3rd Degree

Written by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

Narrated by Pat Starr

Detective Lindsay Boxer is jogging along a beautiful San Francisco street as a ferocious blast rips through the neighbourhood. A townhouse owned by an internet magnate explodes into flames, three people die and a sinister note signed 'August Spies' is found at the scene. A wave of violence is sweeping through the city - and it seems that whoever is behind it is intent on killing someone every three days.

Even more terrifying, the four friends who call themselves the Women's Murder Club discover that the killer has targeted one of them. And Lindsay learns that a member of the club is hiding a secret so dangerous and unbelievable that it could destroy them all.

(P)2012 Headline Digital

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: Apr 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9780755397020

James Patterson

James Patterson is the CEO of J. Walter Thompson, an advertising agency in New York. He has written several successful fiction and nonfiction books, including The New York Times best seller The Day America Told the Truth.

Reviews for 3rd Degree

[paulagalvan-323293 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another action-packed installment in this series as Lieutenant Lindsey Boxer faces domestic terrorists bent on getting the world's attention through murder and mayhem. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the club does suffer a serious loss in this one as we say goodbye to one of the founding members. As always, the writing is good, the plot is tight, and the dialog between characters is witty and colorful. This was an easy read that felt as real as today's headlines.

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Out for an early morning run with her dog, SFPD Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer sees a three story townhouse explode. After calling dispatch for assistance, she enters the burning house to look for survivors. She finds a man and woman, dead, an also a young boy who is still alive. There is a strange message found at the scene. This is just the start.A baby kidnapped and a man found dead in a hotel. At each murder a message is left, signed with the same name. The same name found at the townhouse. Terrorists are on a killing spree. Radicals making demands and killing to make their point, even killing one of the members of the Women’s Murder Club.Another fast action packed book with strong women characters and brutal crimes. This time there is a touch of romance for Lindsay, when one of the Feds, called in, catches her eye. Her luck with romance hasn’t been great, but maybe this time…even if it is to be a long distance romance.

[soosthemoose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another wonderful book in the Women's Murder Club Series.

[payday1999-430350 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is 3rd in the series and I really enjoyed this book. I'm enjoying these styles of books, I normally read fantasy, and I just love how these books are moving along. Overall I am really pleased with the first three books in the series. I can't wait to read the fourth one.

[tiffy_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Third book in the Women's Murder Club and I loved it just as much as the first two. I was a little upset over a part of it. But the characters were great as they were in the previous two. Kept me on the edge of my seat wondering if they would solve the crimes in time. Can't wait to read the next novel.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Digital audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick From the book jacket: Detective Lindsay Boxer is jogging along a beautiful San Francisco street when a fiery explosion rips through the neighborhood. A town house owned by an internet millionaire is immediately engulfed in flames, and when Lindsay plunges inside to search for survivors, she finds three people dead. An infant who lived in the house cannot be found – and a mysterious message at the scene leaves Lindsay and the San Francisco Police Department completely baffled. My reactions:This is book three in the Women’s Murder Club series with Patterson’s name getting top billing on the cover, but I suspect mostly written by Andrew Gross. The formula must not have been working well because there’s a significant change among the club members. I’ll say this for the team of writers – they keep things moving quickly. There’s a killing every few chapters, and the women have a personal reason to make sure the perpetrator(s) is/are stopped. Vietnam era politics enter into the equation to further confound and confuse. Carolyn McCormick does a reasonably good job voicing the audio. However, the producers felt compelled to add cheesy “suspense” music and sound effects. I guess they didn’t have faith in the writers’ ability to build suspense with words alone.

[bingereader87 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

it was an interesting plot and had a crazy left turn.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a pacy book which grabbed hold of me from the beginning and kept me wanting to read on. It would be my favourite book in the series so far, and is better than most of James Patterson's other books. There is one shock in the book which for me came from my blindside. I would recommend this book to others and it is a very quick read. 4.5 stars.

[tony2704 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Predictable love story in the background. Good plot though. Enjoyable

[indygo88 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I tend to more or less shy away from James Patterson these days, but I've decided that I do rather enjoy the Women's Murder Club series, this one being the 2nd in the series that I've read (the previous having been one further along in the series). There's nothing really deep here, but they're enjoyable enough & filled with enough action that they keep the plot moving along nicely. In this one, Lindsay Boxer & her cronies become involved with a series of murders, ranging from bombings to poisonings, and there was somewhat of a shocking death about midway through that I wasn't expecting. All in all, a decent read.

[martensgirl · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was a truly terrible book. I was mildly amused by the first book in the series, found the second book lacking, but this book was the pits. The plot was absurd, the characters flat and the prose was cliche-ridden.

[sallyawolf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the third book in the Women's Murder club series. It starts out with the now well known Lindsay Boxer diving into a burring town house and ends with a bang. I was afraid that this book would lack some of the flare that the other two did, but the plot was new and fresh and filled with triumph and tragedy. I did find, however that this book lacked the red haring twist that drew me into the other books. I think that the political satire theme thought the book did not really lend itself to that and might have detracted from the plot. I would recommend it as a good read and look forward to the others in the group. This book was lent to me from the library of Me-Me thanks again.

[librarycin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer is walking past as a house explodes. She gets a boy out of the house, but three other people are dead. There was a note left nearby... And, more killings to come. Meanwhile, her good friend, Jill, is dealing with an abusive husband. I think this is my favourite in the Women's Murder Club series so far. And my favourite by James Patterson, so far. He writes short chapters and I just wanted to keep reading. It was a very fast read and it drew me in right away.

[sareiner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the third book in the Women's Murder Club. Once again, we are in San Francisco where we meet Lt. Lindsay boxer and her friend Jill, the San Francisco's Assistant DA. It was Sunday morning and they were out for their usual run. When Jill leaves Lindsay is off relaxing for a coupling of minutes when the house she was walking by EXPLODES! Being the great detective and cop that she is, she goes running into the burning house to look for any survivors. She finds three dead bodies and hears someone crying. Here the only survivor was a 10 year old little boy trapped between his burning metal bed and the wall. Lindsay gets him out but later finds out that the au pair and the six month old little girl are missing. Witnesses saw a young blond woman , which were assuming was the au pair, running off with the little girl. Lindsay soon finds out that the house was owned by a businessman who owned a successful computer company. We soon find out that this man was a target of some 60's style leftist terrorists. Three days later another prominent local businessman is grotesquely murdered and another message is left. The targets seem to be random, but the only apparent connection being that all of the victims are tools of the establishment. These terrorists are blaming greed, big business and the government for stepping on the "little man," leaving them abused and broken. Things take a twist when the terrorist start using a toxic poison. Because of this the federal government is brought in and brings the presence of Joe Molinari, deputy director of the Department of Homeland Security. Lindsay and Joe create and VERY strong working relationship that soon starts to have a tinged of romance involved! During the mess with the murders, the murder club also has a mess on their hands. Jill starts having bruises on her arms. Lindsay feels the need to bring it up to her friend and it does not take long to soon confirm that Jill's Husband, Steve, has been abusing her. It is up to Clair, Lindsay and Cindy to take action and lend their support to their good friend.Who is behind these terrorist attacks? What happens to Jill? You are going to have to pick up the book and find out for yourself! :)

[drt_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Next. I read 3rd Degree by James Patterson and Andrew Gross. I was torn with this book. I found it interesting right away and it was complex with the detective piece but also the personal parts that I really appreciated. This book was about terrorism and the complexity there, a “weak link” and cruelty/compassion, a love interest, government, and loss. Overall, I’d give this book 3 stars maybe 3.25 stars out of 5. He is a good writer and writes page-turners in my opinion. I will pick up the next book in this series and see what happens. I wonder if he can keep it interesting. So far so good but I don’t know. Maybe it was the senseless killing that I really didn’t like. Sure in the terrorist’s mind they had justification but still that knocked off some stars even though it is not the fault of the author even though it is his fault. I was driven to finish it because it was interesting and I wanted to see how he put in the twists in the novel and was pleased by how he tighed it together. I know, it's my fault for reading it knowing that it is part of the Women's Murder Club series so I blame myself.

[veranaz22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've been reading this series for the first time from the first book. This is by far the most "action packed" and intriguing one. Great twists. I've started to read this with the intention of reading it when I'm on the cardio room at the gym, but I found myself finishing it up elsewhere!Four and a half out of five.

[bookwallah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great yarn, nonstop action, intuitive sleuthing, and I really enjoyed it – but what is up with these short chapters. Mr. Patterson, are you afraid we will fall asleep if the chapter are longer than two pages? Is this fiction for the MTV generation? And while I am at it what is up with the use of faxes as the most modern technology, this was published in 2004 but it appears the Internet had been invented yet.I herby begin my use of the tag, “beach read”, which I define as any book requiring no mental energy to follow the plot. All ranting aside, this book is highly recommended for all lovers of thrillers and suspense fiction. If you prefer your murders confined to the parlor then keep looking this one will be a tad too grisly.

[dbhutch_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Women's Murder Club loses one of thier own in the 3rd book of the series from James Patterson. A terror cell is loose in SF, and the G-8 summit is thier ultimate target - or is it? A desperate hunt is on by Lindsay Boxer and her team in the SFPD, as well as by her friends in the WMC. Toss in a little help from Homeland Security and this novel takes the reader on a wild and sometimes scary ride into the world of domestic terrorism in the USA.

[kysmom02 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book! I love Patterson's writing and I'm TOTALLY into this series. More than anything because of the girls. Each one of them are interesting in their own ways. I think I've said before that I like how the girls are not only working to solve a crime, but dealing with other things in their lives too. In this book, Jill is dealing with an abusive husband. The girls get together to support her and protect her from harm. Meanwhile, it looks like Lindsey's finally finding love again after losing Chris.The plot in this one revolves around terror groups in the U.S. Extremists who are killing people in order to prove their points and to try to scare others into action. The grizzly ways that folks are killed is different from the norm, so I liked that twist. Patterson throws in a couple turns in this one that I didn't expect at all. But, that's usually what keeps me interested! I liked this book, but not as well as the first two in this series. It's not stopping me from pluggin' on with them though!The reading of this book was great. There were a few sound effects that I thought really added to it. Most of the time, I don't like the noice, but this worked for me.

[hammockqueen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

lindsay boxer is jogging when a building explodes. More murders and even her friend Jill is killed. Women's murder club. Very enticing.

[skinglist · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Journal entry 2 by SKingList from New York, New York USA on Friday, August 05, 2005So I picked this up just before leaving Katherine this morning and finished it even before the bus arrived in Darwin. I am a Patterson fiend.I liked this one, but not as much as the first two in the series. One thing wasn't the book's fault, I read the 4th before I read this one so one of the major bits of the plot was given away but still, I didn't know the how or why and as per usual with Patterson, never figured it out.

[ti99er_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good read in Patterson's Women's Murder Club series. If you have enjoyed the 1st two books in the series, you won't be disapointed with this installment.

[miyurose_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like the rest of Patterson's books, this was a very quick read. He really is the master of short chapters and large print. But, it entertained me for the 5 hours or so it took me to read it, so I really can't complain.

[djupstrom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another satisfying James Patterson novel. I think this one has been the best one of the Women's Murder Club series.

[momma2keira · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A quick read full of everything I enjoy... murder, mystery, forensics and suspense. I find I'm able to read books in this series in about a day, because I don't want to put them down. I was a bit annoyed with how many times the word/name "Molinari" appeared.... seemingly every couple minutes at many points. Overall, enjoyed this book.

[emscape · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have finally pinpointed what I find disconcerting about these books. It's the split narration! There are some chapters in a third-person omniscient style, where the author follows the killer, or one of Lindsay's friends, and then other chapters are narrated in first person by Lindsay herself. After reading the first book, I half expected the second to have one of the other ladies as the first-person narrator. Unfortunately, all these books follow Lindsay. This third book was a bit different in that up until the fourth killing, I was partially rooting for the bad guys---going to war with corrupt CEOs and unethical leaders of health care organizations. I don't actually think those people should be killed, but I do think they may need to shape up. The ending was mildly surprising, although one can expect that the person responsible for the deaths will always be someone slightly different than expected when reading a novel by Patterson. Overall, a compelling read and worth the day and a half it took me to read it. (Not that all I did was read this book for the past day and a half, I did other stuff too...like go to work.)

[becr_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic, gripping, didn't want to put it down

[amacmillen_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is the third in the women's murder club collection. This novel involves a Berkley college group that is murdering people related to third world economics. The person who is responsible is a professor at another college and who has an axe to grind from issues in the 60s error.One of the four women involved in the club is murdered.

[heptonj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As usual, riveting reading from the Womens Murder Club. Lindsay is at her best with the investigation into terrorist activities. James Patterson is so good with this series that you can really get to know and like these fictional women. The chapters are short and not filled with inconsequential stuff like how blue the sky was and what a beautiful day it is. Every chapter is sharp and to the point. Easily read in two sittings, I also stayed awake late to find out what happened next.As to the plot - oh my God he killed Jill off!

[heidilove_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eeek. I can't believe how engaging these women are. By the time one of them is in peril (and one always is, though moreso than usual this time), I found myself staying up late to find out What Happens Next. This is not great literature, but it's a great read. Definitely choose any of the women's murder mysteries for beach or airplane take-alongs.