Four crime-solving friends face off against a killer in San Francisco in the Women's Murder Club novel that launched James Patterson's thrilling series.
Each one holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.
But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving each other a hand. The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered-before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out to be devastatingly wrong.
Full of the breathtaking drama and unforgettable emotions for which James Patterson is famous,
1st to Die is the start of the #1 New York Times bestselling series of crime thrillers.
The series
In the heart of San Francisco, where the fog rolls in as silently as a killer’s intent, four women step outside the boundaries of their professions to chase justice on their own terms. A homicide detective, a journalist, a medical examiner, and a prosecutor—each woman is sharp in her own right. But together, their insight cuts deeper than any badge or byline ever could. This is not just a procedural—it’s a tapestry of loyalty, loss, and the high-stakes tension of chasing down killers in a city that doesn’t give up its secrets easily.
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What makes this crime thriller series so enduring isn’t just the fast pace or the chilling twists (though there are plenty). It’s the emotional stakes that pulse beneath every investigation. The stories don’t just explore the crimes—they delve into the personal cost of pursuing justice in a world that too often looks the other way. Each book raises the stakes not only for the case at hand, but for the fragile connections between these four women who are constantly balancing public duty with private demons.
Over two decades and more than twenty installments, the Women's Murder Club has carved out a lasting place in modern detective fiction—not because it follows the rules, but because it never pretends there aren’t consequences for breaking them. Beneath the blood-spattered crime scenes and courtroom showdowns, there’s a quieter narrative about trust, resilience, and how far people will go when the system fails them.
Dark, compelling, and deeply human, this series keeps its grip on readers who crave suspense that doesn’t just shock—but cuts close to the bone. If you're drawn to crime fiction that blends high tension with complex, evolving characters, these stories deliver a city full of secrets—and four women determined to uncover them.
#1 · 20011st to Die 
#2 · 20022nd Chance 
#3 · 20043rd Degree 
#4 · 20054th of July 
#5 · 2006The 5th Horseman 
#6 · 2007The 6th Target 
#7 · 20087th Heaven 
#8 · 2009The 8th Confession 
#9 · 2010The 9th Judgement 
#10 · 201110th Anniversary 
#11 · 201211th Hour 
#12 · 201312th of Never 
#13 · 2014Unlucky 13 
#14 · 201514th Deadly Sin 
#15 · 201615th Affair 
#16 · 201716th Seduction 
#17 · 2018The 17th Suspect 
#18 · 2019The 18th Abduction 
#19 · 2019The 19th Christmas 
#20 · 2020The 20th Victim 
#21 · 202121st Birthday 
#22 · 202222 Seconds 
#23 · 2023The 23rd Midnight 
#23.5 · 202323 1/2 Lies 
#24 · 2024The 24th Hour 
#25 · 202525 Alive 
#26 · 202626 Beauties 
#27 · 202727 Stars 
#28 · 2027Women's Murder Club Book 28 Be the first reviewer
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