22 Seconds by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is a fast-paced search for answers against a deadly timeline! I very much enjoy this series, The Women’s Murder Club. Lindsay Boxer gets thrown into the midst of a plot to smuggle illegal guns and drugs into San Diego. The plot of this story is mostly about the decision and conflicts in the American culture and political conflicts of freedom and the second amendment rights. This is a hot topic that keeps being stirred up by protestors. The clue that a huge case is in the making happens when ex-cops are found murdered within a few days of each other with the warning, "You Talk, You Die" written either on their bodies or on a note with the body. A CI that Lindsay has used in the past gives her a hint of warning about drugs and guns coming into the country. I thought it was out of character for Lindsay to take Chen's words so eagerly as truth! She had to have known he would only give up that kind of information if he could profit. I was shocked at the identity of his partner. This story plot also brings visibility to the fact there are good and bad law enforcement officials in every branch of our federal system.
Cindy is attacked by gun rights protestors and in one account it says her jaw was broken, but later they only mention the hairline crack in her nose. This bothered me because I have experience with how a broken jaw requires surgery and wiring of the jaw for several weeks. Am I too invested in these characters? You Bet! Clare has a heartbreaking case of child neglect, but she also helps to bring a bit of comfort and help to a twelve-year-old who demands to see her mother's body at the morgue. Yay, Yuki in her fast-talking success at the arraignment procedures for...?? You must read it; I do not want to post spoilers!
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Women's Murder Club #22 following Lindsey Boxer and all the women we know and love! The police are cracking down weapons after a shooting when Lindsey gets catch up in the law and loses her badge. Can she get to the bottom of the case before it is too late?

I have read all the Women's Murder Club books by James Patterson. 22 Seconds by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is book number 22 in the series. The stories are set in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is familiar to me, so I like that aspect. Lindsay Boxer is up against shipments crossing the Mexican border. These books always read fast, and I like the short chapters. However, the books are getting a bit predictable, and the stories are starting to get flat. I had a hard time getting involved in this story. The book moved between the different plots happening.

The story was just okay, and the ending seemed a bit rushed. I still like these Patterson books, but I just wish the authors would mix it up a bit and stop using the same formulaic genre tropes.

#22Seconds #NetGalley @littlebrown

Thanks @netgalley for read number 83 of 2022. I do love this Women’s Murder Club series, and this was another fast-paced one with a few twists along the way. There were a couple of parts that could have been eliminated (especially some scenes with the daughter), but maybe they helped develop character. I wish that Yuki and Claire played larger roles in this book. Part of the Claire storyline almost seemed as though it could be eliminated. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, but a good, reliable one if you’re looking for a James Patterson fix.

I love James Patterson and have loved all of the Women’s Murder Club mystery books. This book was very political and that really disappointed me. I hope the next one is not like this!

This is the 22nd in the women's detective club series. While I feel like the writing is sub par, I do enjoy the characters which is why I haven't given up on this series yet.

You can never go wrong with Women's Murder Club.
While Lindsey and her husbands Joe cases overlapped they also involved her Partner Rich and his girlfriend and one of Lindsey's best friends. While drugs, guns, and the cartel were busy sending messages former police and bad cops were being murdered and used to send a message. There are so many twists and turns that you don't want to stop reading because you want to know what is happening next.
LOVED IT

Great series. Good story. Realistic characters. Claire’s short side story wasn’t necessary and didn’t add anything. Aside from that distraction, the major plot was excellent, wrapping everything together neatly at the end.

I've been reading The Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson since First to Die was first published - I was intrigued by the concept of a group of women networking and always love a strong, female protagonist. 22 Seconds starts with a bang and keeps twisting and turning. Since I'm already invested in Joe and Lindsay and the WMC I wasn't too bothered by "less" development of their individual relationships and happily flew through an action packed plot. My only "eye rolling" came from everything working out just right each time for everyone. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #22Seconds by James Patterson. I really enjoyed it am already am looking forward to the next one!

Welcome back the Women's Murder Club. All your favorite characters are here again, working together to solve a murder and find the killer. Set in San Francisco, Lindsey, Claire , Jill and Cindy all contribute and hold a piece of the puzzle. A fast paced read that you will enjoy.

The Women’s Murder Club returns with a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. While somewhat predictable, I still enjoy this series.

ARC was provided by Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Pub Date: 02 May 2022

You talk, you die. Lindsey Boxer, SFPD detective, has a case where this is left behind with just about every body. Many of the bodies are former cops. Joe Molinari gets brought in with the FBI to try and stop, with the SFPD a last-ditch gun and drug smuggling shipment coming from Mexico. Right ahead of a new restrictive gun law in California.

So the 2nd amendment backers are protesting, harassing the police and just about anyone they want to. Including Lindsey, Joe and Julie.

A fast, exciting read, with enough questions to make it intriguing. Plenty of action for action-lovers, and enough of the ladies of the Women's Murder Club to appeal to their fans. Great for summertime, if you're not into classic "summer reads."

Another great and hang by your seat adventure with the Women's Murder Club and Lindsay's husband Joe. Always look forward to new books by Patterson & Paetro. Thanks for the advance copy!

James Patterson’s 22 Seconds was more of his usual fare. The book was action filled and moved along quickly. It was an interesting story which addressed timely topics.

This next chapter in the Women's Murder Club series was just okay. I wanted more than I got. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #22seconds

I usually complain about Patterson being formulaic and barely a step up from brain candy, but there is something about 22 Seconds that caught my attention early. More than the usual single file march, multiple things are going on from the start, which I assumed would eventually meld together.

But not this time.

Usually, the women’s murder club ties the four women together in one case. Maybe that did happen, but only by a mere fringe. Other than to bring Claire into the book, there was no point to the earlier autopsy she was part of. Cindy is constantly being told “off the record” which is usually the point of having her. Then there is the slight mention of Yuki in the courtroom. To be honest, this is a Lindsay and Joe book. And unless I missed it, or it was mentioned in a previous book, why were people blaming Lindsay alone for the crackdown on high-power weapons?

If there was a preamble for either the Claire or blame Lindsay situations, I missed it.

22 Seconds is another great mystery/thriller by James Patterson. Lindsay Boxer, along with her team, solves another crime that could wreck havoc with many lives.

This latest book in the Women's Murder Club series presents a story with a timely subject -- gun control. At least that is the concern for Lindsay Boxer and her crew, as well as the FBI, including her husband Joe. In response to a new gun law, protests and threats to the police are ever present. With misleading information, the race is on to stop an influx of guns and drugs. Will they be successful? Meanwhile, two other members of the club are working on other storylines. Such side tangents are a bit distracting and are never fully developed. The book would have been stronger with only one focus, but overall it's a fun read.

I have been a fan of James Patterson's books for years. 22 Seconds is the latest installment of the Women's Murder Club Series (my favorite of Patterson's series). The short chapters and lots of action made this a quick read. Loved seeing the familiar characters and what they're up to now. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Sergeant Lindsay Boxer is a homicide detective at SFPD and her and her husband Joe, of the FBI, are quite the law enforcement power couple. Boxer is also friends with an ADA, a crime reporter, and a postmortem medical examiner, all females who make up part of the “women’s murder club.” In this novel, 22 Seconds, San Francisco enacts very restrictive automatic weapon laws to the dismay of many conservative gun-toters and the mexican cartels who continue smuggle them in, alongside drugs. These new laws put a target on Boxer and the rest of the team’s back as they begin to receive direct threats and turn up dead bodies of former officers. Follow Boxer, the SFPD, FBI, and the women’s murder club as they dodge these threats, solve the related murders, and take down the mexican cartel in this newest installment.

I write this review with the unfortunate risk of never being approved for a James Patterson novel again (hopefully that isn’t true - fingers crossed!), but I wouldn’t be a very good book reviewer if I wasn’t at least honest.

I will start by saying I realize this is number 22 in the series and I haven’t read others. I see the series involves the same characters, but this worked fine as a stand-alone. I think “women’s murder club” is a little misleading, at least in this particular novel - the only one I’ve read. While there are some bada** women, it is also very male driven with no special focus on the women.

I did enjoy the short chapters, but I did not like how chapters were not labeled (at least in arc) whose POV it was and shifted quickly in the first part of the novel. I had trouble keeping up who is who and how they all weave together at first. All the POVs were not created equal, either. Lindsay’s POV dominated with random chapters here and there from other characters, some extra fillers distracting from the main plot.

At 35% into my arc ebook, I switched to an audiobook rental since this book was already released last week. Listening was more enjoyable and easier to follow for me. I flew through the whole rest of it in one morning.

It was just okay. Entertaining enough but could have been tightened, more of a focus on the females to honor the name of the series, and made a little more clear when shifting POVs. It would make for a fine movie.

But what does 22 seconds mean? It’s never great when you end a book without understanding the title. That means either it wasn’t captivating enough and I just totally missed it due to lack of paying attention, or the author(s) didn’t tie it in well enough.

From reading the other reviews, it appears folks enjoyed some of the other works in the series more, so I’d like to give the rest a shot still, probably starting with the OG number 1!

Thank you to NetGalley, LBC, and the authors for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.