22 Seconds

Patterson and Paetro are still going strong with this 22nd installment (following 21st Birthday) in the “Women’s Murder Club” series. San Francisco homicide detective Lindsay Boxer is trying to stop a large drug and gun shipment from entering the United States from Mexico. Meanwhile, her journalist friend and member of the Club, Cindy Thomas, is kidnapped and beaten by criminals who want information about Lindsay. As the action heats up, police find corpses whose lips have been stapled together and “You talk, you die” written on their foreheads. In addition to the crime/mystery aspect of the novel, Patterson and Paetro explore the relationship between Lindsay and her husband, Joe, who is also working the case for the FBI. Lindsay faces a difficult choice—should she leave the case with Joe and go home to her young daughter, or stay and take down the gun-running and drug operation? Award-winning narrator January LaVoy employs her vocal skills to create distinct and memorable characterizations. Especially noteworthy is Lindsay’s daughter, who is heartbreaking as she pleads for her mother to stay home.