1st to Die [Paperback] Patterson, James

Four women — a homicide detective with a death sentence hanging over her, a reporter hungry for the truth, a medical examiner who sees what others miss, and an assistant DA who plays to win — form an unlikely alliance to hunt a killer targeting newlyweds. James Patterson kicks off the Women's Murder Club series with a San Francisco-set thriller that moves fast and hits hard. The bodies pile up, the killer stays one step ahead, and the tension between professional duty and personal crisis never lets up. Patterson's trademark short chapters and multiple POVs keep the momentum relentless. This is procedural fiction stripped of fat — all plot, all pace, with just enough character work to make you care when things go sideways. For fans of smart, streamlined crime fiction and anyone who likes their detectives flawed, determined, and willing to break the rules.