25 Alive
by James Patterson; Maxine Paetro
Pub Date: April 28, 2025
Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I highly recommend this series!
Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano, and crime reporter Cindy Thomas investigate the shocking murder of a former SFPD chief in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Lindsay Boxer and her friends in the Women’s Murder Club face their toughest challenges yet in this new book. Lindsay’s mentor and good friend is murdered and she is tasked to find the serial killer who is leaving a unique calling card behind. Yuki is the prosecuting lawyer against a cartel leader’s son and her life is endangered because of her work on this case. Cindy, the intrepid reporter, strikes out on her own to discover who the serial killer might be and is putting herself in his crosshairs. Meanwhile, Claire is doing the autopsy of a good friend and seeking solace from the WMC. The characters are the same beloved ones as in the rest of the series, but the obstacles they face are more difficult and their stake in overcoming them is higher and personal. I really enjoyed how the story flowed well between the different characters and what they contributed to the overall story. This is a web of stories that all come together in the end in a spectacular way. The complexity of the plot and the subsequent tying everything together in a suspenseful way kept me highly engaged in this fast-paced and skillfully plotted book. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one and new readers can definitely enjoy this book as a standalone.

"I said. You dead."

In James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's newest Women's Murder Club book, "25 Alive" (which I actually think is book 29 in the series), there is a serial killer on the loose, Joe is missing, Yuki is prosecuting a dangerous case involving a Mexican Cartel, and Cindy is being Cindy. I don't think we got enough Claire in this book.

The story starts out with Lindsey being called to a murder scene. The victim was her mentor, Warren Jacobi. Now Lindsey is determined to bring this killer to justice. The police continue to find new victims and cold cases where the killer left the words "I said. You dead."

This book had a complex storyline and enough red herrings to leave me guessing until the end.

If you're not familiar with the Women's Murder Club, I highly recommend this series. It's one of Patterson's best and I would love to hang with these smart, resourceful, and supportive group of women. Obviously, you know I always recommend to start with book 1 of a series.

Thank you to Little Brown for this gifted ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and Netgalley. I have read every book in this series and have been disappointed in the last few installments because it strayed from the original premise. The parts that I enjoyed most have been the comrade between the members of the Murder Club. I was happy that more emphasis was placed on it in this last book.

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Pub Date: April 28, 2025
How I Read It: 📱

Synopsis
SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer finds out there’s been a murder, but this time, she knows the victim - Warren Jacobi, her friend, onetime partner, and former chief of police.  Jacobi left her a clue, and she follows the evidence to hunt down his killer, hopefully before they can strike again.
 
My Thoughts
I think I read the first Women’s Murder Club book years ago, then I stopped reading for years, and having recently just gotten back into James Patterson books, I decided to pick this one up because you can never go wrong with a Patterson book. This book was exciting and kept me on my toes. I loved how there was a cartel thrown into the mix, with a trial and a trip to Mexico. That was my favorite part of the book with the most suspense! Patterson did not disappoint with this one. It takes you a little while to get used to all of the characters if you haven’t read the whole series, but you have enough back story and situations thrown in to warm you up to them and they start feeling like old friends. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a quick, fast-paced suspenseful read.

Themes
🫣 Suspense
🔪 Murder

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 4 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 4 ⭐️

Thank you Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I gasped when I read Chapter 1! I shook my head, asking, “How could you!?”, on repeat. Lindsay Boxer's long-time friend, mentor, once partner, retired cop, Warren Jacobi is murdered in a gruesome manner. Not yet over their shock and anguish, the SFPD get to work to find out who did this to one of their own, lead by Lindsay.

From the first chapter, this book had me in its grip, and never let go. Even pulling at my heart strings when Lindsay's dog has her own medical drama.

Maxine Paetro has been co-writing this series with James Patterson since Book 4, and in this Book 25 still manages to remain fresh, jarring and suspenseful. I also love how this group of women will always be there for each other, providing support and fellowship, through the good and bad.

Thank you James Patterson, Maxine Paetro, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.

This was such a fast paced read with short chapters that made it so easy to fly through. It kept my attention till the end. I was completely invested in the storyline and the quest to solve the mystery of who murdered Warren Jacobi. I also loved that there were a few other moving plot lines woven in. It kept things interesting without feeling overwhelming. Lindsay is such a likeable character, and I’m really looking forward to reading more of this series. Even though this is the 25th book, I had no problem jumping in mid series and never feeling lost.

Great addition to the series!
Already can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
It was interesting to read how the two cases all ended up being connected.
Lindsay is top notch as always. I do think that Cindy is getting a little annoying. Would love to see Claire in action more!

Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

“Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano, and crime reporter Cindy Thomas investigate the shocking murder of a former SFPD chief in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

SFPD homicide detective Lindsay Boxer knows her way around a crime scene.

But nothing can prepare her for the shock of recognition: the victim is Warren Jacobi, Lindsay’s onetime partner who rose to chief of police.

A top investigator until the end, Jacobi managed to leave Lindsay a clue.

Following a trail of evidence along the west coast, the Women’s Murder Club pledges to avenge Jacobi’s death before the killer can take another one of their own.”

After reading through a lot of the newer books in the “Women’s Murder Club” series, I thought that the series was losing its touch. Thankfully, this new book was easily the best in a while. I was intrigued throughout this book, and I absolutely loved it. If you haven’t read the series in years, or if you’re a big fan of this series, you should definitely read this book. I enjoyed it a lot.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"25 Alive" by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is a fast-paced, 5-star read! The Women's Murder Club — consisting of San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, crime reporter Cindy Thomas, and assistant district attorney Yuki Castellano — is back, and they’re thrown into a couple of cases that keep them all on their toes. A retired member of the SFPD meets a tragic end, and the ladies will stop at nothing to find out who committed the crime. Meanwhile, Yuki has her hands full at trial with a defendant who is part of a Mexican cartel and determined to stop the trial at any cost.

If you loved the first 24 books, you’ll love this one! It sticks to the same winning formula that has made the series so great — and why change a good thing? In typical James Patterson fashion, the chapters are extremely short, making it easy to cruise through the book.

If I had one criticism, it’s that the ending felt rushed and was basically wrapped up through a conversation rather than showing us the action as it unfolded. That said, I can’t wait for book #26!

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Thank you netgalley and the JP Street team for the chance to read this early! 3.5 /5 stars
I adore this series: yes, it's 25 books and yes, so much of it seems routine. But it really is an enjoyable series and the cast of characters has grown just so much. It's crazy to think back where Lindsay, Claire, Cindy, and Yuki started.
The murder in this one was really shocking (maybe as much as Jill in book 3?) and I wasn't prepared: first time I think I've been surprised by this series in a long time. I wanted to see a bit more emotion out of Lindsay, and to see Claire play a bigger role in this one. I needed that connectivity. It wrapped up nicely and was a good send off to a mainstay of the series, but easily could have been a gut punch.
There also is a case being handled by Yuki (a murderer with heavy influence) and Joe going to Mexico to help out with a cartel related case. As always, the cases all eventually come together, but there was a big amount of suspended belief required to find the common threads.
Again, always enjoyable. Not my favorite of the series but a fun read.

Lindsay Boxer and her friends in the Women’s Murder Club face their toughest challenges yet in this new book. Lindsay’s mentor and good friend is murdered and she is tasked to find the serial killer who is leaving a unique calling card behind. Yuki is the prosecuting lawyer against a cartel leader’s son and her life is endangered because of her work on this case. Cindy, the intrepid reporter, strikes out on her own to discover who the serial killer might be and is putting herself in his crosshairs. Meanwhile, Claire is doing the autopsy of a good friend and seeking solace from the WMC. The characters are the same beloved ones as in the rest of the series, but the obstacles they face are more difficult and their stake in overcoming them is higher and personal. I really enjoyed how the story flowed well between the different characters and what they contributed to the overall story. This is a web of stories that all come together in the end in a spectacular way. The complexity of the plot and the subsequent tying everything together in a suspenseful way kept me highly engaged in this fast-paced and skillfully plotted book. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one and new readers can definitely enjoy this book as a standalone.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

25 Alive is a gripping new chapter in the Women’s Murder Club series, delivering all the suspense, emotion, and twists fans have come to expect. When a personal tragedy shakes detective Lindsay Boxer, the stakes skyrocket, pushing her and the Club into their most intense case yet. With fast pacing, sharp writing, and strong emotional beats, this thriller keeps you turning pages late into the night.

Bombshell, mind-blowing and scary are a few words that come to mind as I think about this book. The Women's Murder Club is about to be rocked. These women are not wilting flowers, but their strength is tested in this story. But never fear their bond will not be broken.

As usual, with this series, I was immediately sucked into the story. I feel as if I know these ladies personally as this is their 25th appearance together. This was the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, a little courtroom drama and police procedural. This one threw me for a little loop as I was not expecting a lot of the things that happened.

I definitely devoured this book in one sitting because there just isn't a good place to stop. I love this author's style of short, snappy chapters that are filled to the brim with so much information in so few pages but the writing style flows and makes it easy to read.

Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Love this series and was not disappointed in this book. I look forward to more books in the series.

james patterson is just the best. this was amazing, as expected. i am so happy i was able to read it early!! thank you netgalley!!

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

WOW! What a ride! Right from the get-go we’re grabbed with a shocker and the rest of the ride is one you do NOT want to get off of! 25 Alive was so exciting and fun! The mystery was great, I absolutely LOVE Lindsay, and this series just keeps giving me everything I hope for in a suspenseful and thrilling mystery. I can’t get enough of this world!

I almost stopped reading - Jacoby - what? Glad I didn't. This one was a full book - so much going on. Could not put it down - it was that good.
Loved that everyone in the series was involved in someway in this one!

My first advanced reader copy!

I re-discovered my love of reading last year when I started James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series. I read all 24 books within a couple months, so I was very excited to gain early access to #25.

I loved being reunited with the b@d@$$ Lindsey Boxer and her fellow murder club ladies working to solve a crime very dear to them. As always with the WMC series, there's lots of action happening with each main character to keep you reading!

This book will be out on April 28, 2025.

If you’ve been a long time fan of this series then I don’t need to tell you that I enjoyed this one! They speak for themselves in their continuing storyline that has stayed fresh with every addition. This starts with a shocking turn of events and has you hanging on til the last page and wanting more! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

A retired police officer is killed while bird watching. How does this fit in with all of the other murders people are finding around the city. Martha, the collie, has to have surgery. The FBI gets called in so now all the major characters from these books are involved. A great wrap up to the story at the end.