7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Book Details
7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Paperback, 400 Pages
2009, Vision
ISBN: 0446536245
Series: Book 7 in Women's Murder Club

Synopsis
The Women's Murder Club faces not one-but two-terrifying cases that may tear it apart. The teenage son of California's ex-governor has mysteriously vanished-and the pressure on Detective Lindsay Boxer to find him is overwhelming. When she finally does get a lead, it's devastating. At the same time, Lindsay and her partner, Rich Conklin, must investigate mysterious fires that are destroying some of San Francisco's most beautiful homes-and leaving their owners dead in the debris. But when Lindsay enlists her friends in the Women's Murder Club to help uncover the arsonist, the blazes suddenly rage much too close to home . . . and the detective's life may go up in flames.

Review
7th Heaven had a lot of false starts that got my hopes up only to immediately dash them. The first scene was set at Christmas time, but this was not to be a Christmas mystery. Soon after, the Women's Murder Club embarked on their first annual getaway, only to turn around and come right home. Two exciting premises, nothing more than teases.

The real mystery, a high-profile missing teen cold case, has a reliable lead. Three months after the fact, an anonymous tipster claims to have had seen the teen entering a prostitute's house the night he disappeared. The prostitute confesses and Yuki begs for the chance to prosecute the case. We see Lindsay investigate the second mystery, serial double homicide by arson.

The book doesn't actually get interesting until after the trial is over. Yuki finds herself in danger and it's the first real thing of note to happen in the whole book. That and Claire going into labor.

In the background, Lindsay deals with live-in boyfriend Joe and partner Rich. Both men want to be with her and she must choose. Ultimately the decision is taken out of her hands and she is only left with one man, but is it the man she would have chosen for herself? Things don't feel completely settled in Lindsay's love life.

7th Heaven wasn't the best book in the series. I expected more action, more surprises and more thrills than the book contained. The minor series story lines progress a little, but the stand alone mystery and plot lacked the excitement a reader expects from James Patterson.

Rating

Links

James Patterson's website