| Plot Summary of 1st To Die |
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Little, Brown; Apr 2001;, 26.95; 424 pp.
ISBN: 0316666009
In San Francisco's Grand Hyatt Mandarin Suite, David Brandt feels he must be the luckiest person on the earth as he celebrates his honeymoon with his new wife Melanie. However, Phillip Campbell ends that happiness by killing the couple in their honeymoon suite. This is the first crime of a vicious serial killer.
San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer struggles with a dangerous blood condition while striving to solve the difficult case before the killer strikes again. She forges an alliance with three other women (a reporter, a medical examiner, and an assistant DA) in order to uncover the identity of the culprit without the continual interference of her male superiors and those of her new partners, also mostly men.
1ST TO DIE is an exciting investigative tale that debuts a new crime fighting team of four females, The Women's Murder Club. The story line never slows down even with the use of flashbacks and interchanging first and third cases. Though formulaic in nature, readers will enjoy the heart pumping plot and root for the quartet of ladies to succeed as the audience begins to learn what makes each of them tick.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"Lindsay Boxer is a tough, but compassionate homicide detective who along with three friends are trying to solve heinous murders. Somone is killing brides and grooms on their honeymoons, and Lindsay and her friends form the Women's Murder Club. They are trying to stop this killer before he strikes again."
Megan, Resident Scholar
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"You think that you know who the killer is until the last two pages. It will really throw you until then. One of the best Patterson books that I have read to date!"
Laura Williams, Resident Scholar
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"Newly wed couples become the victims of a crazed killer. Lindsay Boxer creates a special womens murder club with 3 other professionals in order to solve the crimes. Lots of curiousity revolves around the killer who turns out to be the person you least expected it to be"
LOUISE PRIOR, Resident Scholar
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"A local cop, Lindsay Boxer, tries to track down the killer of the husband/wife murders. She forms a murder group with three other women and they put clues together to find the killer. Meanwhile, Lindsay is battling Negli's disease that is making her weak. She must put her illness aside and solve the case. "
Tamika Black, Resident Scholar
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"In San Francisco, newlyweds are being stalked-and killed in many horrible ways. Four unforgettable women who are best friends, and play a role in law enforcement, will try and solve these horrendous crimes. In the story there's Lindsay, who is a homicide inspector for the city's police department. Then we have Claire, who is a medical examiner trying to piece the evidence together. Next is Jill who is an assistant D.A., and last of all Cindy, a reporter who has just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle. These women all join forces, pool their talents, courage, and brains together to solve this mystery."
Boppy, Resident Scholar
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"Lindsay Boxer is a intellectual homicide detective for the SFPD. When newlyweds, David and Melanie Brandt are murdered for no known reason, she gets on the case with confidence and passion. Shortly after more newlyweds are killed, and Lindsay is beginning to think this is no coincidence.
She starts retracing the different cases looking for certain clues that would help indicate the killer and/or his motive. She starts finding similarities, such as where the brides bought their wedding dresses, all at the same place (freaky!). She also is battling a blood disorder that is weakening her.
She engages the help of her friends to find the killer, being all women they are passionate about it. "
Samantha Faber, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of 1st To Die |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 50%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Tone of story
- scarey (primal ax-wielding fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
Special suspect?
- chronically deranged person
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- character killed during/after sexing
- Big focus on forensic evidence
- Big focus on autopsies
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- physical disability/illness
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- physically sick
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- writer
Eccentric:
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- actual description of sex
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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