pages calls for some kind of development for these otherwise, underdeveloped characters.

The overall plot is pretty good, at least. Like I said, you'll be on the edge of your seat, but again, it feels very movie like. Everything happens so fast that there are times when the reader is left behind.

If I were to write a letter to James Patterson, I'd tell him to slow down. Ever since he began pumping out four or five books a year he's had to call on numerous co-authors, and his books have gotten shorter, despite them being 400 pages long (as many reviewers have pointed out, the formatting makes it that way). And along with being shorter, they're moving faster. Not only do things happen unrealistically fast, but they become unbelievable, and his characters are beginning to suffer as a result.

The 5th Horseman is a good book, but it lacks substance. Put simple, there's no character development anymore, and nothing falls into place logically. It's time Patterson slow down a little. Take time to flesh out his characters and his stories. He's established his credibility as a writer, it would be a shame for him to ruin it. I don't know about you, but I like a few spices on my book... the kind of spices that make me glad to be with these characters. The kind that make me say, "I sure hope nothing bad happens to her!" It's not here.

I don't get it? This is just average?
Believe it or not but this is my first Patterson novel (I did see the movie "Kiss the Girls" and thought it was OK). I found this book to be average entertainment at best. From reading this book I do not understand this authors best-selling status, Though I have figured out how he rights five novels a year. First he has a stable of co-writers who are doing the heavy lifting (Ms. Paetro in this case). Then you write very short 2 page chapters and have ridiculously wide margins. The book is 400 pages long but if it where laid out properly it would not be more than 200 pages. The book is more a comic book than a novel. This is McDonald's drive thru literature for the masses with short attention spans! Look, I am not a some literary snob, I love thriller/adventures/mystery but I want them to have some meat.

Above average Patterson
James Patterson knows how to write a zippy thriller/mystery. Nothing too deep, the stories always move along at a rapid pace, in fact some times they read like the screen play for the next hit movie (big surprise). His legion of fans know what they are getting and are usually satisfied. The 5th Horseman is typical Patterson; I would rate it higher then his most recent work, but lower then say Kiss the Girls.

This one starts off like a rifle shot, when the mother of the newest member of the Women's Murder Club, Yuki Castellano, dies a mysterious death at a San Francisco Hospital. When detective Lindsay Boxer starts to investigate she soon finds out that there have been other suspicious deaths at the hospital? Hmmm. . .sounds like a case for the Womans Murder Club! I won't ruin any of the surprises, though most of them you will see coming. Still, Patterson's trade mark short Chapters while annoying to some, I find quite addicting. Its kind of like eating popcorn, once you start you can't stop, but too much can become cloying!

In conclusion, the typical Patterson fan should be pleased with the 5th Horseman, it's a solid 4 effort. Those that don't care for Patterson's style should not bother.